Catawba County News

Register of Deeds Office to Begin Issuing Adoptive Birth Certificates in 2026

Published: January 06, 2026

As of January 1, 2026, Catawba County Register of Deeds Angela Henson, along with other Registers of Deeds across the state, will be authorized to issue certified copies of adoptive birth certificates under provisions of Senate Bill 248, Birth Certificates for Persons Adopted.

Senate Bill 248 (SB 248) was enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly in June and signed into law on June 26, becoming Session Law 2025-9. Under this legislation, Registers of Deeds statewide, including the Catawba County Register of Deeds, will be able to issue certified copies of adoptees’ birth certificates at the local level.

“I am thrilled to be able to offer this service to our adopted citizens at a local level.  This law will enable them to attain their birth records in a faster, easier and less expensive way.  We are grateful to everyone who worked to make this change possible.  We look forward to serving adoptive families in this way,” says Henson.

Original birth certificates issued prior to adoption, as well as all associated adoption records, will remain sealed and are not subject to inspection or release.  Under the new law, certified copies of adoptive birth certificates may be issued only to the adoptee, the adoptee’s parents, the adoptee’s siblings, the adoptee’s spouse, and the adoptee’s children/grandchildren.

Prior to the passage of SB 248, adoptees were required to obtain certified copies of their adoptive birth certificates exclusively through the North Carolina Office of Vital Records (NCOVR) in Raleigh. State lawmakers and agencies have cited the new law as a customer-service improvement, allowing individuals to access certified records more conveniently through their local Register of Deeds office. This new law is a big win for adoptees to have easier, more convenient access to their vital records.  This legislation allows adoptees convenient local access like all other citizens born in Catawba County.

To support the implementation of this change, the NC Office of Vital Records will provide Adoption Security Training to Registers of Deeds and their staff statewide. Training will focus on proper issuance procedures, privacy protections, secure record handling, confidentiality requirements, and updated electronic access and digitization standards.

Mrs. Henson welcomes adoptees born in Catawba County to stop by her office Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm to obtain their birth records. 

For more information, contact the Catawba County Register of Deeds at 100 Government Drive, Newton, by phone at (828) 465-1573 or by email at VR@CatawbaCountyNC.gov.