North Carolina Property Records

In North Carolina, property records track the ownership, transfer, legal status, and taxation of real properties in the state. They are considered public records under state law and are accessible to businesses, individuals, and professionals. North Carolina property records are typically maintained at the county and municipal levels by designated local offices, including the Register of Deeds, Clerk of the Superior Court, and County Tax Assessor.

While the Register of Deeds is responsible for legal documents, the Tax Assessor maintains records for property tax purposes. The Clerk of Superior Court keeps property-related records handled through the county court system, while other municipal-level offices serve as custodians of some other essential property data.

North Carolina property records provide legally recognized documentation of property interests and are commonly used by title companies, private individuals, inspectors, real estate investors, and realtors. Other professionals who rely on these records for different purposes include attorneys, appraisers, and lenders.

Many counties have searchable online databases through which users can access property records. You can also request copies of these records in person at the appropriate agency's office, especially if looking for older records or in need of certified copies of documents.

What Are Property Records?

Property records are documents that establish rights in real property and provide other detailed information about the specific parcel of land. The designated agencies in North Carolina keep two broad categories of property records, which are the legal property records and the informational property records.

  • Legal Property Records - Legal documents are those that legally affect property ownership or rights. In North Carolina, they are primarily recorded with the County Register of Deeds in the county where a property is situated. However, some are filed through the North Carolina Judicial Branch in certain instances. Common legal property documents include deeds, plat maps, easements, mortgages, liens, judgments, and foreclosure filings.

  • Informational Property Records - These are largely documents containing data that support legal property records. They do not establish ownership and cannot by themselves, transfer ownership of property between parties. Common examples in North Carolina include building permits, property tax assessments, property characteristics, appraisal records, and zoning classifications.

In North Carolina, both modern property filings and historical records, whether legal or informational, are available, depending on the county or municipality. Most historical property records date back to the 1700s in some counties within the state and are mainly archived in physical books or microfilm. By contrast, current or modern property records are mostly digitized and indexed through county online databases, where you can access them.

Purpose of North Carolina Property Records

In addition to identifying prior owners of a property and establishing the current owners, here are other key purposes of property records in North Carolina:

  • They provide public notices of liens and encumbrances.

  • Property records document property transfers by sales, inheritance, and gifts.

  • They enable title searches and due diligence during real estate transactions.

  • North Carolina property records are used in determining property owners' tax liability.

  • Property records maintain appraisal and market history, which helps in tracing value over time.

Government Sources

Each of the 100 counties in North Carolina records, preserves, and provides public access to records of real properties within their boundaries through key county and municipal agencies, including the following:

  • County Register of Deeds - The County Register of Deeds is the primary custodian of official property records in the state. Each records and maintains deeds, subdivision plats, mortgages, covenants, easements, liens, and satisfactions.

  • Clerk of Superior Court - Some property-related cases, such as estate transfers, judgments, foreclosures, and partition actions, are processed through the North Carolina Judicial Branch. Records of such cases, which may impact title, include judicial foreclosures, wills, and court-ordered judgments or liens. They can be accessed from the Clerk of the Superior Court Offices.

  • County Tax Assessor/Tax Administration Office - The Tax Assessor's Office, under the oversight of the North Carolina Department of Revenue, keeps property documents and information for tax purposes. Such documents and information include assessed value, property tax bills, delinquent tax records, and payment history.

Many historical property records in the state are preserved through microfilm, archived deed volumes, and digitized image scans and may be found in the State Archives of North Carolina. On the other hand, current or modern property documents are mostly electronically indexed, scanned and uploaded to dedicated databases, and are searchable through online public portals, whether government-run or commercially-operated.

Online Access

In North Carolina, you can find property records online through the county official Register of Deeds or tax office websites by taking the following steps:

  • Identify the county where the property is located.

  • Visit the county's website and look for the Register of Deeds or the tax department's page, depending on the records users intend to find. People may have to search each agency's website separately if they cannot find them on the county's website.

  • Enter the available search criteria in the appropriate fields and submit the query. Common search parameters include owner name, instrument number, property address, parcel ID, and book and page reference.

  • Locate the specific information or document you intend to find from the search results.

For historical property records, including scanned deed books dating back to the 1800s, check the digitized collections of the State Archives of North Carolina. The following are some counties with large online repositories of property records in the state:

In-Person Access

If you prefer to access North Carolina property records in person, you will have to first identify the appropriate office in charge of the sought records in the county where the property is located. Depending on the record, you will most likely need to visit the Register of Deeds, Clerk of Superior Court, or the County Tax Assessor or Tax Collector's Office.

