Forsyth County Recorder of Deeds: Online Search, Recording Fees, Copies & Office
Need to find a property deed, check whether your mortgage was satisfied, or record a new real-estate document? In Forsyth County, North Carolina, those services are handled by the Register of Deeds, not by an office formally named “Recorder of Deeds.”
You can search recorded land documents free at ForsythDeeds.com. This guide explains exactly how the search works, the difference between a deed and a deed of trust, current recording charges, document formatting, mail filing and what happens after you pay off a mortgage.
Who Handles Deeds and Property Records in Forsyth County NC?
The Forsyth County Register of Deeds records conveyances and other real-estate instruments. The Clerk of Superior Court handles wills, estates and divorce cases. Property assessment records and tax bills are different systems.
Register of Deeds
Deeds, deeds of trust, mortgage satisfactions, plats, right-of-way documents, leases, covenants, separation agreements and other recordable instruments.
Tax Administration / Mapping
Property appraisal, parcel identifiers, tax values and GIS information. Start here when you have an address but do not know the owner’s recorded name.
Clerk of Superior Court
Wills, estates, divorces and other court matters. A real-estate deed may relate to an estate case, but the entire probate file is not held in the Register of Deeds index.
How to Search Forsyth County Deeds Online — Step by Step
The official Forsyth Real Estate Look Up supports name searches, grantor/grantee selection, human or company filtering, document categories, dates and book/page references. Its standard and full-text search options treat punctuation differently from ordinary web search engines.
Open the ForsythDeeds search
Use the county-linked Forsyth Real Estate Look Up ↗. The county identifies this portal as the free land-records search and document-image resource.
Choose Standard, Full Text or Sounds Like
Start with Standard when you know the recorded party’s name. The portal also offers Full Text and Sounds Like. The search help explains that punctuation, spaces and special characters are excluded from matching.
Select the party type
Choose Grantor if you are looking for documents where someone transferred or granted an interest. Choose Grantee if you are searching for someone receiving an interest. Use Both when you are unsure.
Enter an individual or company name
The portal provides an Entity Type choice: Human, Company or Both. Enter the last or company name and, for an individual, a first name when useful. The interface includes name suggestions as you type.
Filter the type of document
Use the available document-type choices to narrow results, such as DEED, DEED OF TRUST, SATISFACTION, EASEMENT or other recorded instruments. Check the wording closely: related document types may have abbreviations or multiple names in older indexes.
Add dates if you know the recording period
Use Start Date and End Date in the displayed month/day/year format. If the closing date was late in the month, remember that the recording date could be later than the signature date.
Search directly by book and page when known
The portal has a separate Book-Page (OR) File # Search. Choose the book type and enter the book/page or known file reference. This is often faster than a name search when an old deed or title report already lists the recording reference.
Review the record image
Open the matching record and compare the party names, legal description, instrument type and recording reference. The county provides online land-record images; use the actual document rather than relying on an abbreviated index title.
Why a Forsyth County Deed May Not Appear in Your Search
| Situation | Better Search | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Search returns too many names. | Add first name, date range or document type. | Confirm the owner was actually a party to the instrument. |
| Names have unusual spelling. | Try Sounds Like or alternate spellings. | Older name indexes may not match your current spelling. |
| Business name returns no result. | Select Company and try the business name without punctuation. | The portal strips certain characters from name searches. |
| You only know the street address. | Find property-owner information using county assessment/GIS resources first. | Then search the Register by name. |
| Mortgage shows but no satisfaction appears. | Search the borrower/lender names, later dates and satisfaction categories. | The filing could have been indexed separately or may require assistance. |
| Historical deed is missing. | Use historic grantor/grantee index books or ask the office. | Early handwritten and typed records may need different research methods. |
| Document image will not open. | Try the portal’s image-viewer guidance or technical support. | Older TIFF images can behave differently in browsers. |
| You need a UCC financing statement. | Do not assume the main name search includes it. | The online search specifically warns that UCC financing statements are not available there. |
Forsyth County Land Records: From 1849 to Modern Online Images
Forsyth County was formed in 1849, and the Register of Deeds explains that some instruments date from that year even though the county’s recording history has changed over time. This matters for genealogy, old subdivisions, inherited property and title-chain research.
