Form a Business

G.S. ch. 47, art. 4

G.S. ch. 47, art. 4
in effect

G.S. 47-47 Defective order of registration; "same" for "this instrument".

§ 47-47.  Defective order of registration; "same" for "this instrument". Where instruments were admitted to registration prior to March 2, 1905, and the clerk's order for the registration used the word "same" in place of "this instrument," the said registrations are good and valid. (1905, c. 344; Rev., s. 1010; C.S., s. 3329.)

G.S. 47-48 Clerks' and registers of deeds' certificate failing to pass on all prior certificates.

§ 47-48.  Clerks' and registers of deeds' certificate failing to pass on all prior certificates. When it appears that the clerk of the superior court, register of deeds, or other officer having the power to probate or certify deeds, in passing upon deeds or other instruments, and related certificates, consisting of more than one certificate of the same or a different date by other officer or officers taking acknowledgment or probating the certificates, has in his or her certificate or order mentioned only one or more of the preceding or foregoing certificates or orders, but not all of them, but has admitted the same deed or other instrument to probate or recordation, it is conclusively presumed that all the certificates of the deed or instrument necessary for probate or recordation have been passed upon, and the certificate of the clerk, register of deeds, or other probating or certifying officer is deemed sufficient and the probate, certification, and recordation of the deed or instrument is valid for all intents and purposes. This section applies to all instruments recorded in any county of this State prior to April 1, 2021. (1917, c. 237; C.S., s. 3330; 1945, c. 808, s. 1; 1965, c. 1001; 1971, c. 11; 1973, c. 1402; 1987, c. 360, s. 2; 2013-204, s. 1.18; 2021-91, s. 4(d).)

G.S. 47-49 Defective certification or adjudication of clerk, etc., admitting to registration.

§ 47-49.  Defective certification or adjudication of clerk, etc., admitting to registration. In all cases where, prior to January 1, 1919, instruments by law required or authorized to be registered, with certificates showing the acknowledgment or proof of execution thereof as required by the laws of the State of North Carolina, have been ordered registered by the clerk of the superior court or other officer qualified to pass upon probates and admit instruments to registration, and actually put upon the books in the office of the register of deeds as if properly proven and ordered to be registered, all such probates and registrations are hereby validated and made as good and sufficient as though such instruments had been in all respects properly proved and recorded, notwithstanding the failure of clerks or other officers  qualified to pass upon the proofs or acknowledgments of instruments and to admit such instruments to registration to adjudge or certify that said instruments were duly proven, and notwithstanding the failure of such officers to adjudge or certify that the certificates of proof or acknowledgments of said instruments were correct or in due form. (1919, c. 248; C.S., s. 3331.)

G.S. 47-50 Order of registration omitted.

§ 47-50.  Order of registration omitted. In all cases prior to October 1, 2005, where it appears from the records of the office of the register of deeds of any county in this State that the execution of a deed of conveyance or other instrument by law required or authorized to be registered was duly signed and acknowledged as required by the laws of the State of North Carolina, and the clerk of the superior court of such county or other officer authorized to pass upon acknowledgments and to order registration of instruments has failed either to adjudge the correctness of the acknowledgment or to order the registration thereof, or both, such registrations are hereby validated and the instrument so appearing in the office of the register of deeds of such county shall be effective to the same extent as if the clerk or other authorized officer had properly adjudged the correctness of the acknowledgment and had ordered the registration of the instrument. (1911, cc. 91, 166; 1913, c. 61; Ex. Sess. 1913, c. 73; 1915, c. 179, s. 1; C.S., s. 3332; 1941, cc. 187, 229; 1949, c. 493; 1957, c. 314; 1961, c. 79; 1981, c. 812; 1993, c. 80, s. 1; 2013-204, s. 1.19.)

G.S. 47-50.1 Register's certificate omitted.

§ 47-50.1.  Register's certificate omitted. In all cases prior to October 1, 2005, where it appears from the records of the office of the register of deeds of any county in this State that the execution of a deed of conveyance or other instrument by law required or authorized to be registered was duly signed and acknowledged as required by the laws of this State, and the register of deeds has failed to certify the correctness of the acknowledgment as required by G.S. 47-14(a), the registrations are hereby validated and the instrument so appearing in the office of the register of deeds of that county is effective to the same extent as if the register of deeds had properly certified the correctness of the acknowledgment. (2004-199, s. 17; 2013-204, s. 1.20.)

G.S. 47-51 Official deeds omitting seals.

§ 47-51.  Official deeds omitting seals. All deeds executed prior to April 1, 2021, by any sheriff, commissioner, receiver, executor, executrix, administrator, administratrix, or other officer authorized to execute a deed by virtue of office or appointment, in which the officer has omitted to affix a seal after the officer's signature, are not invalid on account of the omission of the seal. (1907, c. 807; 1917, c. 69, s. 1; C.S., s. 3333; Ex. Sess. 1924, c. 64; 1941, c. 13; 1955, c. 467, ss. 1, 2; 1959, c. 408; 1971, c. 14; 1973, c. 1207, s. 1; 1983, c. 398, s. 2; 1985, c. 70, s. 2; 1987, c. 277, s. 2; 1989, c. 390, s. 2; 1991, c. 489, s. 2; 2013-204, s. 1.21; 2021-91, s. 4(e).)

G.S. 47-52 Defective acknowledgment on old deeds validated.

§ 47-52.  Defective acknowledgment on old deeds validated. The clerk of the superior court may order registered any deed, or other conveyance of land, in all cases where the instrument and probate bears date prior to January 1, 1907, where the acknowledgment, private examination, or other proof of execution, has been taken or had before a notary public residing in the county where the land is situate, where said officer failed to affix his official seal, and where the certificate of said officer appears otherwise to be genuine. (1933, c. 439.)

G.S. 47-53 Probates omitting official seals, etc.

