Recording Requirements

Overview

Memorandum of Understanding Fillable Form (PDF): Send the completed form to the Register of Deeds via email.

In order to record a document in the office of the Register of Deeds, the document will need to be prepared, executed, and notarized prior to recording. Our office is strictly prohibited by NC General Statutes from giving legal advice or preparing deeds or other documents. You may seek the advice of an attorney for any legal questions and preparation of documents.

Before a deed or deed of trust prepared in North Carolina may be recorded, it must reflect the name of the draftsman on the first page. The first page should contain a "Return to" name and address along with a self addressed stamped envelope. Deeds must contain the grantees mailing address for the Tax department. The excise or revenue stamp must be reflected on the front of a Deed. The calculation of excise tax is $2 per $1,000 or $1 for each $500 or a fraction thereof the purchase price of the property. The excise or revenue stamp must be included with the filing fee. Please see Fee Schedule (PDF) for recording fees.

Other recording requirements include Recording Standards. NC Recording Standards (PDF) for information regarding recording standards for all documents.

Recording Standards

NC Recording Standards Effective July 1, 2002 - Updated October 1st, 2011 {G.S. 161-14 (b)}. Note: If the acknowledgment date in the notary certificate is prior to July 1, 2002, no additional non-standard fee shall be charged.

Paper Size: 8.5 inches by 11 inches or 8.5 inches by 14 inches (Letter or Legal)

Margins: 

  • Blank margin of 3 inches at the top of the first page
  • Blank margins of ½ inch on the remaining sides of first page and on all side of subsequent pages.

Font Size:

  • Typed or printed in black on white paper in a legible font.
  • A font size no smaller than 9 pts shall be considered legible.
  • Blanks in an instrument may be completed in pen and corrections to an instrument may be made in pen.

Pages: One-sided only (Single sided)

Instrument Type: Must have type of instrument stated at the top of the first page.

If the above requirements are not met, the Register of Deeds shall record the document after collecting the non-standard fee of $25 in addition to the recording fee. If the instrument is non-standard due to the font size being smaller than 9 pts, the Register of Deeds has the discretion of not charging the Non-Standard fee if legible.

Additional Information

UCC's prepared on the standard National form are exempt from the recording standards.

Satisfactions are also exempt from the recording standards.

Note: The Register of Deeds has the discretion of considering the document legible and not charging the non-standard fee. However, we must take into consideration the legibility of the final scanned image and not just the legibility of the original document.