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NC Document Standards & Minimum Standards for Indexing Real Property Instruments

DOCUMENT STANDARDS FOR RECORDING INSTRUMENTS
IN NORTH CAROLINA
Pursuant to GS 161-14 adopted 2001 Session effective as of 7-1-2002

All paper documents must meet these requirements:
1.  Be eight and one half inches by eleven inches or eight and one half inches by fourteen inches.
2.  Have a blank margin of three inches at the top of the first page and blank margins of one half inches on the remaining sides of the first page and on all sides of subsequent pages.
3.  Be typed or printed in black on white paper in a legible font. A font size no smaller than 10 points shall be considered legible. Blanks in an instrument may be completed in pen and corrections to an instrument may be made in pen.
4.  Have text typed or printed on one side of a page only.
5.  State the type of instrument at the top of the first page.

If an instrument does not meet the requirements, the Register of Deeds shall register the instrument after collecting the fee ($25.00) for nonstandard documents as required by G.S. 161-10(a)(19), in addition to all other applicable recording fees. However, if an instrument fails to meet the requirements because it contains a font size smaller than 10 point, the register of deeds may register the instrument without collecting the fee for nonstandard documents if, in the discretion of the register of deeds, the instrument is legible.

EXEMPT DOCUMENTS
Documents presented for registration are EXEMPT from NC General Statute 161-14(b) are as follows:
◾Documents acknowledged/notarized prior to July 1, 2002.
◾UCCs prepared on the standard National or State forms
◾Documents which attempt to cancel, discharge and/or release a security instrument.

NC Standards for Indexing Real Property Instruments

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