Carteret County Death Records

The Carteret County death index contains records for deaths that happened in this coastal North Carolina county. The Register of Deeds in Beaufort maintains death certificates and provides copies to eligible requesters. You can search for Carteret County death records in person, by mail, or online. This page covers the process for getting death certificates, the fees involved, and the rules that govern access to the Carteret County death index. The office also handles out-of-county death records under certain conditions.

Carteret County Death Certificates

The Carteret County Register of Deeds provides copies of death certificates for people whose death occurred in Carteret County. The office is at 302 Courthouse Square in Beaufort, NC 28516. Staff can search the death index and produce copies for qualified requesters.

Carteret County also handles out-of-county death certificates under specific rules. For deaths that occurred after September 1, 2022, anywhere in North Carolina, the Carteret County Register of Deeds may issue a copy. You must appear in person for out-of-county requests. A search fee of $14 is charged in addition to the $10 certified copy fee. Out-of-county certificates cannot be requested by mail or online. This option only covers deaths that occurred in North Carolina after August 1, 2020.

The Carteret County death certificates page is shown below.

This page details the steps and fees for requesting a death certificate from the Carteret County Register of Deeds.

How to Request Death Index Records

Carteret County offers three ways to request a death certificate. Each method has its own steps and requirements.

For in-person requests, visit the Register of Deeds at 302 Courthouse Square in Beaufort. Complete a request form and present a government-issued photo ID. Staff will search the Carteret County death index and provide a certified copy if you qualify. The fee is $10 per certified copy. You can pay with cash, credit or debit card, money order, or cashier's check.

For mail requests, send a written letter to the Carteret County Register of Deeds. Include the full name of the deceased, date of death, your relation to the deceased, and a contact phone number. Enclose a photocopy of your valid photo ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a money order or cashier's check for $10 payable to the Carteret County Register of Deeds.

Online requests are also available through the Carteret County Online Vital Record Request website. Keep in mind that extra processing fees apply when you order online. The Carteret County government website has links to all these services.

The Carteret County website provides access to Register of Deeds services and online record requests.

Note: Out-of-county death certificates from Carteret County require an in-person visit and an extra $14 search fee on top of the standard $10 copy fee.

Who Can Get Carteret County Death Records

Certified copies of Carteret County death certificates are limited by N.C.G.S. 130A-93. The following people can get a certified copy:

• Parent, spouse, or sibling of the deceased
• Grandparent, grandchild, stepparent, or stepchild
• A person seeking the record for a legal determination
• An authorized agent, attorney, or legal representative

For deaths within the last 50 years in Carteret County, only those listed above can obtain a certified copy. After 50 years, the record becomes more widely accessible. Uncertified copies are available for family history research at a lower cost.

State Death Index Resources

If you cannot find a record through Carteret County, the state of North Carolina has additional options. NC Vital Records holds death certificates from 1930 to the present. The search fee is $24 for each three-year period. You can also order through VitalChek, which charges a $13.95 processing fee.

For older Carteret County death records, the North Carolina State Archives has certificates from 1913 to 1975 and an index from 1913 to 1979. The FamilySearch wiki offers free databases with death records from 1906 to 1930 and indexes from 1931 to 1994. Many Carteret County deaths appear in these collections.

Death certificates contain rich detail for family research. A Carteret County death record lists the name of the deceased, date and place of death, cause of death, parents' names including the mother's maiden name, occupation, marital status, and burial location. The North Carolina Genealogical Society has a guide for locating these records across the state.

Note: The state office in Raleigh currently processes mail orders in 110 to 115 business days due to high demand.

Carteret County Death Index Search Tips

Carteret County stretches along the coast of North Carolina. The death index covers areas from Beaufort to Morehead City and the outer banks. Fishing and maritime families have deep roots here. Common surnames in the death index include Davis, Guthrie, Lewis, and Willis. Older records may use different spellings, so try variations if your search comes up empty.

The Carteret County Register of Deeds in Beaufort holds death records from 1913 onward. Staff can search by name, date, or location within the county. For deaths that happened on Harkers Island, Cedar Island, or other remote areas of Carteret County, records may have been filed with a delay. The North Carolina State Archives holds some delayed death certificates for Carteret County. These are helpful when the local death index does not have what you need. Genealogy researchers should also check maritime records, as many Carteret County deaths occurred at sea or in coastal waters.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Carteret County along the North Carolina coast. Death certificates are filed where the death took place. Check nearby counties if the death occurred outside Carteret County.