- 1). Contact the office or agency where the public record is held in the county where the record is located. Public records are held at their respective public agencies. If you are unsure of the department you need to contact, call your local county or city clerk's office. Marriage, divorce, death and birth certificates are found at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Records. The Register of Deeds office in your county keeps public records of deeds, mortgage documents, liens and power of attorneys. School board minutes are found with the school district and minutes from city council meetings are frequently posted on each city's website.
- 2). Fill out a written request for the public record depending on the procedure for the county. The procedure varies from county to county since there is no specific form or procedure dictated by the state of North Carolina. Some counties provide an online form, require a written request or just a verbal request.
- 3). Request the public record in the medium of your choice, as long as it is available. The agency is required to provide the record in any form in which they are capable of producing, including paper, electronic or disk.
- 4). Ask how long you will have to wait to view the public record. North Carolina Open Government law states the office must provide you the public record in a "reasonable" time, but doesn't give a specific time limit. Most county offices will get you the record as soon as possible.
- 5). View the record and find any pages you may want to copy.
- 6). Pay the necessary fees for any copies and wait for the agency to complete them. Agencies cannot charge you for viewing records, but can charge for copies. The cost varies from county to county and among the different agencies, but must be reasonable.
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