1849–1904
Early county records were copied by hand. Names and written references may require careful interpretation.
1904–1929
Documents were typed before later reproduction methods were adopted.
1954 and Later
Microfilming began in 1954, and computerized indexes followed in 1965. Modern online research brings several periods together.
How to Record a Deed in Forsyth County, North Carolina
Forsyth County accepts recordable real-estate documents in person, by mail and through electronic filing. Before submitting, check North Carolina document formatting, original signature/acknowledgment rules, the grantee mailing address and any tax or certification requirements that apply.
Have the legal document properly prepared
Make sure the correct parties, property legal description, execution details and acknowledgment appear on the deed. For a deed or deed of trust prepared in North Carolina, the county requires the draftsman’s name on the first page.
Check the current mailing address
The county’s recording standards require a current mailing address for the grantee or seller on a deed. Make sure this information is present before submission.
Check the page layout
North Carolina’s standard formatting rules include paper size, margins, readable print, single-sided pages and instrument identification. Documents that do not meet the required format may incur a $25 nonstandard fee.
Calculate the correct recording fee
A standard deed or similar standard instrument is generally $26 for the first 15 pages plus $4 for each additional page. A deed of trust or mortgage uses a different fee: $64 for the first 35 pages plus $4 for each additional page.
Choose how to submit
Submit at the Register of Deeds office, by mail, or through an available e-recording channel. For mail filing, use a business check, cashier’s check or money order for the exact fee amount, payable to Forsyth County Register of Deeds. Do not send cash.
Keep your return and recording details
Include a self-addressed stamped envelope when you want mailed documents returned. For an in-person recording, the county says documents are returned at that time. Save the assigned book/page or document reference for future searches.
North Carolina Document Format Requirements
The county publishes document formatting standards under N.C. Gen. Stat. §161-14(b). These requirements are practical because a document can be otherwise ready to record but still carry an additional nonstandard recording fee.
Standard Format
- Paper size: 8½ × 11 or 8½ × 14 inches.
- Three-inch blank margin at the top of the first page.
- Side margins of at least ½ inch.
- Black type on white paper.
- Font size of at least 9 points.
- Single-sided text.
- Instrument type below the first-page blank margin.
Other Recording Checks
- Original instrument or certified copy where required.
- Proper original signatures and acknowledgment.
- Correct mailing address on deeds.
- Draftsman’s name when required.
- Exact recording payment.
- Required supporting certification or tax information.
- Names consistently written throughout the instrument.
Forsyth County Register of Deeds Recording Fees
The following fees are listed by the Forsyth County Register of Deeds. They apply to different types of documents; a deed and a deed of trust should not be estimated using the same base rate.
| Document / Service | Fee | Important Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Standard document | $26 first 15 pages | $4 for each page after 15. |
| Deed of trust / mortgage | $64 first 35 pages | $4 for each page after 35. |
| Nonstandard document | Additional $25 | Charged when the document fails applicable standard formatting. |
| Excess parties | $2 per party over 20 | Includes parties identified in attachments and exhibits. |
| Plats | $21 per sheet | Not calculated as standard document pages. |
| Satisfaction instruments | No recording fee | Different from recording a mortgage or deed of trust. |
| Multiple instruments in one | $10 for each additional instrument | Added to the otherwise applicable recording fee. |
| Certified copy | $5 first page | $2 for each additional page. |
| Uncertified copy | $0.25 per page | Free online search copies may be available from ForsythDeeds.com. |
| Military discharge recording | No fee | Access may be subject to privacy restrictions. |
| Card payment surcharge | 3% or $1 minimum | Applies to credit/debit card transactions. |
Forsyth County Deed Recording Fee Estimator
Use this calculator to estimate the published recording charge for a standard document, deed of trust, mortgage or satisfaction instrument. It does not calculate North Carolina excise tax, title fees, attorney costs or all special instrument charges.
