Alexander County Register of Deeds (RoD) Scott H. Hines is reminding residents that access to certified copies of vital records—such as birth, death, and marriage certificates—is governed by North Carolina laws. Both the Register of Deeds and staff are legally bound to follow these regulations, and some records can only be obtained by certain people from the county or state office that holds them.
Under N.C. General Statute § 130A-93, certified copies of vital records may be issued only to the person named on the record, certain immediate family members, or an authorized legal representative. These restrictions are in place to protect the security and privacy of vital records and to combat the growing problem of identity theft. The Register of Deeds cannot legally override these limitations.
REAL ID applicants should know the rules on vital records access
This reminder is especially important for residents preparing to obtain a REAL ID. Many people are mistakenly told that the Register of Deeds office can provide any vital record they need. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, and the RoD office wants to help residents avoid unnecessary trips and wasted gas.
What the Alexander County Register of Deeds CAN provide for REAL ID purposes:
• Certified copies of birth certificates if:
• You were born in Alexander County no matter the year and were not adopted.
• You were born between 1971–2025 in another North Carolina County and were not adopted.
• Certified copies of marriage certificates, if your marriage license was issued in Alexander County.
What the Alexander County Register of Deeds CANNOT provide:
• RoD cannot issue a certified copy of a marriage license if your marriage was recorded in another NC county.
• RoD cannot issue a certified birth certificate for people born in a different North Carolina county before 1971, or if you were adopted.
• Note: NC Office of Vital Records in Raleigh is working to digitize records from 1961-1970 so records will be available for those years, but as of September 2025, records before 1971 are not available through the statewide certified copy system.
Residents whose records fall outside these parameters will need to contact the Register of Deeds office in the county where the record was originally filed, or in certain cases such as adoptions, the North Carolina Vital Records office in Raleigh.
By understanding these requirements ahead of time, residents can save valuable time and ensure they get the proper documents for their REAL ID or other official needs.
For more information, please contact Register Hines or staff at the Alexander County Register of Deeds Office at (828) 632-3152 or visit https://alexandercountync.gov/rod.