Jackson County Death Index Search

Jackson County death index records go back to 1913. The Register of Deeds in Sylva keeps all death certificates for the county. You can search the death index by name or date to find records of past deaths in this part of North Carolina. Jackson County also has some delayed records that date to the mid-1800s. This guide shows you how to request death records in person, by mail, and online from the Jackson County death index.

Jackson County Death Records at the Register of Deeds

The Jackson County Register of Deeds is the manager and custodian of death records. Shandra Sims is the Register of Deeds. The office is at 401 Grindstaff Cove Road, Room 108, Sylva, NC 28779. The phone number is (828) 586-7530. The fax is (828) 586-6879. Email deeds@jacksonnc.org for questions.

Jackson County was created on January 29, 1851 from Haywood and Macon Counties. It sits in the southwestern part of North Carolina and shares a border with South Carolina. The county was named for President Andrew Jackson. The Register of Deeds keeps real estate records, vital records such as births and deaths, and marriage licenses issued in the county. The office also records DD214 military discharge forms and issues certified copies to veterans at no charge.

Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM for both in-person and e-recording. The staff works hard to provide courteous, efficient, and professional service. The care and access to Jackson County records are governed by North Carolina General Statutes.

Jackson County Death Index and Vital Records

The Jackson County vital records page covers how to get death certificates. The office files death records only for persons who died in Jackson County. Death records date back to 1913. Some delayed birth records go back to the mid-1800s, but these are not death records.

There are three ways to get a death certificate from the Jackson County death index. First, you can order online at ncvitals.com. Choose Jackson County and follow the steps. The fee is $10 per certified copy plus a $1 convenience fee charged by the vendor. Second, you can visit the office in person. No appointment is needed. Bring your photo ID. Third, you can mail a request. Print and fill out the application form, attach a copy of your photo ID, and include payment.

Under North Carolina law, only these people can get a certified copy of a death record from Jackson County:

• The person themselves (for birth records)
• Spouse
• Brother or sister
• Child or grandchild
• Parent or grandparent
• A person seeking info for legal personal or property rights (ID needed)
• An authorized agent, attorney, or legal representative (ID needed)

Certified copies cost $10 each. The Jackson County office takes cash, credit and debit cards, money orders, and certified checks. Personal checks are not accepted. Making a false application for a vital record is a felony under N.C.G.S. 130A-26.2.

Search Jackson County Death Index Online

The Jackson County Register of Deeds offers online record searches. Name searches cover records from October 1, 1991 to the present. Visit the Jackson County site and choose the Register of Deeds Search under Online Services. This tool lets you search by name from your home, which is a good first step before you visit or order by mail.

The FamilySearch guide for Jackson County links to free databases. These include 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. The Clerk of Superior Court has divorce, probate, and court records from 1851. Together, these tools cover a wide span of Jackson County history.

The public records search for Jackson County gives access to recorded documents including deeds, births, deaths, marriages, UCC filings, and plats. These free search tools add to what the Jackson County death index offers at the local office.

North Carolina Death Index Resources

When the Jackson County death index does not have what you need, the state has more options. The North Carolina Vital Records office in Raleigh holds death records from 1930 to the present for the whole state. The fee is $24 per search and one copy. The state office phone number is 919-733-3000.

The North Carolina State Archives keeps original death records from 1913 to 1975. The archives are a good choice for genealogy work because the fees are lower. For Jackson County death index files from the early 1900s, the archives may have what the county office does not hold in digital form. You can visit the archives in Raleigh or send a mail request.

Note: For deaths in an unknown North Carolina county, the state vital records office can search all 100 counties from 1930 to the present.

Jackson County Death Index Research Tips

Jackson County is in the mountains of western North Carolina. The death index covers Sylva, Dillsboro, Cashiers, and surrounding communities. The county includes part of the Qualla Boundary, home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Common surnames in the Jackson County death index include Buchanan, Hooper, Queen, and Zachary.

The Register of Deeds in Sylva holds death records from 1913 to the present. Mountain terrain in Jackson County meant that some deaths in remote areas were reported late. Delayed death certificates for these cases may be at the North Carolina State Archives. Western Carolina University in Cullowhee also has a special collections library with local history materials that can support death index research. For Cherokee family members, tribal records may provide additional information not found in the Jackson County death index.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Jackson County in western North Carolina. Contact the right county for death index records based on where the death took place.