Estimate only. The recorder determines actual filing charges. Applicable excise tax, special filing fees, service-provider charges and card surcharges are excluded.
How to Get a Copy of Your Deed or Check a Mortgage Satisfaction
A deed and a deed of trust are different documents. This is why property owners sometimes search for the wrong record after a mortgage payoff.
Finding Your Recorded Deed
- Open ForsythDeeds.com.
- Search your name as grantee around the property purchase date.
- Select the matching deed.
- Verify the legal description and parties.
- View or save the available image.
Ask for a certified copy only when an institution or transaction requires one.
Checking Loan Payoff Records
- Find the original deed of trust.
- Note its recording reference and parties.
- Search subsequent records for a satisfaction.
- Confirm that the satisfaction identifies the relevant deed of trust.
- Contact your lender or closing professional if you cannot locate it.
Do not assume that paying off the loan itself generates a new deed.
Forsyth County Property Fraud Alert
Forsyth County Register of Deeds provides a property fraud alert system for recorded real-estate documents. It can send email and text notifications when a document is recorded in a monitored name.
What the Notification Contains
The county describes alerts containing the recording date/time, instrument number and book/page reference. You can use those details at ForsythDeeds.com to inspect the corresponding record.
What the Alert Cannot Do
The alert system does not give the Register of Deeds authority to remove a document that was properly submitted for recording. If an entry appears suspicious, contact the parties or lender and seek appropriate legal assistance.
Forsyth County Register of Deeds Address, Phone and Hours
Forsyth County Register of Deeds
Register of Deeds: Lynne Johnson
Address:
Forsyth County Government Center
201 North Chestnut Street
Second Floor
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Phone: 336-703-2700
Fax: 336-748-3158
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, except holidays.
Get Directions ↗Official Forsyth County Deed Search, Forms and Recording Links
Use these government and county-authorized resources for specific actions. Every link includes the next steps to take after opening it.
1. Forsyth County Real Estate Look Up
Search individual, company, grantor, grantee, document-type and book/page records.
- Choose Standard, Full Text or Sounds Like.
- Select Human or Company and Grantor, Grantee or Both.
- Enter a last/company name and optional first name.
- Use document category or date filtering.
- Open the matching record and image.
2. Forsyth County Register of Deeds
The official department for recording, copies, contact information and related services.
- Review office location, phone and current hours.
- Choose Real Estate Recording when preparing a document.
- Open the FAQ for common deed and mortgage questions.
- Use the office contact route when your filing is unusual.
3. Real Estate Recording Requirements
Filing methods, accepted payment, formatting and document preparation.
- Review available recording methods: in person, mail or e-file.
- Check original/certified document and signature requirements.
- Review paper size, margins, font and acknowledgment rules.
- Confirm payment and mailing instructions before submission.
4. Official Recorder Fee Schedule
Deed, mortgage, plat, copy, satisfaction and nonstandard-document fees.
- Identify your instrument category.
- Compare standard documents with deeds of trust/mortgages.
- Count pages, excess parties and special add-ons.
- Check card fees or mail payment rules before paying.
5. Online Record Search Information
County explanation of ForsythDeeds, free access, historical coverage and technical support.
- Review the county’s explanation of online record access.
- Read its history of early records and document reproduction.
- Use the ForsythDeeds link for active searches.
- Contact the Register of Deeds if a record cannot be located.
6. Property Fraud Alert
Email and text notices about real-estate documents recorded under a monitored name.
- Read the official service description.
- Open the signup form.
- Register the relevant name.
