Beaufort County Deed Records Access

Beaufort County has land records going back to 1721, making it one of the oldest record collections in North Carolina. The Register of Deeds office in Washington maintains deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, easements, assignments, subdivision maps, UCCs, and leases. Online records are available through the Web Access system starting from 1995. Older records from 1968 to 1994 can be found through the Old Index Books feature. Map records date as far back as 1779. You can search Beaufort County deed records by name, legal description, date range, instrument number, book and page, or document type.

Beaufort County Register of Deeds

The Beaufort County Register of Deeds is at 112 W 2nd Street in Washington, NC 27889. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can call 252-946-2323 or fax 252-946-7938. The email address is carolyn.garris@beaufortcountync.gov.

The office records a wide range of documents. Deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, easements, and assignments are all part of the deed records collection. Subdivision maps and UCC filings are also maintained here. The office provides multiple search tools for the public, including the Web Access system, Old Index Books, and a MapCo system for map records from 1779.

Probate records in Beaufort County go back to 1736, and court records date from 1763. These are held by the Clerk of Superior Court, not the Register of Deeds. Land records from 1721 are among the oldest in the state.

Note: The Register of Deeds office also maintains birth, marriage, and death records for Beaufort County.

Searching Beaufort County Deed Records Online

Beaufort County offers free public access to deed records through its Web Access system. This online tool covers records from 1995 to the present. You can search by grantor or grantee name, legal description, date range, instrument number, book and page, or document type. The system is free to use and available around the clock.

For older deed records, the Old Index Books feature covers 1968 to 1994. Historical deed records from before 1968 must be searched in person at the office. The MapCo system provides map records from 1779 forward, giving access to some of the oldest recorded land documents in Beaufort County.

The NCARD directory lists the Beaufort County Register of Deeds along with contact details for all 100 North Carolina county offices.

The Register of Deeds website provides contact details and links to available search tools for Beaufort County deed records.

Beaufort County Deed Record Fees

Copy fees in Beaufort County are set by state law. Uncertified copies of deed records cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $2 for each additional page. Map copies range from $1 to $2 per page depending on size. UCC copies are $2 each.

Recording fees follow the statewide schedule under G.S. Chapter 161. A standard deed costs $26 for the first 15 pages and $4 for each extra page. Deeds of trust and mortgages cost $64 for the first 35 pages. Documents that do not meet format standards add a $25 nonstandard fee. Plats cost $21 per sheet. The NCARD recording fees page has the complete schedule.

Recording Procedures in Beaufort County

North Carolina is a race to record state. The Conner Act, G.S. 47-18, says that the first person to record a deed at the Beaufort County Register of Deeds holds legal priority. This applies to deeds, contracts to convey, options, leases of more than three years, and rights of first refusal. Priority is based on the time of recording, as stamped on each document by the register.

All documents for recording must meet the standards of G.S. 161-14. Paper must be standard size. The top margin must be three inches. Text must use black ink on white paper, printed in a font of at least 9 points. The type of instrument must appear at the top of the first page.

The NCARD recording standards page covers minimum document standards, indexing rules, and electronic recording best practices for all North Carolina counties, including Beaufort County.

The NCARD website shown below provides statewide resources for recording deed records in North Carolina.

NCARD serves all 100 counties and publishes guidelines that apply to Beaufort County deed records.

Beaufort County Property Records

Property records in Beaufort County include deed records, tax data, and zoning information. The median home value in Beaufort County is about $159,800. The median household income is $66,042, and the property tax rate is 0.77 percent. The median rent is $823.

The Planning Department at 252-946-7182 handles zoning questions. The planning office is at 220 N Market Street in Washington. For deed record searches, contact the Register of Deeds at 252-946-2323.

Excise Tax on Beaufort County Deeds

Under G.S. 105-228.30, an excise tax is charged on each deed that transfers real property in Beaufort County. The rate is $1 for every $500 of the sale price. The seller must pay this tax to the Register of Deeds before the deed is recorded.

If a parcel sits in more than one county, the tax goes to the county with the greater share of value. Satisfaction instruments are filed at no cost. Timber deeds and contracts for standing timber are treated the same as real property transfers for excise tax purposes.

The NCARD Find Your Register of Deeds directory includes contact information for the Beaufort County office and all other North Carolina county Registers of Deeds.

Note: Beaufort County deed records from before 1968 are not available through the online Old Index Books system and must be searched in person at the office.

Historical Deed Records in Beaufort County

Beaufort County holds land records dating to 1721. This makes it one of the oldest collections in the state. The Register of Deeds has maintained these records through centuries of growth and change. The Clerk of Superior Court holds related probate records from 1736 and court records from 1763. Together, these offices provide a deep archive for title research and genealogy.

The statewide recording fee schedule shown below applies to all instruments filed in Beaufort County.

This fee schedule covers deeds, deeds of trust, plats, and other instruments filed at any North Carolina county Register of Deeds, including Beaufort County.

Nearby Counties

Deed records for land near Beaufort County borders may also be on file at these neighboring offices.