How to Get Certified Copies of Your Divorce Decree in North Carolina

Every government agency and financial institution you'll deal with after your divorce requires a certified copy of your decree — the version with the raised seal of the Clerk of Superior Court. A regular photocopy won't work. Getting enough certified copies upfront saves weeks of backtracking.

Where to Get Certified Copies

Certified copies are available from the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where your divorce was granted. This is the Civil Division of the courthouse where your case was filed — not the Register of Deeds, not vital records, and not the state capital.

You can request them:

• In person at the clerk's office during business hours
• By mail with a written request including your full name, your former spouse's name, the case number (if known), and the approximate date of the divorce

Some NC counties now offer electronic filing and remote requests through the eCourts system, but not all counties have fully transitioned. Call the clerk's office first to confirm their process.

How Much Do Certified Copies Cost?

Fees vary slightly by county, but most NC Clerk of Superior Court offices charge $5-10 per certified copy. Some counties charge a flat fee for the first copy and a reduced rate for additional copies ordered at the same time.

If your divorce was finalized years ago and the records have been archived, there may be an additional retrieval fee.

How Many Copies Do You Need?

More than you think. Each of these institutions needs a certified copy, and many won't return it:

1. Social Security Administration — for name change (they return it)
2. NCDMV — for driver's license name change
3. U.S. State Department — for passport update (mailed with the application; returned after processing, but you'll be without it for 6-8 weeks)
4. Banks and credit unions — some keep a photocopy and return the original, others require you to leave the certified copy
5. QDRO/retirement plan administrator — certified copy required with the domestic relations order
6. Register of Deeds — for recording a deed transfer
7. Insurance companies — for policy changes
8. Employer HR — for benefits and payroll updates

Order at least 5-6 certified copies to start. You can always order more later, but each trip or mailing to the clerk's office costs time.

Certified Copy vs. Regular Copy vs. Vital Records Certificate

These are three different things:

• Certified copy from the Clerk of Superior Court: The actual divorce judgment with a raised seal, signed by the clerk. This is what agencies require.
• Regular photocopy: No seal, no legal weight. Rejected everywhere.
• Divorce verification from NC Vital Records: The Department of Health and Human Services maintains a statewide divorce index. You can request a verification letter ($24) from NC Vital Records, but this confirms only that a divorce occurred — it doesn't include the actual terms or orders of the decree. It's useful for genealogy or background checks, not for post-divorce administrative tasks.

What If You Lost Your Decree

If you've lost your certified copies or never received them, contact the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted. They maintain permanent records and can issue new certified copies at any time, though older records may take longer to locate.

You'll need to provide identifying information: your name, your former spouse's name, and ideally the case number or approximate date. If you don't have the case number, the clerk's office can search by name.

The North Carolina After-Divorce Checklist includes a certified copy tracker that helps you manage which agencies have your originals, which have returned them, and when you need to order more — preventing the scramble of realizing you're out of copies mid-process.

See more North Carolina guides →