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Certified Copies

• A spouse, sibling, parent, child, stepparent or stepchild of a deceased individual can receive a certified copy of the death certificate. Also, a person who needs the death certificate to legally determine property or personal rights can receive a certified copy. Legal representatives or authorized agents of the individuals mentioned above may receive certified copies on their behalf. Additionally, a funeral director and funeral service licensee are persons entitled to receive this type of copy. In all cases, eligibility must be proven.

Uncertified Copies

• Anyone can receive uncertified copies of death certificates, as long as no legal restrictions exist against it and you can complete the entire portion of the application requesting a death certificate. Courts do not accept uncertified copies for legal proceedings. North Carolina Vital Records will stamp “Uncertified” on your copy, and it will not have the raised Vital Records seal.

How to Order

• An application requesting the death certificate must be completed and mailed to North Carolina Vital Records along with fees. The application requires the full name, race and birth date of the deceased, the date of death, age at the time of death, city or county in which the death occurred, number of certified or uncertified copies being requested, your relationship to the deceased, reason for request and your signature and contact information. As of May 2011, a nonrefundable $24 fee is required to search for the certificate and provide one copy if a certificate is found. Each additional copy within a three-year period from the original request costs $15. Your request will take up to 12 weeks to process. Expedited service, including same-day walk-in or two-week processing time for mailed-in requests is an additional $15. To receive a copy, mail the application and fee to NC Vital Records, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1903, or walk in Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to the Raleigh office at 225 N. McDowell St., Raleigh, NC 27603-1382. Also, you can contact the county registrar of deeds where the death occurred.

Other Legalities

• The state registrar is the only entity with access to the original death certificate in North Carolina. County registrars and North Carolina State Archives have access to indices of the original record, as authorized by the state registrar. False statements made to gain access to a copy of a death certificate or any other vital record is a felony violation, and any gain received must be forfeited.