Alamance County Death Index Records

The Alamance County death index holds records for deaths that took place in Alamance County, North Carolina. The Register of Deeds in Graham keeps these files and provides copies to those who qualify. You can search the Alamance County death index by name, date, or other details. Death records in Alamance County date back to 1913 when the state began to require registration. The office also works with the North Carolina Vital Records office so that all death certificates are filed and stored in the right way. Alamance County residents can request copies in person, by mail, or through the online system.

Alamance County Register of Deeds

The Alamance County Register of Deeds is the main office for death records in this county. David Barber serves as the Register of Deeds. The office acts as the custodian of all public records in Alamance County. This includes birth, death, and marriage certificates. Staff at the office can help you find records in the Alamance County death index. They also handle land records, plats, and notary oaths.

The Alamance County Register of Deeds is governed by the General Statutes of North Carolina. The office is charged with the integrity, completeness, and accuracy of all records it holds. It is important to know that this is a recording office only. North Carolina law does not allow the Register of Deeds or staff to practice law. They cannot give legal advice or supply legal forms. If you have legal questions about a death record in Alamance County, consult an attorney.

You can visit the Alamance County Register of Deeds in person at their office in Graham. The staff is there to help with any vital records request you may have.

The Alamance County Register of Deeds office provides a screenshot of their main portal below.

The site gives an overview of all services the office provides, from vital records to land documents filed in Alamance County.

Search the Alamance County Death Index

There are several ways to search for death records in Alamance County. You can look in person at the Register of Deeds office. You can also send a mail request. A third option is the online system. Each method has its own steps and rules. The right choice depends on what you need and how fast you need it.

To search the Alamance County death index in person, go to 118 West Harden Street in Graham during office hours. Bring a valid photo ID with you. Staff can look up records by name or date of death. You can get a certified copy the same day in most cases. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Recording hours end at 4:30 PM. For vital records questions, call and select Prompt #2 when you reach the phone menu at the Alamance County office.

Alamance County also has a mail-in process. Complete and sign the Application for Copy of Vital Records form. Include the $10 fee per copy. Send a photocopy of your government-issued photo ID. Only money orders or bank checks are accepted by mail. Mail everything to Alamance County Register of Deeds, P.O. Box 837, 118 West Harden Street, Graham, NC 27253. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a daytime phone number.

Note: Recording hours in Alamance County end at 4:30 PM, which is earlier than the general office closing time of 5:00 PM.

Alamance Death Records Online

Alamance County offers an online request system for vital records through the Permitium platform. This system lets you order death certificates from home. Certified copies cost $10.00 each. Uncertified copies are just $1.00 each. The online system takes credit and debit cards, but a small processing fee applies for card payments.

The Alamance County vital records page has more details about what you can order and how the process works.

This page walks you through the steps to request a certified or uncertified copy of a death certificate from Alamance County.

Keep in mind that the online system takes you away from the main Alamance County website. If you run into any problems with the site, let the Register of Deeds office know. They can help sort things out. The Alamance County Register of Deeds maintains death records for all persons who died within the county borders.

The online request portal for Alamance County is shown here.

The Permitium platform handles payment and processing for all online vital record orders placed in Alamance County.

Who Can Get Alamance County Death Records

Not everyone can get a certified copy of a death record. North Carolina law sets strict rules about who qualifies. Under N.C.G.S. 130A-93, only certain people can obtain a certified death certificate from Alamance County or any other county in the state.

Those who can request a certified copy of an Alamance County death record include:

• The spouse of the deceased person
• A parent, stepparent, or grandparent
• A child, stepchild, or grandchild
• A brother or sister of the deceased
• A person with a legal interest in the record, with proof
• An authorized agent or attorney with proof of authority

A death record in Alamance County cannot be obtained by the general public until 50 years have passed from the date of death. For deaths within the last 50 years, these rules protect the privacy of the deceased and their family. If you are doing genealogical research and do not qualify for a certified copy, you may still get an uncertified copy from the Alamance County Register of Deeds. Uncertified copies cost just $1.00 and arrive much faster.

Note: The Alamance County Register of Deeds cannot give legal advice about whether you qualify for a certified copy under North Carolina law.

North Carolina Death Index and State Records

If you cannot find what you need at the Alamance County level, the state office may help. North Carolina Vital Records in Raleigh holds death certificates from 1930 to the present. The state office is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. You can order a death certificate from the state by mail, online through VitalChek, or in person by appointment.

The state search fee is $24 for each three-year period searched. This fee is not refundable even if no record is found. If you order through VitalChek, an extra processing fee of $13.95 applies. The mailing address for state orders is NC Vital Records, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1900. In-person service is available by appointment only at 225 N. McDowell Street in Raleigh.

For older Alamance County death records, the North Carolina State Archives holds death certificates from 1913 to 1975. The archives also has an index covering 1913 to 1979. These historical records are useful for genealogy work on Alamance County families.

Alamance County Death Record Research

Genealogists and family researchers use the Alamance County death index often. Death certificates hold key details for tracing family lines. An Alamance County death record typically shows the name of the deceased, the date and place of death, cause of death, names of both parents, mother's maiden name, birthplaces of both parents, place of residence, occupation, marital status, name of spouse, and place of burial.

The North Carolina Genealogical Society recommends getting uncertified copies of death certificates from the county Register of Deeds for research purposes. Alamance County must offer these at cost, which is usually around $1.00. These copies arrive much faster than certified versions from the state office. This makes the Alamance County Register of Deeds the best first stop for genealogy work.

Statewide registration of deaths began in 1913 in North Carolina, with general compliance by 1920. Before 1913, no deaths were recorded by Alamance County or the state. Some gaps exist in the early years, and it is common not to find death certificates for persons who died in Alamance County between 1913 and 1945.

Alamance Death Index Special Procedures

Alamance County has a specific rule for funeral homes. Since November 15, 2017, funeral homes requesting more than five different death certificates at one time must be in the office by 3:30 PM for same-day pickup. If the funeral home representative arrives after 3:30 PM, the request will be processed the next business day. This policy helps the Alamance County staff manage high-volume requests.

Individual requests are not affected by this rule. If you are requesting a personal copy of an Alamance County death record, standard processing times apply. Most in-person requests can be handled the same day during normal business hours.

Note: Funeral homes in Alamance County should plan to arrive before 3:30 PM when requesting more than five death certificates at one time.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Alamance County. If a death took place outside Alamance County, you will need to contact the Register of Deeds in the county where the death occurred to search their death index.