Alamance County Obituary Records

Searching for obituary records in Alamance County, North Carolina starts with knowing where those documents are held and how to access them. The Alamance County Register of Deeds in Graham maintains death records dating back to 1913, while local libraries and genealogy organizations preserve newspaper obituaries going back even further. Whether you are tracing family history or confirming a date of death, Alamance County holds a variety of resources to help you locate the obituary or death record you need.

Alamance County Register of Deeds - Obituary and Death Records

The Alamance County Register of Deeds is the primary custodian of official death records in the county. Under North Carolina General Statute 130A-93, death certificates are filed with the local registrar and then forwarded to the state. The Register of Deeds office in Graham holds copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred in Alamance County since 1913. These records provide the most reliable official documentation of a person's death, including date, cause, and place of death.

Certified copies of death certificates are available for a fee of $10 each. You can order them in person at the Graham office, by mail, or online through the county's ordering portal. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Staff are available to help you search for records and explain what documents are needed to complete your request. Death certificates in Alamance County follow the requirements set out under NCGS 130A-115, which governs the filing and amendment of vital records statewide.

The Register of Deeds also maintains a helpful online presence. Their website at rod.alamancecountync.gov provides details about services, hours, and online ordering options. For those who cannot visit in person, online ordering at alamancerod.permitium.com allows you to request certified copies of Alamance County death records without leaving home.

The office at Alamance County Register of Deeds offers a well-organized portal for searching and ordering records online.

The Register of Deeds portal gives researchers direct access to Alamance County death record ordering tools and office information.

About Alamance County, North Carolina

Alamance County was formed in 1849 from Orange County and takes its name from Great Alamance Creek. The county seat is Graham, and Burlington is the largest city. The county has a long history tied to the textile industry, and its communities have kept detailed records for generations. Understanding the county's formation is helpful when searching older records, because records predating 1849 would be found in Orange County.

The county's historical records span more than 170 years of documented life events. Death records kept by the county since 1913 under the statewide vital records system make it possible to research most family deaths over the past century. For deaths before 1913, researchers turn to church records, cemetery inscriptions, and old newspaper obituaries from publications like the Alamance Gleaner and the State Dispatch.

Note: Records predating Alamance County's 1849 formation from Orange County will be found in Orange County's historical archives rather than in Alamance County files.

Alamance County Obituary Records at the Public Library

The Alamance County Public Library system holds an extensive collection of local newspaper archives that contain thousands of historical obituaries. The Burlington Times-News archives are available through the library and provide obituary coverage spanning many decades. For researchers interested in family history, these newspaper obituaries often include details not found in official death certificates, such as surviving relatives, church affiliations, and biographical notes about the deceased.

The library's website at alamancelibraries.org gives researchers information on how to access these resources, including remote database access for cardholders. Library staff can assist with microfilm readers and digital archive searches. The Burlington location is the main branch and holds the most comprehensive collection of local historical materials for Alamance County obituary research.

The library at Alamance County Public Library provides access to local newspaper archives and obituary collections for the county.

The library's local history collection includes Burlington Times-News archives and other periodicals containing Alamance County obituary notices.

Note: Library cardholders may be able to access certain digital newspaper archives remotely, which is particularly useful for out-of-state researchers working on Alamance County family history.

Burlington Early Obituary Index - Alamance Death Records

One of the most valuable resources for Alamance County obituary research is the Burlington Early Obituary Index, which covers the years 1875 through 1914. This index contains 4,563 obituaries drawn from several local publications, including the Alamance Gleaner, the State Dispatch, and the Mebane Leader. The index gives researchers a searchable reference to obituaries published before modern death registration systems were in place.

These early obituary entries often provide unique biographical details and family connections that are unavailable in any official record. The index is available through genealogy websites and some library databases. Researchers working on Alamance County family history prior to 1913 will find this index especially useful, because official death certificates do not exist for that period. More information and access to this index is available through the North Carolina Genealogy Society at northcarolinagenealogy.org.

How to Search Alamance County Obituary Records

Several methods exist for searching Alamance County obituary and death records, depending on the time period and type of information you need. Official death certificates from 1913 onward are held by the Register of Deeds and can be requested in person, by mail, or online. Older obituary information must be found through newspaper archives and genealogy indexes.

When requesting a death certificate from the Alamance County Register of Deeds, you will typically need the full name of the deceased, the approximate date of death, and proof of your relationship or legal right to obtain the record. Under NCGS 130A-93.1, access to certain death record information is restricted for a period of years following the death. Staff at the Register of Deeds office can explain what is available based on the age of the record you are seeking.

For newspaper obituaries, the best starting points are:

• The Alamance County Public Library's local history collection
• The Burlington Early Obituary Index (1875-1914) at the North Carolina Genealogy Society
• Online newspaper archive databases accessible through the library
• The Burlington Times-News archives for more recent obituaries
• State digital archive collections through DigitalNC

Genealogy researchers often combine multiple sources when tracing Alamance County deaths. An official death certificate confirms dates and cause of death, while a newspaper obituary provides context and family relationships. Together these two types of Alamance County records give the fullest picture of a person's life and death.

Note: When searching for Alamance County obituary records online, use the full county name along with the person's name to narrow results and avoid confusion with similar names in other states.

North Carolina State Vital Records for Alamance County Deaths

In addition to the county Register of Deeds, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services maintains statewide vital records through its Vital Records section. Death records filed in Alamance County since 1913 are part of this statewide system. The state holds copies independently of the county, and certified copies can be obtained from either source.

Researchers who cannot reach the Alamance County Register of Deeds in person may find it convenient to request records from the state office in Raleigh. The state office processes requests by mail, in person, and through authorized online vendors. NCGS 130A-93 establishes the legal framework for maintaining and accessing these statewide death records. Fees and processing times vary between the county and state offices, so it is worth comparing both options before submitting your request.

The state's vital records section also holds older records that were collected as part of historical data transfer programs, which can sometimes fill gaps in county-level Alamance County death records from the early twentieth century.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Alamance County. If you are uncertain whether a death occurred in Alamance County or a neighboring county, checking adjacent county records can help complete your search.