Resources

Death Certificates

A Certified Death Certificate is necessary before anything can be done. A death certificate can be obtained through a Funeral Director. It is a good idea to obtain multiple copies of a death certificate as most agencies require a certified certificate and not a photocopy.

Death certificates are filed in the state and county where death occurred. The death certificate information is entered into vital records for the state and county health department records where the death occurred. In North Carolina, death certificates are available from the Register of Deeds office in the county where the death occurred for a cost of $10 per certified copy. The cost of the certificates is the same for funeral homes or individuals. Let your funeral director know how many death certificates you will need. It can often take two weeks or more to obtain a death certificate, much longer when the cause of death is uncertain.