For official land documents like deeds, plats, mortgages, and easements, visit the County Register of Deeds. If what is being sought is valuation or tax records, go to the Tax Assessor or Tax Collector's Office. You will have to visit the Clerk of Superior Court for documents related to probate transfers, foreclosures, and judgments affecting property.

To access or request copies of North Carolina property records in person, you may be required to provide identification and recording references, depending on the county requirements. Additionally, people may have to pay certain fees if they need copies of such documents.

Below are directories of key government offices you can visit to inspect or request copies of North Carolina property records in person:

Commercial Sources

Commercial records databases compile statewide and nationwide data into a single searchable platform. While government agencies are the primary sources for property records in North Carolina, alternative platforms are becoming increasingly favored by individuals and professionals for property record searches. This is because they aggregate public records from public sources across multiple jurisdictions and make them available in one place, enabling users to access consolidated records faster and more conveniently without searching individual county websites.

North Carolina property records search results obtained from commercial systems typically include expanded data points. For instance, you may find lien summaries, estimated market values of property, foreclosure indicators, and comparable property data, in addition to standard public record data available through government sources. Commercial property platforms also allow unlimited property lookups, which are particularly useful for developers, attorneys, title companies, and real estate agents.

While commercial property record search services do not replace official government sources, they provide users with a streamlined system to access North Carolina property records from a single database. Most commercial services allow users to find records with identifiers such as property address, phone number, owner's full legal name, parcel ID, and email address.

What Information Can You Find in North Carolina Property Records?

Most property records contain a wide range of financial, structural, and legal information about real property. In North Carolina, you will find the following details in a typical North Carolina property record:

  • Deeds

  • Liens and encumbrances

  • Ownership records

  • Foreclosure records

  • Mortgage and loan records

  • Assessed and market values

  • Easements and conveyances

  • Plat maps and surveys

  • Zoning information

  • Property tax records

  • Building permit records

  • Boundary descriptions

  • Other property details and characteristics

Instant Access to North Carolina Property Records

Most counties in North Carolina provide searchable official online databases that allow instant access to property records using certain search methods. Similarly, some commercial property databases may provide instant online access.

Here are the most common search methods for instant access to North Carolina property records:

  • Property Address - You may instantly retrieve information such as owner name, assessed value, mortgage records, tax payment history, and property legal description when you search a property by its street address.

  • Owner's Name - Searching a property by its owner's full legal name can reveal details such as mortgage filings, past property transfers, deed recordings, and lien records. Additionally, you may be able to access all other properties owned by the individual or entity.

  • Zip Code - Zip code searches can help you identify multiple real properties in a specific area and compare property values within that neighborhood. This method is commonly available through commercial property databases and GIS mapping systems.

  • Parcel ID - Searching a real property with its unique Parcel Identification Number (PIN) yields the most accurate results. With parcel ID as your search method in a North Carolina property record search, you may quickly access details such as ownership records, legal descriptions, GIS mapping overlays, tax parcel boundaries, and permit records.

Types of Property Records in North Carolina

Here are the major types of property records you will find when conducting a North Carolina property records search, each serving distinct purposes, including establishing ownership and preserving boundary information:

Deeds and Conveyance Records

These are public records that establish ownership of real property and provide public notice of property transfer. In North Carolina, a property deed is recorded with the County Register of Deeds in the county where that property is located. While the terms deeds and conveyance are often used interchangeably, they have a slight difference.

A conveyance is any legal document that transfers interests in or ownership of real estate from one party to another. Its main purpose is to record any instrument that changes who owns, controls, or has an interest in a property. On the other hand, a deed refers to the specific legal document signed by the parties to any contract that transfers or confirms a right or interest in property. All deeds are conveyances, but not all conveyances are deeds.

Typical content of a North Carolina deed includes the names of the grantor (seller) and grantee (buyer), the grantor's notarized signature, legal descriptions of the property, and a statement of consideration. As required by state law, it must also have details of the individual who prepared the document and revenue stamps reflecting excise tax. Every property deed must be recorded with the Register of Deeds. Otherwise, ownership is vulnerable to future claims.

