Edgecombe County Deed Records

Edgecombe County deed records provide a permanent record of real estate ownership and transfers in this eastern North Carolina county. The Register of Deeds office in Tarboro is responsible for recording and storing all deeds, deeds of trust, cancellations, plats, assumed names, and powers of attorney. The office also maintains birth, death, and marriage certificates along with military discharge records. These records serve attorneys, land surveyors, realtors, ministers, funeral homes, genealogists, and the general public. All deed records are open for review during regular business hours.

Edgecombe County Register of Deeds

The Edgecombe County Register of Deeds office provides a standardized, permanent record of real estate ownership and transfers. Its mission is to record and maintain births, deaths, marriages, service discharges, notaries, and maps. The office is governed by the state Legislature, the Secretary of State, and North Carolina Vital Records.

You can reach the office through the Edgecombe County Register of Deeds page. The office serves a wide range of users and processes requests for copies, searches, and filings each business day.

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

This page covers all services provided by the Edgecombe County Register of Deeds, from deed recording to vital record requests.

Edgecombe County Deed Record Copies

Certified copies of deeds and other records cost $10 per copy at the Edgecombe County Register of Deeds. Uncertified copies cost $1. You can order copies in person or through the Edgecombe County online portal. Online orders carry an additional $4 service fee and a $1 ID authentication fee. Mailed copies add $0.75 for shipping.

For legal use, always request a certified copy. Uncertified copies are fine for personal research or reference. The online portal handles requests for deeds, deeds of trust, cancellations, plats, assumed names, and powers of attorney.

Recording Documents in Edgecombe County

To record a deed in Edgecombe County, you must follow North Carolina state rules. Under G.S. 161-14, all documents must meet format standards before the register will accept them. Paper must be 8.5 by 11 inches or 8.5 by 14 inches. A 3-inch blank margin is required at the top of the first page. Other margins need at least half an inch. Text must use black ink on white paper and be printed in a font no smaller than 9 points.

Recording fees in Edgecombe County follow the statewide schedule. A standard deed costs $26 for the first 15 pages and $4 per extra page. Deeds of trust and mortgages cost $64 for the first 35 pages. A nonstandard document adds a $25 surcharge. The NCARD recording fees page lists every fee that applies.

Note that G.S. 132-1.10(g)(1) prohibits the inclusion of Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and similar personal data in documents filed for recording.

Edgecombe County and the Conner Act

North Carolina is a race to record state. The rule comes from the Conner Act, G.S. 47-18. It states that a deed is not valid against a later buyer who records first. In Edgecombe County, the person who files first at the Register of Deeds wins the legal claim.

Priority is based on the time stamp the register places on each document. Two documents filed at the same time are ranked by document number. The one with the lower number has priority. This system covers deeds, leases over three years, options, and rights of first refusal.

The document recording standards under G.S. 161-14 are shown below.

These standards apply to every document filed at the Edgecombe County Register of Deeds.

Excise Tax in Edgecombe County

When real property is sold in Edgecombe County, an excise tax applies. Under G.S. 105-228.30, the rate is $1 per $500 of the sale price. The seller pays this tax to the Register of Deeds before the deed is recorded. Timber deeds carry the same tax. If property spans more than one county, the tax goes to the county with the higher share of value.

Edgecombe County Deed Record Indexing

The Register of Deeds in Edgecombe County keeps full alphabetical indexes of all recorded instruments, as required by G.S. 161-22. Indexes list the names of all parties to each deed, grant, mortgage, bond, or other instrument. Cross-indexing makes it possible to search by either grantor or grantee name.

The North Carolina Secretary of State works with the NCARD to set minimum indexing standards for all counties. These standards help ensure that deed records are easy to find and consistent across the state. The indexing system in Edgecombe County follows these statewide rules.

Edgecombe County Deed Record Indexing

The Register of Deeds in Edgecombe County keeps full alphabetical indexes of all recorded instruments, as required by G.S. 161-22. These indexes list the names of all parties to each deed, mortgage, lien, bond, or other instrument. Cross-indexing lets you search by either the grantor or grantee name. The index also notes the book and page where the full document can be found.

The North Carolina Secretary of State works with the NCARD to set minimum indexing standards statewide. These standards help keep deed records consistent and easy to find in every county, including Edgecombe. Names are entered as they appear on the original document. When you search, try the full legal name first. If that does not work, try a shorter version or a different spelling.

Edgecombe County Property Transfer Steps

To transfer property in Edgecombe County, follow these steps:

• Draft the deed with the drafter's name on the first page
• Have the grantor sign and notarize the deed
• Pay the excise tax to the Register of Deeds
• Submit the deed with the correct recording fee
• Confirm the deed is stamped and indexed

Once recorded, the deed becomes part of the permanent public record. The Register of Deeds endorses each instrument with the day and hour it was presented, as required by G.S. 161-14.

Nearby Counties

Deed records from counties near Edgecombe may help with property searches that cross county lines.