Greensboro Death Index
The Greensboro death index is managed by the Guilford County Register of Deeds. Greensboro is the county seat and the largest city in Guilford County, North Carolina. The city does not keep its own death records. All death certificates for the Greensboro area are filed and stored at the county level. Residents who need a copy of a death record for a loved one can visit the Guilford County office in downtown Greensboro or request one by mail. An online option is also in place to speed up the process for those who cannot visit in person.
Greensboro Death Records Quick Facts
Greensboro Death Records Office
The Guilford County Register of Deeds issues death certificates at its Greensboro location. The office is at 201 W. Market Street, 1st Floor, Greensboro, NC. You can reach them at 336-641-7730. There is also a second office in High Point at 325 E. Russell Avenue for those in the south end of the county.
Greensboro residents can get copies in person, by mail, or through the online system. Certified copies cost $10 each. You must be a close family member to get a certified copy. That means a spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild. Legal agents and attorneys with proper proof may also request certified copies. Uncertified copies in person cost just $0.05 per page, which helps those doing research on a tight budget in Greensboro.
The office accepts cash in bills of $50 or less. Checks and money orders made out to "Register of Deeds" also work. No counter checks or funds from foreign banks are accepted at the Greensboro location.
Mail-In Death Index Requests
Greensboro area residents can send death record requests by mail. Send your completed form, check or money order, and a copy of your photo ID to: Register of Deeds, Vital Records Section, P.O. Box 3427, Greensboro, NC 27402-3427. The office will not process forms without a real signature.
If you do not have the printed form, write a letter that includes the full name on the death certificate, date of death, your link to the deceased, and your signature. Uncertified copies by mail cost $1 per page. Certified copies are $10 each. The Greensboro office processes mail orders within three business days of getting your request. Email and fax are not accepted for death record requests in Greensboro.
Greensboro Death Certificate Steps
North Carolina Vital Records works with county offices across the state, including Greensboro, to maintain accurate death records. The NC Vital Records website provides forms and guidance for ordering death certificates.
When you visit the Greensboro office, bring a valid photo ID. A state driver's license, state ID card, or passport will work. The staff may ask about your link to the deceased before printing a certified copy. For uncertified copies, ID is still requested but the rules are less strict. Plan to pay at the time of your visit since the Greensboro office does not bill later.
Death Record Amendments in Greensboro
Errors on a Greensboro death certificate can be fixed through an amendment. This covers mistakes made at the time of filing or facts left off the original record. Amendments are done by appointment only at the Guilford County office.
Appointment slots run from 8 to 10 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. Bring a $15 money order made out to NC Vital Records. The Guilford County processing fee is $10, paid by cash or check. The office sends the amendment to the state for final approval. Processing time varies. The staff will call you when the revised death certificate is ready. Call 336-641-7730 to set up an appointment for a Greensboro area death record amendment.
Note: Only immediate family or legal agents may request amendments to Greensboro death records.
Greensboro Death Index for Genealogy
Guilford County death records go back to September 1911. This makes Greensboro one of the better spots in North Carolina for deep family history research. The Register of Deeds has a research center where you can search and print copies for just $0.05 per page.
The office does not have records from other counties. If you need a death record from outside Guilford County, contact the county where the death took place. If the county is unknown, call NC Vital Records at 919-733-3000. They can search statewide. For Greensboro area deaths before 1911, check the North Carolina State Archives for any early files that may exist. Researchers can also email guilforddeeds@guilfordcountync.gov with questions about the Greensboro death index.
Who Can Request Greensboro Death Records
North Carolina law limits who can get certified death certificates. The same rules apply in Greensboro as in every other city in the state. Under General Statute 130A-93, you must fall into one of these groups:
- Spouse of the deceased
- Parent or stepparent
- Child or stepchild
- Sibling of the deceased
- Grandparent or grandchild
- Person with a legal need for the record
Uncertified copies are open to anyone in Greensboro. These are fine for family research but not for legal claims. The Guilford County office can tell you which type of copy fits your needs when you call or visit the Greensboro location.
State Death Index for Greensboro
Greensboro residents who need death records from other parts of North Carolina can contact the state vital records office in Raleigh. The state holds death records from 1930 to the present for every county. The fee is $24 for a search and one copy. Each added copy costs $15. Mail requests go to: NC Vital Records, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1900.
State orders take much longer than the Greensboro office. Wait times at the state level can exceed 100 business days. For deaths in Guilford County, the Greensboro office is the faster and cheaper option at $10 per copy. Use the state office only when you do not know which county a death took place in.
Guilford County Death Index
Greensboro is the county seat of Guilford County. All death records for the city pass through the county Register of Deeds. For full details on Guilford County death record fees, request methods, and office hours, see the county page.