Orange County, North Carolina public records

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

Last checked against official sources on November 7, 2026.

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. Birth certificates
7. Death certificates
8. Probate records and wills
9. Business names (DBA)
10. Voter records
11. Historical records
12. Good to know about Orange County records
13. Office addresses, phones and hours
14. Records that are not online: public records requests
15. Questions people ask
16. Official copies vs look-alike sites
17. Sources

Where to get each record

Deeds and land records

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

Online search

rod.orangecountync.gov/orangenc²

About this search

Register of Deeds 'Records Search'²

Who runs it

Courthouse Computer Systems (search application hosted on the county domain rod.orangecountync.gov)¹¹

Copy fee

Uncertified copy work $0.50 per copy; uncertified plat copies $3 per page³

Certified copy fee

Certified copies of non-vital records $5 first page, $2 each additional page; certified plat copies $5 per page³

Recording fee

Deeds $26 first 15 pages + $4 each additional page; deeds of trust/mortgages $64 first 35 pages + $4 each additional page; plats $21 per page³

How to order

In person at the Gateway Center office, or e-recording; search via Records Search²

Payment

Recording: cash, certified bank check, debit/credit card (no American Express or ApplePay), money order, personal or business check³

How deeds work in North Carolina

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Orange County Tax Administration - Assessment Division sets property values⁵; the Orange County Tax Administration - Revenue & Collections bills and collects the tax⁵.

Property search

property.spatialest.com/nc/orange (Property Record Search; vendor portal linked by Tax Administration)⁵

Tax bill search

bcpwa.ncptscloud.com/orange/bill-search (view property tax information); pay at pay.orangecountync.gov⁵

Parcel map (GIS)

gis.orangecountync.gov/… (Interactive GIS); PIN lookup web.orangecountync.gov/pinmanagementweb¹²

Appealing a value

Informal appeals January 1-March 31, 2026; formal appeal period April 1-June 30, 2026; Board of Equalization and Review convenes April 30, 2026; values as of the January 1, 2025 revaluation; submit online, by email [email protected] or in person¹³

How property tax works in North Carolina

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

Criminal records and background checks

Overview

Case lookup via the statewide eCourts Portal; for background checks use the county clerk's office⁷

How North Carolina courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the Orange County Register of Deeds.⁴

Marriage license fee

$60¹⁴

Requirements

By appointment (919-245-2700); both applicants present; SSN, valid ID, plain copy of birth certificate; license valid 60 days, North Carolina only; online pre-application available¹⁴

Copies

Certified copies $10 each, uncertified $0.50; in person, by mail (1-2 business days) or online via getcertificatenow.com/orange¹⁴

North Carolina marriage records, statewide

Birth certificates

Register of Deeds holds births for persons born in Orange County; certified $10 each; in person (photo ID), by mail with SASE (1-2 business days), or online via getcertificatenow.com/orange⁸

Eligibility

Certified copies restricted to the registrant and relatives/agents listed in N.C.G.S. 130A-93⁸

Fee

$10 certified³

Ordering a North Carolina birth certificate

Death certificates

Deaths pronounced in Orange County; same $10 certified fee and ordering methods as births⁸

Ordering a North Carolina death certificate

Probate records and wills

Clerk of Superior Court Estates office, Orange County Courthouse; appointments only (919-644-4570)⁹

Finding a will or probate case in North Carolina

Business names (DBA)

Assumed business name certificates are recorded with the Register of Deeds: $26 recording fee; e-filing adds a $15 convenience fee¹⁰

Voter records

Voter registration records maintained by the Orange County Board of Elections; look up own registration via the NC State Board of Elections Voter Search¹⁵

Historical records

Library Local History Collection microfilm: Court Minutes 1752-1868, Index to Deeds 1755-1962, Index to Wills 1756-1961, Marriage Bonds 1752-1868, Record of Deeds 1775-1872, Record of Wills 1752-1893¹⁶

Good to know about Orange County records

• Orange County completed a countywide revaluation effective January 1, 2025¹³
• Colonial-era records on library microfilm: Court Minutes from 1752 and Index to Deeds from 1755¹⁶
• Register of Deeds is in the Gateway Center above the Weaver Street Market⁴
• Orange County has a second courthouse in Chapel Hill besides the Hillsborough courthouse⁶

Office addresses, phones and hours

Records that are not online: public records requests

Request page

orangecountync.nextrequest.com (NextRequest portal linked by the county)¹⁹

Fees

Actual cost charged for requests exceeding 100 pages: black 8.5x11 $.05 per page hard copy, $.02 electronic¹⁹

Where to send it

Community Relations Director ([email protected])¹⁹

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

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, New Hanover County, Pitt County, Randolph County, Robeson County, Rowan County, Wake County, Wayne County. Every county in the state: North Carolina county list. Looking for another Orange County? Orange County, California; Orange County, Florida; Orange County, New York; Orange County, Texas.

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. Recording & Real EstateOrange County, NCchecked November 4, 2026
3. Register of Deeds FeesOrange County, NCchecked November 4, 2026
4. Register of DeedsOrange County, NCchecked November 4, 2026
5. Tax AdministrationOrange County, NCchecked November 4, 2026
6. Orange County (court locations)North Carolina Judicial Branchchecked November 4, 2026
7. Criminal background check (court records)North Carolina Judicial Branchchecked November 4, 2026
8. Birth, Death and Marriage CertificatesOrange County, NCchecked November 4, 2026
9. Orange County CourthouseNorth Carolina Judicial Branchchecked November 4, 2026
10. Starting a Business (Assumed Business Names)Orange County, NCchecked November 4, 2026
11. Register of Deeds online search front pageOrange County Register of Deedschecked November 7, 2026
12. GIS / Addressing / Land RecordsOrange County, NCchecked November 4, 2026
13. Appealing Your ValueOrange County, NCchecked November 4, 2026
14. Marriage LicenseOrange County, NCchecked November 4, 2026
15. ElectionsOrange County, NCchecked November 4, 2026
16. Local History CollectionOrange County Public Librarychecked November 4, 2026
17. Register of Deeds Office HoursOrange County, NCchecked November 4, 2026
18. Revenue & Collections DivisionOrange County, NCchecked November 7, 2026
19. Public Records PolicyOrange County, NCchecked November 4, 2026
20. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026