North Carolina deed forms
Find the right North Carolina real estate form
Choose a category below, then select your form type and the county where the property is located.
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- 1Choose a form category and document type.
- 2Select the county where the property is located.
- 3Download the county-specific form package.
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Quitclaim Deed
Transfer whatever interest the grantor may have, without title warranties.
Special Warranty Deed
Transfer property with warranties limited to the grantor's ownership period.
Administrator Deed
2 optionsTransfer estate property through an administrator.
Certificate of Trust
Certify the existence of a trust and the trustee authority to act, in place of recording the full trust. Includes certification of trust and trustee certificate formats.
Executor Deed
2 optionsTransfer estate property through an executor.
Personal Representative Deed
Transfer estate property through a court-appointed personal representative.
Affidavit of Heirship
2 optionsDocument heirs and succession facts after a property owner's death.
Affidavit of Survivorship
Establish the surviving co-owner's title after an owner's death.
Mineral Deed
2 optionsTransfer mineral, oil, gas, or other subsurface rights in real property.
Release of Deed of Trust / Full Reconveyance
Release a paid deed of trust from title by reconveyance, release, satisfaction, or cancellation.
Partial Release of Mortgage / Deed of Trust
Release part of the secured property from a mortgage or deed of trust lien.
Substitution of Trustee (Deed of Trust)
Replace the trustee named in an existing deed of trust.
Land Contract/Contract for Deed
Document a seller-financed installment purchase arrangement.
Memorandum of Contract for Deed
2 optionsRecord notice of a contract for deed or land contract, and release that memorandum, without recording the full agreement.
Easement Deed
2 optionsGrant or define a right to use another parcel for a specific purpose.
Assignment of Deed of Trust
Transfer a lender's interest in a deed of trust to another party.
Lis Pendens
2 optionsGive public notice of litigation affecting real property title.
Mechanics Lien
2 optionsClaim payment rights for qualifying construction labor or materials, including lien claims, amendments, assignments, and supporting enforcement documents.
Construction Notice
3 optionsPreliminary, commencement, completion, furnishing, and other statutory notices used in the construction lien process.
Construction Lien Waiver
4 optionsWaive mechanics lien rights in exchange for progress or final payment on construction work.
Power of Attorney
2 optionsAuthorize another person to act in a real estate transaction.
North Carolina Real Estate Deeds
Forms of Conveyance and Ownership
Deeds conveying real estate in North Carolina may take the form of general warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, or other commonly accepted forms. Any individual of lawful age and any corporation with legal capacity may acquire and convey real property. Aliens are permitted to take, hold, and convey land in the same manner as citizens (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 64-1).
North Carolina recognizes tenancy by the entirety for married couples. When property is held as tenants by the entirety, both spouses have equal rights of control, use, possession, income, and profits from the property (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 39-13.6). Any conveyance affecting the estate of a married person must be executed by both spouses and properly acknowledged or proved (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 39-7).
Execution and Acknowledgment
A deed must be signed by the grantor and either acknowledged by the grantor or proved on oath by one or more witnesses before it may be presented for registration (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 47-17). North Carolina requires strict compliance with acknowledgment statutes. A properly completed acknowledgment in statutory form is sufficient to satisfy notarial requirements (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 47-38).
In addition to proper execution and acknowledgment, deeds must comply with formatting and indexing standards set forth in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 161-14 before the register of deeds may accept them for recording.
Recording and Priority
Deeds, contracts to convey, options to convey, and leases for more than three years must be registered in the county where the land lies in order to be effective against lien creditors and purchasers for value (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 47-18). If the property spans more than one county, the instrument must be registered in each county to affect title there.
North Carolina follows a true race recording statute. Priority is determined strictly by the order of registration. Even if a subsequent purchaser has actual notice of an earlier unrecorded conveyance, the first instrument recorded will prevail. If instruments are recorded simultaneously, priority is determined by document number or sequential book and page reference as provided by statute.
Because North Carolina relies on strict writing requirements, spousal execution for tenancy by the entirety property, and a pure race recording system, careful compliance with execution and prompt registration are essential to protect ownership rights.
Important: County-Specific Forms
After selecting your document type, you'll need to choose the specific county where your property is located. Each county in North Carolina has unique formatting requirements that must be followed for successful recording.
Common Uses
- Transfer property between family members
- Add or remove names from property titles
- Transfer property into or out of trusts
- Correct errors in previously recorded deeds
- Gift property to others
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