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Wake County, North Carolina public records

In Wake County, deeds are recorded by the Wake County Register of Deeds; property values come from the Wake County Department of Tax Administration; court files are kept by the Wake 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 Wake 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 recordsWake County Register of Deeds4Search deeds2Certified copy fee: $5 for the first page, $2 each additional page; certified map copy $53
Property values and ownersWake County Department of Tax Administration5Property search6—
Property tax billsWake County Department of Tax Administration5Tax bill search6—
Court casesWake County Clerk of Superior Court6North Carolina Superior and District Court, Wake County7Copies $2.00 first page of each document, $0.25 each additional page (statewide statute)8
Marriage recordsWake County Register of Deeds4—$10 per certified copy9
Divorce recordsWake County Clerk of Superior Court6——
Birth certificatesWake County Register of Deeds9—$10 per certified copy of a Wake County birth certificate; statewide (born in NC 1971-present) search and copy at the downtown office $24, additional copies $159
Death certificatesWake County Register of Deeds9—$10 per certified copy of a Wake County death certificate; statewide (died in NC 2021-present) search and copy at the downtown office $24, additional copies $159
Probate and willsWake County Clerk of Superior Court6——
Business names (DBA)Wake County Register of Deeds4—Recorded as an 'other instrument': $26 first 15 pages + $4 each additional page10

Deeds and land records

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

Years online
1785 to the present3
Certified copy fee
$5 for the first page, $2 each additional page; certified map copy $53
How to order
Request a certified or uncertified copy online through the Register of Deeds portal3
Recording fees
Deeds of trust/mortgages $64 first 35 pages + $4 each additional page; all other documents $26 first 15 pages + $4 each additional page; plats $21 per page10
Excise
Excise tax on deeds: $2 per thousand (August 1, 1991 to present)10
Scam warning
County links the NC DOJ consumer alert on paying for official property documents11

How deeds work in North Carolina

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Wake County Department of Tax Administration sets property values5; the Wake County Department of Tax Administration (billing and collection) bills and collects the tax5.

Parcel map (GIS)
maps.raleighnc.gov/iMAPS (iMAPS, linked from the county GIS page)12
Appealing a value
Real estate value appeals go to the Board of Equalization and Review (BOER), open from January; adjournment set yearly by the Board of Commissioners, typically early to mid-April13
Revaluation
Last countywide revaluation effective January 1, 2024; next revaluations effective Jan. 1, 2027 and Jan. 1, 202914

How property tax works in North Carolina

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
North Carolina Superior and District Court, Wake County (Clerk of Superior Court)Divorce, traffic and other court records such as criminal and civil disputes6Wake County Clerk of Superior Courtportal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal Statewide eCourts Portal7
Fees
Copies $2.00 first page of each document, $0.25 each additional page (statewide statute)8
Real estate cases
Clerk keeps foreclosures, evictions, partitions, estates, divorces, judgments and liens15

Criminal records and background checks

Incident reports
Crime/incident report copies by email or by mail with a $2 money order or check16
Criminal history
CCBI (City-County Bureau of Identification) handles criminal history reports16
Online portal
wakeso.policetocitizen.com/Home (Police-2-Citizen)16
Court caution
Use the county clerk, not Portal, for background checks7

How North Carolina courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the Wake County Register of Deeds.4

Marriage license fee
$60; both parties in person; walk-in 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday at five locations17
Copy fee
$10 per certified copy9
Validity
Ceremony must take place in North Carolina within 60 days17
Years held
Originals 1932-present at the ROD; 1800-1931 at the NC State Archives (microfilm at ROD)18
Online index
vitalrecords.wakegov.com/… (index only, no images)18
Civil ceremony
Magistrate civil marriages, Justice Center 9th floor Room 901, $50 cash, two witnesses17

North Carolina marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Clerk of Superior Court; the Register of Deeds does not handle divorce records19

State
NC Vital Records holds divorce certificates 1958-present20

North Carolina divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Kept by the Wake County Register of Deeds (vital records).9

Fee
$10 per certified copy of a Wake County birth certificate; statewide (born in NC 1971-present) search and copy at the downtown office $24, additional copies $159
Who may order
The person or an immediate family member; someone seeking a legal determination of personal or property rights; an authorized agent, attorney or legal representative9
Years held
Birth and death records go back to October 191318
Online
Online requests; up to two days to process; county $10 plus vendor convenience fee10

Ordering a North Carolina birth certificate

Death certificates

Kept by the Wake County Register of Deeds (vital records).9

Fee
$10 per certified copy of a Wake County death certificate; statewide (died in NC 2021-present) search and copy at the downtown office $24, additional copies $159

Ordering a North Carolina death certificate

Probate records and wills

Clerk of Superior Court; a will filed after death is a public record21

Finding a will or probate case in North Carolina

Business names (DBA)

Assumed business names (DBA) for sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations and LLCs are filed with the Register of Deeds22

Fee
Recorded as an 'other instrument': $26 first 15 pages + $4 each additional page10

Voter records

Kept by the Wake County Board of Elections.23

Check your registration
Voter Lookup linked from the Board of Elections page23

Historical records

Deeds from
Deeds recorded from 178524
Projects
Wake County Enslaved Persons Project and Racially Restrictive Covenants Project (Register of Deeds)11
Military discharge
DD-214 recording and certified copies free; restricted public access18

