Wake County Recorder of Deeds: Search & Office
If you searched for the Wake County Recorder of Deeds, the office you actually need is the Wake County Register of Deeds. North Carolina uses the title “Register of Deeds,” and Wake County’s office records and preserves deeds, deeds of trust, plats, easements, restrictive covenants, powers of attorney and many other real-estate instruments.
This guide takes you directly to Wake County’s official search systems, explains how to find a deed even when you only know the property address, shows where to request a certified copy, lists the Raleigh office information and current statutory recording fees, and explains when a property question belongs with Tax Administration instead.
Jump directly to your Wake County deed task
You do not need to read every section. Choose the task that matches why you came to this page.
The “Wake County Recorder of Deeds” is the Register of Deeds
A search for “Wake County Recorder of Deeds” often comes from someone trying to find a property deed, confirm ownership, research a lien, locate a subdivision plat, obtain a certified copy or visit the county recording office. In Wake County, those recorded-document duties are handled by the Wake County Register of Deeds.
Deeds, deeds of trust, easements, restrictive covenants, plats, releases, powers of attorney and other recorded instruments.
Property address searches, parcel data, assessed value, REID, PIN, tax bills and the ownership name displayed on the tax account.
Court cases, judgments, probate proceedings, divorce files and other records maintained by the North Carolina court system rather than the deed office.
Wake County now has a current records system and a legacy deed index
Wake County’s older Consolidated Real Property Index states that the county launched a new Land Records application on April 21, 2025. The legacy system remains useful because it continues to provide access to recorded documents from July 1785 through April 17, 2025.
| Need | Best starting point | What to search with | Why use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current recorded document | Records Management / Self-Service | Party names and available recording details | Current official Register of Deeds records portal. |
| Historic deed or instrument | CRPI / Books Online | Grantor, grantee, date, document type, book/page | Useful historic index with records dating back to 1785. |
| Only know property address | Wake Real Estate Search | Address, owner, REID or PIN | Helps identify the parcel and deed clues before opening ROD records. |
| Expected very recent filing | Current portal / pending-record tools | Party and recent filing details | A document may be received before every searchable field is fully indexed. |
How to search Wake County deeds and land records online
Start with the information that is least likely to be ambiguous. A deed book and page can be stronger than a common owner name, while a prior owner’s name can be critical when researching an older conveyance.
How to find a Wake County deed when you only know the address
A Recorder of Deeds search is not always designed like a consumer property-search website. If your only clue is “123 Main Street,” first convert that address into better deed-search identifiers.
What Wake County deed-search fields actually mean
| Field | What it usually means | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
| Grantor | Party granting, conveying or creating an interest; on a typical deed, commonly the seller. | Search a former owner or transferring party. |
| Grantee | Party receiving an interest; on a typical deed, commonly the buyer. | Search the purchaser/current owner at the time of conveyance. |
| Book / Page | Recorded location/reference assigned to the instrument. | One of the fastest ways to reopen a known record. |
| Document type | Deed, deed of trust, easement, covenant, release or another instrument category. | Reduce unrelated results with the same name. |
| Recorded date | Date the Register of Deeds accepted/recorded the instrument. | Useful when you know the closing or approximate filing period. |
| Legal description | Recorded description identifying the land, often by lot, subdivision, metes and bounds or prior reference. | Confirm that a same-name document actually concerns your parcel. |
Searching older Wake County deeds, plats and maps
Wake County’s Consolidated Real Property Index / Books Online remains particularly useful for historical research. The system says recorded documents from July 1785 through April 17, 2025 remain viewable there.
Legacy CRPI search method
Searching recorded maps in CRPI
The CRPI search instructions give special book prefixes for maps. For a recorded map, enter BM followed by the four-digit year in the Book field—for example, BM2023. For a condominium map, use CM before the year.
How to request a certified copy of a Wake County deed
A document image viewed online can be useful for research, but some transactions, court filings, estate matters or institutional requests require a certified copy. Before ordering, identify the exact document so the office can locate it without ambiguity.
| Copy | Published fee | Example |
|---|---|---|
| First page | $5 | 1-page certified instrument = $5 |
| Each additional page | $2 | 3-page instrument = $5 + $2 + $2 = $9 |
| Certified plat/map | $5 | Wake’s request form treats certified maps as one page. |
Fees shown above match North Carolina General Statutes §161-10 and Wake County’s recorded-document request form. Confirm current payment instructions before mailing.
