Buncombe County Death Records

The Buncombe County death index holds records for deaths that took place in this western North Carolina county. Buncombe County is home to Asheville and has a long history of vital records keeping. The Register of Deeds in Buncombe County stores death certificates and provides copies to those who qualify. You can search the Buncombe County death index for records that go back to the start of state registration. This page covers how to find and request death records in Buncombe County, including online tools and in-person options at the county office.

Buncombe County Death Index Records

The Buncombe County Register of Deeds keeps death records for events in the county. This office stores birth, death, and marriage certificates. Staff can help you find a death record and make a copy. The office is in Asheville, the county seat of Buncombe County. You can visit in person or use their online tools to start a search.

Buncombe County provides land, plat, and vital record searches through the Register of Deeds website. Users can look up recorded documents and request certified copies online. The office also allows you to order vital records through their web portal. This makes it simple to get a Buncombe County death certificate without a trip to the courthouse. The fee for a certified copy is $10 in Buncombe County, which matches the standard rate set by North Carolina law.

The Buncombe County Register of Deeds website is shown below.

This is the main page for the Buncombe County Register of Deeds, where you can start a search for death records and other vital documents.

Historical Death Records in Buncombe County

Buncombe County has rich historical vital records. The county holds an index to deaths from 1892 to 1963. It also has a register of deaths in Asheville from 1898 to 1909, and coroners' inquests from 1875 to 1929. These old records are a key resource for family history work in Buncombe County.

North Carolina did not require statewide death registration until 1913. Even after that law passed, many deaths went unreported until after World War II. For Buncombe County deaths before 1930, the North Carolina State Archives is the best source. The State Archives holds death certificates from 1913 to 1975, along with an index that covers 1913 to 1979. Buncombe County deaths from before 1913 may appear in church records, cemetery lists, or newspaper obituaries rather than official county files.

The Buncombe County death certificates page has details on how to request copies of more recent records from the Register of Deeds.

This page shows the steps to get a Buncombe County death certificate from the Register of Deeds office.

Note: Death certificates in Buncombe County before 1913 are rare because statewide registration had not yet begun in North Carolina.

Who Can Get Buncombe County Death Records

North Carolina law limits who can get a certified copy of a death record. Under N.C.G.S. 130A-93, only certain people may receive a certified death certificate from Buncombe County. These include the spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandchild of the person who died. A person with a legal interest in the record may also apply.

For deaths within the last 50 years in Buncombe County, access is limited to those listed above. After 50 years pass from the date of death, the record becomes more widely available. Researchers who need a death record for family history can request an uncertified copy from the Buncombe County Register of Deeds. Uncertified copies cost less and arrive faster. They work well for genealogy but not for legal matters.

Search the Buncombe County Death Index Online

Several online resources help you search for death records in Buncombe County. The county offers its own online search tools through the Register of Deeds. You can also use state and national databases to find Buncombe County death index records.

The FamilySearch wiki lists free databases for North Carolina death records. These include death certificates from 1906 to 1930 with images, and death indexes from 1931 to 1994. Many Buncombe County deaths appear in these collections. The NC Vital Records research page also guides researchers to the right source based on the date of death.

When searching online for Buncombe County death records, you will need:

• Full name of the person who died
• Date of death or a range of years
• Place of death within Buncombe County
• Names of parents if known

The Buncombe County Register of Deeds is shown below with their full range of services.

The Register of Deeds in Buncombe County handles all types of recorded documents, including death certificates and other vital records.

State Resources for Death Records

If you cannot find a death record through Buncombe County, the state of North Carolina offers other options. NC Vital Records has death certificates from 1930 to the present. The search fee is $24 for each three-year period, and it includes one copy of the certificate if found. This fee is not refundable.

You can also order through VitalChek, which is the only authorized online vendor for North Carolina vital records. VitalChek charges a processing fee of $13.95 on top of the state fee. Orders through VitalChek work for Buncombe County death certificates from 1930 onward. For older records, contact the State Archives or the Buncombe County Register of Deeds.

Note: The state office in Raleigh currently has long processing times due to high demand for certificates related to REAL ID requirements.

Buncombe County Death Index for Genealogy

Buncombe County is a strong location for genealogy research. The county has records going back to the late 1800s. In addition to death certificates, researchers can find cemetery records, obituaries, wills, and probate files. The North Carolina Genealogical Society offers a guide to finding vital records across the state, including tips for Buncombe County.

Death certificates contain useful details for family history. A Buncombe County death record shows the name of the person, date and place of death, cause of death, names of both parents, mother's maiden name, birthplaces of parents, occupation, marital status, and burial location. These facts can help you build a family tree and connect to other records in Buncombe County and beyond.

For deaths before statewide registration, try the State Library of North Carolina for substitute records. Church records, tax lists, and old newspaper notices can fill in gaps when no official death record exists for a Buncombe County ancestor.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Buncombe County. If you are not sure where a death took place, check nearby counties as well. The death certificate is filed in the county where the death occurred, not where the person lived.