Cherokee County Property Deed Records

Cherokee County deed records hold the property history for the towns of Murphy and Andrews in the far western corner of North Carolina. The Cherokee County Register of Deeds has document images going back to 1814, giving over 200 years of land transfer history. You can access records through a secure remote access site. The office supports eRecording for electronic filing. This guide covers how to search Cherokee County deed records, what fees to expect, and what rules govern the recording process in this mountain county.

Cherokee County Register of Deeds

The Cherokee County Register of Deeds is at 75 Peachtree Street, Suite 126-A in Murphy, NC. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Call 828-837-2613 for help. The fax number is 828-837-8414. You can email karen.wright@cherokeecounty-nc.gov with questions.

Cherokee County sits in the far western tip of North Carolina. Murphy is the county seat. Andrews is the other main town. The Register of Deeds serves both communities along with all rural areas. Staff record deeds, mortgages, plats, and other property instruments. Walk-in visitors can search records at the office during business hours.

Cherokee County Deed Records Online

Cherokee County offers a secure remote access site for online record searches. The full system holds property index data from May 1993 onward. The imaging system goes deeper, with document images from 1814. This gives you access to records that span more than two centuries.

You can search the index by name, date, document type, or book and page. Document images let you view the full text of recorded deeds. This is one of the oldest digital archives in western North Carolina. The Cherokee County Register of Deeds website has links to the remote access system.

The image below shows the Cherokee County Register of Deeds official page.

The website provides links to search tools and office contact information.

Note: Property index data is available from May 1993. Document images go back to 1814.

Cherokee County Deed Copy Fees

Copy fees in Cherokee County are among the lowest in North Carolina. Document copies cost just $0.10 per page. Certified copies are $5 for the first page and $2 for each page after. These rates follow the state schedule under G.S. 161-10.

Recording fees for most instruments are $26 for the first 15 pages and $4 per extra page. Deeds of trust and mortgages cost $64 for the first 35 pages plus $4 per added page. Nonstandard documents add $25. Satisfaction instruments have no fee. The NCARD fee schedule details every fee type.

Excise tax under G.S. 105-228.30 is $1 for each $500 of the sale price. The transferor pays this before the deed is recorded.

Cherokee County Property Records

The screenshot below shows Cherokee County property data available through online resources.

Check the NCARD directory for Cherokee County Register of Deeds contact details.

The median home value in Cherokee County is $196,750.

Cherokee County has a median household income of $48,141.50 and a property tax rate of just 0.49%. This is one of the lowest tax rates in North Carolina. The median rent is $773.50. Murphy Planning Board at 828-837-2510 handles town zoning. Andrews Planning and Zoning manages zoning for the town of Andrews. These offices can answer questions about land use before you buy property.

Cherokee County eRecording

Cherokee County supports eRecording. Attorneys and title companies can submit Cherokee County deed records electronically. The Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act governs this process. Electronic documents and signatures are valid for recording in North Carolina. The Secretary of State oversees the Electronic Recording Council that sets the rules.

The NCARD website lists Cherokee County as an eRecording county. Electronic filing cuts down on travel time in this rural mountain county. Most eRecording submissions are processed the same business day. The NCARD directory has contact details for all 100 North Carolina county Registers of Deeds.

Filing Deeds in Cherokee County

Every deed filed in Cherokee County must meet state formatting rules. Under G.S. 161-14, paper must be 8.5 by 11 inches or 8.5 by 14 inches. The first page needs a 3-inch top margin. Other margins must be at least half an inch. Text must be in black ink on white paper. Font size must be 9 points or larger. Print on one side of each page only.

The instrument type goes at the top of the first page. Under G.S. 47-17.1, deeds executed after January 1, 1980 must show the drafter's name. All signatures must be notarized. Bring the deed to the Cherokee County Register of Deeds at 75 Peachtree Street in Murphy. Pay the recording fee and any excise tax. Staff will stamp it with the date and time and file it in the official records.

North Carolina is a race to record state under the Conner Act. The first person to record a deed has priority. This rule protects buyers who file their documents quickly. It is especially important in Cherokee County where mountain land parcels can be remote.

Note: The property tax rate of 0.49% makes Cherokee County one of the most affordable places to own land in North Carolina.

State Law and Cherokee County Records

State statutes control all deed recording in Cherokee County. G.S. 161-22 requires full alphabetical indexes of every recorded instrument. G.S. 161-31 allows counties to require tax certification before deeds are recorded. G.S. 147-54.3 gives the Secretary of State authority over the land records management program.

The image below shows the NCARD website that serves all 100 counties including Cherokee County.

NCARD provides guidance and resources to every county Register of Deeds office in the state.

Nearby Counties

These western North Carolina counties neighbor Cherokee County and keep their own deed records for property searches.