Birth Records in Hoke County

Hoke County is one of the youngest counties in North Carolina, formed in 1911 from Cumberland and Robeson Counties. The county seat is Raeford, a small town in the Sandhills region. The Register of Deeds office in Raeford maintains birth records from 1913 to the present and issues certified copies to eligible residents. Part of the Fort Bragg military installation lies within Hoke County's borders, giving the area a strong connection to military families. Whether you were born in Hoke County or need a family member's birth certificate, the Register of Deeds is your local source for vital records.

Hoke County Register of Deeds Office

The Hoke County Register of Deeds is located at 227 N. Main Street in Raeford, NC 28376. Mail can be sent to P.O. Box 427, Raeford, NC 28376. The phone number is (910) 875-2034. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

The office handles birth certificates, death records, marriage licenses, and land records for Hoke County residents. Staff can answer questions about fees, required documents, and processing times for all types of vital records requests.

Ordering Hoke County Birth Certificates

Each certified birth certificate from the Hoke County Register of Deeds costs $10. Visit the office in person at 227 N. Main Street in Raeford. Bring a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport. Complete the application form. Pay the fee. Your copy is usually ready the same day. Cash and checks are accepted for in-person payments.

Mail requests are also accepted. Send a letter with the full name on the certificate, date of birth, place of birth, your relationship to the person, and a check or money order for $10 payable to the Hoke County Register of Deeds. Mail it to P.O. Box 427, Raeford, NC 28376. Allow one to two weeks for processing and return mail delivery. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope to speed up the return of your certified Hoke County birth certificate copy.

Hoke County Birth Record Eligibility Rules

Not everyone can get a certified birth certificate from Hoke County. North Carolina law sets strict rules about who qualifies. The person named on the record is always eligible. So are immediate family members, including parents, children, siblings, spouses, grandparents, and grandchildren. Stepparents may also qualify under certain conditions outlined in the state statutes.

Attorneys and authorized legal representatives may request copies for their clients. People who need a birth record for a legal determination of personal or property rights can also apply. These rules come from the NC General Statutes on vital records. Always bring valid identification with your request.

Note: Hoke County can only certify births that occurred within the county's borders. For births in other NC counties, contact the state office in Raleigh or the county where the birth took place.

Hoke County Background and History

Hoke County was created in 1911 from parts of Cumberland and Robeson Counties. It is named after Robert Hoke, a Confederate general from North Carolina. The county seat is Raeford. Fort Bragg, one of the largest military bases in the world, extends into Hoke County from neighboring Cumberland County. This has shaped the county's growth over the past century.

Because Hoke County was formed just two years before statewide vital records registration began in 1913, its birth record collection covers nearly the entire history of the county. For family history research before 1913, the State Archives of North Carolina holds church records, Bible records, and other historical documents. Records from the parent counties of Cumberland and Robeson may also have relevant information from before 1911. The Lumbee and other Native American communities have a strong presence in the area, and tribal records may provide additional genealogical data for families with ties to these communities.

North Carolina Vital Records Portal

The image below shows the NC Office of Vital Records website, which serves as the statewide resource for birth certificate information.

This state portal provides information on ordering birth certificates, fee schedules, and eligibility requirements that apply to all North Carolina counties, including Hoke County.

State Birth Certificate Services

The NC Office of Vital Records can process birth certificate requests for any county in the state. The state fee is $24 per copy. Processing takes about 110 days or more. For quicker results, visit the Hoke County office in Raeford.

Online expedited orders are available through VitalChek. Additional fees apply for rush processing and shipping. The state fee schedule lists all current costs. For questions about amending a birth certificate, see the NC amendment page. The Hoke County government website has links to local services and departments.

Hoke County's connection to Fort Bragg means that many military families need birth certificates for dependent children born at the base hospital. Births that occurred on the military installation within Hoke County boundaries are on file at the Register of Deeds in Raeford. Military families stationed at Fort Bragg should check whether their child's birth was registered in Hoke County or neighboring Cumberland County, as the base spans both. The NC Vital Records FAQ page answers questions about military birth certificates and other special cases. Seniors aged 62 and older may also be eligible for a free first certified copy of their own Hoke County birth certificate. The FamilySearch Hoke County page provides genealogy resources for families researching roots in this Sandhills county.

Nearby Counties

Hoke County borders several Sandhills and Coastal Plain counties in south-central North Carolina.