The following are the most common types of deeds in North Carolina:

  • General Warranty Deed - This protects against claims and defects throughout the property's entire history, including the past, present, and future. The grantor warrants that they are the current rightful owner and have the right to convey title and that there are no liens or encumbrances on the title.

  • Special Warranty Deed - Also called a limited warranty deed, this guarantees title only for the period the grantor owned the property. It does not protect the buyer against claims or defects arising from any time before the grantor had ownership.

  • Quitclaim Deed - This is referred to as a non-warranty deed because it offers no guarantee to the grantee/buyer that the seller/grantor has a good title to the property or an interest in it. It is usually used for property transfers among family members.

Property Tax Records

Property tax rates are assessed at the county level, with additional municipal levels in some cities. Each county tax assessor and collector in North Carolina maintains the tax records for properties within their jurisdiction. While the tax rate varies by municipality and county, the state's average effective property tax rate is around 0.70% of a property's value, which is below the national average.

While mortgage lenders may escrow tax payments as part of monthly mortgage installments, property owners are primarily responsible for paying annual property taxes. In North Carolina, a county may place a tax lien on your property if your taxes remain unpaid for a specific period, and continued delinquency may result in foreclosure proceedings.

Property Liens and Encumbrances

These refer to financial interests attached to the real estate's title or legal claims against property that can affect its value. Even though they are typically used together, liens and encumbrances have slight differences.

An encumbrance is any interest or right owned by a party on a property other than the titleholder that limits the use of the property. While it can create a cloud on the title, making it less marketable, it does not necessarily prevent the transfer of title. On the other hand, a lien is a special type of encumbrance that grants a creditor a legal right to your property as security for debt. This means a lien is a specific type of financial encumbrance.

In North Carolina, if a lien is placed on your property, the lender or creditor has a legal claim over the property until the debt is fully paidl. The lienholder may have the right to force a sale of the property if you fail to pay your debt. A lien can be voluntary or involuntary, and the primary difference between the two is the property owner's consent.

  • Voluntary Lien - This is created when a property owner willingly agrees to use their property as collateral for a loan. The most common example in North Carolina is a deed of trust. Unlike most jurisdictions, the state uses deeds of trust rather than traditional mortgages. With a deed of trust, a trustee holds legal title to a property until the owner pays off their debt.

  • Involuntary Lien - An involuntary lien is a legal claim on real property imposed without the owner's permission or consent, usually due to unpaid obligations or debts. Here are common types of involuntary liens in North Carolina:

    • Tax Liens - These are filed by designated government agencies against properties whose owners fail to pay property taxes.

    • Mechanic's Liens - Contractors and suppliers typically file mechanic's liens for unpaid construction work and materials supplied for that work.

    • Judgment Liens - These liens result from court rulings against property owners and in favor of a creditor or lender. In North Carolina, judgment liens generally remain attached to property for about 10 years.

Easements and Covenants

Easements give third parties the legal right to use parts of other people's property for specific purposes without transferring ownership. In North Carolina, easements are recorded in the county's official land records and may appear in the legal description of property. They are typically created in writing via deeds, subdivision maps, or plats.

There are two broad categories of easements in North Carolina, namely appurtenant easements and in-gross easements:

  • Appurtenant easements benefit a particular piece of real property called the dominant estate. A common example is the right-of-way (access easement), in which the owner of property X (the dominant estate) has a right to cross over a portion of property Y to reach property X.

  • On the other hand, gross easements benefit specific individuals or entities, allowing them to use the land of another that is unrelated to the holder's ownership of neighboring land. A typical example is a utility easement, which grants a utility company the right to install and maintain utility lines.

Covenants are restrictions that govern the use of real property. In North Carolina, these restrictions run with the land, applying to future owners of that land. They are often placed by homeowners' associations (HOAs) or developers, typically to protect property values by regulating landscaping, architectural design, parking, and exterior colors. Covenants may also regulate land-use limitations and building height and size.

Plats and Surveys

Plats and surveys are property maps that define land boundaries and dimensions. In North Carolina, they are essential legal documents used to map land and are recorded in the County Register of Deeds Office. While they are commonly used interchangeably, a survey is the process of measuring land, and a plat is the resulting recorded property map.

  • Plat - A plat is a recorded map of a property showing subdivision layout, lot lines, streets, and easements. Each recorded plat in North Carolina references a plat book and page number. Plats determine boundary lines between the lots. While they do not typically reflect actual encroachments, improvements, private driveways, or parties in possession, plats are relied on for drafting the legal description of property.