Wake County Register of Deeds office address, phone and hours
Wake County Register of Deeds
Wake County Justice Center
300 S. Salisbury Street, Suite 1700
Raleigh, NC 27601
919-856-5460
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding applicable county closures and holidays.
Mailing information
Wake County Register of Deeds
P.O. Box 1897
Raleigh, NC 27602
Tammy L. Brunner, Wake County Register of Deeds
Check current location and office notices
Before recording a deed or other instrument in Wake County
Recording a deed is different from searching one. The Register of Deeds records documents that meet statutory requirements, but recording staff are not a substitute for an attorney when the legal instrument itself must be drafted, corrected or interpreted.
North Carolina paper-recording standards
Wake County deed recording fees and North Carolina excise tax
Register of Deeds recording charges are largely established by North Carolina statute. Your final amount can vary with the document type, page count, number of instruments, indexing data and applicable excise tax.
| Item | Statutory amount | When it matters |
|---|---|---|
| General instrument | $26 for first 15 pages + $4 each additional page | Applies when another specific fee provision does not control. |
| Deed of trust / mortgage | $64 for first 35 pages + $4 each additional page | Specific statutory category for deeds of trust and mortgages. |
| Original or revised plat | $21 per sheet or page | Recording a qualifying plat. |
| Nonstandard document | $25 additional fee | Document does not comply with statutory recording-format standards and is otherwise recordable. |
| Additional instrument | $10 in applicable multiple-instrument situations | One submitted document contains separately executable instruments with different legal consequences. |
| Certified recorded copy | $5 first page + $2 each additional page | Requesting certification of a recorded instrument. |
North Carolina real-estate excise tax
North Carolina imposes an excise tax on applicable instruments conveying an interest in real property at $1 for each $500, or fractional part of $500, of the consideration or value conveyed. The transferor is responsible for paying the tax to the Register of Deeds before recording when the statute applies.
Always calculate the fee for the actual instrument being submitted and confirm current Wake County payment/submission instructions before recording.
Use Wake County DocAlert to monitor new recordings under a name
Wake County provides a Document Recording Alert service commonly called DocAlert. The service can monitor a person or business name and notify the registered user when a new document is recorded under that name.
What to do when your Wake County deed search does not work
| Problem | Likely reason | Best next action |
|---|---|---|
| Owner name returns nothing | Different spelling, middle initial, trust/LLC name or prior owner. | Use fewer characters; try surname only, alternate spellings and both grantor/grantee roles. |
| Only know the street address | ROD indexes are document/party oriented. | Search Wake Real Estate first and collect the owner, REID, PIN and deed reference. |
| Very old deed is missing | You may be searching only the newer records application. | Use the legacy CRPI index. |
| Recent document is hard to find | Recent indexing/search fields may still be processing. | Search the current portal again and contact the ROD with party names and recording information if needed. |
| Tax record still shows old owner | Tax Administration processes recorded deed information after ROD indexing. | Allow for processing; Wake County says it strives to update ownership within 30 days, though some cases take longer. |
| Need to remove or add an owner | This is a legal ownership/document issue, not an editable website field. | Consult a North Carolina attorney about the proper instrument, then record the completed document with ROD. |
Register of Deeds vs. Tax Administration vs. Clerk of Court
| Your question | Correct office/system | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| I need the recorded deed | Register of Deeds | Search the official ROD records portal. |
| I need a deed of trust, easement or restrictive covenant | Register of Deeds | Search party names, recording date, type or book/page. |
| I need assessed value or parcel data | Tax Administration | Use Wake Real Estate Search. |
| I need REID or PIN | Tax Administration | Search the parcel by address or owner. |
| I need a property-tax bill | Tax Administration | Use county tax-account resources rather than the deed index. |
| I need probate or estate court records | North Carolina Courts / Clerk of Superior Court | Use Wake County court resources. |
| I need a divorce court file | Clerk of Superior Court | Do not treat a marriage record from ROD as the divorce case record. |
Official Wake County deed search, copy and office resources
- Read the county search disclaimer.