§ 47-53.  Probates omitting official seals, etc. If the acknowledgment, private examination, or other proof of the execution of any deed, mortgage, or other instrument authorized or required to be registered has been taken by or before any commissioner of affidavits and deeds of this State, clerk or deputy clerk of a court of record, or notary public of this or any other state, territory, or district, and the deed, mortgage, or other instrument has been recorded in any county in this State, but the commissioner, clerk, deputy clerk, or notary public omitted to attach his or her official or notarial seal to it, or if omitted, to insert his or her name in the body of the certificate, or if omitted, to sign his or her name to the certificate, if the name of the officer appears in the body of the certificate or is signed to it, or it does not appear of record that the seal was attached to the original deed, mortgage, or other instrument, or the commissioner, clerk, deputy clerk, or notary public has certified the certificate as under his or her "official seal," or "notarial seal," or words of similar import, and no such seal appears of record or where the officer uses "notarial" in his or her certificate and signature shows that "C.S.C.," or "clerk of superior court," or similar exchange of capacity, and the word "seal" follows the signature, then all such acknowledgments, private examinations or other proofs of such deeds, mortgages, or other instruments, and their registration are in all respects valid and binding. This section applies to acknowledgments, private examinations, or proofs taken prior to April 1, 2021. This section does not apply to pending litigation. (Rev., s. 1012; 1907, cc. 213, 665, 971; 1911, c. 4; 1915, c. 36; C.S., s. 3334; 1929, c. 8, s. 1; 1945, c. 808, s. 2; 1951, c. 1151, s. 1; 1965, c. 500; 1983, c. 398, s. 3; 1985, c. 70, s. 3; 1987, c. 277, s. 3; 1989, c. 390, s. 3; 1991, c. 489, s. 3; 2013-204, s. 1.22; 2021-91, s. 4(f).)

G.S. 47-53.1 Acknowledgment omitting seal of clerk or notary public.

§ 47-53.1.  Acknowledgment omitting seal of clerk or notary public. If any person has taken an acknowledgment as either a notary public or a clerk of a superior court, deputy clerk of a superior court, or assistant clerk of a superior court and has failed to affix his or her seal and this acknowledgment has been otherwise duly probated and recorded, then this acknowledgment is sufficient and valid. This section applies only to those deeds and other instruments acknowledged prior to April 1, 2021. (1951, c. 1151, s. 1A; 1953, c. 1307; 1963, c. 412; 1975, c. 878; 1983, c. 398, s. 4; 1985, c. 70, s. 4; 1987, c. 277, s. 4; 1989, c. 390, s. 4; 1991, c. 489, s. 4; 2004-199, s. 18; 2013-204, s. 1.23; 2021-91, s. 4(g).)

G.S. 47-54 Registration by register's deputies or clerks.

§ 47-54.  Registration by register's deputies or clerks. All registrations of instruments heretofore made in the office of register of deeds of the several counties by the register's deputy or clerk, and signed in the name of the register of deeds by the deputy or clerk, or signed by the deputy in his own name and not in the name of the register of deeds, when such registrations are in all other respects regular, are hereby validated and declared to be of the same force and effect as if signed in the name of the register of deeds by such register. (1911, c. 184, s. 1; C.S., s. 3335; 1953, c. 849; 1963, c. 203.)

G.S. 47-54.1 Registration by register's assistants or deputies.

§ 47-54.1.  Registration by register's assistants or deputies. All registrations of instruments heretofore made in the office of register of deeds of the several counties by the register's assistant or deputy, and signed in the name of the register of deeds by the assistant or deputy, and initialed by the assistant or deputy, instead of being signed by them as assistant or deputy, when such registrations are in all other respects regular, are hereby validated and declared to be of the same force and effect as if signed by the assistant or deputy in the respective capacity. (1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 877, s. 1.)

G.S. 47-55 Before officer in wrong capacity or out of jurisdiction.

§ 47-55.  Before officer in wrong capacity or out of jurisdiction. All deeds, conveyances, or other instruments permitted by law to be registered in this State, which have been probated or ordered to be registered previous to January 1, 1913, before any officer of this or any other state or country, authorized by law to take acknowledgments or to order registration, where the certificate of the probate or order of registration is sufficient in form, but appears to have been certified by the officer in some capacity other than that in which such officer was authorized to act, or appears to have been made out of the county or district authorized by law, but within the State, and where the instrument with such certificate has been recorded in the proper county, are hereby declared to have been duly proved, probated and recorded, and to be valid. (Rev., ss. 1017, 1030; 1913, c. 125, s. 1; C.S., s. 3336.)

G.S. 47-56 Before justices of peace, where clerk's certificate or order of registration defective.

§ 47-56.  Before justices of peace, where clerk's certificate or order of registration defective. In every case where it appears from the record of the office of any register of deeds in this State that a justice of the peace in this State or any other state of the United States, has taken and certified the proof of any instrument required by the law to be registered, or the privy examination of a married woman thereto, and the deed and certificate have been registered prior to the first day of January, 1963, in the county where the lands described in the instrument are located, without a certificate or with a defective certificate of the clerk of the official character of the justice, or as to the genuineness of his signature, or without the order of registration of the clerk, or his adjudication of due probate, or with a defective adjudication thereof, such proofs, certificates and registration are hereby validated. (1907, c. 83, s. 1; C.S., s. 3337; 1951, c. 35; 1963, c. 1014.)

G.S. 47-57 Probates on proof of handwriting of maker refusing to acknowledge.

§ 47-57.  Probates on proof of handwriting of maker refusing to acknowledge. All registrations of instruments, prior to February 5, 1897, permitted or required by law to be registered, which were ordered to registration upon proof of the handwriting of the grantor or maker who refused to acknowledge the execution, are hereby validated. (1897, c. 28; Rev., s. 1026; C.S., s. 3338.)

G.S. 47-58 Before judges of Supreme Court or superior courts or clerks before 1889.

§ 47-58.  Before judges of Supreme Court or superior courts or clerks before 1889. Wherever the judges of the Supreme Court or the superior court, or the clerks or deputy clerks of the superior court, or courts of pleas and quarter sessions, mistaking their powers, have essayed previously to the first day of January, 1889, to take the probate of any instrument required or allowed by law to be registered, and the privy examination of femes covert, whose names are signed to such deeds, and have ordered said deeds to registration, and the same have been registered, all such probates, privy examinations and registrations are validated. (1871-2, c. 200, s. 1; Code, s. 1260; 1889, c. 252; 1891, c. 484; Rev., s. 1009; C.S., s. 3339.)

G.S. 47-59 Before clerks of inferior courts.

§ 47-59.  Before clerks of inferior courts. All probates and orders of registration made by and taken before any clerk of any inferior or criminal court prior to the twentieth day of February, 1885, and valid in form and substance, shall be valid and effectual, and all deeds, mortgages or other instruments requiring registration, registered upon such probate and order of registration, shall be valid. This section shall apply only to the counties of Ashe, Beaufort, Bertie, Buncombe, Cumberland, Duplin, Edgecombe, Granville, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Iredell, Lenoir, Martin, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, Northampton, Robeson and Wayne. This section applies to probates and private examinations taken before the clerks of the criminal court of Buncombe prior to February second, 1893. (1885, cc. 105, 108; 1889, cc. 143, 463; Rev., ss. 1020, 1021; C.S., s. 3340.)

