This page contains information about Vital Records, which is handled by the Chatham County Public Health Department and Chatham County Register of Deeds. 

Requirements for Obtaining or Filing Documents

• Obtaining copies of vital records (birth, death or marriage certificate):  The person requesting a copy must be the person named in the record, a relative of the person (spouse, brother, sister, child, parent, step-parent, grandparent) or an authorized agent by law (attorney or legal representative with appropriate documentation). You must bring a photo identification with you (valid driver's license, passport, etc.).
• Filing for marriage license: visit the Marriage License Requirements page for more information.
• Document recording standards: visit the Document Recording Standards page for more information.

Certificates of Birth

Any birth that takes place in Chatham County outside of a hospital is considered a home birth. The certificate for home births is processed electronically by the Deputy Registrar of Vital Records at the Chatham County Public Health Department. Once processed, the certificate is released to the Chatham County Register of Deeds and the State Vital Records department for recording. 

All other Certificates of Birth for babies who will reside in Chatham County are processed electronically by the hospital the babies are born in and then also released to the Chatham County Register of Deeds and the State Vital Records department for recording.

Out-of-County Birth Certificates

Chatham County Register of Deeds participates in the Statewide Birth Certificate Issuance Program. This program will allow the Chatham County Register of Deeds to search and certify birth certificates in any county within North Carolina, from 1971 and thereafter. NOTE: Out-of-County birth certificates are available by appointment only. No statewide birth certificates will be issued after 4:00 pm.

Cost for Out-of-County Birth Certificate (cash only):

• $24.00 per search which will include one certified copy
• $15.00 for each additional certified copy of the same birth certificate

IMPORTANT: This service does not include birth certificates for adoptees or delayed births registered more than one year after the date of birth. Those records can be obtained through Vital Records in Raleigh, NC.

Certificates of Death

Death certificates for all decedents that pass away in Chatham County are processed by the Deputy Registrar of Vital Records at the Chatham County Public Health Department. The Deputy Registrar expects to receive the Certificate of Death from the disposition establishment within five days of death for processing and recording the certificate with the Chatham County Register of Deeds and the State Vital Records department.

Corrections to Certificates

Any corrections to certificates processed by the Deputy Registrar can be made by the Deputy Registrar prior to being released or sent to the State for recording. Once a certificate has been released or sent to the State, any request for corrections to certificates must be made directly to the State Vital Records department for correcting. Upon correction, the State Vital Records will send the revised certificate to the Deputy Registrar at the Public Health Department or the Register of Deeds, depending on the situation. 

Requests to change a certificate to the State Vital Records department may take six weeks or more depending on their volume of requests. Visit the North Carolina State Vital Records to change a certificate. 

Requesting Copies of Certificates

Please contact the Chatham County Register of Deeds to request copies of certificates.

Chatham County Register of Deeds

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 756, Pittsboro, N.C. 27312
Phone: (919) 542-8235

Office Location: 12 East Street, Pittsboro, N.C. 27312