Wake County Recorder of Deeds: Search Deeds, Plats, Liens & Register of Deeds Office
In Wake County, North Carolina, the office most people call the “Recorder of Deeds” is officially the Wake County Register of Deeds. It records and maintains real-estate documents such as deeds, deeds of trust, satisfactions, releases, easements, plats, maps, covenants and other recorded instruments for property in Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Wake Forest, Garner, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wendell, Zebulon and the rest of Wake County.
This guide explains which Wake County record system to use, how to search by grantor, grantee, book/page, date and map reference, how certified copies work, what fees to expect, where the office is located, and when you should use Tax Administration or the Clerk of Superior Court instead.
Where Is the Wake County Recorder of Deeds?
The Wake County “Recorder of Deeds” is the Wake County Register of Deeds. The main office is listed at Wake County Justice Center, 300 S. Salisbury Street, Suite 1700, Raleigh, NC 27601. The public information phone number is 919-856-5460, and the mailing address is PO Box 1897, Raleigh, NC 27602.
Use Register of Deeds For
Recorded real-estate documents: deeds, deeds of trust, satisfactions, releases, plats, maps, easements, covenants, powers of attorney, assumed business names and certain public records.
Best search details: grantor, grantee, book/page, record date, document type or map book reference.
Use Tax Administration For
Property owner summaries, REID, PIN, assessed value, tax bills, property-tax payments, personal-property listings and appraisal-related questions.
Helpful contact: taxhelp@wake.gov or 919-856-5400 for tax-administration questions.
Use Clerk of Court For
Court cases, estates, probate filings, divorce records, judgments and other court-filed documents. Wake ROD materials also note that wills and divorces are not handled by the Register of Deeds office.
Tip: Do not ask ROD staff to prepare a deed or give legal advice.
Which Wake County Deed Search System Should You Use?
Wake County’s older Books Online / CRPI page says a new Land Records application launched on April 21, 2025. It also states that recorded documents from July 1785 through Thursday, April 17, 2025 remain viewable in the older Books Online system.
| Need | Best Starting System | Search With | Important Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recent recorded document | Wake County Records Management / Land Records application | Name, document details, date or available search fields after accepting the disclaimer. | Use this first for newer documents after the 2025 system change. |
| Older deed, deed of trust, lien, map or plat | Consolidated Real Property Index / Books Online | Grantor, grantee, book/page, document type, date range or map reference. | Older CRPI records cover historic indexed records and document images. |
| Map, subdivision plat or condo map | CRPI map search | Book field with map prefix such as BM, CM or HM plus the year/book reference. | Wake help notes that plats/subdivisions, condos and highways use two-letter designations. |
| Document has been accepted but not fully indexed | Pending Documents area | Pending document search where available. | Use this when a very recent document is expected but not searchable in the normal index yet. |
| Property value or tax bill | Wake County Tax Administration / Real Estate Data | Owner name, REID, PIN, address or account number. | Register of Deeds records and property-tax records answer different questions. |
How to Search Wake County Deeds and Recorded Documents
Wake deed records search best when you use the right name role. For a deed, the grantor is usually the seller and the grantee is usually the buyer. For a mortgage or deed of trust, the grantor may be the debtor/borrower. For older documents, book and page is often the fastest route.
Collect the Property Clues First
Before opening the deed system, collect the owner spelling, prior owner name, business or trust name, property address, REID, PIN, deed date and book/page from the property record, closing papers or tax record.
Start With the New Records Management Application for Recent Documents
Open the Wake County Register of Deeds Records Management application, read the disclaimer, click I Accept, then use the available search fields. The disclaimer reminds users that the index is like a library-card catalog and that name variations matter.
Use CRPI / Books Online for Older Records
For documents recorded before the newer system window, open CRPI. If you have book and page, enter those first. If not, use grantor, grantee, record date, document type, map search or advanced search.
Search Names More Than One Way
Wake’s systems advise searching possible spelling variations. Try surname only, full legal name, initials, middle initial, business name, trust name, LLC name, prior owner, lender and trustee names.
