Dare County Death Certificate Search
Dare County death records are on file at the Register of Deeds office in Manteo, North Carolina. The Honorable Cheryl Lyn House serves as the Register of Deeds. The office is in the Dare County Justice Center, Room 165A, at 962 Marshall C. Collins Drive, Manteo, NC 27954. You can call the office at (252) 475-5970. Dare County sits along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Register of Deeds stores death certificates and other vital records for the county. Staff can help you request a copy and tell you what to bring.
Dare County Register of Deeds
The Dare County Register of Deeds is in the Dare County Justice Center at 962 Marshall C. Collins Drive in Manteo. Room 165A is where you go for vital record requests. The office is led by The Honorable Cheryl Lyn House. Staff handles all types of vital records, from death certificates to birth and marriage records.
The phone number is (252) 475-5970. Call ahead if you have questions about what to bring or how long the process takes. The staff can also tell you if the record you need is on file at the Dare County office. The office handles records for events that took place in Dare County.
Visit the Dare County Register of Deeds page for more details about the office.
The North Carolina vital records system connects all 100 counties. You can learn more about how the state oversees this system at vitalrecords.nc.gov.
The state vital records page shows how the system works across all North Carolina counties, including Dare County.
| Office |
Dare County Register of Deeds The Honorable Cheryl Lyn House 962 Marshall C. Collins Drive, Room 165A Manteo, NC 27954 Phone: (252) 475-5970 |
|---|---|
| Fee | Certified: $10.00 | Uncertified: $0.25 |
| Website | darenc.gov |
How to Get Dare County Death Records
You can get a death certificate from Dare County in person or by mail. The office also has request forms that can be sent with Express or Priority mail for faster service. A certified copy costs $10. An uncertified copy costs $0.25.
For in-person visits, go to the Dare County Justice Center in Manteo. Head to Room 165A. Bring a valid photo ID and the details of the record you need. The staff will search the files and give you a copy if the record is on hand. You pay the fee at the time of your visit.
For mail requests, contact the office to get the right form. Fill it out and send it with a copy of your ID and the fee. You can use Express or Priority mail if you need the record fast. The office will mail the copy back to the address you give.
View the Dare County birth and death certificates page for the full steps and forms.
Note: Adopted persons who need records should contact the North Carolina Vital Records office in Raleigh at 919-733-3000. The Dare County office cannot help with those requests.
Who Can Get Dare County Death Records
North Carolina law controls who can receive a certified death certificate. This applies in Dare County and across the state. The law lists those who have the right to a certified copy. Not everyone can get one.
People who can request a certified Dare County death record include:
- The spouse of the person who died
- A parent or child of the deceased
- A legal guardian or personal representative
- An attorney who acts for an eligible person
- A funeral director involved with the case
Under G.S. 130A-93.1, you must show a valid photo ID to get a certified death record from Dare County. If you do not qualify, you can still get an uncertified copy for personal use or research. The staff can help you figure out which type fits your needs.
Dare County Death Certificate Types
Dare County issues certified and uncertified copies of death records. A certified copy has a raised seal and the Register of Deeds signature. It is an official legal document. Most agencies ask for certified copies. Banks need them. Courts require them for estate work.
An uncertified copy does not have the seal. It costs just $0.25 in Dare County. It holds the same facts as the certified version. Uncertified copies are good for personal files, family history work, and research. They are not accepted as legal proof of death by most agencies.
Under G.S. 130A-93, the Register of Deeds must issue certified copies to those who qualify. Ask the Dare County staff which type you need for your case.
State Records and Dare County
The North Carolina Division of Public Health oversees vital records at the state level. The state keeps copies of death certificates from all 100 counties, including Dare County. If you cannot find a record at the Dare County office, the state may have it on file.
You can order from the state at vitalrecords.nc.gov. The state takes mail requests. The North Carolina State Archives holds older records from Dare County and the rest of the state. Under G.S. 130A-26A, the state registrar and each county work together to keep death records on file and easy to find.
Note: The state office and the Dare County office each have their own forms and fees. Check both to see which works best for your situation.
Death Record Research in Dare County
Dare County death records are a rich source for family history. The county covers the Outer Banks, an area with a long and storied past. Death certificates list the name, age, place of death, and parents of the deceased. These facts help build family trees and connect generations.
Uncertified copies are the best choice for genealogy work. They cost just $0.25 in Dare County. The North Carolina Association of Registers of Deeds has a directory of all county offices. This is useful if you need to check records in more than one county.
The State Archives in Raleigh hold older Dare County records that may not be at the county office. If you trace your roots to the Outer Banks, the Dare County Register of Deeds and the State Archives are the two best places to start your search.