- Select I Accept.
- Search the relevant party or recording information.
- Try alternate name spellings if an exact search fails.
- Open the actual document, not only the index row.
- Use this system for historic research and records through April 17, 2025.
- Enter book/page when known.
- Otherwise try grantor, grantee or date range.
- For maps, use the appropriate BM or CM prefix described by the search page.
- Open the recorded image and confirm the legal description.
- Use this first when you only know a street address.
- Open the exact parcel.
- Save owner spelling, REID and PIN.
- Review available deed references.
- Use those clues in the Register of Deeds system.
- Identify the document before completing the request.
- Enter the recorded document information requested by the form.
- Calculate the certified-copy fee using the page count.
- Follow the form’s payment instructions.
- Mail it to the Wake County Register of Deeds mailing address shown on the form.
- Read the monitoring-service terms.
- Register the person or business name you want monitored.
- Include useful name variations when appropriate.
- Review any unexpected recording alert using the official deed-search portal.
Document standards — N.C.G.S. §161-14
Excise tax — N.C.G.S. §105-228.30
Wake County Recorder of Deeds FAQs
What is the Wake County Recorder of Deeds officially called?
The official North Carolina office name is the Wake County Register of Deeds. “Recorder of Deeds” is a common search term, but Wake County uses Register of Deeds.
How do I search Wake County deeds online?
Open the official Wake County Register of Deeds records portal, accept the disclaimer and search the available party or recording fields. Try alternate spellings when an exact name does not work, and inspect the actual document image before relying on an index result.
Can I search Wake County deeds by property address?
If the deed system does not give you a useful address route, open Wake County Real Estate Search first. Search the address, verify the parcel, save the owner name, REID, PIN and available deed reference, then use those details in the Register of Deeds portal.
Where is the Wake County Register of Deeds office?
The office is in the Wake County Justice Center at 300 S. Salisbury Street, Suite 1700, Raleigh, NC 27601. The main phone number is 919-856-5460.
What are the Wake County Register of Deeds hours?
Published office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. Check the official Wake County page before traveling because county holidays, weather events or special closures can affect availability.
How far back do Wake County deed records go online?
Wake County’s legacy CRPI system states that documents from July 1785 through April 17, 2025 remain viewable there. The newer Land Records application launched April 21, 2025.
How much does a certified Wake County deed copy cost?
The statutory certified-copy fee is $5 for the first page plus $2 for each additional page. Wake County’s recorded-document request form follows that fee structure. Certified maps are listed at $5 per copy.
Why does the Wake County tax record still show the previous owner?
The deed can be recorded before the Tax Administration ownership display is updated. Wake County Tax Administration says it pulls deed information from the ROD system and strives to update parcel ownership within 30 days, although some situations can take longer.
Can the Wake County Register of Deeds change a name on my deed over the phone?
No simple website or telephone edit changes the legal ownership instrument. If a deed must be corrected or ownership needs to be changed, determine the proper legal instrument—often with help from a North Carolina real-estate attorney—and record the completed instrument through the Register of Deeds.
Does a Wake County deed search prove that title is clear?
No. Public records are valuable research tools, but a name or deed search is not the same as a professional title examination. Purchases, refinances, estate transfers, lien issues, boundary disputes and other high-stakes matters may require an attorney, title professional or licensed surveyor.
The fastest way to complete your Wake County deed search
For most users, the most efficient route is simple: if you know the owner or recording information, start with the Wake County Register of Deeds records portal. If you only know the street address, start with Wake County Real Estate Search, identify the owner and deed reference, then return to the Register of Deeds to open the recorded instrument.
Use the older CRPI / Books Online system for historical research, request a certified copy only after identifying the correct document, and use DocAlert when you want ongoing notification of recordings associated with a monitored name.
Most importantly, match the office to the question. The Register of Deeds preserves the recorded instrument; Tax Administration manages parcel and tax data; the court system handles court cases. Starting in the right system prevents the most common Wake County property-record search errors.