Adoption
The process for obtaining a birth certificate after adoption in North Carolina involves several steps and varies based on the type of adoption: in-state, out-of-state, or foreign-born.
For in-state adoptions, the Clerk of Superior Court (COSC) grants the adoption, sends the court order to the NC Division of Social Services (DSS), which then sends a report to the NC Office of Vital Records (NCOVR). NCOVR prepares the new birth certificate, and adoptive parents or their attorney can order it using the Adoptions Processing Form.
Out-of-state adoptions require submitting a certified out-of-state court order, along with the Adoptions Processing Form and fees, directly to NCOVR.
Foreign-born adoptions involve creating a Certificate of Identification for Child of Foreign Birth.
Fees apply for processing, and specific identification requirements must be met. Certified copies of the birth certificate can be requested by the adoptee, adoptee's children, adoptive parent(s), or adoptee's spouse, brothers, and sisters, with proper application and identification. Attorneys can also request copies with authorization.