Cabarrus County Death Certificate Search

Cabarrus County death records are held at the Register of Deeds office in Concord, North Carolina. The office stores death certificates for events that took place in the county from late 1913 to the present day. You can request copies in person, by mail, or by phone. Staff at the Register of Deeds can guide you through each step to get the death record you need. This page explains how to search for and obtain Cabarrus County death records, what you will pay, and where to turn if the record is not on file locally.

Cabarrus County Register of Deeds

The Cabarrus County Register of Deeds is at 65 Church St SE in Concord, NC 28025. This is the main office for death records in the county. You can call (704) 920-2112 with questions about Cabarrus County death records or other vital records. The staff handles death certificates, birth certificates, and marriage licenses from this one location.

Walk-in visits are the fastest way to get a copy of a death record. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. The staff can look up the record while you wait and hand you a copy the same day in most cases. If you live far from Concord, mail requests are also an option. Send your request to the office at 65 Church St SE, Concord, NC 28025.

The Cabarrus County vital records page has full details on services, hours, and forms you may need to fill out before your visit.

The office also provides land records, military discharge records, and notary services. Death records are one of the most common requests they handle each week.

How to Request Cabarrus County Death Records

There are a few ways to get a death certificate from Cabarrus County. Each method has its own steps. The most common way is to visit the office in Concord. You can also send a request by mail. For mail requests, include the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and the place of death if known. Add a copy of your photo ID and a note about your link to the deceased.

Payment by mail must be by check or money order. The office accepts cash, check, Visa, and MasterCard for in-person visits. This gives you more ways to pay if you go to the office in Concord. Make checks out to the Cabarrus County Register of Deeds.

You must meet state rules to get a certified copy. Under G.S. 130A-93, only close family, legal agents, or those with a court order may get a certified death certificate from Cabarrus County. Others can still get an uncertified copy for a lower fee.

Note: Always call ahead to confirm hours and payment methods before you visit the Cabarrus County Register of Deeds.

Cabarrus County Death Record Fees

A certified copy of a death certificate from Cabarrus County costs $10. This fee is set by state law. You will pay this whether you order in person or by mail. The office accepts cash, check, Visa, and MasterCard at the counter. Mail payments must be by check or money order.

Uncertified copies cost $1 by mail. An uncertified copy shows the same facts but does not have the raised seal. It works fine for personal use or family tree research. If you need the record for a legal matter, you will need the certified version.

Fees can change over time. The NC Vital Records fee page lists the state rates. The Cabarrus County office follows these same rates for death records.

Cabarrus County Historical Death Records

Death records in Cabarrus County date back to late 1913. That is when North Carolina began to require death registration under the Vital Statistics Act. Marriage records in the county go back even further, to 1792. If you need a death record from before 1913, the county office will not have it on file.

For older records, check the North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh. They hold church records, court files, and estate papers that may note a death in Cabarrus County. Cemetery records and old newspaper notices can also help fill in gaps from before 1913. Local historical groups in Concord may have guides to these sources.

The county also has access to the Statewide Birth Database for out-of-county births from 1971 forward. While this does not apply to death records, it shows the range of vital records the office can help you find.

Note: Cabarrus County marriage records go back to 1792, but death records only start from late 1913.

Who Can Get Cabarrus County Death Certificates

State law controls who can get a certified death certificate. Not just anyone can walk in and get one. The rules are strict for a good reason. Certified records carry legal weight.

These people may request a certified copy of a Cabarrus County death record:

• The spouse of the person who died
• A parent or adult child of the deceased
• A sibling of the deceased
• A legal guardian or court-appointed agent
• An attorney who acts for an eligible party
• A funeral home handling the case

If you do not fall into one of these groups, you can still get an uncertified copy. It has the same data but lacks the official seal. Making a false claim to get a certified copy is a crime under G.S. 130A-26A.

State Resources for Death Records

The North Carolina Vital Records office in Raleigh holds death records from all 100 counties. If the Cabarrus County office cannot help, the state office may have what you need. You can order through their online ordering page or by mail.

The NC Association of Registers of Deeds has a full list of county offices. This is helpful if the death took place in a county other than Cabarrus. Each county keeps its own set of death records, so you may need to contact more than one office.

For forms and applications, the NC Vital Records forms page has what you need. These forms work for requests sent to the state office in Raleigh.

Note: The state office may take longer to process requests than the Cabarrus County Register of Deeds.

Tips for Searching Cabarrus County Death Records

Start with as much detail as you can. The full name of the person who died is the most important piece. An approximate date of death helps narrow the search. If you know where in Cabarrus County the death took place, that is useful too.

Spelling matters. Older records may have different spellings of names. Try variations if your first search does not work. Middle names and maiden names can also help the staff find the right record faster.

If you are not sure the death happened in Cabarrus County, the state office may be a better place to start. They can search across all counties at once. The Cabarrus County office can only search its own files.