  • Survey - A survey is a professional measurement of a specific property's boundaries done by a licensed surveyor. A typical North Carolina survey identifies boundary lines, acreage, improvements, and encroachments. Surveys serve several purposes. For instance, they form a basis for comparison to a property's legal description found in the title.

Building Permits and Regulations

Building permit records are essential for verifying that constructions and improvements were properly authorized. These records may include renovation permits, new construction permits, inspection history, and plumbing and electrical approvals.

In North Carolina, building permits are issued by county or municipal inspections or building departments to ensure that construction complies with state building codes, local building codes, and zoning regulations. The process for getting a building permit in the state includes the following steps:

  • Identify the county or municipality of the proposed project.

  • Clarify local building codes and confirm what you can build on the lot.

  • Prepare all the required documents, including sealed architectural plans, site plans, layouts for electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work, and a completed application.

  • Submit the permit application alongside other documentation to the local building or inspection department. Most jurisdictions accept online applications, but you can contact the building department to confirm their preference.

  • After submission, your application typically routes to multiple reviewers, including building codes, floodplain administration, zoning and planning, and environmental offices.

  • Once the application is approved, pay the applicable fees and receive your permit card and stamped plans.

  • Schedule inspections for each stage of the project and then a final building inspection, after which the building department does a final sign-off and issues a Certificate of Occupancy.

Property Descriptions and Boundaries

Legal property descriptions are details that define a property's precise location and size. They may reference survey coordinates, acreage measurements, plat and book pages, and natural landmarks. Unlike mailing addresses that only locate a property, property descriptions are typically legally binding and are often used when transferring title since they are more accurate.

In North Carolina, you will find legal descriptions in deeds, mortgages, real estate contracts, title commitments, surveys, and property tax statements. The common types of legal descriptions you will likely find in property documents in the Tar Heel State include the following:

  • Metes and Bounds - "Metes" refers to distance and directions, while "bounds" means the fixed points or physical markers, such as natural landmarks or artificial monuments. This method of legal description uses directions and distances from known landmarks to describe a real property.

In North Carolina, this is the most common system used in describing rural, irregular, or older parcels. The description starts at a point of beginning (POB), goes around the property using distances and compass directions, and then returns to the POB to close the property boundary.

  • Lot and Block - Many deeds in North Carolina reference recorded subdivision plats. The lot and block legal descriptions are far more reliable than other types and are commonly used in modern planned residential communities, industrial subdivisions, and commercial areas. In this system, tracts of land are subdivided into blocks and then lots (plats), and within each plat, you will find a permanent control point or reference monument that identifies each property's location.

  • Coordinates - The North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 102, recognizes the State Coordinate System as a legally sufficient way to define a property boundary or corner. This system uses precise North (Y) and East (X) coordinates (in meters) tied to a geodetic datum to pinpoint a property's location.

Legal property descriptions and accurate boundary descriptions in North Carolina are essential for new constructions, utility line placement, title examinations, and fence installation. They are also often relied upon in resolving boundary disputes among property owners.

Foreclosures

The legal processes by which lenders recover real property following debtors' default are properly documented by foreclosure records. In North Carolina, you will find these records through recorded trustee deeds at the County Register of Deeds and court filings at the Clerk of Superior Court offices in the county where a property is located.

Notices of default or foreclosure are maintained by the County Register of Deeds, while details of legal proceedings for the foreclosure are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court. Although some cases involve judicial proceedings overseen by the Clerk of Superior Court, North Carolina commonly uses a non-judicial foreclosure conducted by a trustee.

A typical foreclosure process in the state involves the following stages:

  • Preforeclosure - The lender sends a notice of default after the debtor misses payments. If the debtor does not pay within 45 days, the trustee files a notice of sale, which is typically advertised.

  • Foreclosure Hearing - A hearing to confirm default, valid debt, property notice given, and the right to foreclose is held in the Superior Court. While this is not a full lawsuit, it is still a legal proceeding.

  • Foreclosure Sale - The trustee conducts a public auction, usually at the courthouse.

  • Foreclosure Deed - Ownership of the property transfers to the highest bidder from the public auction.

North Carolina foreclosures typically offer opportunities for investors looking to purchase distressed properties, renovate them, and then resell. Key opportunities include tax lien auctions, fix-and-flip, and bank-owned properties, especially in growing areas like Charlotte.

