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1. Can I obtain a copy of a death certificate from the Register of Deeds office?

Yes, if the death occurred in Rowan County. We can give you the address of other North Carolina county or state offices if the death occurred outside of Rowan County. 

Out-of-County Deaths

The Rowan County Register of Deeds Office may also supply death certificates for those individuals who passed away in another North Carolina County. Applicants must appear in-person at the Register of Deeds Office. In addition to the $10 certified copy fee, a search fee of $14 is charged in order to pull certificates from another county. Out-of-county death certificates cannot be requested online or via mail and may only be issued if the following criteria are met:

• Death must have occurred in North Carolina

• Death must have occurred August 1, 2020 - forward

2. What do I do to obtain a copy?

Certified Copies

You may purchase a certified copy of a death certificate for any individual who passed away in Rowan County by visiting the Register of Deeds Office, by mail at: 402 N. Main Street, Suite 102, Salisbury, NC 28144 or online. The cost for a certified copy is $10 cash; please note additional processing fees apply when requesting certified copies online.

In-Person:

To obtain a certified copy of a vital record in person you may come into our office located at 402 N. Main Street, Suite 102, Salisbury, North Carolina 28144. When requesting a certified copy of a vital record in office you must complete a request form and present a valid government issued photo I.D. 

To Request a copy via mail:

• Submit a Written Request: must include the name of the deceased, date of death, your relation to the deceased and a contact number.

• A photo copy of your government issued photo ID

• A self-addressed stamped envelope

• A Money Order for $10.00 made payable to the Rowan County Register of Deeds

To Request a copy online:

You may request a copy online on the Rowan County Vital Records Request Website.

3. What are the costs of obtaining a death certificate?

The certified copy costs $10 (cash in office; money order by mail). Genealogy requests for an uncertified copy are $0.50.

4. How long does it take to obtain a copy?

We answer our mail requests the same day we receive them. If you walk into the office, it should take just a few minutes.

5. Who may obtain a death certificate?

The list is limited to the following people:

• Spouse
• Parent
• Stepparent
• Child
• Stepchild
• Sibling
• Grandparent
• Great-Grandparent
• Funeral Director
• Attorney/Legal Agent
• Any Person Seeking Legal Determination of Real or Personal Property