How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in North Carolina?
From Everendium · Last reviewed October 15, 2026
This guide covers North Carolina. For the general overview, see Getting Death Certificates: How Many You'll Need and Why.
Quick answer
North Carolina sets no required number of death certificates; the right count depends on how many banks, insurers, and agencies each need an original certified copy. What North Carolina does set is the price: At the state office, a certified copy costs $24, which is also the search fee, and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $15. But the Register of Deeds in the county where the death occurred charges only $10 per certified copy, and an out-of-county copy of a recent death costs $24.
This is one of the most common practical questions after a death. North Carolina sets no required number, but it does set the price, which makes the count worth deciding before you order.
Is there a set number required by North Carolina?
No. The right number depends on how many banks, insurance companies, and government agencies in your situation each need their own certified copy, not on North Carolina law.
What will the copies cost in North Carolina?
At the state office, a certified copy costs $24, which is also the search fee, and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $15. But the Register of Deeds in the county where the death occurred charges only $10 per certified copy, and an out-of-county copy of a recent death costs $24. At those rates, ten certified copies would cost $159 in state or agency fees, before any online-vendor or shipping charges.
Does it matter when I order in North Carolina?
Ten copies from the state office would cost $159, but ten from the county Register of Deeds where the death occurred would cost $100, so the county is usually the better choice when it’s an option.
Which institutions typically require one?
Banks and credit unions, life insurers, retirement account administrators, the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (if applicable) are common examples, though your own list depends on your accounts and assets. See our general guide on getting death certificates.
Can I use photocopies instead?
Generally no. Most institutions require an original certified copy, though it’s worth asking each one, since policies occasionally vary.
Where can I order more in North Carolina?
The Register of Deeds in the county of death sells certified copies for $10 each, much less than the state’s $24 and $15. Details on each option are in our guide to getting a death certificate in North Carolina.
Fees and rules change - confirm current details with North Carolina Vital Records or a county Register of Deeds before you send payment.
Sources
- Franklin County Register of Deeds - Vital Statistics ($10 per certified copy in county; $24 out of county; how local registrars and Registers of Deeds work)(Government)
- Wake County Register of Deeds - Birth, death, and marriage certificates ($24 and $15 for each additional; in-person and online ordering)(Government)
- Durham County Register of Deeds - Death certificates (NCDAVE statewide system for deaths from August 2020 on)(Government)
About this review
Everendium Editorial Team · last reviewed October 15, 2026.
Fees, eligibility rules, and ordering options were checked on October 15, 2026 against the state's own published fee information, application forms, and county government pages listed in the sources. Death certificate fees change often, and some official pages were read only as search extracts, so the current fee should be confirmed on the agency's page before paying. Recommended for periodic re-verification. This is general information, not legal advice
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