Franklin County Deed Records Search

Franklin County deed records go back to 1776, making them among the oldest in the state. The Register of Deeds office in Louisburg stores all land records for the county. Documents include deeds, deeds of trust, powers of attorney, assumed names, and maps. You can search the consolidated index online for records from 1950 to the present, and older index books cover documents from 1896 through 1949. Brandi Smith Brinson has served as Register of Deeds since 2011. The office is open to the public and provides certified and uncertified copies of all recorded instruments.

Franklin County Register of Deeds

The Franklin County Register of Deeds is at 113 South Main Street, Louisburg, NC 27549. The mailing address is P.O. Box 545, Louisburg, NC 27549. You can reach the office by phone at 919-496-3500 or by fax at 919-496-1457. Register Brandi Smith Brinson has led the office since 2011.

Real estate documents in Franklin County date back to 1776. The office records deeds, deeds of trust, powers of attorney, assumed names, and maps. Birth and death records start in 1913. Marriage certificates date from 1869, and the bond book goes back to 1779. The office can issue birth and death certificates statewide. Out-of-county births are available back to 1971.

The Franklin County Register of Deeds page provides details on all services.

Below is the Franklin County Register of Deeds page with access to deed records, vital records, and search tools.

From this page you can access the index search, request copies, and find office contact details.

Searching Franklin County Deed Records

Franklin County offers several ways to search deed records. The consolidated index covers name searches from 1950 to the present. You can also view images by book and page for real estate documents and maps. Old index books cover 1896 through 1949.

Maps from 1989 forward can be searched by entering the year as the book number and the page. The vital index lets you search birth, death, or marriage indexes. When searching, less is more. Entering just a last name and first name usually gives the best results.

For records before 1896, visit the office in person. Staff can help you search the earliest books, which may use handwritten entries and old spelling.

Franklin County Recording Fees

Franklin County follows the statewide fee schedule under G.S. Chapter 161. Standard deeds cost $26 for the first 15 pages. Each additional page adds $4. Deeds of trust and mortgages cost $64 for the first 35 pages. Nonstandard documents carry a $25 surcharge. Satisfaction instruments are free to file.

Plats are $21 per sheet. Multiple instruments filed as one document add $10 each. The NCARD recording fees page has the complete list. These fees apply statewide, so every county uses the same rates.

Franklin County Deed Priority Rules

North Carolina follows a race to record rule. Under the Conner Act, G.S. 47-18, the first person to record a deed at the Franklin County Register of Deeds holds the legal claim. A deed not on record cannot stand against a later buyer who files first. Priority is set by the day and hour stamped on the document.

This matters for every land deal in Franklin County. If you buy property and wait to record, someone else could file first and take priority. The law applies to deeds, options, leases over three years, and rights of first refusal.

The Conner Act statute is shown below.

This law governs the recording priority of all deed records in Franklin County.

Excise Tax on Franklin County Deeds

An excise tax applies when property changes hands in Franklin County. Under G.S. 105-228.30, the rate is $1 per $500 of the sale price or any fraction of it. The seller pays before the deed is recorded. Timber deeds and contracts for standing timber are taxed at the same rate.

If the property sits in two or more counties, the tax goes to the county where the greater share of value lies. The Register of Deeds collects this tax and stamps the deed with the amount paid.

Franklin County Deed Indexing

The Franklin County Register of Deeds keeps full alphabetical indexes of all recorded instruments. Under G.S. 161-22, the index must list the names of all parties to each deed, grant, mortgage, bond, or other instrument. Cross-indexing allows searches by grantor or grantee. Each index entry shows the book, page, and document type for quick reference.

The consolidated index covers 1950 to the present. Old index books handle 1896 through 1949. For records before 1896, ask the office staff for help. The NCARD and the Secretary of State set minimum indexing standards for all counties, including Franklin. These standards help ensure that deed records are uniform and easy to search across the state.

Franklin County Document Standards

Every deed filed in Franklin County must meet the format rules in G.S. 161-14. Key rules include:

• Paper size: 8.5 by 11 or 8.5 by 14 inches
• Top margin on first page: 3 inches
• Other margins: at least half an inch
• Black ink on white paper
• Font size: 9 points or larger
• Text on one side of each page only

The drafter's name must appear on the first page for deeds after January 1, 1980. Each deed needs a signature, notarization, and proof of acknowledgment. The Secretary of State and the Electronic Recording Council set eRecording standards for all counties, including Franklin.

Franklin County may also require tax certification before recording a deed. Under G.S. 161-31, the county can ask the tax collector to confirm that no delinquent taxes exist on the property. A closing attorney can bypass this step by including a written statement about paying any back taxes from closing proceeds.

Nearby Counties

If your deed record search goes beyond Franklin County, check these nearby offices for related documents.