Understanding Property Ownership in North Carolina

North Carolina uses a race recording system, which means the first party to properly record a deed has priority over later claims. Therefore, it is important to understand how to trace ownership records to be able to establish clear ownership of property.

Ownership History Records

Ownership records document all recorded transfers of a real property over time. Each County Register of Deeds in North Carolina maintains ownership records for all properties in their jurisdiction. These records are commonly used to identify the current legal owner of real estate and identify gaps in title. Additionally, they are relied upon to evaluate investment risk and confirm transfer legitimacy in real estate transactions.

The following are a few ways to track property ownership records in North Carolina:

  • Search Recorded Deeds - Look up prior deeds in reverse chronological order to build a timeline of ownership.

  • Identify Family and Gifts Transfers - Review deeds to determine transfers that occurred even when no money changed hands, including transfers between family members, transfers into trusts, and gifts.

  • Review Book and Page References - Check deed book and page numbers to trace property transfers back decades for older deeds.

  • Check Estate and Probate Records - Do this for property transfers due to inheritance handled through estate filings at the Superior Court. You may find records such as estate distributions, executor's deeds, and court-authorized property sales.

What Is the Chain of Title?

The chain of title is a property's ownership timeline recorded through deeds and related filings. Each time a property changes hands, a new deed is recorded. The chronological order in which all the property's recorded deeds, from the original owner to the current owner, are linked together is referred to as the chain of title.

A typical chain of title in North Carolina will include the following:

  • Proper legal descriptions in each deed

  • Every continuous transfer without unexplained gaps

  • Legally valid notarization and signatures

  • Accurate recording dates

If a deed is not recorded, missing, or never recorded, it may result in a break in the chain of title. To check if there is a break in the chain of title, you can conduct a title search. With a title search, you can conduct a detailed review of property records to confirm legal ownership, easements and restrictions, unreleased mortgages, and outstanding liens.

The chain of title sometimes has defects, and one of the major ways buyers or lenders can protect themselves from financial loss due to defects in the chain of title is to get title insurance. Title insurance may cover defects such as unknown liens, undisclosed heirs, recording errors, and clerical errors in legal descriptions. In North Carolina, owner's title insurance protects a buyer's ownership interest, while lender's title insurance protects a mortgage lender's financial interest.

Importance of Ownership Records and Chain of Title in North Carolina

  • Properly documented ownership records and a chain of title secure a lender's mortgage lien priority and protect them against encumbrances.

  • Clear ownership records and a chain of title help buyers to confirm that sellers have legal authority to transfer ownership and ensure the property is free of undisclosed claims.

Buying and Selling Property in North Carolina

Before real properties change hands in North Carolina real estate transactions, the parties involved often review public property records for several reasons. For example, they do this to verify ownership and ensure that the title is clear, no undisclosed encumbrance exists, and taxes are current.

Be sure to review different types of property records during a property purchase and sale in North Carolina:

  • Examine recorded deeds to confirm legal ownership.

  • Review property taxes to determine current assessed values, any outstanding liens, and annual tax obligations.

  • Review building and permit history to verify that additions comply with local building codes and that renovations were properly approved.

  • Check a title search report to review liens, deeds, and prior transfers, easements, covenants, and court filings that affect property.

Disclosure Requirements for Sellers in North Carolina

The state's Residential Property Disclosure Act requires residential property sellers in North Carolina to make certain disclosures to buyers through a completed Property and Owner's Association Disclosure Statement. Failure to disclose known defects can result in legal liability.

A completed Property and Owner's Association Disclosure Statement must include known conditions and defects with the property, including the following:

  • Past repairs

  • Structural defects

  • Homeowners' Association obligations

  • Water damage

  • Roof condition

  • Environmental hazards

  • Electrical or plumbing issues

  • Draining problems

Why Property Values Are Important

Property values influence mortgage approvals, property taxes, insurance coverage, marketing price, and refinancing decisions. In North Carolina, these values are categorized into assessed value and appraised value.

  • Assessed Value - This is determined through an assessment by the county assessor, primarily for the purpose of calculating property taxes. In most counties, the periodic reassessments of properties are conducted every four to eight years to reflect market changes.

  • Appraised Value - Also called fair market value, the appraised value of a property is determined by a licensed real estate appraiser. It is a reflection of the price the property will be sold under normal market conditions. In North Carolina, appraised values are essential in refinancing, property sale or purchase, divorce proceedings, and estate settlements.

