Scotland County Death Records

Scotland County keeps death records at the Register of Deeds office in Laurinburg, North Carolina. The death index here goes back to 1913. You can search for a death record by name, date, or file number at this office. Scotland County staff can pull records and make copies while you wait. This page explains how to search the death index in Scotland County and what forms and fees you need to bring along.

Scotland County Death Index Office

The Scotland County Register of Deeds holds death records from 1913 to the present. The office sits at 212 Biggs Street in Laurinburg, NC 28353. Staff keep the death index and can search it for you. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call (910) 277-3482 if you have questions before your visit.

The Scotland County government website has details on all county offices and services. The Register of Deeds in Scotland County is the best place to start when you need a death record. The fee for a certified copy is $10. This is much less than what the state charges. You get your copy the same day when you visit in person. Scotland County staff can also help with birth and marriage records at the same office.

How to Find Death Records

You can get a death record from Scotland County by visiting the office in Laurinburg. Bring a valid photo ID and the name of the deceased. An approximate date of death helps the staff find the record faster. The search takes just a few minutes for most recent deaths in Scotland County.

Mail requests work well if you cannot come in person. Write down the full name of the deceased, the date of death if known, and your relationship to that person. Include a copy of your ID, a $10 check or money order payable to Scotland County Register of Deeds, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail it to 212 Biggs Street, Laurinburg, NC 28353. Staff will search the Scotland County death index and send your copy back within one to two weeks.

Under NCGS 130A-93, only certain people can get a certified death record. This includes the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild of the deceased. Legal agents and attorneys who represent these people also qualify. The general public can get uncertified copies from Scotland County for personal use or research.

Note: Bring exact change or a check when you visit the Scotland County office, as not all offices accept cards.

North Carolina Death Index Sources

North Carolina Vital Records in Raleigh holds death certificates from 1930 to the present. The state fee is $24 per three-year search period. Processing times exceed 100 business days right now. For Scotland County deaths, the local Register of Deeds is faster and costs less.

The North Carolina State Archives has original death records from 1913 to 1975 for most counties. They also have death indexes from 1913 to 1979. If you are looking for an older death from Scotland County, the archives may be your best bet. For any death before 1913, check the Scotland County Register of Deeds directly, since statewide filing did not begin until that year. The NC Vital Records research page can point you to the right source based on the year of death.

Scotland County Death Records for Research

Death records are among the best tools for family history research in Scotland County. Each record in the death index shows the name, age, date of death, place of death, cause of death, and parents of the deceased. This data links one generation to the next. Scotland County was formed in 1899 from Richmond County, so older records may be filed under Richmond.

The North Carolina Genealogical Society offers a vital records research guide that covers all counties. The NC State Library also has guides for finding death records across the state. Both are free to use and help you plan your search before you visit Scotland County.

For copies of older death records, the NC Archives Store sells death certificates from 1906 to 1979. Some delayed death records for Scotland County may exist from as early as 1909. These fill gaps when the county death index does not go back far enough.

ID for Scotland County Death Records

You need a valid ID to get a death record from Scotland County. Accepted forms of ID include a valid driver's license, state-issued photo ID, valid passport, or United States Armed Forces ID. Foreign IDs may be accepted at the discretion of the Scotland County Register of Deeds.

If you are requesting a certified copy, you also need to prove your relationship to the deceased. A spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild can get a certified copy. Attorneys and legal agents who act for these people can also request one. If you do not fall into one of these groups, you can still get an uncertified copy of a death record from Scotland County for informational purposes.

Scotland County Death Index Fees

Certified death certificates from Scotland County cost $10 each. This is the standard fee set by North Carolina law for all county Register of Deeds offices. Additional copies of the same record are also $10 each.

The state Vital Records office in Raleigh charges $24 per three-year search. Processing at the state level can take over 100 business days. The Scotland County Register of Deeds in Laurinburg handles most in-person requests the same day. For records filed locally, the Scotland County office is the faster and cheaper option. Payment can be made by cash, check, or money order at the Laurinburg office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Scotland County. If the deceased lived near a county line, the death may have been filed in a different county.