G.S. 47-60 Order of registration by judge, where clerk party.

§ 47-60.  Order of registration by judge, where clerk party. All deeds, mortgages or other instruments which prior to the twentieth day of January, 1893, have been probated by a justice of the peace and ordered to registration by a judge of the superior court or justice of the Supreme Court, to which clerks of the superior court are parties, are hereby confirmed, and the probates and orders for registration declared to be valid. (1893, c. 3, s. 2; Rev., s. 1011; C.S., s. 3342.)

G.S. 47-61 Order of registration by interested clerk.

§ 47-61.  Order of registration by interested clerk. The probate and registration of all deeds, mortgages and other instruments requiring registration prior to the fifteenth day of January, 1935, to which the clerks of the superior courts are parties, or in which they have an interest, and which have been registered on the order of such clerks or their deputies, or by assistant clerks of  the superior courts, on proof of acknowledgment taken before such clerks, assistant clerks, deputy clerks, justices of the peace or notaries public, be, and the same are declared valid. (1891, c. 102; 1899, c. 258; 1905, c. 427; Rev., s. 1015; 1907, c. 1003, s. 2; Ex. Sess. 1908, c. 105, s. 1; C.S., s. 3343; 1935, c. 235.)

G.S. 47-62 Probates before interested notaries.

§ 47-62.  Probates before interested notaries. The proof and acknowledgment of instruments required by law to be registered in the office of the register of deeds of a county, and all privy examinations of a feme covert to such instruments made before any notary public on or since March 11, 1907, are hereby declared valid and sufficient, notwithstanding the notary may have been interested as attorney, counsel or otherwise in such instruments. (Ex. Sess. 1908, c. 105, s. 2; C.S., s. 3344.)

G.S. 47-63 Probates before officer of interested corporation.

§ 47-63.  Probates before officer of interested corporation. In all cases when acknowledgment or proof of any conveyance has been taken before a clerk of superior court, magistrate or notary  public, who was at the time a stockholder or officer in any corporation, bank or other institution which was a party to such instrument, the certificates of such clerk, magistrate, or notary public shall be held valid, and are so declared. (Rev., s. 1015; 1907, c. 1003, s. 1; C.S., s. 3345; 1971, c. 1185, s. 16.)

G.S. 47-64 Probates before officers, stockholders or directors of corporations.

§ 47-64.  Probates before officers, stockholders or directors of corporations. No acknowledgment or proof of execution, including privy examination of married women, of any deed, mortgage or deed of trust to which instrument a corporation is a party shall be held invalid by reason of the fact that the officer taking such acknowledgment, proof or privy examination was an officer, stockholder, or director in said corporation; but such proofs and acknowledgments and the registration thereof, if in all other respects valid, are declared to be valid. Nor shall the registration of any such instrument ordered to be registered be held invalid by reason of the fact that the clerk or deputy clerk ordering the registration was an officer, stockholder or director in any corporation which is a party to any such instrument. (Ex. Sess. 1913, c. 41; C.S., s. 3346; 1929, c. 24, s. 1; 1943, c. 135; 1945, c. 860; 2013-204, s. 1.24.)

G.S. 47-65 Clerk's deeds, where clerk appointed himself to sell.

§ 47-65.  Clerk's deeds, where clerk appointed himself to sell. All deeds made by any clerk of the superior court of any county or his deputy, prior to the first day of January, 1905, in any proceeding before him in which he has appointed himself or his deputy to make the sale of real property or other property are hereby validated. (1911, c. 146, s. 1; C.S., s. 3347.)

G.S. 47-66 Certificate of wife's "previous" examination.

§ 47-66.  Certificate of wife's "previous" examination. All probates of deeds, letters of attorney or other instruments requiring registration to which married women were parties, had and taken prior to the fourteenth day of February, 1893, in which probate it appears that such married women were "previously examined" instead of "privately examined," are hereby validated and confirmed. (1893, c. 130; Rev., s. 1016; C.S., s. 3348.)

G.S. 47-67 Probates of husband and wife in wrong order.

§ 47-67.  Probates of husband and wife in wrong order. All probates prior to March 6, 1893, of instruments executed by a husband and wife in which the probate as to the husband has been taken before or subsequent to the privy examination of his wife are validated. (1893, c. 293; Rev., s. 1017; C.S., s. 3349.)

G.S. 47-68 Probates of husband and wife before different officers.

§ 47-68.  Probates of husband and wife before different officers. Where, prior to the second day of March, 1895, the probate of a deed or other instrument, executed by husband and wife, has been  taken as to the husband and the wife by different officers having the  power to take probates of deeds, whether both officers reside in this  State or one in this State and the other in another state, or foreign  country, the said probate, in the cases mentioned, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, and all deeds and other instruments required to be registered, and which have been ordered to registration by the proper officer in this State, and upon such probate or probates, and have been registered, shall be taken and considered as duly registered, and the word "probate," as used in this section, shall include privy examination of the wife. (1895, c. 120; Rev., s. 1018; 1907, c. 34, s. 1; C.S., s. 3350.)

G.S. 47-69 Wife free trader; no examination or husband's assent.

§ 47-69.  Wife free trader; no examination or husband's assent. In all cases prior to the twenty-fourth day of September, 1913, where a married woman who was at the time a free trader by her husband's consent has executed and delivered a deed conveying her land, without her privy examination having been taken, and without the written assent of her husband other than his written assent contained in the instrument making her a free trader, such deed shall be valid and effectual to convey her land as if she had been, at the time of the execution and delivery of such deed, a feme sole. This section does not validate such deed where it would affect the title to land or property of purchasers or their grantees or assignees from such married woman and free trader subsequent to the execution of such deed. (Ex. Sess. 1913, c. 54, s. 1; C.S., s. 3351.)

G.S. 47-70 By president and attested by treasurer under corporate seal.

§ 47-70.  By president and attested by treasurer under corporate seal. All deeds and conveyances for lands in this State, made by any corporation of this State, which have heretofore been proved or acknowledged before any notary public in any other state, or before any commissioner of deeds and affidavits for the State of North Carolina in any other state, and sealed with the common seal of the corporation and attested by the treasurer, are hereby ratified and declared to be good and valid deeds for all purposes. Where such deeds have been executed for the corporation by its president and attested, sealed and acknowledged or probated as aforesaid, and the acknowledgment or probate has been duly adjudged sufficient by any deputy clerk and ordered registered, the acknowledgment, probate and registration are ratified, and said deed is declared valid. Such deeds, or certified copies thereof, may be used as evidence of title to the lands therein conveyed in the trial of any suits in any of the courts of this State where the title of said lands shall come in controversy. (1905, c. 307; Rev., s. 1028; C.S., s. 3352.)

