Bladen County Property Deed Records

Bladen County deed records date back to 1739. The Register of Deeds office in Elizabethtown maintains these historical documents along with all current land records. Bladen County has seven incorporated towns, with Elizabethtown serving as the county seat. The office provides a remote access site with three search systems for deed records. You can look up records by name, book and page, instrument number, legal description, or recording date. Whether you need a current deed or a document from the 18th century, the Bladen County Register of Deeds is the place to start.

Bladen County Register of Deeds Office

The Bladen County Register of Deeds is at 106 East Broad Street in Elizabethtown, NC 28337. The phone number is 910-862-6710 and the fax is 910-862-6714. You can email bcrod@bladenco.org with questions. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

The office maintains all land records for Bladen County. This includes deeds, deeds of trust, plats, liens, and other instruments. Documents are indexed by name, book and page, instrument number, legal description, and recorded date. The collection spans from 1739 to the present day.

The Bladen County Register of Deeds official website is shown below.

This site connects to the remote access search systems and provides contact details for the office.

Searching Bladen County Deed Records

Bladen County offers three search systems through its remote access site. The Full System covers land indexes from 1988 forward. The Imaging System provides digitized deed and plat book images. The Scanned Index Books system covers all documents recorded before December 31, 1987.

These three systems together give you access to the full range of Bladen County deed records. The Full System is best for recent searches. The Imaging System lets you view actual deed book pages. The Scanned Index Books are the key to older records going back to 1739.

You can search Bladen County deed records by name, date, or document type. Free recorded document searches are available through the remote access site. The system is available online around the clock for public use.

Note: The Scanned Index Books cover records before 1988 and may show handwritten entries from older periods.

Bladen County Deed Record Fees

Copy fees in Bladen County follow state law. Uncertified copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $2 for each additional page. Map copies cost $2 per page, and certified map copies cost $5 per page.

Recording fees are the same across all North Carolina counties. Under G.S. Chapter 161, a standard deed costs $26 for the first 15 pages and $4 per additional page. Deeds of trust cost $64 for the first 35 pages. A nonstandard document adds $25 to the fee. Satisfaction instruments are filed at no charge. The NCARD recording fees page has the complete list.

Recording Deeds in Bladen County

Recording a deed in Bladen County requires following North Carolina state law. The state is a race to record jurisdiction. Under the Conner Act, G.S. 47-18, the first party to record a deed has legal priority. This rule protects buyers who record promptly at the Bladen County Register of Deeds.

All documents must meet the format standards of G.S. 161-14. Paper must be 8.5 by 11 inches or 8.5 by 14 inches. A three-inch top margin is required on the first page. Text must be in black ink on white paper, typed or printed in a font of at least 9 points. Documents must be printed on one side only. The type of instrument must appear at the top of the first page. Deeds executed after January 1, 1980, must name the drafter on the first page as required by G.S. 47-17.1.

The NCARD recording standards page provides additional guidance on document formatting, indexing rules, and electronic recording procedures.

Bladen County Property Records

Bladen County property records include deed records, tax data, and zoning information. The median home value is about $112,200. The median household income is $39,618. The property tax rate is 0.87 percent, and the median rent is $719. The Planning Department at 910-862-6745 handles zoning verification.

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

Available sources for Bladen County property information include the Register of Deeds and the tax office.

Excise Tax on Bladen County Deeds

Every deed that transfers real property in Bladen County is subject to an excise tax. Under G.S. 105-228.30, the tax rate is $1 per $500 of the sale price or any fraction thereof. The seller must pay this tax to the Register of Deeds before the deed is recorded. Timber deeds and contracts for standing timber are taxed the same way.

If a parcel crosses county lines, the excise tax goes to the county where the greater share of value is located. Satisfaction instruments, which release liens, are recorded free of charge in Bladen County and across North Carolina.

The NCARD Find Your Register of Deeds directory helps you find any North Carolina county office. The North Carolina Association of Registers of Deeds serves all 100 counties and publishes statewide recording guidance.

Note: Bladen County may require tax certification before recording certain deeds, as authorized by G.S. 161-31.

Nearby Counties

Deed records for parcels near the Bladen County border may be filed in these neighboring county offices.