Pender County Property Deed Records

Pender County deed records date back to 1875. The Register of Deeds office in Burgaw keeps all land records for the county. These records include deeds, liens, mortgages, plats, and related instruments. You can search deed records online or visit the office at the Howard Holly Building on East Fremont Street. The office indexes documents by party names, document types, dates, book and page, grantor and grantee, and legal descriptions. Pender County deed records are open to the public and serve as the legal proof of land ownership in the county.

Pender County Register of Deeds Office

The Pender County Register of Deeds is in the Howard Holly Building at 300 East Fremont Street, Burgaw, NC 28425. Call the office at 910-259-1225. Staff can help you find deed records by name, book and page, or document type. The office records deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other land instruments.

It is worth noting that the Register of Deeds does not perform title searches. If you need a full title search on a Pender County property, you must consult an attorney. The office also does not store wills. Wills in Pender County are filed with the Clerk of Superior Court. These are common points of confusion for first-time visitors to the office.

The Pender County Register of Deeds website provides details on all services and hours.

Below is the Pender County Register of Deeds page, which lists contact details and available services for property records.

Use this page to confirm office hours before your visit.

How to Search Pender County Records Online

Pender County provides online access to property-recorded documents from 1875 onward. The Records Search system lets you look up deeds by grantor, grantee, document type, or recording date. You do not need an account for basic searches. Results show book and page numbers along with document images when available.

The Pender County online records search system runs best on Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. A screen resolution of 1024 by 768 or higher is recommended for full functionality. The system covers all recorded instruments in the Pender County Register of Deeds office from the earliest records to the present.

Keep in mind that online copies are unofficial. For court or legal use, you need a certified copy from the office. The Register of Deeds staff can provide certified copies for a fee set by state law.

Personal information redaction is available under GS 132-1.8(g). You must submit a written request with specific document details to have personal data removed from online records.

Recording Deeds in Pender County

To record a deed in Pender County, your document must meet North Carolina format standards. 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. Other margins must be at least half an inch. Text must use black ink on white paper in a font no smaller than 9 points. All text goes on one side of each page only.

Recording fees in Pender County follow the statewide schedule under G.S. Chapter 161. A standard deed costs $26 for the first 15 pages. Each extra page adds $4. Deeds of trust and mortgages cost $64 for the first 35 pages. If your document does not meet format rules, a $25 nonstandard fee applies on top of other charges. Satisfaction instruments are filed at no charge.

The NCARD recording fees page lists all current fees for every county in North Carolina.

Pender County Deed Records and Race to Record

North Carolina uses a race to record system. The Conner Act, G.S. 47-18, states that the first person to record a deed is the legal owner. This rule applies to all Pender County deed records. It means that prompt recording is vital to protect your property rights.

When you bring a deed to the Pender County Register of Deeds, the office stamps the day and hour on the document. This timestamp sets the priority. If two instruments arrive at the same time, the one with the earlier document number takes precedence. This system gives clear rules for who holds title to land in Pender County.

Excise Tax on Pender County Property Transfers

Every deed that transfers real property in Pender County is subject to an excise tax. Under G.S. 105-228.30, the tax rate is $1 for each $500 of the sale price. The seller pays this tax to the Register of Deeds before the deed can be recorded. The tax also covers timber deeds and contracts for standing timber.

If a property lies in two or more counties, the tax goes to the county where the greater share of value sits. For Pender County properties near the border, this rule may apply. The excise tax stamps are noted on the recorded document for public view.

Pender County Historical Land Records

Pender County deed records start in 1875. The county was created in 1875 from New Hanover County. For land records before that year, you may need to check New Hanover County records. Early deed books in Pender County contain handwritten instruments. These older documents may use outdated place names or spelling that differs from modern maps.

The Register of Deeds office has preserved these records over the years. The online search system provides access to documents from the earliest records forward. For genealogy research or historical title chains, Pender County deed records can show how land passed from one owner to the next over more than a century.

The NCARD directory can help you locate contact details for any North Carolina county Register of Deeds, including counties that border Pender.

Pender County Document Standards

All deeds filed in Pender County must follow state rules. Under G.S. Chapter 47, each deed must be signed and acknowledged or proven before an officer with the authority to take such proofs. The first page must show the name of the person who drafted the deed, as required for documents executed after January 1, 1980.

The state type of instrument must appear at the top of the first page. This helps the Register of Deeds classify and index the document correctly. Pender County follows the minimum indexing standards adopted by the Department of the Secretary of State in cooperation with NCARD.

Electronic recording is available in many North Carolina counties. The NC Secretary of State oversees the Electronic Recording Council that sets standards for eRecording statewide. Check with the Pender County office to confirm if they accept electronic submissions for your document type.

Nearby Counties

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