Winston-Salem Death Records
Winston-Salem death records are maintained by the Forsyth County Register of Deeds. Winston-Salem is the county seat and the largest city in Forsyth County. The office has death certificates on file going back to 1913 for deaths that happened within the county. Residents of Winston-Salem can request copies in person or online. This page covers the process, fees, and resources for obtaining death records in Winston-Salem.
Winston-Salem Death Certificate Fees
The Forsyth County Register of Deeds charges $10 for a certified copy of a death certificate. This is the standard county fee set under G.S. 130A Article 4. An uncertified copy costs $0.50. Uncertified copies work for research and personal use but do not carry legal weight.
If you need a death record from outside Forsyth County, the office can help with out-of-county requests for $24. This covers deaths that happened anywhere in North Carolina. Amendment fees are $35 if you need to correct information on a death certificate. The office does not accept personal checks. You can pay with cash, money order, or credit card. There is a 3% fee added to all credit card payments.
The Forsyth County fees page has the full list of current charges. Check it before you visit to make sure you bring the right form of payment. Fees can change, so a quick look at the website saves time.
Forsyth County Vital Records Portal
The Forsyth County Register of Deeds provides an online portal for requesting vital records, including death certificates for Winston-Salem residents. Here is the online ordering system.
The Forsyth County Permitium portal handles online death certificate orders. You can place a request from home at any time. The system guides you through each step. Once you submit your order, the office processes it and mails the certificate to your address.
Request Death Records in Winston-Salem
You can request Winston-Salem death records in person at the Forsyth County Register of Deeds. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring a valid photo ID and the details of the death record you need.
For an in-person visit, you should have:
- Full name of the deceased
- Date and place of death
- Your relationship to the deceased
- Valid photo ID
The staff at the Winston-Salem office will search the index and pull the record. If it is on file, you can get your copy the same day. For older records from the early 1900s, the search may take a bit longer. The office has death records back to 1913 for all of Forsyth County.
Online requests go through the Permitium system. You fill out a form, pay the fee with a credit card, and wait for delivery. The 3% card fee applies to online orders as well. This option is good for people who live outside Winston-Salem or who cannot visit during office hours.
Note: The Winston-Salem office follows G.S. 130A-93 for certified copies; only eligible requesters such as family members and legal representatives may receive certified death certificates.
Winston-Salem Death Records and State Law
North Carolina law controls how death records are issued in Winston-Salem. G.S. 130A-93 defines who may get a certified copy. The list includes spouses, children, parents, legal agents, funeral directors, and government agencies with a lawful need. All others must request uncertified copies under G.S. 130A-93.1.
The Forsyth County Register of Deeds follows these rules closely. When you ask for a certified death certificate in Winston-Salem, the staff will ask for proof of your identity and your relationship to the deceased. This step protects the privacy of the people named on the record.
G.S. 130A-26A allows counties to offer electronic access to vital records. Forsyth County uses this authority to run the Permitium online portal. The law makes sure that even digital requests go through the same verification steps as in-person visits.
For the full text of the vital records statutes, visit the North Carolina General Assembly website. The statutes cover everything from filing duties to fee schedules and privacy protections for death records.
Winston-Salem Death Records for Research
Death records from Winston-Salem are a useful resource for family history and genealogy. Each certificate contains the full name, date and place of death, cause of death, and names of the parents of the deceased. These facts can help trace family lines back more than a century.
Forsyth County death records go back to 1913. For deaths before that year, the North Carolina State Archives may have records on microfilm. Church records, cemetery indexes, and old newspaper death notices are other good sources for Winston-Salem area research.
Uncertified copies of death certificates are available at a lower cost and are easier to obtain for research. At $0.50 per copy, they are an affordable option for genealogists who need many records from the Winston-Salem area. The Register of Deeds can issue these to anyone who asks, under G.S. 130A-93.1.
Note: The North Carolina Association of Registers of Deeds can help you find the right office if the death did not occur in Forsyth County.
What Winston-Salem Death Certificates Show
A death certificate from the Forsyth County office lists the full name of the deceased, the date and place of death, the cause of death, and the names of both parents. It also includes details about the attending physician, the funeral home, and the place of burial or cremation. These facts serve legal, personal, and research needs.
Certified copies carry the official seal of the Register of Deeds and are accepted for legal use such as estate matters, insurance claims, and government filings. Uncertified copies hold the same data but lack the seal. At $0.50 per copy, they are one of the more affordable options in North Carolina for death records research.
Older death certificates from Winston-Salem may have handwritten entries from the early 1900s. The Forsyth County staff can help you read and interpret these older records if the handwriting is hard to make out.
Forsyth County Death Records
Winston-Salem is the county seat of Forsyth County. All death certificates for the city are handled by the Forsyth County Register of Deeds. For more on county vital records services, fees, and resources, visit the Forsyth County death records page.