Wake County (NC) Birth Certificate Online

How to Get a Certified Birth Certificate in Wake County (NC)

To order an authorized copy of a Wake County, (NC) birth certificate:

• Fill out the birth certificate application (available by clicking the button on this page) with the required information
• Print and sign it
• Mail it to the North Carolina vital records office with the necessary requirements, a prepaid self-addressed envelope, and payment (as detailed in the personalized instructions you will receive)

Your certified copy will be issued and sent by mail to the address printed on your self-addressed postage-paid envelope.

Copies of a Wake County Birth and Death Certificates may be ordered by mailing your application package to the following address:

North Carolina Vital Records Office
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900

Alternatively, citizens of the rest of Wake County or Raleigh can also order a certified copy of their birth certificate at the Vital Records Office. Those who prefer to submit their birth certificate application in person, may do so at the following address during walk-in hours.

Wake County Vital Records
One Bank of America Plaza
Suite 300 - Floor 3
412 Fayetteville St
Raleigh, NC 27601

Please note that As of May 7, 2025, U.S. citizens and residents must have a REAL ID-compliant driving license or ID card to enter federal facilities and board commercial aircrafts. Requirements to obtain a REAL ID may include proof of identity, such as a certified copy of the birth certificate.

Wake County birth certificate requirements

To get a certified copy of a Wake County, North Carolina birth certificate, you will need to complete the online birth certificate application with your personal data:

• Full name (as it would appear on the certificate)
• Date of birth
• Mother’s name or parent’s name prior to first marriage
• Father’s name or parent’s name prior to first marriage

Citizens applying for a certified copy of a Wake County birth certificate need to prove their identity and be over 18 years old.

• State of North Carolina Driver’s License
• State of North Carolina ID Card
• Driver’s license issued by another U.S. State, jurisdiction or territory state-issued
• Photo State Identification Card issued by another U.S. State, jurisdiction or territory
• U.S. Passport or foreign issued

Who is eligible to apply

An official copy of a Wake County (NC) birth certificate can be ordered by:

• The subject of a birth certificate (the person whose birth is recorded in the certificate)
• The father, mother, or stepparent of the birth certificate’s subject
• The child of the person the birth certificate refers to
• The spouse of the person the birth certificate refers to
• The sibling of the birth certificate’s subject
• The grandparent or grandchild of the person named on the record
• The subject’s legal guardian
• The legal representative of a person eligible to obtain the certificate
• An individual seeking information for legal determination of personal or property rights.
• An individual whose right to access the birth certificate has been established by a court of law

Please note that the documentation that must be presented alongside the Wake County birth certificate application may vary depending on the person requesting the vital record.

How to Request an Apostille for a Wake County (NC) Birth Certificate

If you need to use your birth certificate outside the U.S territory, your document should bear an apostille to grant it legal validity abroad.

This can be obtained by mail. Simply send your official birth certificate, together with the apostille fee to the Secretary of State’s office in a self-addressed postage-paid envelope. Make sure to have Certificate of Authentication Request at hand. Certain counties may have additional requirements.

North Carolina Authentications Unit address:

Department of the Secretary of State
Office of Authentications
2 S Salisbury St,
Raleigh, NC 27601

North Carolina Authentications unit PO BOX:

Office of Authentications
PO Box 29622
Raleigh. NC 27626-0622

Wake County (NC) Birth Certificate Processing Times

In most cases, your Wake County birth certificate order will be filled within 5 weeks. However, some vital records may take longer due to peak demand periods.

You will then receive your certified copy of the Wake County, North Carolina (NC) birth certificate by post, delivered right to your door.

Once you have mailed the application, along with a copy of a photo ID and the fees, the vital records office will process your request.

Rush service for Wake County birth certificate orders is available for an additional fee. In this case, your expedited birth certificate will be delivered within approximately 3-5 business days.

North Carolina Vital Records Office

The following is a complete list of Vital Records and Public Health offices that can provide birth certificate copies in North Carolina .

Keep in mind that the Wake County Clerk’s office may sometimes process requests faster than the state vital records office.

Regardless of whether the birth certificate you require is found or not, a non-refundable search fee will be charged.