How to Search North Carolina Public Records

North Carolina's court, criminal, vital, property, voter, and licensing records are maintained across state agencies and the 100 counties listed below. Use the tabs to filter by record type, or jump directly to any source.

  • Courts: The Supreme Court of North Carolina sits at the top of the system; trial-court business is handled by the Superior Court (8 divisions, 50 districts), District Court. Most courts publish dockets and case lookups online.
  • Criminal history: The state's criminal-history repository handles official background checks. Fees and procedures are set by the state agency — see the linked official source.
  • Vital records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued by the North Carolina Vital Records (Division of Public Health) and may also be available locally.
  • Property & recorded documents: Maintained at the county level by the Assessor, Recorder, or Clerk's office.
  • Business filings: The Secretary of State (or equivalent) operates the official business-entity search.
Population
11,046,024
Households
4,364,200
Median Income
$70,804
Median Home Value
$263,400

Vital Records Databases

28 official North Carolina vital records sources.

Vital Records

NCDHHS: DPH: NC Vital Records: Order a Certificate
Official Free
North Carolina Vital Records ATTN: VC Certificate Orders 1903 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1900 · If no record is found, you will be sent a letter. The $24 search fee is nonrefundable even if a record is not located. ... Birth certificates issued after adoptions occur follow a different process and use different forms than regular birth certificate orders.
Carteret County
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Disclaimer There are always records being processed that are not yet available on this system or the in house system or in the permanent index. The accuracy of a searchers result is dependent on the method of search used by the searcher. This is also true of searching a printed index in the ...
Vital Records | Guilford County
Official Free
The cost of all certified copies of vital records is $10 per copy . The costs of uncertified copies are $1 per page if by mail. There is no charge for the first certified copy of the birth certificate for applicants ages 62 or older if requesting your own. Guilford County accepts cash, checks ...
Harnett County Birth, Marriage, Death Certificates, Vital Records
Official Free
An additional fee is charged by ... birth, death, marriage and divorce records by clicking HERE · The Harnett County Registrar of Vital Statistics provides you with birth, death, and marriage certificates ....
eSearch | Quick Name Search
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By using this service, in any form, the user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Jackson County Register of Deeds and anyone involved in storing, retrieving, or displaying this information for any damage of any type that may be caused by retrieving this information over the Internet. Records available in this search consist of released records.
Materials in our Collections
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Johnston County Cohabitation and Slave Marriage Index · Johnston County Marriage Bonds, 1779-1867 · 1902 Johnston County Voter Registration Records · Johnston County Confederate Soldiers · Johnston County Register of Deeds Record Search · Historical Aerial Photographs · Cemetery records for sale and other material provided by the Johnston County Genealogical and Historical Society · Printed Materials: U.S. Census, 1784-1787 · North Carolina Census Indexes, 1790-1870 ·
Materials in our Collections
Official Free
Johnston County Marriage Bonds, 1779-1867 · 1902 Johnston County Voter Registration Records · Johnston County Confederate Soldiers · Johnston County Register of Deeds Record Search · Historical Aerial Photographs · Cemetery records for sale and other material provided by the Johnston County Genealogical and Historical Society ·
Obituaries | The Heritage Center | Johnston County, North Carolina
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Unless noted otherwise, notices since 1885 are from The Smithfield Herald . Prior to that, most notices appeared in one of three newspapers (indicated by abbreviations): Raleigh Register (RR), Farmers & Mechanic (F & M) of Raleigh, and the Clayton Bud (CB). Starting in January 2008, we're also ...
Macon County, North Carolina History, Genealogy Records: Deeds, Courts, Dockets, Newspapers, Vital Records, Wills,…
Official Free
The North Carolina State Archives has the following vital records: Death Certificates, 1913-1975 (Statewide Index: 1913-1979 ); microfilmed Indexes to Births and Deaths (except Wake, Durham); Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868 (not required by law); ...
eSearch | PropertyCheck
Official Free
To navigate between search applications, select from the list below · Last / Firm Name Begins With Contains Exactly Sounds Like First Name Begins With Contains Exactly Sounds Like Side Both Sides Grantor Grantee
Records & Data – Washington County NCGenWeb
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Marriages, 1851-1890 – compilation of licenses of Washington County · North Carolina Marriages 1759-1979 – from Family Record Search · North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 – from FamilySearch and includes images · 1799-1893 NC Marriage Records – full-text of Carrie Broughton’s Marriages from the NC Raleigh Register & Gazette series of books.
Vital Records - North Carolina: Local History & Genealogy Resource Guide - Research Guides at Library of Congress
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Based on the date of the vital event (birth, death, marriage, divorce), determine whether you are seeking a state, territory, county, or parish level record. If the record you are seeking has been digitized, you can access it online, through the projects described below.
Records – Wayne County, NCGenWeb
Official Free
Misc. obituaries at the Wayne County NCGenWeb Archives · 1906-1930 – free search & death certificate images @ Family Record Search · 1995-2009 – search the Wayne County Register of Deeds · 1869-1903 – Wayne County Obituary Abstracts abstracted by the public library ; read the introduction.
EXECUTED IN NORTH CAROLINA - Find a Grave Virtual Cemetery
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North Carolina, Marriage Records, 1741-2011 Name:... ... Executed in the gas chamber for rape in 1947. ... William Dalton Biggs was born March 12, 1924 to... Reidsville, Rockingham County, North Carolina, USA ... North Carolina, Deaths, 1931-1994 Name: Frank... ... ROBERT CRESTOHL has not added any memorials to this virtual cemetery...
The Daily Record - Dunn
Official Free
Josh Stein signed an executive order to increase housing opportunities and affordability for all North Carolinians on Tuesday. … ... DUNN — Donnie Ray Tew, 78, died Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Wake Medical Center in Raleigh. ... The Daily Record office will be closed on Friday, May 22, and Monday, May 25, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. ... FOUR OAKS — A 308-acre tract of land in Johnston County will become the county’s first publicly-owned nature preserve, marking a major milesto…
Register of Deeds | Franklin County, TN
Official Free
NOTICE Courthouse Computer Systems is pleased to welcome Franklin County, TN as our newest customer. To assist with the transition to the new system we are offering free public search access through January 31st, 2024. Beginning February 1st, 2024, purchasing access plans via credit card will be required.
Register of Deeds | Craven County, NC
Official Free
The Craven County Register of Deeds office makes no guarantees regarding the collection, accuracy, authenticity, or use of these records. The web site is for informational use and convenience only. The Register of Deeds and Courthouse Computer Systems shall in no way be held responsible for ...
Register of Deeds - Caldwell County, NC
Official Free
The Caldwell County Register of Deeds office makes no guarantees regarding the collection, accuracy, authenticity, or use of these records. The web site is for informational use and convenience only. The Register of Deeds and Courthouse Computer Systems shall in no way be held responsible for ...
Welcome - Mecklenburg NC ROD Web Access
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The Register of Deeds Office, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina provides this web site as a public service. Information available on this web site is collected, maintained, and provided solely for the convenience of the public users. While every effort is made to assure that this information ...
Burke Co. Vital Records and Land Grants
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The records these pioneers give us a better understanding of their lives · Land records are an accurate indicator of where these folks lived. Many of the records of their births, marriages and deaths exist and tell us who they were
Get Certificate Now Home Page
Official Free
GetCertificateNow.com is an online service that connects you with the local Register of Deeds office in order to obtain a certified copy (raised seal) or regular copy of a vital record. CCSCounties Alamance, NC Alexander, NC Alleghany, NC Anson, NC Ashe, NC Avery, NC Beaufort, NC Bertie, NC ...
Duplin County, NC Register Of Deeds
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009 LAMM'S GROVE PRIMITIVE BA Moore County North Carolina Cemeteries
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Cemetery Census Cemetery Records on the Web · HOME ABOUT US CEMETERY LAW HOW TO HELP
Stanly County, NC Register Of Deeds
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This website requires a frames-enabled browser
Search Obituaries
Official Free
Last Name, First Name "Nickname" ... of Death; Publication Abbreviation; Publication Date; tag name · The publication abbreviation can be found in our list of publications. Find the link to it and other information on our main page. This can help you contact the publication to obtain a copy of the obituary. The tag name is the code for the person who submitted ...
Vital Records | New Hanover County, NC
Official Free
The local Health Director serves as the county vital records registrar for registration of all births and deaths, and fetal deaths , in New Hanover County, as well as the issuance of Burial Transit Permits and Disinterment / Re-interment Permits.
Rockingham County
Official Free
Check Order Status · Certified Documents in 3 Simple Steps · 1 Apply · Provide the required information to obtain a certified copy · 2 Pay · Enter credit card information for secure processing · 3 Receive · Documents will be mailed to you
Untitled Document Records from the Shuford Funeral Home 1908-1957
Official Free
Ollie Hickory ... Usnf ?, Wm. T. ... Vanhorn, Mrs. Jane ... Vanhorn, Robert L. ... Vanhorn. Mandie ... Wagner, Henry D. ... Wagner, Mrs. ... Wagner, T. J. ... Wagner, Wm. P. ... Wainswright, J. Arthur Will Village, ... Wakefield, Abram B. ... Walker, Geo. ... T.B. & Pneumonia ... Walker, Infant of W. ... file:///C|/Documents and Settings/ptabor/Desktop/funeral...

