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Johnston County, North Carolina public records

In Johnston County, deeds are recorded by the Johnston County Register of Deeds; property values come from the Johnston County Tax Administration Office; court files are kept by the Johnston County Clerk of Superior Court.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Where to get each record
  2. Deeds and land records
  3. Property values, owners and tax bills
  4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
  5. Marriage records
  6. Divorce records
  7. Birth certificates
  8. Death certificates
  9. Probate records and wills
  10. Business names (DBA)
  11. Voter records
  12. Historical records
  13. Good to know about Johnston County records
  14. Office addresses, phones and hours
  15. Questions people ask
  16. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  17. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsJohnston County Register of Deeds4Search deeds2$0.10 per page; $1.00 minimum processing fee by mail; plats $1.00 per page3
Property values and ownersJohnston County Tax Administration Office4Property search5—
Property tax billsJohnston County Tax Administration Office, Collections5Tax bill search5—
Court casesJohnston County Clerk of Superior Court, Criminal6
Johnston County Clerk of Superior Court, Civil6		Superior Court7
District Court8		Copies: $2.00 first page, $0.25 each additional page9
Marriage recordsJohnston County Register of Deeds4——
Divorce recordsJohnston County Clerk of Superior Court, Domestic6—Copies: $2.00 first page, $0.25 each additional page (general clerk copy fee)9
Birth certificatesJohnston County Register of Deeds, Vital Records11—Certified $10.00; uncertified $0.10; $1.00 minimum for mail requests10
Death certificatesJohnston County Register of Deeds, Vital Records11—Died in Johnston County: certified $10.00, uncertified $0.1012
Probate and willsJohnston County Clerk of Superior Court, Estates6—$2.00 first page, $0.25 each additional page9
Business names (DBA)Johnston County Register of Deeds4——

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Johnston County are recorded by the Johnston County Register of Deeds.4

Copy fee
$0.10 per page; $1.00 minimum processing fee by mail; plats $1.00 per page3
Certified copy fee
$5.00 first page, $2.00 each additional page3
How to order
Print from the website, visit the office, mail a written request with book and page, payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope, or ask for email13

How deeds work in North Carolina

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Johnston County Tax Administration Office sets property values4; the Johnston County Tax Administration Office, Collections bills and collects the tax5.

Tax bill search
my.johnstonnc.gov5
Appealing a value
Tax Administration, P.O. Box 368. Latest visible text: 2026 real property appeals begin February 202615

How property tax works in North Carolina

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Superior Court (District 13)Not itemized; the clerk lists Civil, Criminal, Domestic, Estates and Special Proceedings sectionsJohnston County Clerk of Superior Court, Criminalportal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal7
District Court (District 12)Not itemized; the clerk lists Civil, Criminal and Domestic sectionsJohnston County Clerk of Superior Court, Civilcalendars.nccourts.org/results8
Fees
Copies: $2.00 first page, $0.25 each additional page9

How North Carolina courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the Johnston County Register of Deeds.4

Marriage license
$60.00; by appointment; both applicants appear with photo ID; valid 60 days16
Copy
Certified copy $10.00; uncertified $0.1011

North Carolina marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Clerk of Superior Court, not the Register of Deeds12

Fee
Copies: $2.00 first page, $0.25 each additional page (general clerk copy fee)9

North Carolina divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Kept by the Johnston County Register of Deeds, Vital Records.11

Fee
Certified $10.00; uncertified $0.10; $1.00 minimum for mail requests10
Out of county
Born anywhere in NC on or after 1/1/1971 and not adopted: $24.00 first copy, $15.00 each additional12
Who may order
Self, spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, great-grandparent, great-grandchild, step-parent, step-child, or their attorney or legal agent10
Adopted
State Office of Vital Records, 919-733-352610

Ordering a North Carolina birth certificate

Death certificates

Kept by the Johnston County Register of Deeds, Vital Records.11

Fee
Died in Johnston County: certified $10.00, uncertified $0.1012
Out of county
Death in NC after 2022: $24.00 first copy, $15.00 each additional12

Ordering a North Carolina death certificate

Probate records and wills

Clerk of Superior Court; a will becomes public record when filed after death17

Copy fee
$2.00 first page, $0.25 each additional page9

Finding a will or probate case in North Carolina

Business names (DBA)

Kept by the Johnston County Register of Deeds.4

Voter records

Board of Elections Data Services page18

Historical records

Kept by the Johnston County Heritage Center.19

Collections
Heritage Center online collections: census, marriage, birth, soldier, voter registration and cemetery records19

Good to know about Johnston County records

  • Register of Deeds issues NC birth certificates statewide from 1971 and NC death certificates from after 202210
  • Free fraud alert for property filings, FraudGuard2
  • Military discharges are closed to the public; filing and certified copies are free12
  • Register searches by name, not address; the tax office takes address questions13
  • Sensitive data such as a Social Security number can be removed from online images on request12
  • Liens and judgments are at the Clerk of Superior Court, not the Register13

Office addresses, phones and hours

Johnston County Register of Deeds

Address
Johnston County Courthouse, 207 E. Johnston Street, Suite 209, Smithfield, NC 275772
Mail
Vital records mail: P.O. Box 118, Smithfield, NC 2757710
Phone
919-989-5160 main; 919-989-5161 vitals2
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., excluding county holidays; real estate and vital records counters to 4:45 p.m.; marriage licenses by appointment to 4:30 p.m.2

