Fees

Documents must have the name, phone number, and address of the person the original document will be returned to.

All deeds and deeds of trust must have the name of the person or law firm who drafted the document on the front page of the document. All conveyances of land must have the tax Identification (ID) number and grantee address on the front page. The tax ID number can be obtained from the Land Records section of the New Hanover County Tax Department. Please call the Tax Department at 910-798-7300 for tax ID numbers. Check the fee schedule information for recording fees and excise tax information on this page.

All instruments presented for registration on paper must meet all of the following requirements:

  • Printed on paper eight and one-half by eleven inches and eight and one-half by fourteen inches.
  • Have a blank margin of three inches at the top of the first page and a blank margin of one-half inch on the remaining sides of the first page and on all sides of subsequent pages.
  • Typed or printed in black on white paper in a legible font.
  • A font size no smaller than 9 points will be considered legible. Blanks in an instrument may be completed in pen. Corrections to an instrument may be made in pen using black ink only.
  • Text must be typed or printed on one side of a page only.
  • State the type of instrument at the top of the first page, but not in the blank margin.

If an instrument does not meet these requirements, the Register of Deeds will register the instrument after collecting a fee of $25.00 for nonstandard documents as required by GS 161-10(a)(19), in addition to all other applicable recording fees.

The following are exempt from the above requirements:

  • Cancellation of deeds of trust or mortgages (all forms), and Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings.

Updates

Effective October 1, 2019

The minimum side margins on instruments is back to one-half inch (increased from one-quarter inch) pursuant to Session Law 2019-117 (Senate Bill 594)

Notice: Credit and debit cards are accepted in all Register of Deeds departments.

To request copies or documents to be returned by mail you must send the Register of Deeds a pre-addressed stamped envelope. Please note that the Register of Deeds office does not issue refunds.

Effective October 1, 2015

For an instrument that contains excessive recording data, the fee will be an additional $2.00 for each party listed in the instrument in excess of 20. An instrument is considered to contain excessive recording data when there are more than 20 distinct parties listed in the instrument, including any attachments and exhibits, that require indexing pursuant to GS 147-54.3 or this chapter.

Fees

  1. Real Estate
  2. Vital Records
  3. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)

Deeds & Other Instruments

(Except plats, deeds of trust, mortgages, satisfactions, and UCC)

  • $26.00 up to 15 pages
  • $4.00 for each additional page

Deeds of Trust & Mortgages

As of October 1, 2016 

  • $64.00 up to 35 pages
  • $4.00 for each additional page

Amended Deed of Trust

  • $26.00 up to 15 pages
  • $4.00 for each additional page

Assignment

  • $26.00 up to 15 pages
  • $4.00 for each additional page

Additional Subsequent Instrument Index Reference

(Only on assignments)

  • $10.00 each

Non-Standard Document Fee GS 161-14(B)

  • $25.00 additional recording fee

Copies Instruments in General

Uncertified

  • $0.25 for each page

Certified

  • $5.00 first page
  • $2.00 for each additional page

Maps

Uncertified

  • 8 1/2 × 11 Inches $0.25 each page
  • 11 × 17 Inches $1.00 each page
  • 18 × 24 Inches $3.00 each page
  • 24 × 36 Inches $5.00 each page

Certified

  • 8 1/2 × 11 Inches $5.00 first page
  • 8 1/2 × 11 Inches $2.00 each additional page
  • 11 × 17 Inches $5.00 first page
  • 11 × 17 Inches $2.00 each additional page
  • 18 × 24 Inches $5.00 first page
  • 18 × 24 Inches $2.00 each additional page
  • 24 × 36 Inches $5.00 first page
  • 24 × 36 Inches $2.00 each additional page

Condo & Subdivision Plats

  • $21.00 first page
  • $21.00 for each additional page

Highway Right-Of-Way Plats

  • $21.00 first page
  • $5.00 for each additional page

Notary

  • Oath $10.00
  • Notary Authentication $5.00

Excise Tax Valuation

1991 to current $2.00 per $1000.00

1968 - 1991 $1.00 per $1000.00

Prior - 1967 $1.10 per $1000.00

Fee for Multiple Instrument

See G.S. 161-10(a)

  • $10.00 additional fee for each document with multiple-instruments.

Excessive Recording Data

See G.S. 161-10(a)

  • $2.00 for each party listed in the instrument in excess of 20.