Dare County Death Records

The Dare County death index is kept at the Register of Deeds office in Manteo, North Carolina. Dare County covers the Outer Banks area, one of the most well-known coastal regions in the state. Death records for the county go back to 1913. Whether you need a death certificate for a legal purpose or for tracing your family history in Dare County, this page explains how the process works and where to find what you need.

Dare County Death Index Office

The Dare County Register of Deeds maintains death records for the county. The office is in Manteo. Staff keep birth, death, and marriage certificates and issue copies to those who qualify. The office also manages land records and other public documents for Dare County.

Dare County was formed from Currituck County. Because of this, some older records may be found in Currituck County instead. The Register of Deeds in Dare County holds marriage records from 1870 to 1986, marriage licenses from 1870 to 1950, and marriage registers from 1870 to 1967. Death records at the county level date from 1913 when statewide registration began.

The fee for a certified copy of a death certificate in Dare County is ten dollars. Under NCGS 130A-93, certified copies are limited to eligible family members. This includes a spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild. Anyone else may request an uncertified copy for general purposes. Uncertified copies work fine for research.

Note: Dare County was carved from Currituck County, so records before that date may require a search in Currituck County records.

Searching the Dare County Death Index

You can search the Dare County death index in person, by mail, or through the state. Each method has its own steps.

For in-person searches, go to the Register of Deeds office in Manteo during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID. Provide the full name of the deceased and the approximate date of death. Staff will search the Dare County death index. If the record exists, you can get a copy that same day. This is the fastest option for getting a death record from Dare County.

For mail requests, send a letter with the name of the deceased, date of death, your relationship, a copy of your ID, and a check or money order for the fee. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Send it to the Dare County Register of Deeds in Manteo. Mail requests take a few weeks to process.

You can also order through North Carolina Vital Records or through VitalChek online. The state fee is twenty-four dollars per three-year search. VitalChek adds a processing fee of about fourteen dollars. State orders currently take 110 to 115 business days to process.

North Carolina Death Records for Dare County

North Carolina Vital Records holds death certificates from 1930 to the present for all counties, including Dare County. The office is at 225 N. McDowell Street in Raleigh. The phone number is 919-733-3000. Hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

The North Carolina Vital Records office provides vital record services for Dare County residents and for anyone who needs a Dare County death certificate. The fee is twenty-four dollars for each three-year search. If a record is found, one copy is included. Extra copies cost fifteen dollars. The fee is not refunded if no record turns up. You can pay by money order, certified check, or business check for mail orders.

The NC Vital Records forms page has the death certificate request form. It is available in English and Spanish. Download the form, fill it out, and mail it with your payment.

Historical Dare County Death Index

Statewide death registration in North Carolina started in 1913. Before that, no state law required death records to be filed. For deaths in Dare County before 1913, you may need to check other sources. Church records, cemetery logs, and family documents are common places to find older death information.

The North Carolina State Archives holds death certificates from 1913 to 1975 and an index from 1913 to 1979. Filing was not consistent until after World War II. Rural coastal counties like Dare County had lower filing rates in the early years. Gaps in Dare County death records are common between 1913 and 1945. The State Archives is the best place to search for records from that era.

Dare County also shares historical ties with Currituck County. Abstracts of wills and other records for both Currituck and Dare Counties from 1663 to 1850 are available through the State Archives and various genealogical collections. These old documents may contain death-related details even before formal death records existed.

Dare County Death Certificate Details

A death certificate from Dare County holds detailed information. Each field on the record provides data that is useful for legal, personal, and research needs.

The certificate shows the full name of the deceased, the date and place of death, and the cause of death. Both parents' names are listed, including the mother's maiden name. The birthplaces of both parents appear. Other fields include the person's age, occupation, marital status, and spouse's name if married. The burial place is also noted. For genealogy researchers, Dare County death records are among the most useful vital records available.

The North Carolina Genealogical Society recommends getting uncertified copies from the county Register of Deeds for research. These are available to anyone and cost less than certified copies. The NC Vital Records research page also suggests starting at the county or the State Archives for genealogy work rather than the state vital records office.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Dare County on the coast of North Carolina. If you need a death record from a neighboring county, reach out to their Register of Deeds.