Guilford County Death Index

Guilford County holds one of the most used death index collections in North Carolina. The Register of Deeds in Greensboro keeps death records that go back to 1911. You can search for death certificates at two office sites in Guilford County. The death index helps you find names, dates, and file details for past deaths. This guide walks you through the ways to look up death index data in Guilford County, from in-person visits to mail and online tools.

Guilford County Death Index at the Register of Deeds

The Guilford County Register of Deeds is the main source for death records in the county. This office keeps all death certificates filed since 1911. That is more than a full century of death index data. Guilford County has two office sites, one in Greensboro and one in High Point. Both can help you get death records.

The Guilford County Register of Deeds issues death certificates for deaths that took place in Guilford County. To get a certified copy, you must be a close relative of the person who died. This means a spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild. You can also get one if you need it for a legal claim to personal or property rights. The Greensboro office is at 201 W. Market Street, 1st Floor. The High Point office is at 325 E. Russell Avenue. Call 336-641-7730 for the Greensboro site or 336-641-7556 for High Point.

Each certified copy of a death record costs $10 in Guilford County. Uncertified copies cost just $0.05 per page when you visit in person. If you ask by mail, the cost is $1 per page for uncertified copies. The office takes cash in amounts of $50 or less, checks, and money orders made out to "Register of Deeds."

Note: Guilford County does not issue death records from other counties, states, or countries.

How to Search the Guilford County Death Index

You can search Guilford County death index records in three ways. Each method works well for different needs. Pick the one that fits your case best.

The first way is to visit in person. Go to the Greensboro or High Point office with a valid photo ID. Staff can look up names in the death index and pull the file you need. You can view records and print copies on site. The in-person rate for uncertified copies is $0.05 per page. This is the best choice for researchers who want to browse the death index and look at more than one record in Guilford County.

The second way is by mail. Send a written request to: Register of Deeds, Vital Records Section, P.O. Box 3427, Greensboro, NC 27402-3427. Include the full name on the death record, date of death, your link to the person, a copy of your photo ID, and payment. The office needs an original hand-signed form. They will not take requests by email or fax. Mail requests take about three work days to process once the Guilford County office gets them.

The third way is through the online portal. The Guilford County Register of Deeds online system lets you fill out a death record request form on the web. You still need to pick up the record in person or have it sent by mail. Bring your ID and $10 per copy when you come to the office.

Guilford County Death Records for Genealogy

Guilford County is a strong spot for genealogy work. The death index goes back to September 1911. That gives you access to over a hundred years of death data. The Register of Deeds has a research center where you can search and print copies of death records for family history work.

The research center in the Guilford County Register of Deeds office has tools for looking up death records. You can search by name, date, or other details. Each photocopy costs $0.05 for in-person use. For help with your search, call 336-641-7730 or send an email to guilforddeeds@guilfordcountync.gov. Staff can guide you to the right part of the death index.

For death records before 1911, you may need to check the North Carolina State Archives. The state began to require death records in 1913, but Guilford County has some that are a bit older. The State Archives holds original death records from 1913 to 1975 for most North Carolina counties. You can also try the North Carolina Vital Records office for statewide searches, though their fee is $24 per search.

Death Index Corrections in Guilford County

Errors on a death record can be fixed through an amendment. The Guilford County Register of Deeds handles this by appointment only. Times are from 8 to 10 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. Bring a $15 money order for NC Vital Records and $10 in cash or check for the Guilford County processing fee.

The office sends the amendment to NC Vital Records for review. Processing time varies. Guilford County staff will call you when the death record has been updated. To set up an appointment, call 336-641-7730. Amendments may fix items like spelling, dates, or facts that were wrong or left off the original death certificate.

Note: Only certain people can ask for an amendment to a Guilford County death record, such as close family or a legal representative.

North Carolina State Death Index Resources

If you cannot find what you need in the Guilford County death index, the state office may help. North Carolina Vital Records in Raleigh keeps death records from 1930 to the present. The fee is $24 for a search and one copy. More copies from the same search cost $15 each.

The North Carolina State Archives holds original death records from 1913 to 1975. This is a good source for older Guilford County death index data. The archives are less costly than the state vital records office for genealogy research. You can also check the NC Archives Store for death certificates from 1906 to 1979.

Under North Carolina law, certified copies of death records are limited to close family members and those with a legal need. Uncertified copies are open to the public. This rule comes from N.C.G.S. 130A-93. It applies to both Guilford County and state-level requests. Valid photo ID is needed for all requests, whether at the county or state level.

Who Can Get Guilford County Death Records

North Carolina law sets strict rules on who can get a certified death record. In Guilford County, you must show that you are one of these people:

• Spouse of the person who died
• Parent or stepparent
• Child or stepchild
• Brother or sister
• Grandparent or grandchild
• A person with a legal claim to personal or property rights
• An agent, attorney, or legal representative of any of the above

You must bring a valid photo ID to prove who you are. The Guilford County office accepts a state driver's license, state ID card, or passport. All requests for certified death records must include ID, whether in person or by mail. Uncertified copies are open to anyone but are not valid for legal use.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Guilford County. If the death took place in one of these areas, contact that county's Register of Deeds for death index records.