Search Hoke County Death Index
Hoke County keeps death index records from 1911 to the present. The Register of Deeds in Raeford holds all death certificates for the county. You can search the Hoke County death index to find names, dates, and file numbers for past deaths in North Carolina. This page explains how to get death records, what tools are on hand, and what the costs look like. From in-person visits to online resources, there are ways to search the Hoke County death index.
Hoke County Quick Facts
Hoke County Death Records Office
The Hoke County Register of Deeds holds all death records for the county. The office is at 113 Campus Ave., Raeford, NC 28376. The phone number is (910) 875-2035 and the fax is (910) 875-9554. Hoke County sits in the south-central part of North Carolina.
Hoke County was created on February 17, 1911 from Cumberland and Robeson Counties. It was named for Robert F. Hoke, a prominent Confederate general and railroad president. The county seat is Raeford. Because the county formed in 1911, death records begin that same year. The Clerk of Superior Court also keeps divorce, probate, and court records from 1911. There is no known history of courthouse fires or losses, which means the Hoke County death index is generally complete from the start.
Certified copies of death certificates cost $10 each at the Hoke County office. This is far less than the $24 state fee. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. Staff can look up names in the death index and pull the file you need.
| Office |
Hoke County Register of Deeds 113 Campus Ave. Raeford, NC 28376 Phone: (910) 875-2035 |
|---|---|
| Fax | (910) 875-9554 |
How to Search the Hoke County Death Index
The main way to search the Hoke County death index is at the Register of Deeds office. Visit during business hours with a photo ID. Staff will search the index by name or date and find the death record you need. You can ask for certified or uncertified copies on the spot.
You can also send a mail request. Write to the Hoke County Register of Deeds at 113 Campus Ave., Raeford, NC 28376. Include the full name on the death record, the date of death, your link to the person, a copy of your photo ID, and $10 per certified copy. Under North Carolina law, only close family or those with a legal need can get certified death records from Hoke County.
The recorded document search portal lets you search Hoke County land documents by name, instrument type, or date range. The database holds deeds, liens, and other recorded files. While this tool focuses on land records, it can help point you to the right area of the Hoke County archives.
Hoke County Death Index and Genealogy
Hoke County is a useful spot for genealogy research. The death index starts in 1911, the same year the county was formed. This means no records were lost to a transfer from a parent county. Every death filed in Hoke County since day one is in the index.
The genealogy records search for Hoke County covers cemeteries, death records, marriage records, and obituaries. These free tools add depth to what you find in the death index. The FamilySearch guide for Hoke County links to online databases including North Carolina Deaths and Burials from 1898 to 1994, North Carolina Deaths from 1906 to 1930 and 1931 to 1994, and North Carolina Death Certificates from 1909 to 1975.
For records before 1911, you may need to check Cumberland County or Robeson County, since Hoke County was carved from those two. The North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh also holds death records from 1913 to 1975 that may cover the Hoke County area before the county was formed. The North Carolina Vital Records office has statewide death records from 1930 to the present.
Note: Hoke County records are generally complete since there were no courthouse disasters in the county's history.
Who Can Request Hoke County Death Records
North Carolina General Statute 130A-93 sets the rules. In Hoke County, certified death records can only go to these people:
- Spouse of the deceased
- Parent or stepparent
- Child or stepchild
- Brother or sister
- Grandparent or grandchild
- A person with a legal need for personal or property rights
- An authorized agent, attorney, or legal representative
Uncertified copies are open to the public in Hoke County. They work for personal use and genealogy. You still need to show a photo ID for any request. The standard fee for certified copies is $10 at the Hoke County Register of Deeds.
North Carolina Death Index Resources
When the Hoke County death index does not have what you need, North Carolina state resources can help. The state vital records office at 225 N. McDowell St. in Raleigh keeps death records from 1930 to the present. The phone number is 919-733-3000. The fee is $24 per search and one copy.
The North Carolina State Archives holds original death records from 1913 to 1975. This is a strong choice for genealogy work because the fees are lower than the state vital records office. The archives can also help with Hoke County death index files from the early years. For a broader search, the NC Archives Store sells copies of death certificates from 1906 to 1979.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Hoke County. Contact the right county's Register of Deeds for death index records from neighboring areas.