Forsyth County Real Estate Deed Records

Forsyth County deed records cover land transactions from 1849 to the present. The county was formed from Stokes County in 1849, and land records have been kept since then. The Register of Deeds office in Winston-Salem handles all deed filings, searches, and copies. You can search property records online at no cost through the Forsyth County deed search system. The office also keeps birth, marriage, and death records. Whether you are a buyer, seller, title researcher, or genealogist, the Forsyth County deed records are a public resource that is available during business hours and online.

Forsyth County Register of Deeds

The Forsyth County Register of Deeds is at the Government Center, 201 North Chestnut Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. The main phone number is (336) 703-2700. A recorded information line is also available at (336) 703-2701 for basic questions after hours.

Records in the office are indexed by party type, entity type, and book type. You can search online or in person. Online property record searches are free. Uncertified copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies are $5 for the first page and $2 for each page after that.

The Forsyth County deed search website is the main tool for online research.

Below is the Forsyth County Register of Deeds search portal for property and deed records.

Use this portal to look up deeds, deeds of trust, plats, and other recorded instruments in Forsyth County.

Searching Forsyth County Deed Records Online

The online deed search for Forsyth County lets you look up records by name, book and page, or document type. The system covers deeds from 1849 to 1965 and more recent records as well. You do not need an account to run a basic search. Results show the grantor, grantee, document type, book, page, and recording date.

For older records, the FamilySearch Forsyth County page has genealogy resources and links to digitized deeds. These can help with title chains that go back to the mid-1800s.

When you find a record online, you can view and print the image. These are unofficial copies. For legal use, order a certified copy from the Register of Deeds.

Forsyth County Deed Recording Fees

Forsyth County uses the statewide fee schedule set by G.S. Chapter 161. The base cost for a deed is $26 for the first 15 pages. Each extra page costs $4. Deeds of trust and mortgages are $64 for the first 35 pages, plus $4 per additional page. Nonstandard documents carry a $25 surcharge on top of the base fee.

Plats cost $21 per sheet. If you file multiple instruments as one document, each one adds $10 to the total. Satisfaction instruments are filed at no charge. The NCARD recording fees page has the full schedule.

The statewide fee schedule is shown below.

All fees listed apply to documents filed at the Forsyth County Register of Deeds.

Forsyth County and Race to Record

Under the Conner Act, G.S. 47-18, North Carolina follows a race to record rule. The first person to file a deed at the Forsyth County Register of Deeds holds the legal claim to the property. A deed that is not recorded is not valid against a later buyer who does record.

The register stamps each document with the day and hour it was presented. This time stamp sets the priority. If two instruments arrive at the same time, the lower document number wins. This rule covers deeds, options, leases over three years, and rights of first refusal.

Property Transfer Tax in Forsyth County

An excise tax applies to every deed that transfers real property in Forsyth County. The rate is $1 for each $500 of the sale price, as set by G.S. 105-228.30. The seller must pay this tax to the Register of Deeds before the deed is recorded. Timber deeds and contracts for standing timber carry the same tax.

If the property lies in two or more counties, the tax goes to the county where the greater share of value is located. Excise stamps are noted on the recorded deed for public reference.

Forsyth County Historical Deed Records

Forsyth County was formed from Stokes County in 1849. Land records have been kept since the county was created. Deeds from 1849 to 1965 are available through the online deed search. Digital images can also be found on FamilySearch.org for genealogy and title research.

Early Forsyth County deed records may use handwritten entries and old place names. Some names on early deeds do not match current maps. Staff at the Register of Deeds can help you read and locate older documents. The NCARD directory lists contact details for all 100 county Registers of Deeds in the state, including Forsyth County and the neighboring Stokes County office where pre-1849 records may be found.

Forsyth County Document Format Rules

All documents filed in Forsyth County must meet the format rules in G.S. 161-14. Paper must be 8.5 by 11 inches or 8.5 by 14 inches. The top of the first page needs a 3-inch margin. All other margins must be at least half an inch. Text must be black on white paper. The font size must be 9 points or larger. Only one side of each page may have text.

The drafter's name must appear on the first page for all deeds executed after January 1, 1980. The type of instrument must also be stated at the top. The North Carolina Secretary of State and the Electronic Recording Council set standards for eRecording. Forsyth County supports electronic filing for many document types.

The North Carolina Association of Registers of Deeds supports all 100 counties with guidance and training.

NCARD provides recording standards, fee schedules, and a directory of all county offices.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Forsyth and may hold deed records related to your property search.