Use Document Type and Date Range to Reduce Noise
If a common name returns too many results, filter by document type such as DEED, D-T, SATISFN, RELEASE, QCD, MAP, COVNTS, EASMT or other relevant category. Add a realistic record-date range if you know the sale or closing date.
Search Maps With the Right Prefix
Wake CRPI help notes that maps may need a two-letter designation in the Book field. Plats and subdivisions use BM, condos use CM, and highways use HM. For example, a subdivision book may need to be entered as BM2023 instead of only 2023.
Open the Document Image, Not Just the Index
The index tells you where a document is recorded, but the image gives the actual recorded instrument. Review names, legal description, parcel reference, book/page, record date, notary acknowledgement and any exhibit pages.
Request a Certified Copy if an Official Copy Is Needed
For lenders, attorneys, agencies or formal transactions, a screen print is often not enough. Use the Wake County recorded-document request process and confirm the exact fee before mailing payment.
What You May See in Wake County Register of Deeds Search Results
Wake deed results are easiest to understand when you know what each field is trying to tell you. The index helps you locate the recorded document; it does not replace the document image or a professional title search.
| Field / Term | What It Usually Means | How to Use It | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grantor | Usually the seller on a deed, borrower/debtor on a mortgage document, or party granting powers in a power of attorney. | Search current owner, prior owner and entity variations. | Searching only the buyer when the document is indexed under seller/borrower names. |
| Grantee | Usually the buyer or recipient of the interest on a deed. | Use this to find the current-owner deed after a sale. | Assuming every grantee result proves current ownership without checking later deeds. |
| Book and Page | The recorded location assigned by the Register of Deeds. | Fastest way to reopen a known deed, deed of trust, map or release. | Typing a map book without its BM, CM or HM prefix when the system expects it. |
| Document Type | Category such as deed, deed of trust, satisfaction, release, easement, covenant or map. | Filter broad searches and identify the document’s role in the chain. | Treating every recorded document as a deed of ownership. |
| Record Date | Date the document was presented/recorded by the Register of Deeds. | Use it to narrow search and compare documents in sequence. | Confusing record date with signing date, closing date or effective date. |
| Legal Description | The property description inside the recorded instrument or exhibit. | Compare it with plats, surveys and tax records when identifying land. | Using only the street address for boundary or title decisions. |
Wake County Deed Recording Fees and Certified Copy Costs
North Carolina register-of-deeds fees are largely set by statewide statute, while Wake County forms explain certified-copy request pricing for recorded documents. Always confirm the final total with the office before mailing payment or presenting a document for recording.
Common Recording Fees
- General instruments: $26 for the first 15 pages, plus $4 for each additional page.
- Deeds of trust and mortgages: $64 for the first 35 pages, plus $4 for each additional page.
- Nonstandard document fee: $25 in addition to other applicable recording fees.
- Multiple instruments in one document may add $10 for each additional instrument.
- Real-estate excise tax is $1 per $500, commonly described as $2 per $1,000, when applicable.
Certified Recorded Copy Fees
- Recorded document certified copy: $5 for the first page.
- Additional pages: $2 per subsequent page.
- Certified maps: Wake’s form states all certified maps are one page and cost $5 per copy.
- Mail requests to Wake County Register of Deeds, PO Box 1897, Raleigh, NC 27602.
- Make checks or money orders payable to Wake County Register of Deeds; do not mail cash.
Certified Copy Cost Estimator
Use this only for Wake County recorded-document copy planning. It does not include delivery, convenience, payment-processing or special handling charges.
Wake County Register of Deeds Office Address, Phone and Arrival Tips
The Register of Deeds office is in downtown Raleigh at the Wake County Justice Center. Bring the exact document title, book/page, record date, party names and your copy/certification needs before visiting or calling.
Wake County Register of Deeds
Physical address:
Wake County Justice Center
300 S. Salisbury Street, Suite 1700
Raleigh, NC 27601
Mailing address:
PO Box 1897
Raleigh, NC 27602
Main phone: 919-856-5460
Fax: 919-856-5467
Published business hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding county holidays.
