Forsyth County Death Index Lookup

Forsyth County death index records are held at the Register of Deeds in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The death index covers death records from 1913 to the present. Forsyth County is one of the most populated counties in North Carolina. The Register of Deeds can help you search by name, find files, and get copies of death records. This guide explains how to access the Forsyth County death index, what the records hold, and what other options exist in North Carolina.

Forsyth County Death Index Office

The Forsyth County Register of Deeds sits in Winston-Salem. The office keeps birth and death records for the county. Staff can search the death index and pull files on request. You need a valid photo ID to get copies of death records.

Forsyth County follows North Carolina state rules for vital records. The office provides certified copies to those who qualify under the law. A certified copy of a death record costs $10, the standard fee across North Carolina. The Register of Deeds also has birth records going back to 1913. These records sit in the same office as the death index, so one trip can cover more than one type of vital record in Forsyth County.

The North Carolina Vital Records office works with county offices like Forsyth County to record death events. The state office in Raleigh holds copies of death records from 1930 on. But the local Forsyth County office is less costly and faster for most requests.

Note: Forsyth County death records from before 1913 are only at the local Register of Deeds in Winston-Salem.

How to Search Forsyth Death Index

The best way to search the Forsyth County death index is to visit the Register of Deeds in person. Go to the office in Winston-Salem with your photo ID. Tell the staff the full name and rough date of death. They will check the index and show you what they find.

You can also search by mail. Send a letter to the Forsyth County Register of Deeds with the name and death date, a copy of your ID, a check or money order for $10, and a self addressed stamped envelope. The office will search the death index and mail the record back. Allow one to two weeks for mail requests.

For online tools, many people use the state level NC Vital Records website. Death records from 1930 on are in their system. The fee is $24 per three year search. That is more than the $10 fee at the Forsyth County office. But the state system works if you cannot visit or mail to Winston-Salem.

Forsyth Death Record Eligibility

Under NCGS 130A-93, only close kin can get a certified death record from Forsyth County. This means the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild of the dead person. Lawyers and agents who act for those kin can also get certified copies.

If you do not fit those groups, you can still get a plain copy. Plain copies show all the same facts but lack the official seal. They work for most research and family tree needs in Forsyth County. The fee for a plain copy is less than the certified rate.

Death Index Record Details

A death record from Forsyth County lists the full name of the dead person. It also shows the date, time, and place of death. The cause of death is on the form, along with the name of the doctor or coroner. Other facts on the record include the birth date, birth place, last known address, and the names of both parents.

These details make Forsyth County death records a strong tool for family research. The death index gives you the file number you need to pull the full record. Once you have that number, staff can get the record fast. The index covers all deaths in Forsyth County from 1913 to the present.

North Carolina uses a standard form for death records. So a Forsyth County death record has the same fields as any other county in the state. The form has seen updates over the years, but key facts like name, date, and cause of death have stayed on every version.

Forsyth County Genealogy Research

Forsyth County death records pair well with other vital records for family tree work. The Register of Deeds holds both death and birth records from 1913. Start with the death index to find a record, then check birth records for the same family.

For older records, the North Carolina State Archives is the top source. The Archives holds death records from 1913 to 1975 for most counties. An index covers 1913 to 1979. You can visit in Raleigh or use their online tools. The NC Archives Store sells copies of death records from 1906 to 1979.

The NC State Library has a guide for vital records research in North Carolina. The NC Genealogical Society also offers a free vital records guide. Both tools can help you plan a search beyond what the Forsyth County death index covers.

Note: The State Archives is a better first choice than NC Vital Records for genealogy research on old Forsyth County death records.

North Carolina Death Records Contact

If you need help beyond Forsyth County, the state vital records office is in Raleigh. The mailing address is North Carolina Vital Records, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1900. The physical address is 225 N. McDowell Street. The phone number is 919-733-3000. Hours run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

Walk in service hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The last slot is at 2:30 p.m. The state fee is $24 per three year search. For most Forsyth County death records, the local office in Winston-Salem is the faster and less costly path.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Forsyth County. If the death took place near a county line, the record may be in one of these offices instead.