Emergency Video Notarization EVN expired on June 30, 2024 at 12:01 AM. House Bill 556, which would have extended EVN until July 1, 2025 has been vetoed over an unrelated matter to notarization. Unless the General Assembly should override the veto or another legislative action is taken to extend EVN, it is NOT law. DO NOT perform an EVN until this changes. Current law requires notarizations to be done in person.
Save Time, File Online The NC Department of Secretary of State is entering its seasonal busy season. Combined with continued staffing shortages, this means there will be delays processing Annual Reports and other business organization documents. The delays are greatest for mailed filings. We strongly urge our customers to save time and file their documents online if at all possible. Mailed filings currently require 10 to 15 days to process, compared to 5 days or less for documents filed online. Save time, file online.
Authentication Certificate Turn-Around Times The NC Department of the Secretary of State is cancelling appointments made after March 20th due to resource shortages.
Please mail or bring your documents to the office as soon as possible. The expected turn-around time will be close to 30 days. This lengthy turn-around time is temporary and we are taking advantage of every opportunity to return documents to you sooner.
Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting The federal Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) establishes a new beneficial ownership reporting requirement for limited liability companies, corporations, and other similar entities formed or registered to do business in the United States. Beneficial ownership reports must be filed with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau within the U.S. Department of Treasury. For more information on the beneficial ownership information requirements. The North Carolina Secretary of State does not administer and has no responsibility for enforcing the CTA or the beneficial ownership information reporting program.
Scam Alert The NC Secretary of State has learned of a new scam targeting small business owners. Scammers impersonating various law enforcement agencies are contacting business owners claiming they are being investigated for fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, regardless of whether or not they have been repaid or forgiven. To legitimize the claim, the scammers provide elaborate phony court and/or legal documentation, including documents describing an arrest warrant that purports to require the posting of a cash bond and then instructions to make a payment (through a cryptocurrency kiosk) to resolve the warrant and avoid jail time. Legitimate law enforcement agencies do not collect money over the phone.
Starting a New Business? Use our new “Creation Wizard” to Save Time and Reduce Errors.
Start A New Business Wizard
Special Instructions for Funeral Homes The NC Department of the Secretary of State’s Office is aware of the urgency surrounding official documents used to transport human remains to foreign countries. While the NC Secretary of State’s Office is closed to the public, funeral homes being faced with urgent transport should email [email protected] using “Funeral Home – COVID-19” in the Subject Line to set up appointments and drop off documents to be authenticated.
Please make an appointment with the Consulate prior to making an appointment with the NC Secretary of State.
When you arrive, you will need to have with you:
1. A completed Cover Letter, found at https://www.sosnc.gov/forms/by_title/_Authentications_Cover_letters
2. A Certified Death Certificate from NC Vital Records
3. Three notarized documents:
a. Burial Transmittal document;
b. Non-Contagious Disease Certification; and the
c. Embalming Certification
4. A check or money order (no cash) for the certificate fee
The Hague Convention of October 5, 1961 replaced the time consuming and often costly processes of a full legalization. It only affects those countries that have agreed to standard “Hague Convention” requirements and are considered “member states
The Convention applies to public documents which are certified or notarized by an authority or official in North Carolina. Examples of public documents for which Apostilles are issued include: birth, marriage and death certificates; extracts from commercial registrars and other registers; court rulings; notarial acts; academic diplomas issued by public institutions, etc.
The Convention does not apply to documents executed by diplomatic or consular agents nor to administrative documents dealing directly with commercial or customs operations (e.g., certificates of origin or import or export licenses).(Hague Convention)
Once an Apostille is obtained, the document may be delivered directly to the country of intended use and bypass further certification from the US Department of State.
Obtain a certified or notarized English translation of the document if the document is in a language other than English.
Documents (transcripts, report cards, diplomas, etc.) issued by a North Carolina university, college, community college or high school must be notarized by a North Carolina Notary Public. A school seal applied to the document by the school registrar is not acceptable.
Requesting an apostille using a "copy" of a document will require a notarized Affidavit saying that the document is a "true copy" of the original. A "true copy" affidavit sample can be found on the "Cover Letters & Templates" page.
Please note: All North Carolina agency documents must be certified since April 1, 2000.
Payment is made to the "NC Secretary of State. "
Mail or deliver the documents in person to the address at the bottom of the main Authentication webpage. A detailed schedule is available on the “Getting Documents to and from Us” page.
Emergencies can happen. Please review the "Turn Around Times." page. There is an option for same or next day documents if you can bring them into the office in Raleigh.
You may obtain a certified copy of a North Carolina General Statute from the Revisor of Statutes. The Revisor does not issue any other type of certification. The Revisor is located in the Legislative Drafting Division of the North Carolina General Assembly.
Contact Vital Records to obtain marriage, birth or death certificates. Vital Records telephone number is (919) 733-3526. They will accept credit/charge cards. You may also be able to order the document online at North Carolina Vital Records Expedited Online Orders.
Hide user feedback formRequest support or submit a suggestion, we will get back to you via email or phone.