G.S. 47-71 By president and attested by witness before January, 1900.

§ 47-71.  By president and attested by witness before January, 1900. Any deed or conveyance for land in this State, made prior to January 1, 1900, by the president of any corporation duly chartered under the laws of this State, and attested by a witness, is hereby declared to be a good and valid deed by such corporation for all purposes, and shall be admitted to probate and registration and shall  pass title to the property therein conveyed to the grantee as fully as if said deed were executed according to provisions and forms of law in force in this State at the date of the execution of said deed. (1909,  c. 859, s. 1; C.S., s. 3353.)

G.S. 47-71.1 Corporate seal omitted prior to January 1, 2000.

§ 47-71.1.  Corporate seal omitted prior to January 1, 2000. Any corporate deed, or conveyance of land in this State, made prior to January 1, 2000, which is defective only because the corporate seal is omitted therefrom is hereby declared to be a good and valid conveyance by such corporation for all purposes and shall be sufficient to pass title to the property therein conveyed as fully as if the said conveyance were executed according to the provisions and forms of law in force in this State at the date of the execution of such conveyance. (1957, c. 500, s. 1; 1963, c. 1015; 1969, c. 815; 1971, c. 61; 1973, c. 479; 1977, c. 538; 1981, c. 191, s. 1; 1983, c. 398, s. 5; 1985, c. 70, s. 5; 1987, c. 277, s. 5; 1989, c. 390, s. 5; 1991, c. 489, s. 5; 2013-204, s. 1.25.)

G.S. 47-72 Corporate name not affixed, but signed otherwise prior to April 1, 2021.

§ 47-72.  Corporate name not affixed, but signed otherwise prior to April 1, 2021. In all cases prior to April 1, 2021, where any deed conveying lands purported to be executed by a corporation, but the corporate name was in fact not affixed to the deed, but the deed was signed by the president and secretary of the corporation, or by the president and two members of the governing body of the corporation, and the deed has been registered in the county where the land conveyed by the deed is located, the defective execution is in all respects valid, and the deed is deemed in all respects the deed of the corporation. (1919, c. 53, s. 1; C.S., s. 3354; 1927, c. 126; 1963, c. 1094; 1973, c. 118, s. 1; 2013-204, s. 1.26; 2021-91, s. 4(h).)

G.S. 47-73 Probated and registered on oath of subscribing witness.

§ 47-73.  Probated and registered on oath of subscribing witness. In all cases prior to the first day of January, 1919, where any deed conveying lands was executed by a corporation, and said deed was probated and ordered registered upon the oath and examination of a subscribing witness, by the clerk of the superior court of the county  in which the land conveyed by said deed is located, and said deed has  been duly registered by the register of deeds of said county, such probate and order of registration shall be, and the same is hereby, declared to be in all respects valid. (1919, c. 53, s. 2; C.S., s. 3355.)

G.S. 47-74 Certificate alleging examination of grantor instead of witness.

§ 47-74.  Certificate alleging examination of grantor instead of witness. Wherever any deed of conveyance registered prior to January 1, 1886, purports to have been attested by two witnesses and in the certificate of probate and acknowledgment it is stated that the execution of such deed was proven by the oath and examination of one of the grantors in said deed instead of either of the witnesses named, all such probates and certificates are hereby validated and confirmed, and any such deed shall be taken and considered as duly acknowledged and probated. (1925, c. 84.)

G.S. 47-75 Proof of corporate articles before officer authorized to probate.

§ 47-75.  Proof of corporate articles before officer authorized to probate. All proofs of articles of agreement for the creation of corporations which were, prior to the eighteenth day of February, 1901, made before any officer who was at that time authorized by the law to take proofs and acknowledgments of deeds and mortgages, are ratified. (1901, c. 170; Rev., s. 1027; C.S., s. 3356.)

G.S. 47-76 Before officials of wrong state.

§ 47-76.  Before officials of wrong state. In all cases where the acknowledgment, examination and probate of any deed, mortgage, power of attorney or other instrument required or authorized to be registered has been taken before any judge, clerk of a court of record, notary public having a notarial seal, mayor of a city having a seal, or justice of the peace of a state other than the state in which the grantor, maker or subscribing witness resided at the time of the execution, acknowledgment, examination or probate thereof, and such acknowledgment, examination or probate is in other respects according to law, and such instrument has been duly ordered to registration and has been registered, then such acknowledgment, examination, probate and registration are hereby  in all respects made valid and binding. This section applies to probates and acknowledgments of deputy clerks of other states when such probate and acknowledgment has been attested by the official seal of said office and adjudged sufficient and in due form of law by the clerk of the court in the state where the instrument is required to be registered. (1905, c. 505; Rev., s. 1013; C.S., s. 3357.)

G.S. 47-77 Before notaries and clerks in other states.

§ 47-77.  Before notaries and clerks in other states. All deeds and conveyances made for lands in this State which have, previous to February 15, 1883, been proved before a notary public or clerk of a court of record, or before a court of record, not including mayor's court, of any other state, where such proof has been duly certified by such notary or clerk under his official seal, or the seal of the court, or in accordance with the act of Congress regulating the certifying of records of the courts of one state to another state, or under the seal of such courts, and such deed or conveyance, with the certificate, has been registered in the office of register of deeds in the book of records thereof for the county in which such lands were situate at the time of such registration, are declared to be validly registered, and the proof and registration is adjudged valid. All deeds and conveyances so proved, certified and registered, or certified copies of the same, may be used as evidence of title for the lands on the trial of any suit in any courts where title to the lands come into controversy. (1883, c. 129, ss. 1, 2; Code, ss. 1262, 1263; 1885, c. 11; Rev., ss. 1022, 1023; 1915, c. 213; C.S., s. 3358.)

G.S. 47-78 Acknowledgment by resident taken out-of-state.

§ 47-78.  Acknowledgment by resident taken out-of-state. When prior to the ninth day of March, 1895, a deed or mortgage executed by a resident of this State has been proved or acknowledged by the maker thereof before a notary public of any other state of the United States, and has been ordered to be registered by the clerk of the superior court of the county in which the land conveyed is situated, and said deed or mortgage has been registered, such registration is valid. (1895, c. 181; Rev., s. 1019; C.S., s. 3359.)

