North Carolina - Obtain a Death Certificate

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Procedure

In Person

• We offer same-day expedited service at our walk-in window at our Raleigh location.
• Office Hours for Walk-In Service are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM-3:00 PM.
• Main Switchboard Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.

By Mail or Drop off form

• Send the completed form with $24 money order, certified check, or business check (not a personal check) for the first copy of the certificate and $15 for each additional to:

North Carolina Vital Records

1903 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-1903

• You can also drop off the form at the Vital Records Office in Raleigh between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., MondayFriday, except on state government holidays. Payments accepted in person include money order, certified check, business check, or cash. No personal checks please.
• If no record is found, you will be sent a letter. The search fee is nonrefundable even if a record is not located.

Faster Service through the Mail

Fill in the form as in step one. Write "Expedite" on the outside front of the envelope.

• Send via U.S. mail to:

North Carolina Vital Records

1903 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-1903

• Send via UPS or FedEx to:

N.C. Vital Records

225 North McDowell Street

Raleigh, N.C. 27603-1382

Apply Online or Phone through VitalChek

• Online service is available at www.vitalchek.com or you may call toll-free 1-800-669-8310. (Outside the U.S., call 1-615-372-6800.) VitalChek is an independent third-party service and is not affiliated with the State of North Carolina. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for this service, and all major credit cards are accepted, including American Express, Discover, MasterCard or VISA.
• You will be asked to provide your credit card number and its expiration date.
• Provide all the necessary certificate information along with a street address (no APO, FPO, or PO Boxes) where the certificate can be delivered. Someone must be available at the address provided to sign for receipt of the documents that will be express mailed to the requesting party.

Order official, certified death certificates from North Carolina Vital Records online quickly and securely

• VitalChek is an official service, authorized by North Carolina Vital Records, to securely order certified North Carolina vital records, like death records. Other online services may not be authorized by North Carolina Vital Records, and may charge additional fees without providing approved services or guaranteeing confidentiality of your data.
• As a government-approved organization for 25 years, VitalChek safely delivers millions of vital records every year and is Americas No.1 resource for ordering certified vital records across the nation. VitalChek makes purchasing your familys most important documents, such as North Carolina death certificate records, simple, fast and secure:
  • Simple step-by-step ordering with easy to use editing features to help ensure the accuracy of your order.
  • Fast online ordering, processing & delivery options to help get your certificate as quickly as possible.
  • Secure ordering processes that are designed to help protect your identity online.
• VitalChek offers the convenience of ordering North Carolina death certificates for your family from the privacy of your home or office, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, with no hidden fees or unexplained charges. No traffic, no standing in line, no parking, no hassles.

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Required Documents

• Driver's License
• State Identification Card
• Passport or Military Identification Card
• Valid Photo ID Card

Office Locations & Contacts

• Mailing Address

North Carolina Vital Records

1903 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-1903

• Physical Location

North Carolina Vital Records (Cooper Memorial Health Building)

225 N. McDowell St.

Raleigh, NC 27603-1382

• N.C. Vital Records Telephone: 919-733-3000

Fax: 919-733-1511

• Parking for the Cooper Building

One handicap space is available on McDowell Street in front of the Cooper Building. Public parking is available in Visitors Lots (see areas in pink on the map below). The parking fee is $2 per hour, payable on exit. The entrance to the Cooper Building faces McDowell Street (east).

• Hours of Operation

Office Hours for Walk-In Service: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM-3:00 PM.

Main Switchboard Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.

Certificates may also be obtained from your local county. Use the contact information below to inquire.

