PLEASE NOTE, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2019
NORTH CAROLINA DOCUMENT RECORDING STANDARDS

All documents executed and recorded on or after OCTOBER 1, 2019, must meet G.S. 161-14(b) as follows:

1. Use 8 ½ x 11 or 8 ½ x 14 paper.
2. Have a 3 inch blank margin at top of first page and ½ inch blank margin on remaining sides of first page and all subsequent pages.
3. Be typed or printed in black on white paper in a legible font.
4. Font size no smaller than 9 points. (This is 9 point font.) Blanks in an instrument may be completed in pen.
5. Only one sided typed or printed text.
6. The type of instrument needs to be at top of first page below blank margin.
7. The identification of the person or law firm that drafted the document must be on the first page.

If instrument does not meet requirements outlined above, Register of Deeds shall register the instrument after collecting a $25.00 fee for non-standard documents as required by GS 161-10(a)(19). If an instrument fails to meet the requirement of font size (less than 9 point), but is determined by the Register that the instrument is legible, the Register of Deeds may record without collecting the non-standard fee charge.

The procedure for recording plats/maps is governed by G.S. 47-30 of the North Carolina statutes.

Requirements for recording plats:

• All plats must be 18”x 24” and must be presented to the Tax Mapping Department.
• All plats must contain either:
  • Certificates signed by a duly appointed Review officer 
    Or
  • Certificate signed by the surveyor stating one of the following:
    • That the survey is of an existing parcel or parcels of land and does not create a new street or change in an existing street.
    • That the survey is of an existing building or other structure, or nature feature, such as a watercourse.
    • That the survey is a control survey.
    • There must be indication that the plat is a Municipal boundary or Municipal annexation; highway right-of-way map; or transportation corridor map.
    • Plats prepared by a deceased surveyor must be certified by the Review Officer before being presented for recording.

1. Proper notary acknowledgement; should contain proper wording, notary signature, notary seal and expiration date.

2. Grantee's permanent mailing address must be on the face of the deed.

3. The name of the person, who prepared the instrument and where to return, must be on the face of the instrument.

4. Recording fees for a Deed of Trust or Mortgage up to thirty five pages are $64.00 and $4.00 for each additional page beyond thirty five pages.

5. Recording fees for Deeds and all other instruments up to fifteen pages are $26.00 and $4.00 for each additional page beyond fifteen pages.

6. There are two stamps that may be applicable:

   1. Excise Tax Stamp: $1.00 per $500.00 or fraction thereof based on the consideration.

   2. Land Transfer fee: 1% of the consideration.

   3. For more information on land transfer and required forms, click here.

7. All checks must be made payable to: Register of Deeds.

8. All Deeds, Easements, Right of Way Agreements, Leases and Boundary Agreements must go to the Land Transfer Office first. That office can be reached by phone at 252.475.5961. Please call or stop by to obtain the paper work necessary to obtain a Land Transfer number.

9. If you are mailing your instruments, they should be mailed to the Land Transfer Office, P.O. Box 1000, Manteo, NC 27954, Attention: Jennifer Branch. The Land Transfer office will forward the documents to us.

10. Must meet recording standards effective October 1, 2019.