G.S. 47-79 Before deputy clerks of courts of other states.

§ 47-79.  Before deputy clerks of courts of other states. Where any deed or conveyance of lands in this State, executed prior to January 1, 1923, has been acknowledged by the grantor or the privy examination of any married woman has been taken before the deputy clerk of a court of record of any other state, and the certificate of acknowledgment and privy examination is otherwise sufficient under the laws of this State, except that it appears to have been signed in the name of the clerk of said court, by the deputy clerk, and the seal of the court has been affixed thereto, and such certificate has been duly approved by the clerk of the superior court  of this State in the county where the lands conveyed are situated and  the instrument ordered to be recorded, such certificate and probate and the registration made thereon are validated, and the conveyance, if otherwise sufficient, is declared valid. (1913, c. 57, ss. 1, 2; C.S., s. 3360; 1951, c. 1134, s. 1.)

G.S. 47-80 Sister state probates without Governor's authentication.

§ 47-80.  Sister state probates without Governor's authentication. In all cases where any deed concerning lands or any power of attorney for the conveyance of the same, or any other instrument required or allowed to be registered, has been, prior to the twenty-ninth day of January, 1901, acknowledged by the grantor therein, or proved and the private examination of any married woman, who was a party thereto, taken according to law, before any judge of a supreme, superior or circuit court of any other state or territory of the United States where the parties to such instrument resided, and the certificate of such judge as to such acknowledgment, probate or private examination, and also the certificate of the secretary of state of said state or territory instead of the Governor thereof (as required by the laws of this State then in force) that the judge, before whom the acknowledgment or probate and private examination were taken, was at the time of taking the same a judge as aforesaid, are attached to said deed, or other instrument, and the said deed or other instrument, having said certificates attached, has been exhibited before the former judge of probate, or the clerk of the superior court of the county in which the property is situated, and such acknowledgment, or probate and private examination have been adjudged by him to be sufficient and said deed or other instrument ordered to be registered and has been registered accordingly, such probate and registration shall be valid. Nothing herein contained affects the rights of third parties who are purchasers for value, without notice, from the grantor in such deed or other instrument. (1901, c. 39; Rev., s. 1014; C.S., s. 3361.)

G.S. 47-81 Before commissioners of deeds.

§ 47-81.  Before commissioners of deeds. Any deed or other instrument permitted by law to be registered, and which has prior to the third day of March, 1913, been proved or acknowledged before a commissioner of deeds, is validated; and its registration is authorized and validated. (1913, c. 39, s. 2; C.S., s. 3362.)

G.S. 47-81.1 Before commissioner of oaths.

§ 47-81.1.  Before commissioner of oaths. All deeds, mortgages or other instruments required to be registered, which prior to March 5, 1943, have been probated by a commissioner of oaths and ordered registered, are hereby validated and confirmed as properly probated and registered instruments. (1943, c. 471, s. 2.)

G.S. 47-81.2 Before United States Army, etc., officers, and other service members.

§ 47-81.2.  Before United States Army, etc., officers, and other service members. In all cases where instruments and writings have been proved or acknowledged before any commissioned officer of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, or Coast Guard or any officer of the United States Merchant Marine having the rank of lieutenant, senior grade, or higher, such proofs or acknowledgments, where valid in other respects, are hereby ratified, confirmed and declared valid. All proofs or acknowledgments made by any military personnel authorized by the Congress of the United States are hereby ratified, confirmed, and declared valid and shall not require the affixation of a seal where valid in other respects.  (1943, c. 159, s. 2; 2011-183, s. 32; 2013-204, s. 1.27; 2025-20, s. 2.4.)

G.S. 47-82 Foreign probates omitting seals.

§ 47-82.  Foreign probates omitting seals. In all cases where the acknowledgment, privy examination or other proof of the execution of any instrument authorized or required  to be registered has been taken by or before any ambassador, minister, consul, vice-consul, vice-consul general or commercial agent of the United States in any country beyond the limits of the United States, and such instrument has heretofore been recorded in any county in this State, but the official before whom it was taken has omitted to attach his seal of office, or it does not appear of record that such seal was attached to the instrument, or such official has certified the same as under his "official seal" or seal of his office, or words of similar import, and no such seal appears of record, then all such acknowledgments, privy examinations or other proof of such instruments, and the registration thereof, are hereby made in all respects valid, and such instruments, after the ratification hereof, shall be competent to be read in evidence. (1913, c. 69, s. 1; C.S., s. 3363.)

G.S. 47-83 Before consuls general.

§ 47-83.  Before consuls general. Any deed or other instrument permitted by law to be registered, and which has prior to the thirteenth day of October, 1913, been proved or acknowledged before a "consul general," is validated; and its registration is authorized and validated. (Ex. Sess. 1913, c. 72, s. 2; C.S., s. 3364.)

G.S. 47-84 Before vice-consuls and vice-consuls general.

§ 47-84.  Before vice-consuls and vice-consuls general. The order for registration by the clerk of the superior court and the registration thereof of all deeds of conveyance and other instruments in any county of this State prior to January 1, 1905, upon the certificate of any vice-consul or vice-consul general of the United States residing in a foreign country, certifying in due form under his name and the official seal of the United States consul or United States consul general of the same place and country where such vice-consul or vice-consul general resided and acted, that he has taken the proof or acknowledgments of the parties to such instruments, together with the privy examinations of married women parties thereto, are hereby, together with such proof and acknowledgments, privy examinations and certificates, validated. (1905, c. 451, s. 2; Rev., s. 1024; C.S., s. 3365.)

G.S. 47-85 Before masters in chancery.

§ 47-85.  Before masters in chancery. All probates, acknowledgments, and private examinations of  deeds and conveyances of land heretofore taken before masters in equity or masters in chancery in any other state are declared to be valid, and all registrations of such deeds or conveyances upon such probates, acknowledgments and private examinations, or any of them, are hereby declared to be sufficient. All such deeds and conveyances and registration thereof, and all certified copies of such registrations, shall be received in evidence or otherwise used in the  same manner and with the same force and effect as other deeds and conveyances with probates, acknowledgments, or private examinations made in accordance with provisions of statutes of this State in force at the time and as registrations thereof and certified copies of such registrations. Nothing in this section contained shall have effect to deprive anyone of any legal rights acquired, before its passage, from the grantors in such deeds or conveyances subsequently to their execution, where the deeds or conveyances by which such rights were acquired have been duly acknowledged or probated and registered. (1911, c. 10; C.S., s. 3366.)

