Buncombe County Register of Deeds Records

Buncombe County Register of Deeds Office

The Register of Deeds sits at 205 College Street in downtown Asheville, a short walk from the Buncombe County Courthouse at 60 Court Plaza. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. The office has a public search room open during those same hours. For parking, Register of Deeds staff can validate up to one hour at the 164 College Street parking deck across from the courthouse, which makes it easy to handle both land-record and court-record business on the same trip.

The office runs four phone lines so callers can reach the right desk quickly. The Help Desk handles general questions. Vital Records handles birth, death, and marriage certificates. The Recording Department handles deed submissions and related filings. A Spanish-language line is also available. Documents submitted to the Recording Department by 4:45 PM on a business day are recorded the same day, so timing matters if you need same-day confirmation of a recording.

The office asks that visitors not expect staff to give legal advice or supply legal forms. If you need guidance on drafting a deed or a deed of trust, that is a matter for a licensed attorney. The Register records what is submitted and provides copies. It does not review documents for legal sufficiency beyond the basic statutory requirements for recording.

The county also provides an online contact form through its CivicPlus platform for general feedback, questions, and suggestions when calling is not convenient. The form collects a name, email address, a free-text message field, and an optional rating. Staff can also be reached through the main Help Desk number during business hours for anything time-sensitive.

What Buncombe County Register of Deeds Records Include

The Register handles a wide range of instruments, most of them tied to real property or personal status. Real estate deeds are the most common filing. Deeds of trust, sometimes called mortgages, record lien interests against property. Plats record the survey and subdivision of land. Assumed business names, also known as DBAs, give public notice of who is behind a trade name. UCC financing statements record security interests in personal property under the Uniform Commercial Code. Notary oaths and notary certifications are also recorded here. Military discharge documents (DD-214 forms) are accepted for recording and are kept with restricted access because of the sensitive personal information they contain.

Vital records are the other major category. The office issues certified birth certificates, certified death certificates, and certified marriage certificates for Buncombe County vital events. These are not just reference copies. Certified vital records carry legal weight and are required for government benefits, passports, name changes, and estate matters. Access to certified records is restricted. Anyone can view or purchase a copy of most filed records, but certified birth, death, and marriage certificates are limited to the person named, immediate family members, an authorized agent, or a legal representative.

The online deed database extends to the late 1700s, making it one of the most historically complete county land-record resources in Western North Carolina. Genealogy researchers use the Register's records regularly for this reason. The public search room at 205 College Street is open during regular business hours for anyone who wants to search in person.

Note: Military discharges (DD-214) are recorded at the Register but are not open to general public access due to the private information they contain.

Buncombe County Register of Deeds Online Record Lookup

The Buncombe County Register of Deeds online records portal is the main tool for searching real estate and other recorded instruments from home. The portal covers deeds, deeds of trust, plats, assumed business names, UCC filings, and other recorded documents. The deed index goes back to the late 1700s, though images of the oldest documents may be scans of handwritten instruments and vary in legibility.

The county's Register of Deeds page links to the portal and explains the general search options. For vital records such as certified birth and marriage certificates, a separate Personal Records Purchase website handles online orders.

The image below comes from the Register of Deeds website, which is the starting point for online deed searches and remote access to Buncombe County property records.

The portal gives access to instruments recorded since the late 1700s, so both recent and historical Buncombe County land records can be found through the same search interface.

If an online search does not find what you need, the public search room at 205 College Street offers in-person access to the full index during regular hours. Staff at the Help Desk can assist with general questions about how to navigate the records, but they cannot interpret documents or advise on legal matters.

Records the Register of Deeds Does NOT Keep

A common source of confusion in Buncombe County is which office handles which records. The Register of Deeds handles land and vital records. It does not keep court records of any kind. Divorce records are court records. They are filed with and maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court at 60 Court Plaza, not the Register of Deeds. The Register's own FAQ specifically directs any question about divorce records to the Clerk of Court at (828) 259-3400.

Probate and estate records are also court records held by the Clerk. In North Carolina, the Clerk of Superior Court serves as judge of probate. That means wills, estate administration files, guardianship proceedings, and related matters are all at the courthouse, not at 205 College Street. For a full overview of what the Clerk handles in probate, see the Buncombe County probate records page.

Court case records of all kinds, including civil disputes, criminal charges, and family-court orders, are searched through the Buncombe County court records system and the NC eCourts Portal. The Register does not index those files and cannot assist with court case queries.

Buncombe County Register of Deeds Fee Schedule

Recording fees and copy fees at the Register of Deeds are set under N.C.G.S. 161-10, the statute governing Register of Deeds fees statewide. The table below lists the current fees for the most common transactions at the Buncombe County office. These fees apply whether you file in person or by mail. Card payments for vital record certificate purchases carry a $2 service charge in addition to the certificate fee.

The county's general fees page lists current rates for a range of county services. Always confirm fees before arriving because rate changes go into effect with little public notice on fee pages.

Marriage Licenses at the Buncombe County Register of Deeds

Marriage licenses are issued at 205 College Street from 8 AM to 4:30 PM on business days. Both parties must appear in person. The fee is $60. There is no waiting period after the license is issued. Once issued, the license is valid for 60 days and can be used anywhere in North Carolina. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the completed license to the Register of Deeds within 10 days.

Both parties need a valid photo ID and a Social Security card. If someone has never been issued a Social Security number, the office provides an affidavit to sign and notarize on-site. If the actual Social Security card is not available, a document showing the full 9-digit SSN, such as a W-2 or tax form, is accepted as a substitute. Applicants can fill out the online marriage license pre-application from home before coming in, but that pre-application does not replace the in-person appearance requirement. Both parties must still appear together at the Register of Deeds counter.

