Edgecombe County Death Index

Edgecombe County death index records are kept at the Register of Deeds in Tarboro, North Carolina. The death index lets you search for death records by name or date. Edgecombe County has deep roots that go back to the 1700s. The Register of Deeds holds vital records and old documents that span centuries. This page tells you how to search the death index, what records are on file, and where else in North Carolina you can find Edgecombe County death records.

Edgecombe Death Index Office

The Edgecombe County government runs the Register of Deeds office in Tarboro. This is where you go to search the death index and get copies of death records. The office holds birth, death, and marriage records for people born or who died in Edgecombe County.

The Edgecombe County Register of Deeds also holds a wealth of old documents. Abstracts of early deeds from 1759 to 1772 are on file. Abstracts of wills from 1733 to 1856 sit in the same office. Marriage bonds from about 1741 to 1868 and marriage licenses from 1851 to 1961 round out the collection. The office even keeps slave related documents from 1780 to 1871. All of these records can cross link with the death index for genealogy work in Edgecombe County.

Staff at the office can search the death index on the spot. Bring your ID and the name of the person you need. A certified copy of a death record costs $10 in Edgecombe County.

Search Edgecombe County Death Records

You have three main options for searching the Edgecombe County death index. In person visits give the fastest results. Mail requests work for long distance needs. Online tools from the state can fill in gaps.

To search in person, go to the Register of Deeds in Tarboro during office hours. Give the clerk the full name and rough year of death. They will check the death index and pull the file. You can get a copy right then. Bring a valid photo ID such as a driver's license or passport.

To search by mail, send a letter to the Edgecombe County Register of Deeds. Put in the name and date of death, a copy of your ID, a check for $10, and a self addressed stamped envelope. The staff will search the death index and mail back the record. Allow one to two weeks for this.

Note: Edgecombe County death records from before 1913 are only held locally at the Register of Deeds in Tarboro.

Edgecombe Death Records Online

The Edgecombe County online request system lets you order death records from your home. The site runs on the Permitium platform. You fill in the name of the dead person, the date of death, and your own details. Then you pay the fee and upload your ID.

The office processes online orders and mails the death record to you. Fees match the in person rate. This is a good choice if you live far from Edgecombe County. The system works for both certified and plain copies of North Carolina death records.

Edgecombe County Historical Death Index

Edgecombe County has some of the richest old records in North Carolina. The county was formed in 1741. That long past means many generations of records sit in the Register of Deeds office in Tarboro.

Marriage records from 1800 to 1961 are on hand. These pair well with death index entries for family tree work. The will abstracts from 1733 to 1856 are rare finds. Old deed abstracts from 1759 to 1772 add more data for tracing land and kin. Slave related papers from 1780 to 1871 help fill in gaps that other records miss.

For death records before the 1913 state start date, check with the Edgecombe County Register of Deeds first. The North Carolina State Archives has death records from 1913 to 1975 and an index to 1979. The NC Archives Store sells copies of old death records from 1906 to 1979. These tools extend the reach of the Edgecombe County death index.

Who Can Get Death Records

North Carolina law controls who can get a certified death record. Under NCGS 130A-93, these people can request a certified copy from Edgecombe County:

• Spouse of the dead person
• Parent, child, or sibling
• Grandparent or grandchild
• Stepparent or stepchild
• Lawyers and legal agents for any of the above

Anyone else can request a plain copy. Plain copies lack the state seal but show all the same facts. They work fine for research and family tree projects. The Edgecombe County Register of Deeds handles both types of requests.

The NC Vital Records office in Raleigh also issues death records from 1930 on. Their fee is $24 per three year search. For Edgecombe County records, the local office is less costly at $10.

North Carolina Death Index Tools

The state of North Carolina has several tools for death index research. NC Vital Records in Raleigh holds records from 1930 to the present. The State Archives has older death records from 1913 to 1975. The NC State Library and the NC Genealogical Society both publish guides for death record research.

For Edgecombe County death records, start at the local Register of Deeds in Tarboro. It costs less and the staff knows the local death index well. If you hit a wall, move to the state tools. The Archives in Raleigh is the best next step for old death records from Edgecombe County.

Edgecombe Death Record ID Rules

You need a valid photo ID to get death records from Edgecombe County. The Register of Deeds accepts driver's licenses, state issued IDs, and passports. US Armed Forces IDs work too. If you send a mail request, include a clear copy of your ID with the letter.

The state vital records office in Raleigh uses the same ID rules. The address is 225 N. McDowell Street. The phone is 919-733-3000. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Walk in hours run 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For Edgecombe County death records, the local office at $10 is the less costly choice compared to the state fee of $24.

Nearby Counties

These counties are next to Edgecombe County. If the person died near the border, check the right county for the death record.