G.S. 47-85.1 Further as to acknowledgments, etc., before masters in chancery.

§ 47-85.1.  Further as to acknowledgments, etc., before masters in chancery. All probates, acknowledgments and privy examinations of deeds, mortgages and conveyances of land, which prior to January 1, 1948 have been taken before masters in equity or masters in chancery in any other state, are hereby declared to be valid, and all registrations of such deeds, mortgages or conveyances upon such probates, acknowledgments and private examinations, or any of them are hereby declared to be sufficient and valid. All such deeds and conveyances and registration thereof, and all certified copies of such registrations shall be received in evidence or otherwise used in the same manner and with the same force and effect as other deeds, mortgages and conveyances with probates, acknowledgments, or private examinations made in accordance with the provisions of statutes and laws of this State in force at the time, and as registrations thereof and certified copies of such registrations. (1953, c. 1136.)

G.S. 47-86 Validation of probate of deeds by clerks of courts of record of other states, where official seal is omitted.

§ 47-86.  Validation of probate of deeds by clerks of courts of record of other states, where official seal is omitted. In all cases where, prior to the first day of January, 1891, the acknowledgment, privy examination of a married woman, or other proof of the execution of any deed, mortgage, or other instrument authorized to be registered has been taken before a clerk of a court of record in another state, and such clerk has failed or neglected to affix his official seal to his certificate of such acknowledgment, privy examination, or other proof of execution, of such deed, mortgage or other instrument, or where such court had no official seal and no official seal was affixed to such certificate by reason of that fact, and such deed, mortgage, or other instrument has been ordered to registration by the clerk of the superior court of any county in this State and has been registered, the probate of any and every such deed, mortgage, or other instrument authorized to be registered shall be and hereby is to all intents and purposes validated. (1921, c. 15, ss. 1, 2; C.S., s. 3366(a).)

G.S. 47-87 Validation of probates by different officers of deeds by wife and husband.

§ 47-87.  Validation of probates by different officers of deeds by wife and husband. In all cases where, prior to the second day of March, 1895, the acknowledgment, privy examination of a married woman, or other proof of the execution of any deed, mortgage, or other instrument, authorized to be registered, executed by husband and wife, has been taken as to the husband and wife in different states and by different  officers having power to take acknowledgments, any and every such acknowledgment, privy examination of a married woman, or other proof of execution, and the probate of any and every such deed, mortgage or other instrument shall be and hereby is, to all intents and purposes validated. (1921, c. 19, ss. 1, 4; C.S., s. 3366(b).)

G.S. 47-88 Registration without formal order validated.

§ 47-88.  Registration without formal order validated. In all cases where the acknowledgment, privy examination of a married woman, or other proof of the execution of any deed, mortgage or other instrument, authorized to be registered, has been taken before a commissioner in another state appointed by the probate judge of any county of this State, under the provisions of section 20 of Chapter 35 of Battle's Revisal, during the time said Chapter remained in force and effect, and such commissioner has certified to such acknowledgment, privy examination or other proof, and has returned such deed, mortgage or other instrument to said probate judge, with his certificate endorsed thereon, and such deed, mortgage or other instrument, together with such certificate, has been registered, without any adjudication or order of registration by such probate judge, the probate and registration of any and every such deed shall be, and hereby are, to all intents and purposes validated. (1921, c. 19, ss. 2, 4; C.S., s. 3366(c).)

G.S. 47-89 Same subject.

§ 47-89.  Same subject. In all cases where any deed, mortgage or other instrument has heretofore been acknowledged or probated in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 47-87 and 47-88, and such deed, mortgage or other instrument has been registered, without any order of registration by the probate judge or clerk of the superior court appearing thereon, the probate and registration of any and every such deed, mortgage or other instrument shall be, and hereby is, to all intents and purposes validated. (1921, c. 19, ss. 3, 4; C.S., s. 3366(d).)

G.S. 47-90 Validation of acknowledgments taken by notaries public holding other office.

§ 47-90.  Validation of acknowledgments taken by notaries public holding other office. In every case where deeds or other instruments have been acknowledged before a notary public, when the notary public, at the time was also holding some other office, and the deed or other instrument has been duly probated and recorded, such acknowledgment taken by such notary public is hereby declared to be sufficient and valid. (1921, c. 21; C.S., s. 3366(e).)

G.S. 47-91 Validation of certain probates of deeds before consular agents of the United States.

§ 47-91.  Validation of certain probates of deeds before consular agents of the United States. In all cases where the acknowledgment, privy examination of a married woman, or other proof of the execution of any deed, mortgage or other instrument authorized or required to be registered has been taken before any consular agent of the United States, during the time Chapter 35 of Battle's Revisal remained in force and effect, and such acknowledgment, privy examination, or other proof of the execution of such deed, mortgage, or other instrument is in other respects regular and in proper form, and such deed, mortgage, or other instrument has been duly ordered to registration and registered in the proper county, the acknowledgment, probate, and registration of any and every such deed, mortgage, or other instrument is hereby validated as fully and to the same effect as though such acknowledgment, privy examination, or other proof of execution had been taken before one of the officers named in subsection five of section two of said Chapter 35 of Battle's Revisal. (1921, c. 157; C.S., s. 3366(f).)

G.S. 47-92 Probates before stockholders and directors of banks.

§ 47-92.  Probates before stockholders and directors of banks. No acknowledgment or proof of execution, including privy examination of married women, of any mortgage, or deed of trust executed to secure the payment of any indebtedness to any banking corporation shall be held invalid by reason of the fact that the officer taking such acknowledgment, proof, or privy examination was a stockholder or director in such banking corporation. (1923, c. 17; C.S., s. 3366(g); 2013-204, s. 1.28.)

G.S. 47-93 Acknowledgments taken by stockholder, officer, or director of bank.

§ 47-93.  Acknowledgments taken by stockholder, officer, or director of bank. No acknowledgment or proof of execution, including privy examination of married women, of any mortgage or deed of trust executed to secure the payment of any indebtedness to any banking corporation shall be held invalid by reason of the fact that the officer taking such acknowledgment, proof, or privy examination was a stockholder, officer, or director in such banking corporation. (Ex. Sess. 1924, c. 68; 2013-204, s. 1.29.)

G.S. 47-94 Acknowledgment and registration by officer or stockholder in building and loan or savings and loan association.

