Washington County Death Index Lookup

The Washington County death index contains records for deaths that took place in Washington County, North Carolina. The Register of Deeds in Plymouth stores these files and provides copies to those who qualify. You can search the Washington County death index by name or date. Death records here date back to 1913 when the state began to require all deaths be tracked. The office works with North Carolina Vital Records to make sure all death certificates are filed right. Copies are available in person or by mail from the Washington County office.

Washington County Death Records Office

The Washington County Register of Deeds is the main source for death records in this county. The office is at 120 Adams Street in Plymouth. Staff handle all vital records for Washington County. This includes birth, death, and marriage certificates. They also keep land records, maps, and notary files. The Washington County Register of Deeds can help you search the death index and get copies of certificates you need.

Washington County sits in the eastern part of North Carolina near the Albemarle Sound. Plymouth is the county seat and the largest town. The area has deep roots in North Carolina history. All death records for Washington County are filed at the Register of Deeds office. The staff follow state law in how they store and share records. They cannot give legal advice, but they can walk you through the request steps.

The North Carolina Vital Records forms page can help you prepare your request for a Washington County death record.

These forms can be used when ordering death certificates from the state office or from the Washington County Register of Deeds.

Search the Washington County Death Index

You can search for death records in Washington County in person or by mail. In-person visits are the fastest way to get a copy. Mail requests work if you live far from Plymouth. The right option depends on your needs.

To search in person, visit 120 Adams Street in Plymouth during office hours. Bring a valid photo ID with you. Staff can look up records by name or date of death. Most in-person requests at the Washington County office are done the same day. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call (252) 793-2166 ahead of time to check if the record you want is on file.

Washington County also accepts mail requests. Complete the vital records request form. Include the $10 fee per certified copy. Send a photocopy of your government-issued photo ID. Use a money order or bank check for mail payments. Send your request to Washington County Register of Deeds, 120 Adams Street, Plymouth, NC 27962. Put in a stamped return envelope and a daytime phone number so staff can reach you if they have questions about your Washington County death record request.

Washington County Death Record Eligibility

North Carolina law restricts who can get a certified death record. Under N.C.G.S. 130A-93, only specific people can receive a certified copy from Washington County or any other county in the state.

Eligible persons include:

• The spouse of the dead person
• A parent, stepparent, or grandparent
• A child, stepchild, or grandchild
• A brother or sister
• A person with a legal interest in the record
• An attorney or authorized agent with proof

Anyone who does not fit the list above can still get an uncertified copy from Washington County. These copies cost less and are open to the public. They work well for family research and other non-legal uses. The Washington County Register of Deeds can provide these copies at a low cost.

Note: Certified copies of Washington County death records from the last 50 years are not open to the general public under North Carolina law.

North Carolina Death Index Resources

If Washington County does not have the record you need, the state may help. North Carolina Vital Records in Raleigh keeps death certificates from 1930 to the present. You can order by mail or in person by appointment. The state fee is $24 per three-year search period. This is more costly and slower than requesting from the Washington County office.

For older Washington County death records, the North Carolina State Archives holds death certificates from 1913 to 1975. The archives also has an index from 1913 to 1979. These records are a big help for genealogy research tied to Washington County families. The archives is in Raleigh and open to the public for free.

Washington County Death Record Research

Family researchers use the Washington County death index to trace roots in this part of North Carolina. Death records hold key facts. A Washington County death certificate shows the name of the dead, the date and place of death, cause of death, names of both parents, and place of burial. It may also list the birth date, occupation, and spouse's name.

The North Carolina Genealogical Society says the county Register of Deeds should be your first stop for research. Washington County must offer uncertified copies at low cost. These arrive faster than copies from the state. For deaths before 1913, check church records, cemetery logs, or local historical groups in the Plymouth area. Washington County has a long past, and some local records may fill gaps that the official death index cannot.

Statewide death registration began in 1913, with full compliance by 1920. Washington County has death records from 1913 to the present. Early records may have gaps. Missing death records from the 1910s are not rare for small rural counties like Washington County.

Washington Death Index Fees

A certified copy of a death certificate from Washington County costs $10. This is the same fee used across most North Carolina counties. Uncertified copies cost around $1.

The state office charges $24 per three-year search. That fee is not refunded if no record turns up. The Washington County Register of Deeds is the more affordable and faster choice for death record requests.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Washington County. If a death took place outside Washington County, contact the Register of Deeds in the county where the death occurred.