Look Up Dare County Birth Records

Dare County maintains birth records at its Register of Deeds office in Manteo on Roanoke Island. The county was formed in 1870 from Currituck, Hyde, and Tyrrell Counties and encompasses the northern Outer Banks, including Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, and Kill Devil Hills. Register of Deeds Cheryl Lyn House oversees the office, which keeps birth certificates, death records, marriage certificates, and delayed birth records. Certified and uncertified copies are available for eligible requestors through in-person visits and online ordering.

Dare County Vital Records Office in Manteo

The Dare County Register of Deeds office is at 962 Marshall C. Collins Drive in Manteo. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The office records and issues birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, and delayed birth records. Staff can also help with questions about vital record processes and eligibility.

The Dare County birth and death certificates page provides specific instructions for ordering vital records. The Dare County government website links to all departments and services.

Requesting Birth Certificates in Dare County

Certified copies of Dare County birth certificates cost $10.00 each. Uncertified copies are $0.25 per page. You can request records in person at the Manteo office or through the online system. Express mail with 1-2 day delivery and priority mail with tracking are available for an extra fee for online orders shipped within the continental United States.

When making a request, provide the full name on the certificate, date of birth, place of birth, mother's maiden name, father's name, your relationship to the person, and your signature. A valid photo ID is required for certified copies. The office accepts state-issued IDs, driver's licenses, passports, and military IDs.

Note: The office makes no warranty on packages lost or damaged by FedEx, UPS, or USPS during shipping.

Who Can Request Dare County Birth Records

Dare County follows North Carolina's eligibility rules for certified birth certificate copies. The list of eligible people is straightforward. You may request a certified copy if you are the person named on the certificate, a spouse, parent, sibling, child, or grandparent. Authorized agents, attorneys, and legal representatives also qualify. Anyone seeking the record for a legal determination of personal or property rights may request one with proof of that need.

Uncertified copies are available to the general public without restrictions. These copies do not bear the official county seal but work well for genealogy projects, personal reference, and informal record keeping. The Dare County vital records services page provides more details on the types of copies available and who may request them.

Adoption Records in Dare County

If you were born in Dare County and adopted, your birth certificate situation is different. Contact NC Vital Records in Raleigh at (919) 733-3000 for adoption-related birth certificate requests. Adoptive birth certificates are now available at the Dare County Register of Deeds office for in-person pickup. This is a newer service that makes it easier for adopted individuals to access their records without traveling to the state capital. Previously, all adoption-related birth certificate requests had to go through the state office in Raleigh.

The NC adoptions process page explains the full process and requirements for obtaining an adoptive birth certificate in North Carolina.

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

This page details the steps for adopted individuals to obtain their birth certificates through the state. The ability to pick up adoptive birth certificates at the Dare County office in Manteo saves adopted individuals a trip to Raleigh and speeds up what can otherwise be a lengthy process.

Dare County Historical Background

Dare County was established in 1870 from parts of Currituck, Hyde, and Tyrrell Counties. Manteo, the county seat, sits on Roanoke Island, the site of the famous Lost Colony. The county stretches along the northern Outer Banks and includes well-known beach towns such as Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, and Kitty Hawk, where the Wright Brothers made their historic first flight in 1903.

Birth records in Dare County date from 1913 when statewide registration began. Earlier births lack formal documentation at the county level. The FamilySearch Dare County page offers genealogy resources and historical record indexes for researchers tracing family roots in the Outer Banks region. The NC State Archives in Raleigh holds additional documents from the early settlement period. Fishing families and maritime communities along the Outer Banks kept informal records that sometimes appear in state collections. These documents can help piece together family histories when formal birth certificates do not exist.

State-Level Birth Record Options

The NC Office of Vital Records in Raleigh processes birth certificate requests for all 100 North Carolina counties. The state fee is $24.00 per certified copy. Processing takes longer than local orders but covers births from any county in the state. The VitalChek website also handles online orders with shipping options. For questions about fees, check the NC fee schedule page. Dare County residents who live on the Outer Banks may find the online and mail options especially useful, since the Register of Deeds office is located on Roanoke Island in Manteo and may require a drive across the bridge for barrier island residents. Planning ahead and using remote request methods can save time and travel.

Nearby Counties

Dare County borders a small group of counties in northeastern North Carolina. For birth records from outside Dare County, contact the appropriate neighboring office.