Lincoln County Death Records Search

The Lincoln County death index holds records for deaths in this south-central North Carolina county. Lincoln County has maintained death records since 1913 through the Register of Deeds in Lincolnton. You can search the Lincoln County death index to find death certificates and other vital records. The county has a long history of record keeping, with land records going back to 1763. This guide will show you how to look up and request death records from Lincoln County.

Lincoln County Death Index Office

The Lincoln County Register of Deeds is at 115 W. Main St., Box 218, in Lincolnton, NC 28093. Call them at (704) 736-8530. The office keeps all vital records for Lincoln County. This includes birth, death, and marriage certificates along with land records that date back to 1763.

Lincoln County was formed in April 1779 from Tryon County. The county seat is Lincolnton. Death records in Lincoln County start in 1913. Birth records also go back to 1913. Marriage records begin in 1869. The Register of Deeds is the main source for all of these records. Staff can search the Lincoln County death index by name and date of death.

The Lincoln County government website has more details on county services. The image below shows the Lincoln County website.

To get a certified death certificate from Lincoln County, bring a valid photo ID. You must prove your link to the person on the record. Certified copies cost $10 each. Under North Carolina law, only a spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, or legal agent may receive a certified copy of a death record in Lincoln County.

Requesting Lincoln County Death Certificates

The most direct way to get a death record in Lincoln County is to visit the Register of Deeds in Lincolnton. Bring your photo ID. Tell the staff the full name and date of death for the person you need. They will check the Lincoln County death index and pull the record. Same-day service is often possible for walk-in visits. Payment is accepted by cash, check, or money order.

You can also request a Lincoln County death certificate by mail. Send a written request to the Register of Deeds at 115 W. Main St., Box 218, Lincolnton, NC 28093. Include the full name of the person, the date of death, how you are related, a copy of your ID, and the $10 fee. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for return mail. Allow two to three weeks for mail requests.

Note: Call the Lincoln County Register of Deeds before your visit to confirm current hours and accepted forms of payment.

Lincoln County Death Record Fees

A certified death certificate from Lincoln County costs $10 per copy. This is the standard fee across most North Carolina counties. It is much less than the $24 fee at the state office.

Under N.C.G.S. 130A-93, only certain people can get a certified copy. The list includes:

• Spouse of the deceased
• Parent or stepparent
• Child or stepchild
• Grandparent or grandchild
• Sibling of the deceased
• Authorized agent, attorney, or legal representative

Anyone else may get an uncertified copy of a Lincoln County death record for informational use. Uncertified copies do not carry the official seal and cannot be used for legal purposes. Making a false request for a vital record is a felony under state and federal law.

Lincoln County Historical Death Index

For death records before 1913, the Lincoln County Register of Deeds may not have what you need. North Carolina began statewide death registration in 1913. Before that year, death records were not formally kept in most counties. Church records, family bibles, and cemetery lists are often the best sources for older deaths in Lincoln County.

The North Carolina State Archives holds original death certificates from 1913 to 1975. The archives also have indexes for 1913 to 1979. A few records go back as far as 1906, though filing was not consistent across the state until after World War II. If you are looking for a Lincoln County death from the early 1900s, the archives may have it.

The Lincoln County recorded document search is a useful tool for land records. Land records in Lincoln County go back to 1763. These can help trace family lines when death records are not available. Marriage records from 1869 onward are also at the Register of Deeds office.

North Carolina State Death Index

North Carolina Vital Records in Raleigh keeps death certificates from 1930 to the present. The state office is at 225 N. McDowell St. The fee is $24 per three-year search. This is not refundable even if no record is found. For Lincoln County deaths, it is cheaper and faster to use the local Register of Deeds office in Lincolnton.

The state recommends the county office as the first choice for death records. The NC State Archives is a better option for genealogy research on older records. North Carolina death certificates from 1909 to 1975 are available through various online databases. You can also order copies through the NC Vital Records ordering page. Processing times at the state office are currently 110 to 115 business days.

Note: Lincoln County death records from 1913 onward are held locally and can usually be provided faster than the state office.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Lincoln County. Death records are filed in the county where the death happened. If you are unsure, check neighboring counties as well.