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New Hanover County, North Carolina public records

In New Hanover County, deeds are recorded by the New Hanover County Register of Deeds; property values come from the New Hanover County Tax Department; court files are kept by the New Hanover 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 New Hanover County records
  14. Office addresses, phones and hours
  15. Records that are not online: public records requests
  16. Questions people ask
  17. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  18. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsNew Hanover County Register of Deeds5Search deeds23Free search$0.25 per page; maps uncertified $0.25 (8.5x11), $1.00 (11x17), $3.00 (18x24), $5.00 (24x36) per page4
Property values and ownersNew Hanover County Tax Department6Property search6—
Property tax billsNew Hanover County Tax Department6Tax bill search6—
Court casesNew Hanover County Clerk of Superior Court7North Carolina Superior and District Court, New Hanover County7Copies: $2.00 first page of each document, $0.25 each additional page (statewide statute, G.S. 7A-308)8
Marriage recordsNew Hanover County Register of Deeds5——
Divorce recordsNew Hanover County Clerk of Superior Court7——
Birth certificatesNew Hanover County Register of Deeds9—$10.00 per certified copy; $.25 uncertified; by mail add $1 postage9
Death certificatesNew Hanover County Register of Deeds9—$10.00 per certified copy; $.25 uncertified9
Probate and willsNew Hanover County Clerk of Superior Court7——
Business names (DBA)New Hanover County Register of Deeds5——

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in New Hanover County are recorded by the New Hanover County Register of Deeds.5

Cost
Free3
Copy fee
$0.25 per page; maps uncertified $0.25 (8.5x11), $1.00 (11x17), $3.00 (18x24), $5.00 (24x36) per page4
Certified copy fee
$5.00 first page; $2.00 each additional page4
Recording fee
Deeds and other instruments: $26.00 up to 15 pages, $4.00 each additional; deeds of trust: $64.00 up to 35 pages, $4.00 each additional4
How to order
Print free online, or in person; for mail, send a pre-addressed stamped envelope4
Fraud alerts
fraudalert.bislandrecords.com/index.php Free email alert when a document is recorded in your name3

How deeds work in North Carolina

Property values, owners and tax bills

The New Hanover County Tax Department (Tax Administration; County Assessor) sets property values6; the New Hanover County Tax Department (collections) bills and collects the tax6.

Property search
etax.nhcgov.com6
Assessed as of
Site states real estate assessed values are as of January 1, 202110
Appealing a value
nhcgov.com/2721/Property-Value-Appeals Board of Equalization and Review; the13
Who may appeal
Any taxpayer, for own property or that of others13
Due date
2026 bills due September 1, 2026; no penalty through January 5, 20276
Bulk data
Tax Data Request and Data Downloads pages6

How property tax works in North Carolina

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
North Carolina Superior and District Court, New Hanover County (District 6)Clerk keeps records of foreclosures, evictions, partitions, condemnations, estates, divorces, judgments and liens on real property14New Hanover County Clerk of Superior Court (Civil Division)portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal Statewide eCourts Portal, linked from nccourts.gov7
Fees
Copies: $2.00 first page of each document, $0.25 each additional page (statewide statute, G.S. 7A-308)8
Calendars
calendars.nccourts.org/results (civil); type=Criminal (criminal)7
Kiosks
eCourts kiosks with scanners, printers and payment were announced for this courthouse in June 20257
Court division emails
Division emails listed in the Contact Directory, including Juvenile and Criminal Traffic15

Criminal records and background checks

How North Carolina courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the New Hanover County Register of Deeds.5

Marriage license fee
$6017
Certified copy
$10.00; uncertified $0.254
How to get it
By appointment only17
Validity
60 days; immediately usable; ceremony must be in North Carolina17
Min age
Illegal under 16; over 16 and under 18 need signed parental consent or a filed court order17

North Carolina marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Kept by: Clerk of Superior Court5

Phone
910-772-660017

North Carolina divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Kept by the New Hanover County Register of Deeds (Vital Records).9

Fee
$10.00 per certified copy; $.25 uncertified; by mail add $1 postage9
Who may order
Valid ID and proof of relation required for certified copies9
How to order
In person at either office, online through a vendor site, or by mail9
Statewide
Any NC birth 1971 to present, not adopted, in person only: $24.00; additional copies from the same search $15.009
Adoptees
Can now be issued by the Register of Deeds in the county of birth9

Ordering a North Carolina birth certificate

Death certificates

Kept by the New Hanover County Register of Deeds (Vital Records).9

Fee
$10.00 per certified copy; $.25 uncertified9
Who may order
Valid ID and proof of relation required for certified copies9

Ordering a North Carolina death certificate

Probate records and wills

Estate division of the Clerk of Superior Court5

Public access
Filed wills are public record; copies for a fee18

Finding a will or probate case in North Carolina

Business names (DBA)

Assumed business name forms handled at the Register of Deeds office5

Law
State law: file with the Register of Deeds in the county of business19

Voter records

Kept by the New Hanover County Board of Elections.20

Check your registration
vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup20
Statewide file
County voter registration ZIP from NC State Board of Elections21

Historical records

Kept by the New Hanover County Public Library, Local History Room.22

Deed start
Earliest documents in the Register of Deeds office date to 172823
Local history
Lower Cape Fear collection; has many genealogical records but is not comprehensive; on-site use only22