Alamance County : 124 West Elm Street Graham, North Carolina 27253-2802
Phone: 336-570-6565

Alexander County : 201 1ST SW Ste 1 Taylorsville, NC 28681-2592
Phone: 828-632-9332

Alleghany County : Main Street PO Box 186 Sparta, NC 28675
Phone: 336-372-4342

Anson County : N Green Street P O Box 352 Wadesboro, NC 28170
Phone: 704-994-3201

Ashe County : Court Street, P O Box 367 Jefferson, NC 28640
Phone: 704-694-3212

Avery County : Main Street Newland, NC 28640
Phone: 828-733-8262

Beaufort County : 112 W 2nd Street Washington, NC 27889
Phone: 252-946-2323

Bertie County : 108 W Dundee Street Windsor, NR 27983-1208<br

Eligibility

Certified copies of North Carolina death certificates are issued to the following:

• The decedent's spouse, sibling, mother, father, direct ancestor, direct descendant, stepparent, or stepchild;
• A person seeking information for a legal determination of personal or property rights; or
• An authorized agent, attorney, or legal representative of a person described in (1) or (2) above;
• Funeral director or funeral service licensee.

If you are not qualified to receive a certified copy, you will receive a non-certified copy.

Fees

North Carolina law requires payment before a certificate or a service can be provided. Fees are not refundable after a service has been provided. Certificates are sent first class mail unless otherwise requested and additional fees are applied. When ordering through N.C. Vital Records, our fee schedule is:

• Search fee (includes one copy, if the record is found on file): $24.00
• Additional copies of same certificate: $15 each
• Additional searches (each three year period or portion thereof): $24
• Expedited processing fee: $15
• Overnight delivery within NC: $15
• Overnight delivery outside of NC within U.S.: $20
• Overnight delivery outside of U.S.: Varies

Online

• Certified Death Certificate: $39
• Additional copy: $15 each
• In Person
• Search Fee (includes one copy): $24
• Additional copy: $15 each
• Expedite fee (same-day service): $15

If using a credit/debit card as your payment method, an additional $2.50 processing fee will be charged by VitalChek (independent third-party processor not affiliated with the State of North Carolina).

Methods of Payment

Fees may be paid by one of the following methods:

• Money order.
• Certified check.
• Business check.
• Credit or debit card through VitalChek or in-person.
• Cash is accepted only for in-person services. Please do not send cash in the mail.

(Make certified checks, business checks and money orders payable to N.C. Vital Records. No personal checks please.)

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Please attach documents which can be used by people who would like to follow this procedure.    

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents which would help other people who would like to follow this procedure.    

Processing Time

• Standard orders for other types of certificates may take up to 12 weeks.
• Requests that are accompanied by an expedite fee are usually processed within 3 business days from the time N.C. Vital Records receives the request.

Instructions

• North Carolina Vital Records issues certified copies of North Carolina death certificates for events that occurred within the State of North Carolina.
• Death Certificates are available for events that occurred within the State of North Carolina from 1930 to present.
• You may request the certified copies by mail, in person, and Online (VitalChek).
• Make your certified check or money order payable to NC Vital Records.
• Please do not send cash in the mail.
• Personal checks are not accepted.
• A Death Certificate search costs $24 and includes one copy if a certificate is located. The search covers a three-year period. This search fee is nonrefundable.
• There is a $15 fee for each additional certificate copy requested from the same search. Delivery time is up to 12 weeks plus mail time.
• If you want same-day walk-in service, an additional $15 expedited processing fee is required.
• Mail-in applicants may also receive expedited service.
• Include the $15 expedite fee and write Expedite on the envelope. Expedited mail requests will be processed within two weeks of receipt

Choose Faster Service

There are three ways to get faster service.

• Faster Processing and/or Delivery through the Mail: You can go through the steps for mail-in service but choose to pay more for faster processing and/or faster delivery.
• In-Person: You can go through the steps for drop-off service but choose to pay more for same-day, walk-in service.
• Online or phone: You can order the certificate with your credit or debit card through VitalChek. This is the only way to get service online or by phone.

Required Information

• Full Name of deceased
• Date of death
• Age at time of death
• Race
• Place of death
• Date of birth
• Applicant's name and address
• Applicant's phone number
• Reason for certificate request
• Your relationship as applicant to the Registrant
• Applicant signature
• Photocopy of Gov Issued ID

Need for the Document

If you want to obtain certified death certificate or if you would like to have an additional copy of certified death certificate you can obtain one with following the procedure given below.