Open Office Map ↗Before You Record a Deed in Wake County
The Register of Deeds records documents that meet legal and recording requirements; staff generally cannot draft the deed, decide whether it transfers good title, choose the correct legal description, or give legal advice.
Check the Document Basics
- Correct county: the land must be in Wake County.
- Readable black text on white paper.
- Required signatures and acknowledgements.
- Proper legal description and party names.
- Return address and grantee mailing address where required.
Check Money and Taxes
- Recording fee based on document type and page count.
- Excise tax when a deed conveys taxable real property.
- Nonstandard fee if required margins or standards are not met.
- Additional instrument fee if one document combines separate instruments.
Do Not Ask ROD To
- Remove or add a name from a deed without a proper new recorded instrument.
- Prepare a deed for you.
- Tell you whether a deed is legally sufficient.
- Resolve boundary disputes.
- Guarantee that no liens or title issues exist.
Official Wake County Deed Search, Copy Request and Recording Resources
Use these official sources for live searching, copy ordering, fraud-alert registration, office details and statutory fee/recording rules. Each link includes what to do after opening it.
Wake County Register of Deeds — Main Office Page
Official county department page for Register of Deeds services, contact routes and current service links.
- Open the Register of Deeds department page.
- Choose the service that matches your task: real-estate records, vital records, marriage license, notary, passport or recording.
- Confirm the current location, hours and submission method before visiting.
- Use the county link instead of a third-party paid document website.
Wake County Records Management / Land Records Application
Use this newer Wake County records application first for current land-record searches after the 2025 system change.
- Read the disclaimer carefully.
- Click I Accept if you agree to the terms.
- Search using exact and alternate party names.
- Open the document image or details, not only the index result.
- Save the book/page, instrument details and record date for copy requests.
Wake County CRPI / Books Online
Older Consolidated Real Property Index system for recorded documents, historic deed searches, maps and book/page lookups.
- Use book and page first if you already have them.
- If not, search grantor, grantee, date range or document type.
- Use fewer characters for broad name searches when exact searches fail.
- For maps, try BM, CM or HM before the map book number/year when applicable.
- Open the PDF or document viewer and confirm the actual recorded document.
Wake CRPI Help — How to Search
Official help page explaining book/page search, name search, date search, document type search, map search and advanced search.
- Read the book/page search explanation first.
- Review the alternate search methods if no result appears.
- Use the help section when your browser blocks a document viewer or pop-up window.
- Apply Wake’s name-variation guidance before assuming a record does not exist.
Wake County Document Recording Alert
Free monitoring tool that can email you when a document is recorded under a monitored individual or business name.
- Enter and confirm your email address.
- Select individual or business name; trusts must be entered as business names.
- Add name variations, including middle initials or alternate spellings.
- Agree to the terms and submit the registration.
- Remember this is a monitoring notice tool, not a title-insurance or fraud-prevention guarantee.
North Carolina Register of Deeds Fee Statute
State law setting uniform register-of-deeds fees for many recording and filing services.
- Use your browser’s find tool and search for 161-10.
- Review the current statewide fee categories before calculating a recording total.
- Search for 161-14 to review recording standards.
- Confirm the final fee with Wake County if your document has unusual pages, multiple instruments or nonstandard formatting.
Why a Wake County Deed Search Fails
Most failed searches are caused by name format, wrong system, missing book/page prefix, too much address detail or misunderstanding which office holds the record.
| Problem | Likely Cause | Try This | Office to Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| No result for a recent deed | You are searching the older Books Online system for a newer record. | Open the newer Records Management / Land Records application. | Register of Deeds |
| Too many name results | Common surname, business entity, trust or multiple owners. | Add record date, document type, first initial, middle initial, book/page or grantee/grantor role. | Register of Deeds |
| No result for a map | Missing Wake map prefix. | Try BM for subdivision/plat, CM for condo map or HM for highway map before the book reference. | Register of Deeds |
| Property address finds tax record but not deed | Deed systems usually index by parties and recording data, not normal street-address search. | Use the tax property record to copy owner name, deed date and book/page, then search ROD. | Tax Administration + Register of Deeds |
| Document image will not open | Browser pop-up, viewer or PDF issue. | Use CRPI help, allow pop-ups for the official domain, try PDF view or another browser. | Register of Deeds information desk |
| Need to remove a person from a deed | ROD cannot simply edit ownership from a phone request. | Consult a North Carolina real-estate attorney about the proper recorded instrument. | Attorney + Register of Deeds for recording |
What Should You Do Next?
