How to Get North Carolina Vital Records (Start Here)
Vital records in North Carolina — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records — are handled at the state level by NC DHHS Vital Records. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the Register of Deeds.
What this page covers: North Carolina vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).
Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact NC DHHS Vital Records. For marriage licenses, contact the Register of Deeds in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.
Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.
Births | Certificates
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Order North Carolina birth certificates 1913-present from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Carteret County Births, Deaths, Marriages
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The Carteret County Register of Deeds offer three excellent vital record databases: a birth index, a death index, and marriage records.
Deaths | Certificates
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Order North Carolina death certificates 1930-present from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Divorce Certificates
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North Carolina divorce certificates 1958-present from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Guilford County Vital Records
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Guilford County birth and death records. Guilford County Register of Deeds requires registration (free) before using the database.
Harnett County Marriages
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Search the Harnett County Register of Deeds recorded documents database for marriage record information by groom name, bride name, certificate.
Hickory Funeral Home Records 1908-1957
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Select Funeral Records from Shuford Funeral Home, 1908-1957 to view records listed in alphabetical order by name.
Jackson County | Vital Records
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Birth, delayed birth, death, and marriage records from the Jackson County Register of Deeds.
Johnston County Cohabitation Marriage & Slave Index
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Johnston County Heritage Center Research Databases Project has a collection of so-called freedmen's cohabitation and marriage records.
Johnston County Marriage Bonds 1779-1853
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Search this Johnston County Heritage Center database to view records of Johnston County, North Carolina marriage bonds recorded between 1779 and 1853.
Johnston County Obituaries 1885-Present
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Search the Johnston County Smithfield Herald obituaries from 1885 to the present by last name, age or date.
Macon County Deaths | 1913-1978
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Browse this private database by name for death certificates filed in Macon County between 1913 and 1978.
Marriages | Certificates
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Order North Carolina marriage certificates 1962-present from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Onslow County Vital Records
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Search for Onslow County birth, death, and marriage records by name, date range, and other criteria.
Washington County Marriages | 1851-1920
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Browse this RootsWeb database by name or year for marriages recorded in Washington County between 1851 and 1920.
Wayne County Births | 1877-1903
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Births listed in the Goldsboro Messenger and Goldsboro Headlight in Wayne County, North Carolina between 1877 and 1903.
🌐 wcpl.org
Wayne County Obituaries 1869-1903
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Wayne County Public Library list of obituaries in Goldsboro between 1869 and 1903, in PDF format.
🌐 wcpl.org
Search North Carolina by Record Type
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I get a birth certificate in North Carolina? ▼
Contact NC DHHS Vital Records. Most states accept online orders through VitalChek or the state's own ordering system. You must be an eligible applicant (the person named, a parent, legal guardian, or authorized representative).
Where do I get a marriage license in North Carolina? ▼
Marriage licenses are issued by the Register of Deeds. Both parties typically must appear in person. The license is valid for a limited period and must be used in North Carolina.
Where are divorce records in North Carolina? ▼
Divorce records are maintained by the court that granted the divorce. In North Carolina, that is typically the Superior Court in the county where the divorce was filed.
Can I order vital records online? ▼
Most states allow online ordering of certified vital records through VitalChek or a state-run portal. Fees and processing times vary. Some records may require a mail-in application.
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