Search Martin County Death Records

The Martin County death index holds records for deaths that occurred in this eastern North Carolina county. Martin County has kept death records since 1913 at the Register of Deeds office in Williamston. The death index covers death certificates and other vital documents filed with the county. If you need a death record from Martin County, the Register of Deeds in Williamston is the first place to check. This page explains how to search for, request, and obtain death records from Martin County.

Martin County Death Index Office

The Martin County Register of Deeds in Williamston is the official keeper of vital records for the county. The office holds death certificates, birth certificates, and marriage certificates. Death and birth records in Martin County go back to 1913. Marriage records are also on file. Contact the office for current hours and specific contact details.

Martin County is in the eastern part of North Carolina. The county seat is Williamston. The Register of Deeds serves all of Martin County for vital records needs. If someone died in Martin County, the death certificate is on file at this office. Staff can look up records by name and date in the Martin County death index.

The Martin County government website has information on county services. The image below shows the Martin County government website.

Certified death certificates from Martin County cost $10 per copy. You must show a valid photo ID and prove your relationship to the person on the record. Under North Carolina law, only eligible family members or legal agents may receive certified copies of death records in Martin County.

Requesting Martin County Death Certificates

Visit the Martin County Register of Deeds in Williamston for the fastest service. Bring a valid photo ID. Provide the full name and date of death. Staff will search the Martin County death index. Walk-in requests are often filled the same day. Payment is accepted by cash, check, or money order.

You can also send a request by mail. Write to the Martin County Register of Deeds in Williamston. Include the full name of the person, the date of death, your link to the person, a copy of your ID, and the $10 fee. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail requests may take two to three weeks to process.

Under N.C.G.S. 130A-93, the following people may get a certified copy of a Martin County death record:

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

Anyone else may request an uncertified copy for general information. Uncertified copies do not have the official seal.

Note: Call the Martin County Register of Deeds before visiting to confirm current office hours and accepted forms of payment.

North Carolina Death Index and State Office

If you cannot find a record in the Martin County death index, the state office may help. North Carolina Vital Records in Raleigh holds death certificates from 1930 to the present. The state office is at 225 N. McDowell St. The fee is $24 per three-year search period. This fee is not refundable even if no record is found.

The state office is part of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. You can call 919-733-3000. Hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. In-person visits need an appointment. Processing times are currently 110 to 115 business days due to high demand from REAL ID needs. The Martin County office is much faster for records of deaths that occurred in the county.

When ordering from the state, you need the name on the certificate, both parents' full names, the date of death, and the place of death. The NC Vital Records ordering page has full details. The state also offers expedited processing for an extra $15 fee, though this is still slower than a visit to the Martin County office.

Historical Death Records in Martin County

Death records in Martin County start in 1913. For deaths before that year, there are no formal county records on file. North Carolina began requiring death registration in 1913. Compliance was not consistent across all counties until after World War II. Some Martin County deaths from the early years may lack a formal certificate.

The North Carolina State Archives holds original death certificates from 1913 to 1975 for most counties. They have indexes for 1913 to 1979. A few records go back to 1906. For Martin County deaths before 1913, check church records, cemetery lists, family bibles, and old newspaper obituaries. Local historical societies in the Williamston area may also have useful records.

Online databases include North Carolina Deaths and Burials from 1898 to 1994, and North Carolina Death Certificates from 1909 to 1975. These are available through genealogy sites and can help locate Martin County death records that the local office may not have.

Martin County Death Index for Genealogy

Martin County has deep roots in eastern North Carolina. The county was formed in 1774. Family research here can draw on many types of records. Death certificates, marriage records, land deeds, probate files, and court records all help piece together family history in Martin County.

The Register of Deeds in Williamston holds vital records. The Clerk of Superior Court has probate and court records. For broader research, the NC Vital Records office and the NC State Archives offer state-level resources. The state recommends checking the county Register of Deeds first for both cost and speed. Martin County death records from 1913 onward are at the local office and can usually be provided the same day for walk-in requests.

Note: For genealogy work, the NC State Archives and county Register of Deeds are better starting points than the state vital records office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Martin County in eastern North Carolina. Death records are filed in the county where the death occurred. Check nearby counties if you are not sure of the exact location.