- When notified, inspect the instrument number or book/page at ForsythDeeds.
Which Forsyth County Office or Search Should You Use Next?
| What You Need | Start Here | Next Action |
|---|---|---|
| Find recorded deed by name | ForsythDeeds.com | Search grantor/grantee and verify the matching record image. |
| Find deed using only an address | County tax/GIS resources | Identify owner details, then search the Register of Deeds. |
| Record a deed | Register of Deeds | Check format, signatures, payment and submission method. |
| Get a certified deed copy | Register of Deeds | Identify the book/page and request official certification. |
| Confirm mortgage payoff filing | ForsythDeeds.com | Search for a satisfaction of the recorded deed of trust. |
| Get a divorce decree or probate file | Clerk of Superior Court | Call 336-779-6300 for court-record guidance. |
| Research an early handwritten record | Historical indexes / Register | Follow old book references and request office help if needed. |
| Check suspicious recording | Property Fraud Alert / Register | Review instrument and contact an attorney when appropriate. |
Forsyth County Recorder of Deeds FAQs
Is there a Forsyth County Recorder of Deeds in North Carolina?
The official office is called the Forsyth County Register of Deeds. It records and maintains deeds, deeds of trust, plats and other land records for Forsyth County, North Carolina.
Where is the Forsyth County Register of Deeds located?
The office is at 201 North Chestnut Street, second floor of the Forsyth County Government Center, Winston-Salem, NC 27101.
How do I search Forsyth County deeds for free?
Use ForsythDeeds.com, the county-linked official search system. Search by grantor/grantee, human or company name, document category, dates or known book/page references. The county says online searches and copies are available free.
Can I search by grantor and grantee?
Yes. The Forsyth real-estate lookup includes Grantor, Grantee and Both party-type options. It also provides Human, Company and Both entity-type filters.
What does it cost to record a deed in Forsyth County NC?
A standard document costs $26 for the first 15 pages and $4 for every additional page. Special fees can apply for nonstandard formatting, more than 20 indexed parties and other circumstances.
How much does it cost to record a deed of trust?
The county lists deeds of trust and mortgages at $64 for the first 35 pages, plus $4 for every additional page. This is different from the standard document fee.
Is there a fee to record a mortgage satisfaction?
Forsyth County lists satisfaction instruments as having no recording fee.
Does the county send my deed after I pay off the mortgage?
No. The county explains that your deed was provided when you closed on the property. Loan payoff is usually reflected through a recorded satisfaction or cancellation of the deed of trust.
Can I record documents by mail?
Yes. Forsyth County permits real-estate recording in person, by mail and by e-filing. Mail the exact fee using an accepted check or money order, and include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want the document returned.
Where can I get a copy of a will or divorce decree?
Wills, estates and divorces are handled by the Clerk of Superior Court, not the Register of Deeds. The county directs these questions to 336-779-6300.
Does the Forsyth County online real-estate search contain UCC financing statements?
The ForsythDeeds name-search portal specifically says UCC financing statements are not available on that website. Contact the Register of Deeds for help identifying the correct UCC records-access route.
Does Forsyth County have property fraud notifications?
Yes. The Register of Deeds offers a property fraud alert system that can send email and text notifications when a real-estate document is recorded in a monitored name.
About This Independent Records Guide
County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent educational resource. It is not the Forsyth County Register of Deeds, Forsyth County Government, ForsythDeeds.com or another government agency. Official records and filing services remain with the respective public offices.
This guide does not provide a title opinion, legal advice, a property ownership guarantee or a certified records search. Recording costs, office procedures and online access may change; verify time-sensitive information directly with the Register of Deeds.
Public property records should not be used for employment, tenant, credit, insurance or other regulated eligibility screening. This website is not a consumer reporting agency.
Reviewed October 22, 2026. This article describes Forsyth County, North Carolina. Forsyth County, Georgia uses a different recording authority and search portal.