Johnston County Register of Deeds, Vital Records

Address
Johnston County Courthouse, first floor, Smithfield10
Mail
P.O. Box 118, Smithfield, NC 2757710
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:45 p.m., no appointment2

Johnston County Tax Administration Office

Address
207 E. Johnston Street, Smithfield, NC 275775
Mail
Administration: P.O. Box 368, Smithfield, NC 275775
Phone
919-989-5130; fax 919-989-56145

Johnston County Tax Administration Office, Collections

Address
207 E. Johnston Street, Smithfield, NC 275775
Mail
Collections: P.O. Box 451, Smithfield, NC 275775

Johnston County Clerk of Superior Court, Criminal

Address
207 E Johnston St, Smithfield, NC 2757720
Mail
PO Box 297, Smithfield, NC 2757720
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM20

Johnston County Clerk of Superior Court, Civil

Address
207 E Johnston St, Smithfield, NC 2757720
Mail
PO Box 297, Smithfield, NC 2757720
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM20

Johnston County Clerk of Superior Court, Estates

Address
207 E Johnston St, Smithfield, NC 2757720
Mail
PO Box 297, Smithfield, NC 2757720
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM20

Johnston County Clerk of Superior Court, Domestic

Address
207 E Johnston St, Smithfield, NC 2757720
Mail
PO Box 297, Smithfield, NC 2757720
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM20

Johnston County Sheriff's Office

Address
2875 US-70 BUS E, Smithfield, NC21
Mail
P.O. Box 1809, Smithfield, NC 2757721
Phone
919-989-5010 (office); non-emergency 919-989-500021
Website
jcso.org4

Johnston County Board of Elections

Address
205 S. Second Street, Smithfield, NC 2757722
Mail
P.O. Box 1172, Smithfield, NC 2757722
Phone
919-989-5095; fax 919-989-514222
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., excluding county holidays22

Johnston County Geographic Information Systems Department

Address
108 E. Johnston St, Smithfield, NC 2757714
Mail
P.O. Box 1373, Smithfield, NC 2757714
Phone
919-989-5153; fax 919-989-562814

Johnston County Heritage Center

Address
241 East Market Street, Smithfield, NC 2757719

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Johnston County?

The Johnston County Register of Deeds keeps deed records. To order copies: Print from the website, visit the office, mail a written request with book and page, payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope, or ask for email. Plain copies: $0.10 per page; $1.00 minimum processing fee by mail; plats $1.00 per page. Certified copies: $5.00 first page, $2.00 each additional page.4133

How much is a birth certificate in Johnston County?

Certified $10.00; uncertified $0.10; $1.00 minimum for mail requests.10

Where do I get a divorce decree in Johnston County?

Clerk of Superior Court, not the Register of Deeds.12

How do I look up who owns a property in Johnston County?

Use the property search of the Johnston County Tax Administration Office: bttaxpayerportal.com/itspublicjo5

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Johnston County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties in North Carolina with a full guide: Alamance County, Brunswick County, Buncombe County, Cabarrus County, Catawba County, Cleveland County, Craven County, Cumberland County, Davidson County, Durham County, Forsyth County, Gaston County, Guilford County, Harnett County, Henderson County, Iredell County, Mecklenburg County, Moore County, New Hanover County, Orange County, Pitt County, Randolph County, Robeson County, Rowan County, Wake County, Wayne County. Every county in the state: North Carolina county list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026
  2. Register of Deeds OfficeJohnston County, NCchecked November 7, 2026
  3. Fee Schedule (Register of Deeds)Johnston County, NCchecked November 7, 2026
  4. Johnston County Government home pageJohnston County, NCchecked November 7, 2026
  5. Tax AdministrationJohnston County, NCchecked November 7, 2026
  6. Johnston County Contact DirectoryNorth Carolina Judicial Branchchecked November 7, 2026
  7. Criminal Background Check | North Carolina Judicial BranchNorth Carolina Judicial Branchchecked November 7, 2026
  8. Johnston County (court location page)North Carolina Judicial Branchchecked November 7, 2026
  9. G.S. 7A-308NC General Assemblychecked November 7, 2026
  10. Birth RecordsJohnston County, NCchecked November 7, 2026
  11. Vital Records (Register of Deeds)Johnston County, NCchecked November 7, 2026
  12. Register of Deeds FAQsJohnston County, NCchecked November 7, 2026
  13. Land Record InformationJohnston County, NCchecked November 7, 2026
  14. Geographic Information Systems DepartmentJohnston County, NCchecked November 7, 2026
  15. Appealing Tax ValuesJohnston County, NCchecked November 7, 2026
  16. Marriage LicensesJohnston County, NCchecked November 7, 2026
  17. Estates | North Carolina Judicial BranchNorth Carolina Judicial Branchchecked November 7, 2026
  18. Board of ElectionsJohnston County, NCchecked November 7, 2026
  19. Johnston County Heritage CenterJohnston County, NCchecked November 7, 2026
  20. Johnston County CourthouseNorth Carolina Judicial Branchchecked November 7, 2026
  21. Johnston County Sheriff's Office home pageJohnston County Sheriff's Office (linked from johnstonnc.gov)checked November 7, 2026
  22. How to Contact the Elections OfficeJohnston County, NCchecked November 7, 2026
  23. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026