Search Brunswick County Birth Certificates

Brunswick County birth records are managed by the Register of Deeds office in Bolivia. Situated along the southeastern coast of North Carolina, Brunswick County was formed in 1764 and has grown rapidly in recent decades. The office keeps birth certificates on file from 1913 to the present. You can get a certified copy for legal use or an uncertified copy for personal research. Requests are accepted in person, by mail, and through an online portal. The county also offers a new adoption records service that took effect in January 2026.

Brunswick County Register of Deeds

The Brunswick County Register of Deeds is at 75 Courthouse Drive in Bolivia. Bolivia is the county seat, though many residents associate the county more with its beach towns. The office handles all vital records for births, deaths, and marriages within Brunswick County.

The fax number is (910) 253-2010. Mailing address is P.O. Box 9, Bolivia, NC 28422.

How to Request Brunswick County Birth Certificates

Brunswick County offers three ways to get a birth certificate copy. You can go to the Bolivia office, mail a request, or use the online portal.

In-person visitors should bring valid photo ID. Provide the full name on the certificate, date of birth, place of birth, mother's maiden name, father's name, and your relationship to the person. Sign the request form. Certified copies are $10.00 each. Uncertified copies cost $0.25 each. Cash, check, and money order are all accepted at the counter.

Mail requests go to P.O. Box 9, Bolivia, NC 28422. Include a completed application, a photocopy of your ID, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Money orders and certified checks are preferred for mail payments.

Online ordering is available through the Brunswick County Permitium portal. This system accepts credit and debit cards. A small processing fee is added to the certificate cost. The portal walks you through each step.

Note: Online orders ship by mail, so add a few extra days for delivery to your home.

Brunswick County Adoption Birth Records

A major change took effect on January 1, 2026. Under new state law, people born in Brunswick County who were adopted can now obtain their birth certificates at the county Register of Deeds office. Before this change, adoption-related birth records were only available through the NC State Vital Records office in Raleigh.

This update simplifies the process for adoptees. You can now visit the Bolivia office or order through the same channels used for standard birth certificates. The same fees and ID requirements apply. Contact the office directly for details about what documentation is needed for adoption-related requests.

Eligibility for Brunswick County Birth Records

North Carolina law controls who can receive a certified birth certificate. The rules are consistent across all 100 counties. Only specific people may request certified copies from the Brunswick County office.

The person named on the certificate can always get a copy. Immediate family members qualify as well. This includes spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. Legal representatives need proper documentation. Those with a legal need tied to personal or property rights must show proof. The NC vital records statutes lay out the full eligibility criteria.

History of Brunswick County Vital Records

Brunswick County was created in 1764 from New Hanover and Bladen Counties. Bolivia is the county seat. The county stretches along the southeastern coast and includes popular beach communities like Oak Island, Sunset Beach, and Ocean Isle Beach. Its population has surged in recent years.

Birth records in the modern format started in 1913. Before that, Brunswick County did not keep systematic birth records. Coastal families tracked births through personal records and church documents. Pre-1913 research often requires a visit to the State Archives Bible Records collection. The FamilySearch Brunswick County page has genealogical tools and historical indexes that can help fill in the gaps.

The screenshot below is from the NC Vital Records ordering page.

This page explains how to order birth certificates through the state office in Raleigh.

State Resources and Other Brunswick County Records

The NC Office of Vital Records is another option for birth certificates. The state fee is $24 per certified copy. Mail orders can take over 110 days. The county office at Bolivia is faster and cheaper for Brunswick County births. VitalChek handles online orders for both the state and many county offices, with a convenience fee.

The Brunswick County Register of Deeds also keeps death certificates, marriage licenses, real estate records, assumed business names, and military discharge papers. Online records search is available for many document types at this office. The Brunswick County government website links to all county departments and services.

The county's coastal location and rapid population growth have made the Register of Deeds one of the busiest offices in the region. New residents moving to the beach towns of Oak Island, Sunset Beach, and Ocean Isle Beach often need copies of birth certificates for school enrollment, driver's license transfers, and other purposes. The Bolivia office handles a high volume of requests each year. Land records are also in strong demand due to ongoing development along the coast.

Researchers tracing family roots in Brunswick County will find that many early families had ties to the fishing and timber trades along the Cape Fear River. Property records, ship manifests, and church documents at the Register of Deeds office can help build a detailed picture of life in this coastal community.

Note: Brunswick County is one of the fastest-growing counties in North Carolina, so demand for vital records services continues to rise.

Nearby Counties

Brunswick County is in the southeastern corner of North Carolina along the coast. These neighboring counties also maintain birth records at their Register of Deeds offices.