§ 47-94.  Acknowledgment and registration by officer or stockholder in building and loan or savings and loan association. All acknowledgments and proofs of execution, including privy examination of married women, of any mortgage or deed of trust executed to secure the payment of any indebtedness to any State or federal building and loan or savings and loan association shall not be, nor held to be, invalid by reason of the fact that the clerk of the superior court, justice of the peace, notary public, or other officer taking such acknowledgment, proof of execution or privy examination, was an officer or stockholder in such building and loan association; but such proofs and acknowledgments of all such instruments, and the registration thereof, if in all other respects valid, are hereby declared to be valid. Nor shall the registration of any such mortgage or deed of trust ordered to be registered by the clerk of the superior court, or by any deputy or assistant clerk of the superior court, be or held to be invalid by reason of the fact that the clerk of the superior court, or deputy, or assistant clerk of the superior court, ordering such mortgages or deeds of trust to be registered was an officer or stockholder in any State or federal building and loan or savings and loan association, whose indebtedness is secured in and by such mortgage or deed of trust. (Ex. Sess. 1924, c. 108; 1929, c. 146, s. 1; 1959, c. 489; 2013-204, s. 1.30.)

G.S. 47-95 Acknowledgments taken by notaries interested as trustee or holding other office.

§ 47-95.  Acknowledgments taken by notaries interested as trustee or holding other office. In every case where deeds and other instruments have been acknowledged and privy examination of wives had before notaries public, or justices of the peace, prior to October 1, 1991, when the notary public or justice of the peace at the time was interested as trustee in said instrument or at the time was also holding some other office, and the deed or other instrument has been duly probated and recorded, such acknowledgment and privy examination taken by such notary public or justice of the peace is hereby declared to be sufficient and valid. (1923, c. 61; C.S., s. 3366(h); 1931, cc. 166, 438; 1939, c. 321; 1955, c. 696; 1957, c. 1270; 1959, c. 81; 1969, c. 639, s. 1; 1975, c. 320, s. 1; 2013-204, s. 1.31.)

G.S. 47-96 Validation of instruments registered without probate.

§ 47-96.  Validation of instruments registered without probate. In every case where it shall appear from the records in the office of the register of deeds of any county in the State that any instrument of writing required or allowed by law to be registered prior to January 1, 1869, without any acknowledgment, proof, privy examination, or probate, or upon a defective acknowledgment, proof, privy examination, or probate, the record of such instrument may, notwithstanding, be read in evidence in any of the courts of this State, if otherwise competent. (1923, c. 215, s. 1; C.S., s. 3366(i).)

G.S. 47-97 Validation of corporate deed with mistake as to officer's name.

§ 47-97.  Validation of corporate deed with mistake as to officer's name. In all cases where the deed of a corporation executed before April 1, 2021, is properly executed, properly recorded and there is error in the probate of the corporation's deed as to the name or names of the officers in the probate, the deed has the same force and effect as if the probate were in every way proper. (1933, c. 412, s. 1; 2013-204, s. 1.32; 2021-91, s. 4(i).)

G.S. 47-97.1 Validation of corporate deeds containing error in acknowledgment or probate.

§ 47-97.1.  Validation of corporate deeds containing error in acknowledgment or probate. In all cases where the deed of a corporation executed and filed for registration prior to April 1, 2021, is properly executed and properly recorded, and there is error in the acknowledgment or probate of the corporation's deed as to the name or names of the officer or officers named and error as to the title or titles of the officer or officers named, the deed has the same force and effect as if the probate or acknowledgment were in every way proper. (1951, c. 825; 2013-204, s. 1.33; 2021-91, s. 4(j).)

G.S. 47-98 Registration on defective probates beyond State.

§ 47-98.  Registration on defective probates beyond State. In every case where it shall appear from the records in the office of the register of deeds of any county in this State that any instrument required or allowed by law to be registered, bearing date prior to the year 1835, executed by any person or persons residing in any of the United States, other than this State, or in any of the territories of the United States, or in the District of Columbia, has  been proven or acknowledged, or the privy examination of any feme covert taken thereto, before any officer or person authorized by any of the laws of this State in force prior to the said year 1835 to take such proofs, privy examinations and acknowledgments, and the said instrument has been registered in the proper county without the certificate of the Governor of the state or territory in which such proofs, acknowledgments or privy examinations were taken, or of the Secretary of State of the United States, when such certificate or certificates were required, as to the official character of the person taking such acknowledgment, proof or privy examination, as aforesaid, and without an order of registration made by a court or judge in this State having jurisdiction to make such order, then and in all such cases such proofs, privy examinations, acknowledgments and registrations are hereby in all respects fully validated and confirmed and declared to be sufficient in law, and such instruments so registered may be read in evidence in any of the courts of this State. (1923, c. 215, ss. 2, 3; C.S., s. 3366(j).)

G.S. 47-99 Certificates of clerks without seal.

§ 47-99.  Certificates of clerks without seal. All certificates of acknowledgment and all verifications of pleadings, affidavits, and other instruments executed by clerks of the superior court of the State prior to March 1, 1945, and which do not bear the official seal of such clerks, are hereby validated in all cases in which the instruments bearing such acknowledgment or certification are filed or recorded in any county in the State other than the county in which the clerk executing such certificates of acknowledgment or verifications resides, and such acknowledgments and verifications are hereby made and declared to be binding, valid and effective to the same extent and in the same manner as if said official seal had been affixed. (1925, c. 248; 1945, c. 798.)

G.S. 47-100 Acknowledgments taken by officer who was grantor.

§ 47-100.  Acknowledgments taken by officer who was grantor. In all cases where a deed or deeds dated prior to the first day of January, 1980, purporting to convey lands, have been registered in the office of the register of deeds of the county where the lands conveyed in said deed or deeds are located, prior to said first day of January, 1980, and the acknowledgments or proof of execution of such deed or deeds has been taken as to some of the grantors by an officer who was himself one of the grantors named in such deed or deeds, such defective execution, acknowledgment and proof of execution and probate of such deed or deeds thereon and the registration thereof as above described, shall be, and the same are hereby declared to be in all respects valid, and such deed or deeds shall be declared to be in all respects duly executed, probated and recorded to the same effect as if such officer taking such proof or acknowledgment of execution had not been named as a grantor therein, or in anywise interested therein. (1929, c. 48, s. 1; 1953, c. 986; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 1030, s. 51.8.)

G.S. 47-101 Seal of acknowledging officer omitted; deeds made presumptive evidence.

