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North Carolina birth certificates

Update your name
YesAfter your legal name change
Gender markerThe sex or gender field (M, F, or X) printed on an ID document or stored in an agency's record.
YesM or F with a letter from a provider

If you were born in North Carolina, NC Vital Records' current application lets you change the sex on your birth certificate to M or F with a provider's certification of your gender identity, or with an NC license or US passport already showing that sex. No surgery or court order is needed on that route. Since December 1, 2025 the original certificate is kept attached to the new one as a multi-page record.

Main cost
$39
Apply
Online or by mail
Typical wait
about 30 days

Draft from official sources, September 24, 2026. Not yet checked by a person. How we verify

This applies only if you were born here. Birth certificates follow your birth state, not where you live now. Choose your birth state

On this page
  1. How it works
  2. Steps
  3. Costs and fee waivers
  4. Forms
  5. Requirements
  6. After you finish
  7. Tips
  8. Laws and other guides
  9. Sources

How it works

North Carolina's statute (G.S. 130A-118(b)(4)) describes a surgery route: a new certificate is issued when a physician certifies in a notarized statement that you had sex reassignment surgery. But the State Registrar's current Birth Certificate Modification Application (form DHHS 1578) also lists a route to "correct sex designation" with any one of these:

  1. A valid NC driver's license or state ID, or a valid US passport, showing the sex you are requesting.
  2. A certification of gender identity signed by a physician, psychiatrist, physician's assistant, licensed therapist, counselor, psychologist, case worker, or social worker.
  3. A statement from your birth attendant.

What changed in 2025 and 2026:

  • Since December 1, 2025 (HB 805), when the sex is changed the State Registrar attaches the new certificate to the original and keeps both "as a multi-page document". ACLU of NC reads this to mean a certified copy will show both pages.
  • Since January 1, 2026, state law defines male and female by sex at conception. The law does not stop amendments, and the agency still publishes the form, but advocates say agencies could reinterpret it.
  • Certificates changed before these dates are not affected retroactively.

Only NC Vital Records can change an NC birth certificate. If you were born in another state, follow that state's rules.

Steps

  1. Gather your proof of sex designation[1][4]

    Pick one: (1) a valid NC driver's license or state ID, or a valid US passport, already showing the sex you want (updating your NC license first with DL-300 is often the easiest path); or (2) a certification signed by a physician, psychiatrist, PA, licensed therapist, counselor, psychologist, case worker, or social worker stating your gender identity in their professional opinion. For the statutory surgery route instead, you need a notarized statement from a physician certifying surgery plus your written request.

  2. Complete and notarize the application[1][2]

    Fill in form DHHS 1578 and sign it before a notary. If you are also changing your name, include a certified copy of your court order in the same request.

  3. Submit online or by mail[2][1]

    • Online: the NCOVR self-service portal (create an account, choose "Birth Certificate Modification Application"). Requests based on a court order must be mailed so the certified copy can be inspected.
    • By mail: NC Vital Records, Attn: Amendments Unit, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1900, with a $39 certified check or money order.
    • Some county registers of deeds also accept modification requests; call yours first.
    Cost
    $39 amendment (search, processing, and one copy)

  4. Receive your amended certificate[2][3]

    Amendments are to be processed within 30 calendar days after a complete, notarized application with payment is received. The $39 includes one copy; order more afterwards for $15 each (plus $24 search if ordered separately).

    Cost
    $15 additional certified copy of the same certificate
    Time
    about 30 days

Costs and fee waivers

No fee waiver is available for this step.[3]

NC Vital Records lists no fee waiver for amendments.

WhatCostNotes
Amendment (search, processing, and one copy)[1][2]$39Nonrefundable even if the request is denied. Online portal payments may add a processing fee.
Additional certified copy of the same certificate[3]$15

More detail

Forms1 form: DHHS 1578

Open a form for tips on filling it out.

DHHS 1578Birth Certificate Modification ApplicationRequired

How to fill it out

  • Part I: your name at birth, date and county of birth, and parents' names exactly as on the current certificate.
  • Part II: under "incorrect information" write the current sex (and name, if changing); under "corrected information" write the new sex (and new name). For Reason for modification write "correct sex designation" (and "legal name change" if applicable). Under Documentary evidence list what you attach (for example "provider certification of gender identity" or "NC driver's license").
  • Sign in front of a notary; do not sign beforehand.
  • Attach a legible copy of an acceptable photo ID (pages 2 to 3 list them). The ID used for identity does not have to show the new sex.
  • For a name change, attach a certified copy of the court order.
  • Pay $39 by certified check or money order to "N.C. Vital Records". No personal checks or cash.

Open DHHS 1578[1]

RequirementsWhere you live, age, timeline
Where you live
You must have been born in North Carolina. Where you live now does not matter.[1][2][4][5][6]
Age
Adults 18 and older apply for themselves. For a minor, both parents listed on the certificate (or a legal guardian) must sign a request to change name or sex.
Other
If the sex field was already modified once without a court order, Vital Records will require a court order to change it again.
How long it takes

About 30 days after a complete application is received.

After you finishCheck the certified copy you receive.

Check the certified copy you receive. Because of the multi-page rule in effect since December 1, 2025, it may include your original certificate; keep that in mind when deciding which document to show. If you update the birth certificate before your driver's license, you can use it at NCDMV instead of DL-300. The US passport and Social Security sex fields currently cannot be changed.

Tips2 tips from people who have done this
  • Unsure whether your sex field was already changed once? You can send a "Request to Amend a Record" form with a $24 search fee first, but it adds processing time.
  • Questions go to the Vital Records Amendments Unit at 919-792-5986, or the general line 984-236-7203.
Laws and other guides2 laws, 2 other guides

Laws and rules

  • N.C.G.S. § 130A-118: Amendment of birth certificates; (b)(4) sex change after surgery; (f) multi-page record when sex is changed (effective December 1, 2025)
  • HB 805 (2025), S.L. 2025-84: Sex definitions (G.S. 12-3.3, effective January 1, 2026) and multi-page birth record rule

Other trusted guides

Sources

6 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.Show all
  1. Birth Certificate Modification Application (Form DHHS 1578, 07/2022)NC DHHS, Office of Vital Records, Form. accessed
    “OPTION 2: Certification of Gender Identity: A certification signed by a physician, psychiatrist, physician's assistant, licensed therapist, counselor, psychologist, case worker, or social worker stating, based on their professional opinion, the gender identity of the registrant.”
  2. Change a RecordNC Vital Records, Official page. accessed
    “Birth and death amendment requests submitted to NC Vital Records or a Register of Deeds office are to be processed within 30 calendar days after the office receives the completed application”
  3. Fees and PaymentNC Vital Records, Official page. accessed
    “Additional copies of same certificate $15 each. Amending birth or death certificates or fetal death reports $15.”
  4. G.S. 130A-118, Amendment of birth and death certificatesNorth Carolina General Assembly, Law. accessed
    “the State Registrar shall attach the new certificate to the certificate of birth then on file and shall preserve both certificates as a multi-page document.”
  5. HB 805 (2025), ratified, S.L. 2025-84North Carolina General Assembly, Law. accessed
  6. HB805 Anti-Trans Bill FAQACLU of North Carolina, Organization. accessed
    “this law does not retroactively change anything for already updated birth certificates.”