Search North Carolina Death Records
North Carolina death records are official documents kept by the state and each of the 100 county Register of Deeds offices. These records go back to 1913 when the state first required death certificates. You can search for North Carolina death records through the NC Vital Records office in Raleigh, at your local county Register of Deeds, or by using approved online ordering systems. Whether you need a certified copy for legal matters or want to look up a death record for family research, North Carolina has several ways to help you find what you need.
North Carolina Death Records Quick Facts
Where to Find North Carolina Death Records
There are two main sources for death records in North Carolina. The state office of NC Vital Records in Raleigh holds death certificates from 1930 to the present. This office is part of the NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health. They code vital events for statistical use, store records, and issue copies to those who qualify. NC Vital Records are not free public records you can search on a website. You must submit a request and pay the required fee to get a copy.
The second source is your county Register of Deeds. Each of North Carolina's 100 counties has a Register of Deeds office that keeps death certificates for deaths that took place in that county. County offices often process requests faster than the state. You can visit in person, send a mail request, or use an online portal if the county has one. The North Carolina Association of Registers of Deeds has a full directory to help you find your local office for death records.
The North Carolina vital records website at vitalrecords.nc.gov shows how to order death certificates from the state. You can place your order through the NC Online Vital Records system, by mail, or in person at their Raleigh office. Each method has its own steps and fees.
Note: Death records before 1930 are held at the State Archives of North Carolina and may be available on microfilm.
How to Order Death Certificates in North Carolina
Ordering a death certificate from the state office starts with the NC Vital Records ordering page. You need specific facts to complete your request. The state requires the full name on the certificate, the date of death, the place of death in North Carolina, and both parents' full names. You also need to state your relationship to the person named on the record. Only certain people can get a certified copy under N.C.G.S. 130A-93. This includes the spouse, parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, or an authorized legal agent.
You can also get death certificates from the county Register of Deeds where the death took place. Most county offices charge $10 for a certified copy. You need a valid photo ID and must be an eligible family member or legal representative. Many counties now offer online ordering through systems like Permitium or NCVitals. These portals add a small service fee on top of the base cost. County requests are often processed within one to three business days, which is much faster than the state office.
For in-person requests at the state office, you go to the Cooper Memorial Health Building at 225 N. McDowell St. in Raleigh. Appointments are required. The contact page lists the hours and phone numbers. Call 919-733-3000 for general questions about North Carolina death records.
North Carolina Death Record Fees
The state charges a $24 search fee for each three-year period searched. This fee is not refundable even if no record is found. It covers one copy if the record is located. Each additional copy of the same death certificate costs $15. The official fee schedule has the full breakdown. If you order through VitalChek, the authorized vendor, there is an added $13.95 processing fee that is also not refundable.
County fees are lower. Most counties charge $10 per certified death certificate copy. Uncertified copies cost much less, often $0.25 to $1.00. Payment methods vary by county. Some take cash only for certain services. Others accept checks, money orders, or credit cards. Online orders usually have a convenience fee added by the third-party system.
Amending a death certificate costs $15 for the processing fee plus the $24 search fee at the state level. The amendment procedures page has forms and steps. Both the state office and the county Register of Deeds where the death took place can handle amendments to North Carolina death records.
Electronic Death Registration in North Carolina
North Carolina uses an electronic system called NCDAVE for death registration. NCDAVE stands for NC Database Application for Vital Events. It is a secure, web-based system that went live on October 19, 2020. Funeral homes, medical certifiers, and medical examiners use it to file death records with local registrars. The system replaced the old paper process that could take months.
Deaths must be registered within five days after they occur under North Carolina law. NCDAVE checks data for errors in real time. It verifies Social Security numbers with the Social Security Administration. The system runs around the clock, seven days a week. All 100 counties now use NCDAVE for death registration. The rollout started with eight pilot counties and reached full statewide use by mid-2021.
Death Records from the Medical Examiner
The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner investigates certain deaths. These include deaths caused by injury or violence and natural deaths that are suspicious or not attended by a doctor. The OCME is part of the Division of Public Health within NCDHHS.
Medical examiner documents are separate from death certificates. You can request autopsy reports, investigation reports, and toxicology reports from the OCME at no charge. Use their online form or call during business hours. Once the cause and manner of death are set, a supplemental death certificate can be obtained from the Register of Deeds or NC Vital Records. Effective October 1, 2025, new rules under G.S. 130A-385 changed how certain medical examiner records are released in North Carolina.
Historical North Carolina Death Records
Death certificates were first required in North Carolina in 1913. Some counties started filing as early as 1909. Before that, death information came from family Bible records, census data, church records, and newspaper notices. The State Archives holds death indexes for 1906 to 1967 and death certificates for 1906 to 1994 on microfilm. The State Archives of North Carolina houses over 50,000 linear feet of historical materials open to the public.
Online databases offer free access to older North Carolina death records. FamilySearch has North Carolina deaths from 1906 to 1930 with free images. They also have abstracts and images for deaths from 1931 to 1994. Ancestry offers North Carolina death certificates from 1909 to 1976. These tools help with genealogy research when you cannot get a certified copy from the state or county.
The NC State Center for Health Statistics publishes vital statistics reports. These include data on leading causes of death and other health measures. The center is part of the Division of Public Health and supports research using death record data from North Carolina.
Note: Information given by the informant on a death certificate may contain errors due to grief or lack of knowledge at the time of death.
Death Certificate Forms and Resources
The NC Vital Records forms page has all the documents you need. For death certificates, you can download the Application for a Copy of a North Carolina Death Certificate in PDF format. A Spanish version is also available. You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open these forms.
If you need to change something on a death certificate, the Death Certificate Amendment Application is on the same page. The fee is $24 for the search plus $15 for the amendment. Send the form to NC Vital Records or the Register of Deeds in the county where the death took place. Requests must include the completed form, proper evidence, and payment before the 30-day processing window starts.
The NC Department of Health and Human Services oversees the entire vital records program. Each county also has a local health department where the deputy registrar reviews death certificates for accuracy before they go to the Register of Deeds. The North Carolina Association of Registers of Deeds represents all 100 county offices and provides a directory, fee lists, and service information.
Browse North Carolina Death Records by County
Each of North Carolina's 100 counties has a Register of Deeds that keeps death records. Pick a county below to find local contact information and resources for death certificates in that area.
Death Records in Major North Carolina Cities
Residents of major cities get death certificates from their county Register of Deeds. Pick a city below to learn about death records in that area.