Good to know about Wake County records

  • Five Register of Deeds locations issue certified vital records and marriage licenses (downtown Raleigh plus four regional centers); regional centers mostly cash/check only9
  • Downtown ROD can issue birth certificates for anyone born anywhere in NC 1971-present and deaths anywhere in NC 2021-present9
  • Wake County moved to a shorter revaluation cycle (3 years, then 2 years)14
  • The ROD processes about 230,000 documents a year24

Office addresses, phones and hours

Wake County Register of Deeds

Address
Wake County Justice Center, 300 S. Salisbury St., Suite 1700, Raleigh, NC 276014
Mail
Wake County Justice Center, P.O. Box 1897, Raleigh, NC 276024
Hours
Recording & Vital Records: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.4

Wake County Department of Tax Administration

Address
301 S. McDowell St., Ste. 3800, Raleigh, NC 276015
Mail
P.O. Box 2331, Raleigh, NC 2760225
Phone
919-856-5400 (property tax)25
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., excluding County holidays25

Wake County Department of Tax Administration (billing and collection)

Address
301 S. McDowell St., Ste. 3800, Raleigh, NC 276015
Mail
P.O. Box 2331, Raleigh, NC 2760225
Phone
919-856-5400 (property tax)25
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., excluding County holidays25

Wake County Clerk of Superior Court

Address
Wake County Justice Center, 300 S. Salisbury St., 2nd Floor, Raleigh, NC 276016
Phone
Clerk 919-792-4005 (county page); Wake courts main (919) 792-4000 (Judicial Branch)6
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (building hours)26

Wake County Clerk of Superior Court

Address
Wake County Courthouse, 316 Fayetteville St. Mall, Raleigh, NC 2760127
Mail
Wake County Courthouse, PO Box 351, Raleigh, NC 2760227
Phone
Clerk 919-792-4005 (county page); Wake courts main (919) 792-4000 (Judicial Branch)6
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (building hours)27

Wake County Clerk of Superior Court (estates)

Wake County Register of Deeds (vital records)

Address
300 S. Salisbury St., 1st floor, Wake County Justice Center, Raleigh, NC 27601; also Eastern (Zebulon), Northern (Wake Forest), Southern (Fuquay-Varina) and Departure (Raleigh) Regional Centers9
Mail
Wake County Justice Center, P.O. Box 1897, Raleigh, NC 276024
Hours
Downtown 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; regional centers 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.9

Wake County Sheriff's Office Records Division

Address
330 S. Salisbury St., Suite: 2nd Floor Records S208, Raleigh, NC 2760116
Mail
Wake County Sheriff's Office, Records Division, 330 S. Salisbury St., Suite: 2nd Floor Records S208, Raleigh, NC 2760116
Hours
Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m.16

Wake County Board of Elections

Wake County Geographic Information Services (GIS)

Hours
Business hours 8:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m. Monday–Friday; in-person 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday12

Records that are not online: public records requests

Where to send it
Wake County Communications Office6

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

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

The Wake County Register of Deeds keeps deed records. To order copies: Request a certified or uncertified copy online through the Register of Deeds portal. Certified copies: $5 for the first page, $2 each additional page; certified map copy $5.43

How much is a birth certificate in Wake County?

$10 per certified copy of a Wake County birth certificate; statewide (born in NC 1971-present) search and copy at the downtown office $24, additional copies $15.9

Where do I get a divorce decree in Wake County?

Clerk of Superior Court; the Register of Deeds does not handle divorce records.19

How much does a marriage license cost in Wake County?

$60; both parties in person; walk-in 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday at five locations.17

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

Use the property search of the Wake County Department of Tax Administration: services.wake.gov/realestate6

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 Wake 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, New Hanover County, Orange County, Pitt County, Randolph County, Robeson County, Rowan County, Wayne County. Every county in the state: North Carolina county list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 30 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
  2. Search Real Estate RecordsWake County Government
  3. Real Estate Document RequestWake County Government
  4. Office Hours and Location (Register of Deeds)Wake County Government
  5. Tax Administration | Wake County GovernmentWake County Government
  6. Public Records RequestsWake County Government
  7. Criminal Background Check | North Carolina Judicial BranchNorth Carolina Judicial Branch
  8. G.S. 7A-308NC General Assembly
  9. Birth, Death & Marriage CertificatesWake County Government
  10. Recording and Document FeesWake County Government
  11. Register of Deeds | Wake County GovernmentWake County Government
  12. Geographic Information Services (GIS)Wake County Government
  13. Appealing Tax ValuesWake County Government
  14. Wake County shortens revaluation cycle (news release)Wake County Government
  15. Obtaining Court Records | North Carolina Judicial BranchNorth Carolina Judicial Branch
  16. Sheriff's Office Records DivisionWake County Government
  17. Apply for a Marriage LicenseWake County Government
  18. Vital Record Document TypesWake County Government
  19. Where do I get a copy of my divorce?Wake County Government
  20. NCDHHS: DPH: NC Vital Records: DivorceNC DHHS Vital Records
  21. Estates | North Carolina Judicial BranchNorth Carolina Judicial Branch
  22. Business Name ResourcesWake County Government
  23. Board of ElectionsWake County Government
  24. Register of Deeds HistoryWake County Government
  25. Contact the Department of Tax AdministrationWake County Government
  26. Wake County Justice CenterNorth Carolina Judicial Branch
  27. Wake County CourthouseNorth Carolina Judicial Branch
  28. Sheriff's OfficeWake County Government
  29. Public Records InformationWake County Government
  30. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau