Access Anson County Death Records
Anson County death records are maintained at the Register of Deeds office in Wadesboro, North Carolina. The office keeps death certificates for events in Anson County starting from October 1913. Both certified and uncertified copies are available to eligible requesters. You can visit the office in person or submit a request for the records you need. This guide explains the process for obtaining Anson County death records, who can request them, what they cost, and recent changes that expand access to death certificates from other North Carolina counties.
Anson County Register of Deeds
The Anson County Register of Deeds is in the Anson County Government Center at 101 South Greene Street, Wadesboro, NC 28170. Call 704-994-3005 to reach the office. Staff can answer questions about death records, help you fill out a request form, and tell you what documents you need to bring.
The Anson County Register of Deeds website provides an overview of the office and its services. The site covers vital records, property records, and other documents the office manages. Check it before your visit so you know what to expect when requesting Anson County death records.
The office serves all of Anson County from one location in Wadesboro. Whether the death occurred in Wadesboro, Polkton, Lilesville, or any other part of the county, this is where you go for the record.
Anson County Death Record Copy Types
Anson County offers two types of copies for death records. A certified copy has the official seal and signature. It is accepted for legal and official purposes such as estate settlement, insurance claims, and court filings. An uncertified photocopy shows the same information but lacks the seal. It works for personal reference or research but is not valid for legal use.
Anyone can get a photocopy of a vital record from Anson County. The cost is just $0.25 per page. This makes Anson County death records very accessible for researchers and historians. You do not need to prove a family relationship to get a photocopy. However, certified copies are restricted. Under G.S. 130A-93, only eligible people can receive a certified death certificate from Anson County. This includes family members, legal representatives, and funeral directors.
The low cost of photocopies is a real benefit for genealogists. You can get copies of multiple Anson County death records at a fraction of the cost of certified copies. Just keep in mind that photocopies cannot be used for official business.
Anson County Death Certificate Fees
Certified copies of death certificates from Anson County cost $10.00 each. Cash is accepted for in-person requests. The fee is set by state law under G.S. 130A-93.1. Uncertified photocopies are $0.25 per page and are available to anyone without restrictions on eligibility.
If you are requesting records by mail, include the correct fee with your letter. Confirm the accepted payment methods by calling 704-994-3005 before you send your request. Having the right payment ready will avoid delays in processing your Anson County death record request. The NC Vital Records fee page lists fees for state-level requests if you prefer to go through the state office.
Note: Cash is accepted for in-person certified copy requests at the Anson County Register of Deeds.
Access Death Certificates from Other Counties
Anson County now offers access to certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in other North Carolina counties. This applies to deaths from August 1, 2020, to the present. You can visit the Anson County Register of Deeds in Wadesboro and request a certified death certificate for a death that happened anywhere in North Carolina during that time frame.
This is a significant change that saves people from having to contact a different county or the state office. If a family member died in another part of North Carolina after August 1, 2020, you can get the certified death certificate right at the Anson County office. The same eligibility rules under G.S. 130A-93 apply. You must be an authorized person to receive a certified copy, regardless of which county the death occurred in. The fee is the same as for a local Anson County death certificate.
For deaths before August 1, 2020, you still need to contact the county where the death occurred or the North Carolina Vital Records office. The state office holds records for all counties and can issue certified copies for deaths going back many years.
Historical Anson County Death Records
Anson County death records begin in October 1913. Before that date, death registration was not required in North Carolina. If you need information about a death in Anson County before 1913, you will have to search other sources. Church records, cemetery inscriptions, newspaper obituaries, and estate files can all contain clues about deaths in the area.
The North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh is a valuable resource for pre-1913 research. They hold court records, church registers, and other documents from Anson County that may reference deaths. The Vital Statistics Act under G.S. 130A, Article 4 established the modern system of death registration. Before this law, records were kept sporadically at best in Anson County and across the state.
Who Can Get Anson County Death Certificates
Certified death certificates from Anson County are limited to specific people under North Carolina law. The rules exist to protect the privacy of the deceased and their family. Eligible requesters include:
- The surviving spouse
- A parent or adult child
- A sibling or grandparent
- A court-appointed legal representative
- An attorney representing an eligible party
- A funeral home director
- An insurance company with a valid claim
You will need to show a valid photo ID and state your relationship to the deceased when you request a certified copy of an Anson County death record. Fraud in obtaining vital records is a Class I felony in North Carolina under G.S. 130A-26A. The law takes this seriously to prevent identity theft and other crimes.
State Resources for Death Records
The NC Vital Records office in Raleigh can issue death certificates for any death that occurred in North Carolina. Their ordering page walks you through the process. This is a good option if you need records from multiple counties or if you cannot travel to Wadesboro. You can also download request forms from the forms page.
Other helpful state resources include the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for investigated deaths and the NC Register of Deeds directory for finding offices in other counties. The NC General Statutes Chapter 130A contains the full text of the laws that govern death records in Anson County and across the state.
Note: The state office may take longer to process requests than the Anson County Register of Deeds for local death records.