Birth and death certificates

Born or died in Haywood County: the county Register of Deeds below holds the certificate and issues certified copies in person.

Born or died in a different NC county: Haywood’s office can’t issue it. Request it from that county’s register of deeds instead, or from NC Vital Records in Raleigh, which covers the whole state.

Who can get a certified copy: state law restricts them to the person themselves, close family (spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent), or someone they’ve formally authorized — not the general public. An uncertified, informational copy is easier to get but isn’t accepted for legal purposes like a passport or a benefits claim.

Adoption changes who qualifies for a certified copy of the adoptee’s birth certificate — ask the office directly if that’s your situation.

What to expect: bring photo ID and be ready to show your relationship to the person on the certificate — staff can’t hand over a certified copy without confirming you’re entitled to one.