Frequently Asked Questions

The Buncombe County Register of Deeds is located at 205 College St., Asheville, NC 28801. Our hours of operation are 8:00 am until 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, except for county observed holidays.

Yes, all records filed in the Register of Deeds office are public records and available to anyone. The only records with restricted access are military discharges due to the sensitive nature of these documents.

Since all documents filed in the Register of Deeds office are public record, anyone may view or obtain a copy of these records. However, only the individual, their immediate family member (mother, father, step parent, child, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild), an authorized agent, or legal representative may obtain a certified copy of a vital record. These documents can be purchased in person, online via our Vital Records Request form, or through the mail. For more information, please visit our Vital Records page or call (828) 250-4300.

No, divorces are court related matters and are therefore kept by the Buncombe County Clerk of Court. Please find information pertaining to the Clerk of Court or by calling 828-259-3400.

No, these records are court related matters and are therefore kept by the Buncombe County Clerk of Court. Please find information pertaining to the Clerk of Court or by calling 828-259-3400.

Public access via the internet to our Real Estate records can be found by using our Online Document Search Tool.

Access to these public records is also available in person at the Register of Deeds Office in the Public Record Search Room from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

We process each request within 2 business days as long as all information is provided along with a valid ID and payment.

If you are having difficulty viewing images, you may need to update to a modern browser like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. You may click on the highlighted link above to download Chrome for free. For further questions, please call (828) 250-4302.

The Register of Deeds office records Certificates of Assumed Name (DBAs) but not business licenses. If you have additional questions about starting a business in Buncombe County, we encourage you to visit Business Link North Carolina for more information.

Corporations and LLC are recorded in the Secretary of State's Corporation Division. You may search their corporation information and access forms on-line by going to www.secretary.state.nc.us/Corporations.

It is suggested that you park in the parking deck at 164 College Street across from the courthouse. Register of Deeds staff can validate up to one hour of parking in the deck.

Once you obtain a marriage license, civil marriage ceremonies can be performed by a civil magistrate on the 2nd floor of the Buncombe County Courthouse on Fridays from 8:30p.m. - 2:30p.m. No appointment is needed for a civil ceremony. The fee is $50, payable in cash, and should be exact change.

Friday is the only day of the week when civil ceremonies are available at the courthouse. Additionally, the Buncombe County Detention Center, at 20 Davidson Dr, has magistrates available 24 hours a day.

First, please obtain a certified copy of your marriage license from the Register of Deeds Office. You must then present this document along with other required documentation to the Social Security Administration. Once you have applied for a social security card in your new name, you may visit the Department of Motor Vehicles to update your driver license.

Social Security Administration
800 Centre Park Drive
Asheville, NC 28805
1-866-572-8361

DMV — Driver License Office
1624 Patton Avenue, DMV Building
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 251-6065

A legal name change is done through a Court Order which must be obtained through the Clerk of Court’s office, Special Proceedings Division. Please find more information online or by calling (828) 259-3400.

You will need a new deed to be drawn up and filed. Filing standards can be found on our Recording Information page. It is recommended that you consult an attorney when preparing legal documents.

While many people believe that you receive your deed once your mortgage is paid off, you actually should have received your deed at the time you closed on your home or property. When you have paid off your mortgage, your lender will send us a document called a Certificate of Satisfaction to be recorded. Typically lenders request that we send this Satisfaction document back to them after recording.

If you would like a copy of your deed or satisfaction, please use our Online Document Search Tool or contact our office and we'll be happy to send it to you.

The Register of Deeds is prohibited by law to perform a title search. If you wish to see if there are liens on a property, we encourage you to seek the advice of an attorney. You may also contact the Buncombe County Clerk of Court at 828-259-3400 for judgment information.

The records in the Register of Deeds office are searchable by name only. If you would like to find ownership information by property address, please refer to the Land Records Department online or by calling (828) 250-4900.

Yes, in an effort to increase convenience and efficiency, this office is pleased to offer eRecording service. Please see our Electronic Recording page for additional information.

Please see General Fees page for a complete fee schedule.

Please see Assumed Name (DBA) page for forms and filing information.

The Buncombe County Register of Deeds offers a free service to help residents maintain awareness of what documents are recorded in our office. The service, called Property Check, allows residents to track property recordings in their name and receive notifications when changes are made. Property fraud is rare, but our office has taken extra steps to help monitor your records.