Local and State Government and Laws

Williamston is the county seat and largest town in Martin County. 

Location of Birth and Death Records:

Birth Certificates: 1913+ County’s register of deeds office or Division of Public Health

Death Certificates: 1913-1979 State Archives of North Carolina

Death Certificates: c. 1930+ Division of Public Health

Death Certificates: c. 1979+ County register of deeds office

Register of Deeds: https://www.martincountyncgov.com/departments/register_of_deeds/ . The register of deeds holds Vital Records of Marriages, Births, Deaths, and Veterans Discharge Records, land records including deeds, easements, agreements, deeds of trust, assignments, releases, plats, delayed births, index to marriage records beginning 1872-1883 with copies of marriage licenses 1883-present, index to military records. Deeds are available online: www.martinrod.org .

305 East Main Street, Room 115

Williamston, N.C. 27892

252.789.4320

deeds@martincountyncgov.com

Hours: 8:00-5:00 Monday-Friday

Tax Assessor: https://www.martincountyncgov.com/departments/tax_assessor/ . The assessor is responsible for real property valuations and tax assessments.

305 East Main Street, Room 127

Williamston, N.C. 27892

252.789.4350

taxassessor@martincountyncgov.com

Hours: 8:00-5:00 Monday-Friday

Clerk of Court: https://www.nccourts.gov/ . Wills and estates, divorce records.

405 East Main Street

Williamston, N.C. 27892

252.809.5100

Hours: 8:30-5:00 Monday-Friday

State or Provincial Government

North Carolina Division of Public Health: https://vitalrecords.nc.gov/ . Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce Certificates. “North Carolina Vital Records are not free, searchable public records per NC laws and rules.  Certificate records are not available through a search of this public website.” [3]You can order certificates. See NC Department of Vital Records under “Government Vital Records” for more detailed information.

North Carolina Superior Court: https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/martin-county/martin-county-governmental-center#visit-us-2 .

305 East Main Street

Williamston, N.C. 27892

205.809.5100

Hours: 8:00-5:00 Monday-Friday

Visitors can search for cases by defendant name, case number, or victim or witness name on a terminal in office. The Clerk of Court can provide paper copies of any documents you request; otherwise, access is limited.

Laws

North Carolina General Assembly: https://www.ncleg.gov/Laws/ . Searchable North Carolina General Statutes.

North Carolina Supreme Court Library: https://www.nccourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/supreme-court-library .

500 Justice Building

2 East Morgan Street

Raleigh, N.C. 27601-1428

919.831-5709

Hours: 8:30-4:30 Monday-Friday

·        The trial court hears civil and criminal cases including felony and civil cases in excess of $25,000. It also hears appeals from district courts.

·        Access is limited to those holding a state employee ID or NC State Bar number and authorized visitors.

·        Online access:

o   North Carolina, State Supreme Court Case Files, 1800-1809. https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1878751

o   North Carolina, Civil Action Court Papers, 1712-1970.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1930242

North Carolina Legal Research: https://libguides.ecu.edu/nclegalresearch . Online research guide from East Carolina University Libraries.

·        Identifies where to locate and request North Carolina legal resources

·        Identifies online resources

[1] “Register of Deeds Genealogy,” Martin County, North Carolina, Register of Deeds (https://www.martincountyncgov.com/departments/register_of_deeds/register_of_deeds_genealogy.php): accessed 15 January 2024).

[2] “Martin County, North Carolina Genealogy,” FamilySearch Research Wiki (https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Martin_County,_North_Carolina_Genealogy : accessed 15 January 2024).

[3] NCDHHS Division of Public Health NC Office of Vital Records, NC Office of Vital Records, Text (https://vitalrecords.nc.gov/ : accessed 23 August 2024).