North Carolina documents are apostilled by the North Carolina Secretary of State, Authentications Division in Raleigh. If your document was issued in North Carolina, or notarized by a notary commissioned in North Carolina, that is the only office that can certify it, wherever you live now.
North Carolina apostilles come from the Secretary of State’s Authentications Division in Raleigh at $10 a document. County registers of deeds issue certified birth, death and marriage records as well as the state, and both are accepted.
We handle North Carolina orders by mail from anywhere in the country, and a mobile notary can come to you anywhere in North Carolina when a document needs signing first. The state fee is already inside our price, along with the submission and return shipping.
At a glance
North Carolina documents we apostille most often
| Document | Where it comes from | Notarization |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | NC Vital Records, or the register of deeds in the county | Not required, certified copy |
| Marriage certificate | The register of deeds in the county where the licence was issued | Not required, certified copy |
| Death certificate | NC Vital Records, or the register of deeds in the county | Not required, certified copy |
| Divorce decree | Clerk of the court that granted it | Not required, needs court seal |
| Power of attorney, affidavit | You | Required, North Carolina notary |
| Diploma or transcript | Your school | Usually required |
| Company documents | NC Secretary of State | Certified copies, or notarized if company-issued |
| FBI check, IRS, USCIS | Federal agency | Federal, goes to the U.S. Dept. of State |
Not sure which you have? Send it through the free review and we will tell you before you pay. No usable copy? We can order a certified copy.
North Carolina-specific things worth knowing
- The register of deeds is the county office for vital records and marriage licences.
- Adoption apostilles cost less when you order duplicate originals at the same time as the first.
- The notary must be commissioned in North Carolina. A document notarized across a state line goes to that state instead.
- Federal documents never go to NC Secretary of State. An FBI background check, IRS letter or naturalization certificate is apostilled by the U.S. Department of State. See federal apostille.
How it works
Step 1
Send us the document
Post the original in, book a mobile notary who comes to you anywhere in North Carolina, or have us retrieve a certified copy.
Step 2
We check it first
We confirm the copy is certified, correctly sealed, and notarized where needed, before any state fee is paid.
Step 3
Apostille from NC Secretary of State
We submit to Raleigh and pay the $10 state fee, which is already included in your price.
Step 4
Back to you
Shipped tracked and insured, or scanned and emailed as soon as it is issued.
North Carolina Apostille: common questions
Who issues apostilles in North Carolina?
The North Carolina Secretary of State, Authentications Division, in Raleigh. Documents issued in North Carolina, or notarized by a North Carolina notary, go there.
How much does a North Carolina apostille cost?
The state charges $10. Our price starts at $99 per document and already includes that fee, so there is nothing extra to pay the state. See pricing.
Does North Carolina need a county certification first?
No. North Carolina certifies its notaries and officials directly, so a correct document goes straight to the state.
My document is federal. Can North Carolina apostille it?
No. An FBI background check, IRS letter, USCIS document or federal court record carries a federal signature, so it goes to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., whichever state you live in. See federal apostille.
I live outside North Carolina. Can I still get a North Carolina apostille?
Yes. The state that issued the document decides the office, not where you live. Post it to us from anywhere and we submit it in Raleigh.
How long does a North Carolina apostille take?
It depends on the state’s current queue plus shipping. See processing times for what we are seeing now, and ask about rush if you have a deadline.
Official sources
Requirements, fees and processing times are set by the authorities below and can change without notice. Verify anything time-critical directly with them.
North Carolina Secretary of State, Authentications Division, apostilles · CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records
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Related: Apostille by state · Virginia apostille · South Carolina apostille · Tennessee apostille · Federal apostille