Good to know about New Hanover County records

  • Earliest Register of Deeds documents date to 172823
  • County formed in 1729 as New Hanover Precinct of Bath County23
  • Parts became Bladen and Onslow precincts in 173423
  • County warns of private companies mailing homeowners deed-copy offers for an $86.00 processing fee; the same deed is free online3
  • The Register of Deeds can give only the excise stamp amount for a sale price5
  • Register of Deeds holds subdivision and condominium plats, not individual surveys5

Office addresses, phones and hours

New Hanover County Register of Deeds

Address
320 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, NC 28401; satellite office 230 Government Center Drive, Wilmington, NC 284033
Mail
Register of Deeds, 320 Chestnut Street, Suite 120, Wilmington, NC 284019
Hours
8 am to 5 pm Monday-Friday except holidays3

New Hanover County Tax Department (Tax Administration; County Assessor)

Address
230 Government Center Drive, Suite 190, Wilmington, NC 284036
Mail
230 Government Center Dr., Ste. 190, Wilmington, NC 2840324
Hours
Monday through Friday (except holidays), 8:00 am to 5:00 pm6

New Hanover County Tax Department (collections)

Address
230 Government Center Drive, Suite 190, Wilmington, NC 284036
Hours
Monday through Friday (except holidays), 8:00 am to 5:00 pm6

New Hanover County Clerk of Superior Court (Criminal Superior)

Address
316 Princess St, Wilmington, NC 2840125
Mail
New Hanover County Courthouse, PO Box 2023, Wilmington, NC 2840225
Hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM25

New Hanover County Clerk of Superior Court (Civil Division)

Address
316 Princess St, Wilmington, NC 2840125
Mail
New Hanover County Courthouse, PO Box 2023, Wilmington, NC 2840225
Hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM25

New Hanover County Clerk of Superior Court (Estate division)

Address
316 Princess St, Wilmington, NC 2840125
Mail
New Hanover County Courthouse, PO Box 2023, Wilmington, NC 2840225
Hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM25

New Hanover County Sheriff's Office

Address
3950 Juvenile Center Road, Castle Hayne, NC 2842916

New Hanover County Register of Deeds (Vital Records)

Address
Main office 320 Chestnut St.; secondary office 230 Government Ctr. Dr.9
Mail
Register of Deeds, 320 Chestnut Street, Suite 120, Wilmington, NC 284019
Phone
910-798-4530 option 19

New Hanover County Board of Elections

Address
226 Government Center Drive, Wilmington, NC 2840320

New Hanover County GIS

New Hanover County Public Library, Local History Room

Hours
Monday-Thursday 10 am-7 pm; Friday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm; closed Sunday22

Records that are not online: public records requests

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in New Hanover County?

The New Hanover County Register of Deeds keeps deed records. To order copies: Print free online, or in person; for mail, send a pre-addressed stamped envelope. Plain copies: $0.25 per page; maps uncertified $0.25 (8.5x11), $1.00 (11x17), $3.00 (18x24), $5.00 (24x36) per page. Certified copies: $5.00 first page; $2.00 each additional page.54

Can I search New Hanover County land records online for free?
How much is a birth certificate in New Hanover County?

$10.00 per certified copy; $.25 uncertified; by mail add $1 postage.9

Where do I get a divorce decree in New Hanover County?

Divorce decrees are court records; ask the Clerk of Superior Court.5

How much does a marriage license cost in New Hanover County?

The marriage license fee is $60.17

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

Use the property search of the New Hanover County Tax Department (Tax Administration; County Assessor): etax.nhcgov.com6

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 New Hanover 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, Johnston County, Mecklenburg County, Moore 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: Records SearchNew Hanover Countychecked November 5, 2026
  3. Don't Overpay for a Copy of Your House DeedNew Hanover Countychecked November 5, 2026
  4. Register of Deeds: FeesNew Hanover Countychecked November 5, 2026
  5. Register of DeedsNew Hanover Countychecked November 5, 2026
  6. Tax DepartmentNew Hanover Countychecked November 5, 2026
  7. New Hanover CountyNorth Carolina Judicial Branchchecked November 5, 2026
  8. G.S. 7A-308North Carolina General Assemblychecked November 5, 2026
  9. Births, Deaths & Marriage License Certified CopiesNew Hanover Countychecked November 5, 2026
  10. Property Assessment WebsiteNew Hanover County Tax Departmentchecked November 5, 2026
  11. Land RecordsNew Hanover Countychecked November 5, 2026
  12. GIS Maps & DataNew Hanover Countychecked November 5, 2026
  13. Appealing Property ValuesNew Hanover Countychecked November 5, 2026
  14. Obtaining Court Records | North Carolina Judicial BranchNorth Carolina Judicial Branchchecked November 5, 2026
  15. New Hanover County Contact DirectoryNorth Carolina Judicial Branchchecked November 5, 2026
  16. Sheriff's OfficeNew Hanover Countychecked November 5, 2026
  17. Marriage ApplicationNew Hanover Countychecked November 5, 2026
  18. Estates | North Carolina Judicial BranchNorth Carolina Judicial Branchchecked November 5, 2026
  19. G.S. 66-71.4North Carolina General Assemblychecked November 5, 2026
  20. Board of ElectionsNew Hanover Countychecked November 5, 2026
  21. Voter Registration Data | NCSBENC State Board of Electionschecked November 5, 2026
  22. Library: Local History RoomNew Hanover Countychecked November 5, 2026
  23. Register of Deeds: HistoryNew Hanover Countychecked November 5, 2026
  24. NC county assessors listNorth Carolina Department of Revenuechecked November 5, 2026
  25. New Hanover County CourthouseNorth Carolina Judicial Branchchecked November 5, 2026
  26. 911 Records RequestsNew Hanover Countychecked November 5, 2026
  27. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026