AI-assisted research summary: The register of deeds must keep full alphabetical indexes of registered instruments, update them within 24 hours, keep backup copies, and may adopt indexing rules.
(a)Except as otherwise provided by statute, the register of deeds shall provide and keep in the register’s office full and complete alphabetical indexes of the names of the parties to all liens, grants, deeds, mortgages, bonds, and other instruments required or authorized to be registered, and the indexes shall state in full the names of all parties, whether grantors, grantees, vendors, vendees, obligors, or obligees. The full names of parties shall be entered in the indexes in accordance with the minimum indexing standards adopted pursuant to G.S. 147-54.3(b) and (b1). Reference shall be made, opposite each name, to the book and page or other location where the instrument is registered. All instruments shall be indexed on either the temporary or permanent index within 24 hours of registration. The register of deeds is not required to index an instrument that is part of a document containing multiple instruments, as defined in G.S. 161-10(a)(1), unless the title of that instrument is shown on the first page of the document and the additional registration fee is paid as required by G.S. 161-10(a)(1). (b)Repealed by Session Laws 2008-194, s. 7(e), effective August 8, 2008. (c)Repealed by Session Laws 2008-194, s. 7(e), effective July 1, 2008. (d)Deeds of trust may be indexed in the names of the grantor and beneficiary only. (e)Certificates filed for recording pursuant to G.S. 59-2, the Uniform Limited Partnership Act, shall be indexed only under the names of the partnership and each of the general partners. The register of deeds shall cause a statement to be affixed or printed on the index page of the book or books in which limited partnership agreements are filed that the documents are indexed only in the names of the partnership and of each of the general partners. (f)The alphabetical indexes required by this section may be maintained in index books, on index cards, on film, or in computers or other automated data-processing machines. The register of deeds shall ensure that the alphabetical indexes required by this section are duplicated onto separately kept backup storage media for the purpose of disaster recovery and operations resumption in the event of equipment failure, destruction, accidental loss, or corruption, so that such indexes are restorable from a backup at any point. The storage media may be magnetic tape, optical, or other removable media. These printed or filmed copies, tapes or disks, shall be retained as security copies and may not be altered or destroyed until a subsequent security copy is made containing the index entries from all previous security copies. (g)The register of deeds may adopt rules establishing indexing procedures and the format of the indexes. The rules shall conform with the requirements of this section and of other applicable statutes. The rules may address such subjects, by way of example and not limitation, as the indexing of business firms, the indexing of names containing numerals, and the indexing of government agencies. The rules shall be posted in at least two prominent places in the office of register of deeds and shall also be placed near the index books or in user manuals in offices using automated indexing systems. (h)No instrument shall be deemed registered until it has been indexed in a manner to put a reasonably careful and prudent examiner on notice upon inquiry, and, if upon inquiry, the instrument would have been found. (i)Repealed by Session Laws 2008-194, s. 7(e), effective August 8, 2008. History: History.1876-7, c. 93, s. 1; Code, s. 3664; 1899, c. 501; Rev., ss. 2665, 3600; C.S., s. 3561; 1929, c. 327, s. 2; 1967, cc. 443, 1262; 1973, c. 1136, ss. 1, 2; 1983, c. 127; c. 699, ss. 1, 3; 1989, c. 523, s. 2; 1993, c. 178, ss. 1, 2, 4, 5.; c. 539, s. 1096; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2005-123, s. 9; 2008-194, s. 7(e); 2022-50, s. 2.2.