Land Records keeps the ownership record and the tax map for every parcel in Alamance County. This page explains what the record shows, how a change reaches it, and how to correct something that is wrong.

What a land record holds

Every parcel has an ownership record and a place on the county tax map. The information comes from documents recorded or filed with three offices: the Register of Deeds, the Clerk of Superior Court, and the North Carolina Secretary of State.

  • Owner name The name or names of the owner, exactly as they appear on the recorded deed.
  • Property address Where the property is physically located.
  • Mailing address Where the tax bill and other notices are sent. It is often different from the property address.
  • Legal description The description of the land taken from the deed — lot number, acreage, or plat reference.

Tax maps are kept for assessment purposes and are part of the county GIS. They are not surveys and should not be used to settle a boundary question. For a boundary, consult a licensed surveyor and the recorded plat.

Where the information comes from

  • Register of Deeds Deeds, plats, easements, and other recorded instruments. This is the source for most transfers of real property.
  • Clerk of Superior Court Estate filings and court orders. These establish who owns property after a death or a court proceeding.
  • N.C. Secretary of State Business entity filings. A merger, a name change, or a dissolution changes how a company-owned parcel is listed.

How an ownership change reaches our records

Records are updated continuously, but there is a delay between the day a document is recorded or filed and the day the change appears online. A straightforward sale moves faster than a split, a combination, a new subdivision, or a transfer that runs through an estate or a business filing.

  1. Step 1

    The document is recorded or filed

    Register of Deeds, Clerk of Superior Court, or N.C. Secretary of State

    • A deed, plat, or easement is recorded with the Alamance County Register of Deeds. That office files and keeps the document; the Tax Department does not.

    • An estate document or court order is filed with the Clerk of Superior Court when ownership passes at death or by court action.

    • A merger, name change, or dissolution is filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State when the owner is a business entity.

    • A recorded instrument gets a book and page number. Keep that number — it is what we ask for if you call about a change.

    Next: the document comes to Land Records After it is recorded or filed with the originating office

  2. Step 2

    We review it

    Land Records

    • Staff read the document, whichever office it came from, and identify which parcel it affects.

    • Names, legal description, and acreage are checked against what the record already shows.

    Next: the record and the map are updated Processing time depends on the type of transfer

  3. Step 3

    The record is updated

    Land Records

    • The ownership record is changed to the new owner and the mailing address is set.

    • If the document splits, combines, or subdivides land, the parcel lines on the tax map are redrawn and new parcel numbers are assigned.

    Is this a simple sale of an existing parcel?

    Yes The owner name and mailing address are updated on the existing parcel. Nothing changes on the map.
    No A split, combination, or subdivision also requires mapping work, so it takes longer to appear.

    Next: the change is published After mapping and review are complete

  4. Step 4

    It appears online

    Land Records

    • The change shows in the property record search and on the county GIS map.

    • If you recorded a document and still do not see the change after several weeks, call us with the book and page number.

    The record is current Tax bills are then mailed to the address on file

January 1 sets the tax year. Property is listed for taxes in the name of the owner as of January 1. If you buy after January 1, that year's bill may still carry the prior owner's name, even though the deed has been recorded and our record has been updated.

Bills are mailed in July and are due September 1. No interest is charged as long as the bill is paid by January 5. Unpaid taxes become delinquent January 6, when 2% interest is added, plus 0.75% on the sixth of each month after that. Getting your mailing address corrected before July is the surest way to receive your bill on time.

Common questions

I need to change my mailing address

Changing where you receive your tax bill does not require a new deed. Submit the request through the address change request form. Include your name, the parcel identification number or property address, and the new mailing address. The request must come from the owner or the owner's authorized representative.

My name is misspelled online

Check your recorded deed first. If your name is spelled correctly there, contact us and we will correct our record to match.

If the misspelling is on the deed itself, our record has to match what was recorded. A corrected document must be recorded with the Register of Deeds before we can change it. An attorney can prepare that document.

My name has changed

Ownership records follow recorded documents, so a name change from marriage, divorce, or a court order does not by itself change the owner name on the property. Changing how title is held requires a new document recorded with the Register of Deeds.

If you only need your bill to reach you under your current name, contact us to discuss the options.

The owner of a property has died

Ownership after a death is established through an estate filed with the Clerk of Superior Court or through recorded documents. To help us update the record, send the name of the person who died, the parcel identification number or property address, the estate file number if an estate has been opened, any recorded deed or will showing who owns the property now, and the mailing address for future bills.

Until ownership is updated, the property may remain listed in the name of the estate or the heirs. Taxes are still due on time.

How current is what I see online?

A recently recorded document may not appear right away. If you recorded a deed and do not see the change after several weeks, call Land Records with the book and page number of the recorded document.

My vehicle tax notice went to the wrong address

Registered motor vehicles are not billed on the county cycle. They are billed by the state through Tag & Tax Together along with your registration renewal, using the address on your vehicle registration. Correct that address with the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles, not here.

Look up a property

Property record search — owner, mailing address, legal description, and assessed value for any parcel: property.spatialest.com/nc/alamance

Register of Deeds records — search recorded deeds and other documents by name: Register of Deeds eSearch

Change your mailing address — address change request form

See something wrong on a record or a map line? Email [email protected] with the parcel identification number and any recorded document that supports the change. There is no separate correction form.

A wrong name or address is a records correction, not a value appeal. If you disagree with the assessed value of your property, start with an informal review by the Appraisal Division. If that does not resolve it, the appeal goes to the Board of Equalization and Review, which convenes in the spring and must receive your appeal before it adjourns.

Land Records staff

Contact the Tax Department

Phone(336) 228-1312

Email[email protected]

Address124 W. Elm St., Graham, NC 27253

HoursMonday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Land records and tax maps are maintained for property tax assessment and are not a substitute for a title search, a survey, or legal advice. Parcel lines shown on the county GIS are approximate. North Carolina law requires that property be assessed at 100% of market value. Ownership shown reflects documents recorded with the Alamance County Register of Deeds as of the last update; recently recorded documents may not yet appear.