The Register of Deeds FAQ page answers common questions about marriage licenses, certified records, and what the office does and does not keep. The image below is from that FAQ page, which covers eligibility, documentation, and fee questions for marriage services.

That FAQ page also covers civil ceremony options and where to go for divorce records, which are a common mix-up for people who think the Register handles all marriage and family matters.

For more on marriage and divorce records in Buncombe County, including how to search divorce case files through the Clerk of Superior Court, see the Buncombe County marriage and divorce records page.

Note: A marriage license is not the same as a certified marriage certificate. The license is issued before the ceremony; the certified certificate is obtained after the marriage is recorded.

Civil Marriage Ceremonies in Buncombe County

Civil ceremonies performed by a magistrate are available at the Buncombe County Courthouse on Fridays from 9 AM to 2:30 PM in Courtroom 2D on the second floor. Booking is handled through Microsoft Bookings and is available from 9 AM to noon, up to 90 days in advance. After 12:30 PM on Fridays, ceremonies are walk-in and first-come, first-served.

Parties must bring two copies of the signed marriage license, $50 cash or money order in exact change (the magistrate cannot make change), and two witnesses who are at least 18 years old. Magistrates are also available 24 hours a day at the Buncombe County Detention Center on 20 Davidson Drive for parties who need a ceremony outside regular courthouse hours.

Certified Vital Records From the Buncombe County Register of Deeds

Birth, death, and marriage certificates are all kept by the Register of Deeds for Buncombe County vital events. Anyone can view or get an uncertified copy of most filed records in the office. Certified copies are a different matter. The Register's FAQ says certified birth, death, and marriage records are issued only to the person named in the record, immediate family members, an authorized agent, or a legal representative. If you do not fall into one of those categories, you can view the record but you cannot get a certified copy.

Certified records can be requested three ways: in person at 205 College Street, online through the Personal Records Purchase website, or by mail. For a mail request, send a copy of valid photo ID, a check or money order, a completed Vital Records Request Form, and a stamped self-addressed envelope to the Register of Deeds at 205 College Street, Asheville, NC 28801. The certified certificate fee is $10 per document. Card payments carry an additional $2 service charge.

Starting in 2026, adoptive birth certificates became available for adults whose original birth records were amended after adoption. The Register of Deeds can provide information about what documents are required to request an adoptive birth certificate and the current process for obtaining one.

For public records questions that go beyond what the Register holds, including how to submit a formal open records request to other county offices, the public records page covers the North Carolina Public Records Law framework and the request process.

How to Record a Document at the Buncombe County Register of Deeds

Recording a deed, deed of trust, or other instrument in Buncombe County follows a straightforward path. The Recording Department at 205 College Street accepts in-person submissions during business hours. Documents submitted by 4:45 PM are recorded the same business day. Mail submissions are also accepted. Make checks payable to the Buncombe County Register of Deeds and include the correct recording fee for the document type and page count.

1. Prepare the document. It must meet North Carolina statutory requirements for the instrument type. If it is a deed, it should include the grantor and grantee names, a legal description of the property, and be notarized. The Register of Deeds does not draft documents or review them for legal sufficiency beyond basic recording requirements.
2. Calculate the recording fee using the fee schedule above. Deeds are $26 for the first 15 pages plus $4 for each page after that. Deeds of trust are $64 for the first 35 pages plus $4 per additional page. Party names over 20 add $2 each.
3. Bring or mail the original document and payment to the Recording Department at 205 College Street, Asheville, NC 28801. Call the Recording line at (828) 250-4302 with questions before arriving.
4. Submit before 4:45 PM if you need same-day recording. Documents received after that time are recorded the next business day.
5. After recording, the office returns the original document by mail unless you arrange to pick it up. The recorded instrument becomes part of the public index and is searchable in the online portal.

Nonstandard documents carry a $25 surcharge in addition to the per-page recording fee. A document is nonstandard if it does not meet state requirements for paper size, margins, font, or other formatting standards.

Buncombe County Register of Deeds Portal and Public Access

The Buncombe County Register of Deeds main page serves as the hub for all services, linking to the online records portal, the marriage license pre-application, vital record ordering, the fee schedule, and the FAQ. The image below shows the Register of Deeds page on the county's official website.

That page is also where the office posts updates about service changes, form revisions, and any temporary changes to hours or access.

Records in the public domain are available to anyone without a stated reason. North Carolina law does not require you to explain why you want access to a public record. The Register keeps the index open for in-person searches at 205 College Street during business hours, and the online portal extends that access around the clock for most instrument types. The only records with restricted access at the Register are military discharges and certified vital records (where eligibility limits apply, as described above).

For questions about what a recorded document means legally, whether a lien has been satisfied, or how to address a title issue, an attorney is the right resource. The Register staff cannot give legal advice. For broader questions about Buncombe County records, the public records page covers the legal framework and how to request records from other county offices.

Related Buncombe County Records and Offices

The Register of Deeds is one of two main record-keeping offices in Buncombe County. The other is the Clerk of Superior Court at 60 Court Plaza. The Clerk keeps all court records, including divorce files, criminal case records, civil case files, probate and estate matters, and guardianship proceedings. If what you need is a court document of any kind, the Clerk is the right office.

Probate in Buncombe County is a clerk function, not a Register of Deeds function. The Clerk serves as judge of probate and handles will probation, estate administration, and related special proceedings. Full details are on the Buncombe County probate records page. Divorce records are also at the Clerk, not the Register. The Buncombe County marriage and divorce records page covers both offices and explains which records each one holds.

For court case lookups, the NC eCourts Portal is the main public search tool. That system, its search fields, and what it shows are covered on the Buncombe County court records page. For the public records law framework, including how to file a formal open records request and what the state statute requires of custodians, see the public records page.