Recorder Office
Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.
Pender County Register of Deeds
About the Pender County Register of Deeds
Land records in Pender County are recorded by the Register of Deeds. The office is held by Sharon Lear Willoughby.
Pender County real estate records go back to 1875.
Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: G.S. 161-10 Uniform fees of registers of deeds · Staff Directory • Register of Deeds · Frequently Asked Questions
Recording Fees
These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.
| Deeds and other conveyances | $26.00 for the first 15 pages, $4.00 each additional page (Instruments in general) |
|---|---|
| Mortgages and deeds of trust | $64.00 for the first 35 pages, $4.00 each additional page (Deeds of trust and mortgages) |
| Releases and satisfactions | $0.00 flat (Satisfaction or cancellation of deed of trust or mortgage) |
| Other standard documents | $26.00 for the first 15 pages, $4.00 each additional page (Instruments in general) |
Other charges
| Document that does not meet the formatting standards | $25.00 per document when Document not in compliance with the recording standards adopted under G.S. 161-14(b), in addition to all other applicable recording fees |
|---|---|
| Additional names indexed | $2.00 each beyond the 20 included (Per party listed in excess of 20) |
| Additional references or marginal notations | $10.00 each beyond the 1 included (Assignments of more than one security instrument, per additional reference) |
| Copies, per page | $0.25 |
| Certification | $5.00 |
Fee schedule effective January 30, 2020.
StatewideFees are uniform throughout the State and are complete and exclusive. A document consisting of multiple instruments is charged an additional $10.00 for each additional instrument; a deed of trust or mortgage containing additional instruments is charged $10.00 for each additional instrument. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page plus $2.00 for each additional page. Plats are $21.00 per sheet or page. Uncertified copy fees are set by each register of deeds and must be uniform and prominently posted. Fees are collected prior to filing or registration.
Maps (plats) must be 18"x24" or 24"x36" on mylar, $21.00 per page. D.O.T. right-of-way plans: $21.00 for the first page, $5.00 each additional page. Copy of a map: $5.00 each page.
Paying the office
| Accepted | Credit card |
|---|
MasterCard and Visa accepted for all vital transactions and most real estate transactions.
Transfer tax
Excise tax on instruments conveying real property. One dollar ($1.00) on each five hundred dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof of the consideration or value of the interest conveyed. The tax is collected when the document is recorded. (statewide, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 105-228.30(a))
StatewideThe excise tax is paid to the register of deeds of the county in which the real estate is located before recording the instrument of conveyance; for a parcel lying in two or more counties, it is paid in the county in which the greater part of the real estate with respect to value lies. The tax applies to timber deeds and contracts for the sale of standing timber. Some counties levy their own land transfer tax under local acts; those are stated on the local office's page.
Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: G.S. 161-10 Uniform fees of registers of deeds · G.S. 105-228.30 Imposition of excise tax · Fee Schedule | Pender County, NC · General Information | Pender County, NC
Document Requirements
Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.
| Paper size | 8.5 x 11 inches or 8.5 x 14 inches (statewide, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 161-14(b)(1)) |
|---|---|
| First page top margin | 3 in (statewide, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 161-14(b)(2)) |
| Other margins | 0.5 in (statewide, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 161-14(b)(2)) |
| Minimum type size | 9 pt (statewide, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 161-14(b)(3)) |
| Ink and paper | Typed or printed in black on white paper in a legible font; blanks may be completed and corrections made in pen (statewide, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 161-14(b)(3)) |
| Single sided pages required | Yes (statewide, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 161-14(b)(4)) |
StatewideThe type of instrument must be stated at the top of the first page. Instruments presented on paper that do not meet the standards are registered after collection of the nonstandard document fee; a register of deeds may waive that fee for print smaller than 9 points if the instrument is legible. The standards do not apply to instruments conforming to G.S. 25-9-521 or certified copies of court-filed documents.
Submitting documents
| In person | Accepted |
|---|---|
| By mail | Accepted |
| Electronic recording | Accepted |
| Processing time | eRecording: the recording information and a stamped image are returned within minutes. |
Documents are recorded 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; customers who wish to record must be in the recording line by 4:30 p.m. eRecordings are processed 8 am to 4:30 pm on days the office is open, not on weekends or County holidays. FedEx or UPS shipments use the physical address.
Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: G.S. 161-14 Registration of instruments · General Information | Pender County, NC · Hours and Recording Cutoff Times | Pender County, NC · Electronic Recording in Pender County
Deeds.com Resources & Services
Using Deeds.com is optional. Contact the recorder's office directly for its services and submission options.
How to Get a Copy of Your Deed
Read Deeds.com's guide to requesting document copies from the recorder's office.
Deeds.com eRecording
Not available through Deeds.com
Deeds.com does not currently offer eRecording in Pender County. Contact the recorder's office about its submission options.
Recorder Office
Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.
Pender County Register of Deeds
Deeds.com Forms
Blank legal forms sold by Deeds.com, not by the recorder's office.
Supplemental Document Resources
Recording-related forms and instructions for reference. Confirm which documents apply with the recorder's office.
Deeds.com Customer Care
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