Wilkes County Death Index Records

The Wilkes County death index holds records for deaths that occurred in Wilkes County, North Carolina. The Register of Deeds in Wilkesboro stores these files and issues copies to those who qualify. You can search the Wilkes County death index by name or date of death. Records go back to 1913 when North Carolina started statewide death registration. The Wilkes County office works with the state Vital Records division to keep all death certificates on file. Copies are available in person and by mail from the Wilkesboro office.

Wilkes County Death Records Office

The Wilkes County Register of Deeds is the main office for death records in this county. It sits at 500 Courthouse Drive in Wilkesboro. Staff keep all vital records for Wilkes County. This includes birth, death, and marriage certificates. They also handle land records, maps, and notary oaths. The Wilkes County Register of Deeds can help you search the death index and get copies you need.

Wilkes County is in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northwestern North Carolina. Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro are the main towns. The county has a long history tied to farming, music, and mountain culture. All death records for the area are filed at the Wilkes County Register of Deeds. The office follows state law in how it stores and shares records. Staff cannot give legal advice, but they can guide you through the request steps for a Wilkes County death record.

Below is a look at the Wilkes County government website.

The site provides details about all Wilkes County departments, including the Register of Deeds.

Search the Wilkes County Death Index

You can search for death records in Wilkes County in person or by mail. In-person visits give you the fastest results. Mail works well if you live far from Wilkesboro. Both methods let you access the full Wilkes County death index.

To search in person, visit 500 Courthouse Drive in Wilkesboro. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff can look up records by name or date of death. Most in-person requests are done the same day. The Wilkes County office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call (336) 651-7351 ahead of time to check if your record is on file.

Wilkes County also takes mail requests. Fill out the vital records form. Include the $10 fee per copy. Send a photocopy of your ID and use a money order or bank check for payment. Mail to Wilkes County Register of Deeds, 500 Courthouse Drive, Wilkesboro, NC 28697. Add a stamped return envelope and your phone number so staff can reach you about your Wilkes County death record request.

Who Can Get Wilkes Death Records

North Carolina law limits who can receive a certified death certificate. Under N.C.G.S. 130A-93, only certain people may get a certified copy from Wilkes County. This law protects the privacy of the dead and their families.

Eligible people include:

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

If you do not meet the rules, you can still get an uncertified copy from the Wilkes County Register of Deeds. These cost less and are open to the public. They are good for family history research and non-legal uses in Wilkes County.

Note: The Wilkes County Register of Deeds cannot advise you on whether you meet the legal requirements for a certified copy.

North Carolina Death Index Resources

When Wilkes County does not have the record you need, the state office may help. North Carolina Vital Records in Raleigh holds death certificates from 1930 to the present. The state search fee is $24 per three-year block. This is more than the Wilkes County fee and takes much longer to process. State orders can take 110 to 115 business days.

For older Wilkes County death records, the North Carolina State Archives keeps death certificates from 1913 to 1975. The archives also has an index from 1913 to 1979. These historical records are very useful for tracing Wilkes County families. The archives is in Raleigh and free to visit.

Wilkes County Death Record Research

Genealogists use the Wilkes County death index to track family lines in the foothills of North Carolina. A death certificate from Wilkes County 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 marital status. These details are vital for building family trees.

The North Carolina Genealogical Society says the county Register of Deeds is the best first stop for research. Wilkes County offers uncertified copies at low cost. These copies come faster than state copies. Statewide death registration began in 1913 with full compliance by 1920. Wilkes County has records from 1913 to the present. Gaps may exist in the early years.

For deaths before 1913, check church records, old cemetery logs, or local historical groups around Wilkesboro. Wilkes County has deep Appalachian roots. Local churches and family groups often hold records that the official death index does not have. The county's long history means there is a lot of family data waiting to be found.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Wilkes County. If a death happened outside Wilkes County, contact the Register of Deeds in the county where the death took place to search their death index.