If You Are Looking for a Deed
Start with the new Land Records application for recent records. For older documents, use CRPI / Books Online. Search both grantor and grantee names, then open the actual document image.
If You Need a Certified Copy
Save the document type, book/page, record date and party names. Use the Wake County recorded-document request process and calculate the certified-copy fee before mailing a check or money order.
If You Need Owner, Value or Tax Data
Use Wake County Tax Administration rather than the Register of Deeds. Tax records identify REID, PIN, assessed value, tax bills and property-account details; ROD records show recorded instruments.
If the Deed Looks Wrong
Do not ask the Register of Deeds to “fix” title by phone. If names, legal description, estate transfer, divorce transfer or ownership language is wrong, speak with a qualified North Carolina attorney.
Wake County Recorder of Deeds FAQs
What is the Wake County Recorder of Deeds called?
In North Carolina, the office is called the Wake County Register of Deeds. Many people search for “Wake County Recorder of Deeds,” but the official county office name is Register of Deeds.
Where is the Wake County Register of Deeds office?
The main office is at the Wake County Justice Center, 300 S. Salisbury Street, Suite 1700, Raleigh, NC 27601. The mailing address is PO Box 1897, Raleigh, NC 27602.
How do I search Wake County deed records online?
Use the Wake County Records Management / Land Records application for newer records and the CRPI / Books Online system for older records. Search by grantor, grantee, book/page, document type, record date or map reference.
What changed with Wake County land records in 2025?
Wake’s older Books Online page says the county launched a new Land Records application on April 21, 2025. It also says recorded documents from July 1785 through April 17, 2025 remain viewable in the older Books Online system.
Can I search Wake County deeds by property address?
Deed systems are usually strongest for party names, book/page, document type and date. If you only have an address, first use Wake County Tax Administration or Real Estate Data to find owner spelling, REID, PIN and deed book/page, then search the Register of Deeds records.
How much is a certified copy of a Wake County recorded document?
Wake’s recorded-document request form lists certified recorded-copy pricing as $5 for the first page plus $2 for each subsequent page. It also says certified maps are one page and cost $5 per copy.
How do I search Wake County plats or maps?
Use CRPI map search and include the correct map prefix when needed. Wake help says plats/subdivisions use BM, condos use CM and highways use HM in the Book field.
Does the Wake County Register of Deeds prove clear title?
No. Recorded documents and indexes are research tools. They do not replace a title search, title insurance, attorney review or survey. For buying, selling, refinancing, estate transfers or lien questions, use a qualified professional.
Can Wake County Register of Deeds staff prepare my deed?
No. Register of Deeds staff record documents that meet recording requirements, but they cannot draft deeds, choose legal language, decide ownership rights or give legal advice. Contact a North Carolina real-estate attorney for deed preparation.
Is this website the official Wake County Register of Deeds website?
No. County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent educational resource. Always verify live record searches, fees, office hours, document requirements and copy procedures with Wake County Register of Deeds or the appropriate official agency.
Independent Educational Guide
County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with Wake County Government, the Wake County Register of Deeds, Wake County Tax Administration, the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts or the North Carolina General Assembly.
Recorded documents, certified copies, recording acceptance, ownership changes, tax records, fees, filing standards and legal effects are determined by official agencies, statutes, courts and qualified professionals. This page is not legal, financial, tax, title or real-estate advice.
Public property and recorded-document information should not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or other regulated consumer-reporting purposes. This website is not a Consumer Reporting Agency.