Alamance County Land Deed Records

Alamance County deed records go back to 1793, the year the county was formed from Orange County. The Register of Deeds office in Graham stores all land records for the county. You can search these records online through the eSearch system or visit the office in person. Deed records in Alamance County include deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, plats, and other land documents. The office also keeps birth, death, and marriage records. Whether you need to check a title or trace past owners, the Alamance County deed records are open to the public.

Alamance County Register of Deeds Office

The Alamance County Register of Deeds office is at 118 West Harden Street in Graham, NC 27253. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. You can call the office at 336-570-6565 for help with deed records, copies, or general questions. Staff can help you find a deed by name, book and page, or file number.

The office records deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, satisfactions, assignments, and plats. It also files assumed names and handles vital records. All of these records are part of the public record in Alamance County. You can get copies in person or by mail. Uncertified copies cost $0.25 per page at the office. Mailed copies cost $1 per page. If you need a certified copy, the fee is $5 for the first page and $2 for each page after that.

The Alamance County Register of Deeds website has details on all services the office provides.

The Alamance County Register of Deeds portal shown below provides access to real estate records, marriage license forms, and vital record requests.

This portal is the main entry point for all Alamance County deed record searches and services.

How to Search Alamance County Deed Records Online

Alamance County offers free online access to deed records through the eSearch system. This tool lets you search by owner name, property address, parcel ID, document type, or recording date range. Records in the system go from 1793 to the present. You can view and print document images right from the search results.

The Alamance County eSearch land records system is shown below.

The eSearch system indexes records by minimum standards adopted in July 2012. Names are entered as they appear on the original documents. Search results match typed characters no matter how punctuation or spacing is used on the record.

Free public access terminals are also set up at the Register of Deeds office and at public libraries in Alamance County. The online system runs around the clock, though brief outages may occur for system upkeep.

Note: The eSearch system shows unofficial copies of Alamance County deed records and should not be used as a legal substitute for certified documents.

Alamance County Property Records

Alamance County property records are kept by several offices. The Register of Deeds handles deed records, plats, and liens. The Tax Department, at 124 West Elm Street, manages property tax data. You can reach the Tax Department at 336-570-4800. GIS mapping is also available through the Alamance County Geographic Information Systems office.

The NCARD Find Your Register of Deeds directory lists the Alamance County office along with all 100 North Carolina county Registers of Deeds.

Basic deed record searches in Alamance County remain free for all users through the eSearch system and at public access terminals.

Recording Deed Documents in Alamance County

When you record a deed in Alamance County, you must follow North Carolina state law. Under G.S. 161-14, all instruments must meet format rules. Paper must be 8.5 by 11 inches or 8.5 by 14 inches. The top margin on the first page must be three inches. All other margins must be at least half an inch. Text must be in black ink on white paper, typed or printed in a font no smaller than 9 points.

Alamance County supports eRecording for electronic document submission. This lets attorneys and title companies send documents to the office without a trip to the courthouse. The NCARD recording standards page lists all document format and indexing rules that apply statewide.

Recording fees in Alamance County follow the schedule set by G.S. Chapter 161. A standard deed costs $26 for the first 15 pages and $4 for each page after that. Deeds of trust and mortgages cost $64 for the first 35 pages. A nonstandard document adds $25 to the total fee. Satisfaction instruments are filed at no charge.

Note: Alamance County may require tax certification before recording a deed, as allowed by G.S. 161-31.

Alamance County Deed Records and the Conner Act

North Carolina is a race to record state. This rule comes from the Conner Act, G.S. 47-18. It means that the first person to record a deed at the Alamance County Register of Deeds is the legal owner. If two people claim the same land, the one who recorded first wins. This is why prompt recording matters.

Priority is based on the order of recording. The register of deeds stamps each document with the day and hour it was presented. If two instruments are recorded at the same time, the one with the earlier document number takes priority. This system protects buyers in Alamance County and across the state.

The official Alamance County Register of Deeds page shown below offers more details on recording rules and local procedures.

This page also describes how to apply for a marriage license and request vital records in Alamance County.

Excise Tax on Alamance County Deeds

When a deed transfers real property in Alamance County, the state charges an excise tax. Under G.S. 105-228.30, the rate is $1 for every $500 of the sale price or any fraction of that amount. The seller must pay this tax to the Alamance County Register of Deeds before the deed is recorded. The excise tax also applies to timber deeds and contracts for standing timber.

If a property sits in two or more counties, the tax goes to the county where the larger share of value is located. The NCARD recording fees page has a full list of current fees and excise tax rates for all North Carolina counties.

Historical Deed Records in Alamance County

Alamance County was formed from Orange County in 1849. Land records in the county date back to 1793, which means some records predate the county itself. For deeds before 1849, you may also need to check Orange County records.

Historical land records in Alamance County cover areas such as Deep Creek, Stony Creek, and Boyds Creek. Old deeds can be searched by grantor or grantee name, book and page, or file number. The NCARD directory can help you find contact details for any North Carolina county Register of Deeds.

Early Alamance County deed records include handwritten instruments. These documents may use old spelling or place names that differ from current maps. Staff at the Register of Deeds office can help you read and locate older deed records.

Note: North Carolina land grants are available through the NC Historical Records Online for genealogy and title research in Alamance County.

Alamance County Deed Record Copies

You have several ways to get copies of Alamance County deed records. In person, uncertified copies cost $0.25 per page. By mail, copies are $1 per page. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $2 for each additional page. Plat copies may have different fees.

You can also view and print documents for free through the online eSearch system. These are unofficial copies. For legal use, you need a certified copy from the Alamance County Register of Deeds. The office accepts checks payable to the Alamance County Register of Deeds. Contact the office at 336-570-6565 for details on payment methods.

Nearby Counties

If you need deed records from counties near Alamance, these offices may also have relevant land documents.