Chowan County Deed Record Access

Chowan County deed records date back to the 1600s, making them some of the oldest in North Carolina. The Register of Deeds office in Edenton keeps all land records for the county. You can reach the office at 252-482-2619 or visit at 101 S. Broad Street. Online tools let you search these records from home. Chowan County deed records include deeds, liens, plats, and trust documents. The Land Records Department at 252-482-7157 handles real estate filings. These records are open to the public for title research, deed lookups, and property history.

Chowan County Register of Deeds

The Chowan County Register of Deeds office sits at 101 S. Broad Street in Edenton. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can call the main line at 252-482-2619. For land records questions, call 252-482-7157. Staff can help you find deeds by name, book and page, or file number. The email address on file is lynn.gilliard@chowan.nc.gov.

The office records deeds, deeds of trust, liens, plats, and other land documents. It also handles vital records and assumed business names. All recorded instruments become part of the public record in Chowan County. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $2 for each page after that. You can request copies by mail at P.O. Box 487, Edenton, NC 27932.

The Chowan County Register of Deeds property records page is shown below.

This page offers links to online search tools and office contact details for Chowan County deed records.

Searching Chowan County Deed Records Online

Chowan County provides online public access to its land records. You can search from any computer or phone. The system lets you look up deeds by grantor or grantee name, recording date, or book and page number. Results show basic index data along with document images when they are available.

Online records are for reference only. They are not certified copies. If you need a certified copy, you must get it from the Register of Deeds office in person or by mail. The online system runs at all hours, though short breaks may happen for upkeep.

Chowan County is one of the oldest counties in North Carolina. Its records span more than three centuries. Some early instruments use old handwriting and place names that differ from current maps. The Land Records Department staff can help you read and find older documents.

Recording Documents in Chowan County

To record a deed in Chowan County, you must follow North Carolina format 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 three-inch top margin. All other margins must be at least half an inch. Text must be in black ink on white paper, in a font no smaller than 9 points. Documents must be single-sided.

Recording fees in Chowan County follow the state 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 cost $64 for the first 35 pages. Nonstandard documents add $25 to the base fee. Satisfaction instruments are free to file.

The NCARD recording fees page lists the full fee schedule that applies to all 100 North Carolina counties.

Chowan County Deed Records and Race to Record

North Carolina is a race to record state. The Conner Act, G.S. 47-18, says that no conveyance of land is valid against later buyers until it is recorded. The first person to record a deed at the Chowan County Register of Deeds holds priority. This rule makes prompt recording critical.

Each document gets stamped with the day and hour it arrives. If two deeds are filed at the same time, the one with the lower document number takes first place. This system keeps the chain of title clear in Chowan County.

The official Chowan County Register of Deeds page is shown below.

Visit this page for more on how Chowan County handles land record filings and searches.

Excise Tax on Chowan County Property Transfers

An excise tax applies when real property changes hands in Chowan County. Under G.S. 105-228.30, the rate is $1 for every $500 of the sale price or any part of that amount. The seller pays this tax to the Register of Deeds before the deed is recorded.

This tax also covers timber deeds and contracts for standing timber. If a property sits in more than one county, the tax goes to the county with the larger share of value. The Chowan County median home value is $195,050, with a property tax rate of 0.72%.

Historical Land Records in Chowan County

Chowan County is one of the original precincts of the Albemarle region. Its deed records reach back to the 1600s. These early records tell the story of colonial land grants and the growth of Edenton, one of the oldest towns in the state. Research into these records can help with genealogy, title chains, and local history.

Old deeds may use terms and boundaries no longer on modern maps. Creeks, old roads, and neighbors' names often served as property markers. The Chowan County Register of Deeds staff can help you interpret these early records.

The NCARD directory lists contact details for every Register of Deeds in North Carolina, including Chowan County. The statewide recording standards set by the NC Secretary of State help keep records uniform across all 100 counties.

Chowan County Deed Record Copies and Fees

You can get copies of Chowan County deed records in person, by mail, or online. Here is what to know about copy fees:

• Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $2 for each page after that
• Mail requests go to P.O. Box 487, Edenton, NC 27932
• Online copies from the public access site are not certified
• Plats and maps may have separate copy fees
• Satisfaction instruments are filed at no charge

For legal use, always request a certified copy. Online images are for reference and do not carry the seal of the Chowan County Register of Deeds. The North Carolina recording fee schedule shown below applies to all counties in the state.

This fee chart covers deeds, deeds of trust, plats, and other instruments filed in Chowan County.

Nearby Counties

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