North Carolina Counties

100 North Carolina counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Frequently Asked Questions

North Carolina's official criminal-history repository is operated by the state law-enforcement agency. Free public access to a complete criminal history is generally not available; an official background check typically requires fingerprints and a fee. County-level court records can be searched at no cost through individual court websites.

North Carolina's court system is headed by the Supreme Court of North Carolina. Trial-court business is handled by the Superior Court (8 divisions, 50 districts), District Court. Many North Carolina courts publish docket searches and case lookups online — see the Court Records tab above for direct links.

The North Carolina Secretary of State (or equivalent agency) operates the official business-entity search. You can typically search corporations, LLCs, LPs, and other registered entities by name or registration number. See the Licenses or Business tab above.

The Assessor determines property values for tax purposes. The Recorder (or Clerk-Recorder) records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property documents. Some county offices combine these roles, others keep them separate. Check the specific county page for details.

North Carolina vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce certificates) are issued by the North Carolina Vital Records (Division of Public Health) and, in many cases, by local county clerks. Fees and ID requirements are set by the issuing agency.

Most county-level property and recorded-document searches are free for basic information through the Assessor or Recorder website. Certified copies of deeds typically have a per-page fee. Direct links are in the Property Records tab above.

The North Carolina sex offender registry is maintained by the state law-enforcement agency under the Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Act. The registry is searchable by name, ZIP code, or address.

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