Death certificates in North Carolina
Who can order certified copies, what they cost, how long they take, and where the official form lives.
Last updated May 11, 2026. Sources are linked at the bottom of the page.
Why you'll need more copies than you expect
Nearly every institution that held something in the person's name will ask for a certified copy of the death certificate: banks, life insurers, pension plans, the Social Security Administration, the DMV, the county recorder for real estate, and the probate court. Most of them keep the copy. A photocopy is usually not accepted. Families commonly need somewhere between five and fifteen certified copies, and it is cheaper to order them together than one at a time later.
Ordering in North Carolina
| Agency that issues them | North Carolina Vital Records (NC Department of Health and Human Services) |
|---|---|
| Official ordering page | vitalrecords.nc.gov |
| Order form | vitalrecords.nc.gov/order.htm |
| Cost of the first certified copy | $24 first certified copy |
| Cost of each additional copy | $15 per additional copy |
| Standard processing time | approx 4 weeks by mail; varies by method |
| Expedited option | available via vendor |
| Ways to order | online (approved vendor), mail, in person at register of deeds in county of death |
Who is allowed to order a certified copy
- spouse
- parent
- child
- sibling
- grandparent
- grandchild
- stepparent
- stepchild
- authorized representative
If you are not on this list, the usual route is to ask someone who is, or to have the attorney handling the estate request copies.
Who files the original, and when
You do not file the death certificate yourself. The funeral home, direct disposer, or facility that takes custody of the body files it with the state, and the doctor or medical examiner completes the cause-of-death section. In north carolina, the filing deadline is: Within 5 days of death (N.C.G.S. §130A-115). Certified copies can only be issued after that filing is accepted, which is why there is usually a short wait after the death before copies are available.
Want this organized for your situation? The free walkthrough asks a few questions about who died, where, and your relationship to them, and builds a checklist for the first days and weeks in North Carolina.
More for North Carolina
- Probate and small estates
- When there is no will
- Cremation rules
- Estate taxes and life insurance
- All North Carolina topics
Primary sources
- North Carolina Vital Records (NC Department of Health and Human Services): vitalrecords.nc.gov
- Death certificate application form: vitalrecords.nc.gov/order.htm