Property values, including assessed and appraised values, play a crucial role in real estate transactions, taxation, and mortgages:

  • In real estate transactions, property values influence sellers' listing price strategy and affect buyer interest and negotiation leverage. Additionally, they guide buyers and ensure they do not overpay for real property.

  • Property values help lenders in determining mortgage insurance requirements and reduce financial risks associated with lending.

  • Assessed values have a direct impact on annual tax bills. The higher the assessed value, the higher the property tax.

Managing Property Records: Updates and Corrections

You can make most corrections and updates to North Carolina property records through the appropriate county agencies. Common errors in recorded documents include missing names, missing signatures or notarization defects, incorrect property legal descriptions, and wrong parcel IDs.

In North Carolina, you can correct errors in property documents by submitting corrective documents, such as a corrective deed, affidavit of correction, or scrivener's affidavit, with the County Register of Deeds in the county where the original deed was filed. The exact document to submit depends on the error you intend to correct. However, if an error affects court-related filings, the Clerk of Superior Court may have a role to play in ensuring the proper documentation is done.

The following outlines how to update recorded documents after marriage, divorce, or the death of the property owner in North Carolina:

  • Marriage - To update property records after marriage, especially after a change of legal name, prepare a new deed reflecting the updated name and include a proper legal description and recording references. After signing and notarizing the deed, record it with the County Register of Deeds.

  • Divorce - For updates due to divorce, prepare and execute the appropriate deed, ensuring it complies with court-ordered settlement terms. After execution, record the deed with the County Register of Deeds.

  • Death - How a property transfers after the owner's death depends on how it was titled. For property jointly owned, the surviving owner has a right of survivorship and may record a certified copy of the death certificate and an affidavit of survivorship to update the property record.

However, if the property was solely owned by the deceased, ownership transfer is typically handled through probate proceedings. During the proceedings, the administrator or executor may record the executor's deeds, court-authorized conveyance orders, or estate distribution documents, and once recorded, the Register of Deeds will update the public ownership record.

Designated Offices for Property Records Update in North Carolina

  • County Register of Deeds - Records corrective deeds and updates ownership transfers.

  • County Tax Assessor/Collector - Responsible for updating tax ownership records after major updates to property deeds.

  • Clerk of Superior Court - Handles court-ordered property transfers, probate, and estate administration.

The Role of Local Government and Courts

Here are the major government agencies responsible for property-related recording and administration in North Carolina:

  • County Register of Deeds - Each County Register of Deeds serves as the official custodian of land records. They handle documents such as deeds, mortgages, subdivision plats, easements, satisfactions, releases of liens, and covenants.

  • Clerk of Superior Court - The Clerk of Superior Court handles judgment liens, probate and estate administration, guardianship-related property cases, and judicial foreclosures.

  • County Tax Assessor/Collector's Offices - These officers are responsible for assessing and collecting property taxes. They determine assessed values, assign parcel IDs, and manage delinquent taxes and tax liens.

  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Offices - Some North Carolina counties run GIS mapping departments that provide the public with interactive parcel maps, zoning layers, aerial imagery, and boundary overlays.

  • Planning and Building Departments - Manage zoning regulations and oversee construction permits, certificates of occupancy, and renovation approvals. They also issue mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits.

How to Ensure Data Privacy for Property Records

As required by the state's Public Records Law, several property documents are accessible when conducting a North Carolina property records search because they are considered public records. These documents may include deeds, recorded plats, mortgages, and liens, and you may access information such as the owner's legal name, property description, document references, recording dates, and assessed values.

However, details such as bank account numbers, Social Security numbers (SSNs), sensitive financial identifiers, and driver's license numbers are typically not publicly accessible to ensure privacy protection. Similarly, the County Register of Deeds Offices are required to redact sensitive information before making recorded land documents publicly available in North Carolina.

The following are a few things you can do to ensure data privacy and reduce your exposure to fraud that depends on information contained in property records:

  • Rather than use a residential address, consider using a business mailing address or a P.O. Box. This will prevent a person's personal address from showing in tax mailing records.

  • Avoid entering unnecessary personal information, such as your SSN, phone numbers, and email addresses, when preparing deeds or affidavits unless required.

  • Monitor a user's property records regularly. This can help people detect fraud attempts early.

  • Register for title monitoring and property fraud alerts, which can notify you promptly if a document is being fraudulently recorded under your name.

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