Brunswick County Death Records

The Brunswick County death index holds records for all deaths that occurred in Brunswick County, North Carolina. The Register of Deeds office in Bolivia manages these files. You can search by name or date of death to find a specific record. Brunswick County death certificates date back to 1913 when the state began requiring death registration. The office provides certified and uncertified copies to eligible requesters. Brunswick County is one of the fastest growing counties in the state, and the Register of Deeds handles an increasing volume of vital records requests each year.

Brunswick County Death Index Office

The Brunswick County Register of Deeds maintains all birth, death, and marriage records for the county. The office provides certified copies of vital records following North Carolina state requirements. Staff can help you search the Brunswick County death index and locate the records you need.

The office is in Bolivia, the county seat of Brunswick County. You can visit in person during business hours to request death records. Staff will search by name or date and can provide copies while you wait in most cases. The Brunswick County Register of Deeds follows all NC General Statutes that govern the handling and release of vital records.

Below is the Brunswick County government website.

The county website provides links to the Register of Deeds and other Brunswick County departments and services.

Brunswick County Death Index Background

Brunswick County was formed in 1764 from Bladen County and New Hanover County. This history matters for record seekers. Any land records or vital records from before 1764 may be found in those parent counties. Neighboring counties include Pender, New Hanover, and Columbus County in North Carolina, along with Horry County in South Carolina.

Death registration in North Carolina did not begin until 1913. The Brunswick County death index starts from that year. Records from the early years may have gaps since compliance was not consistent until after World War II. It is common to not find death certificates for some Brunswick County residents who died between 1913 and 1945.

For records before 1913, no official death records exist for Brunswick County or any other North Carolina county. Researchers should look at church records, cemetery inscriptions, family bibles, and other local sources. The North Carolina State Archives holds death certificates from 1913 to 1975 and may fill in gaps in the Brunswick County death index.

Note: Brunswick County was formed from Bladen and New Hanover Counties in 1764, so earlier records may be in those parent county offices.

Search Brunswick Death Records Online

Brunswick County provides online access to recorded documents through their Register of Deeds database. Users need to complete an online application to get access. Once approved, you can search for deeds, mortgages, liens, and judgments. Free registration is required to use the system.

The online system may include some vital records data, though display is often limited for security reasons. For a full certified copy of a Brunswick County death certificate, you will still need to visit in person or submit a mail request. The online index is helpful for verifying that a record exists before making a formal request to the Brunswick County office.

How to Get Brunswick County Death Records

You can request Brunswick County death records in person or by mail. For in-person requests, visit the Register of Deeds in Bolivia. Bring a valid photo ID. The staff will search the death index and provide copies. The fee for a certified copy is $10. Most in-person requests are filled the same day.

For mail requests, send a completed application with the $10 fee per certified copy, a photocopy of your government-issued ID, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Only money orders or bank checks are typically accepted by mail. The Brunswick County Register of Deeds will process your request and mail the death record to you.

Under N.C.G.S. 130A-93, only certain people can get a certified death certificate. Eligible requesters include the spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the deceased. Attorneys and authorized agents with proper proof also qualify. For anyone else, Brunswick County death records are not available until 50 years after the date of death.

Brunswick County Death Index for Genealogy

Brunswick County has extensive genealogy resources for family researchers. Available records include death certificates from 1906 to 1930 at the state level, deaths and burials from 1931 to 1994, cemetery listings with maps and photos, census records, church records, divorce records, and marriage bonds from 1804 to 1868. The death index is a central tool for tracing Brunswick County family lines.

A Brunswick County death certificate shows the name of the deceased, date and place of death, cause of death, names of both parents, mother's maiden name, birthplaces of parents, residence, occupation, marital status, spouse's name, and place of burial. These details connect generations and help build complete family trees for Brunswick County families.

The North Carolina Genealogical Society recommends starting at the county level. The Brunswick County Register of Deeds can provide uncertified copies at cost, usually about $1.00 each. These copies arrive faster and cost much less than state-level requests. For records not found at the county level, try the North Carolina Vital Records office, which holds death certificates from 1930 to the present.

North Carolina Death Records for Brunswick

The state office holds death records that may not be in the Brunswick County death index. North Carolina Vital Records has death certificates from 1930 to the present. The search fee is $24 per three-year period. Online orders through VitalChek cost an extra $13.95 in processing fees. Mail orders go to NC Vital Records, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1900.

The NC Archives Store provides details about obtaining death certificates from 1906 to 1979. The State Archives can be reached at (919) 814-6840 or archives@dncr.nc.gov. For Brunswick County families, these resources provide access to the oldest death records available in North Carolina.

Note: The $24 state search fee applies per three-year period and is not refundable even if no Brunswick County record is found.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Brunswick County in southeastern North Carolina. Contact the correct county Register of Deeds if the death occurred outside Brunswick County.