§ 47-101.  Seal of acknowledging officer omitted; deeds made presumptive evidence. In all cases where deeds appear to have been executed for land prior to January 1, 1900, and appear to have been recorded in the offices of the registers of deeds in the proper counties in this State, and the same appear to have been acknowledged before commissioners of affidavits (or deeds) of North Carolina, residing in  the District of Columbia or elsewhere in the different states, or appear to have been recorded without any certificate being recorded on the record of such deed or deeds, such record or records shall be presumptive evidence of the execution of such deed or deeds by the grantor or the grantors to the grantee or grantees therein named for the lands therein described, and the record of such deed or deeds may  be offered or read in evidence upon the trial or hearing of any cause  in any of the courts of this State as if the same had been properly probated and recorded: Provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall prevent such record or records from being attacked for fraud, and provided further that this section shall not apply to creditors or purchasers, but as to them the same shall stand as if this section had not been passed, and shall only apply to deeds executed prior to January 1, 1900. (1929, c. 14, s. 1.)

G.S. 47-102 Absence of notarial seal.

§ 47-102.  Absence of notarial seal. Any deed executed prior to October 1, 2005, and duly acknowledged before a North Carolina notary public, and the probate recites "witness my hand and notarial seal," or words of similar import, and no seal was affixed to the said deed, shall be ordered registered by the clerk of the superior court of the county in which the land lies, upon presentation to him: Provided, the probate is otherwise in due form. (1935, c. 130; 1943, c. 472; 1945, c. 808, s. 3; 2013-204, s. 1.34.)

G.S. 47-103 Deeds probated and registered with notary's seal not affixed, validated.

§ 47-103.  Deeds probated and registered with notary's seal not affixed, validated. Any deed conveying or affecting real estate executed prior to January 1, 1932, and ordered registered and recorded in the county in which the land lies prior to said date, from which deed and the acknowledgment and privy examination thereof the seal of the notary public taking the acknowledgment or privy examination of the grantor or grantors thereof was omitted, is hereby declared to be sufficient and valid, and the probate and registration thereof are hereby in all respects validated and confirmed to the same effect as if the seal of said notary was affixed to the acknowledgment or privy examination thereof. (1941, c. 20.)

G.S. 47-104 Acknowledgments of notary holding another office.

§ 47-104.  Acknowledgments of notary holding another office. In every case where deeds or other instruments have been acknowledged before a notary public, when the notary public at the time was also holding some other office, and the deed or other instrument has been duly probated and recorded, such acknowledgment taken by such notary public is hereby declared to be sufficient and valid. (1935, c. 133; 1937, c. 284.)

G.S. 47-105 Acknowledgment and private examination of married woman taken by officer who was grantor.

§ 47-105.  Acknowledgment and private examination of married woman taken by officer who was grantor. In all cases where a deed or deeds of mortgages or other conveyances of land dated prior to the first day of January, 1926, purporting to convey lands have been registered in the office of the register of deeds of the county where the lands conveyed in said deeds are located prior to said first day of January, 1926, and the acknowledgments or proof of execution of such deed or deeds and the private examination of any married woman who is a grantor in such deed or deeds have been taken as to some of the grantors, and the private examination of any married woman grantor in such deed has been taken by an officer who was himself one of the grantors named in such deed or deeds, such defective execution, acknowledgment, proof of execution and the private examination of such married woman, evidenced by the certificate thereof on such deed and the registration thereof as above described and set forth, shall be and the same are hereby declared to be in all respects valid, and such deed or deeds or other conveyances of land are declared to be in all respects duly executed, probated and recorded to the same effect as if such officer taking such proof or acknowledgment of execution or taking the private examination of such married woman and certifying thereto upon such deed or deeds had not been named as grantor therein and had not been interested therein in any way whatsoever. (1937, c. 91.)

G.S. 47-106 Certain instruments in which clerk of superior court was a party, validated.

§ 47-106.  Certain instruments in which clerk of superior court was a party, validated. In all cases where a deed, or other conveyance of land dated prior to the first day of January, 1918, purporting to convey land, wherein the grantor or one of the grantors therein was at the time clerk of the superior court of the county where the land purporting to be conveyed was located, was acknowledged, proof of execution, privy examination of a married woman, and, or, order of registration had and taken before a deputy clerk of the superior court of said county, and the instrument registered upon the order of said deputy clerk of the superior court in the office of the register of deeds of said county, within two years from the date of said instrument, such instrument and its probate are hereby in all respects validated and confirmed; and such instrument, together with such defective acknowledgment, proof of execution, privy examination of a married woman, order of registration, and the certificate of such deputy clerk of the superior court, and the registration thereof, are hereby declared in all respects to be valid and binding upon the parties of such instrument and their privies, and such instrument so probated and recorded together with its certificates may be read in evidence as a muniment of title, for all intents and purposes, in any of the courts of this State. (1939, c. 261.)

G.S. 47-107 Validation of probate and registration of certain instruments where name of grantor omitted from record.

§ 47-107.  Validation of probate and registration of certain instruments where name of grantor omitted from record. Whenever any deed, deed of trust, conveyance or other instrument permitted by law to be registered in this State has been registered for a period of 21 years or more and a clerk of the superior court or a register of deeds has adjudged the certificate of the officer before whom the acknowledgment was taken to be in due form and correct and has ordered the instrument to be recorded, but the name of a grantor which appears in the body of the instrument and as a signer of the instrument has been omitted from the record of the certificate of the officer before whom the acknowledgment was taken, such deed, deed of trust, conveyance or other instrument shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly acknowledged, probated and recorded; provided this presumption shall not affect litigation instituted within 21 years after date of registration. (1941, c. 30; 1971, c. 825.)

G.S. 47-108 Acknowledgments before notaries under age.

§ 47-108.  Acknowledgments before notaries under age. All acts of notaries public for the State of North Carolina who were not yet 21 years of age at the time of the performance of such acts are hereby validated; and in every case where deeds or other instruments have been acknowledged before such notary public who was not yet 21 years of age at the time of taking of said acknowledgment,  such acknowledgment taken before such notary public is hereby declared to be sufficient and valid. (1941, c. 233.)

G.S. 47-108.1 Certain corporate deeds, etc., declared validly admitted to record.

§ 47-108.1.  Certain corporate deeds, etc., declared validly admitted to record. Deeds, conveyances and other instruments of writing of corporations entitled to registration, which have been heretofore duly executed in the manner required by law, by the proper officers of the  corporation, and which have prior to March 8, 1943, been admitted to registration, on the acknowledgment or proof of the proper executing officer, in the manner required by law, shall be, and the same are hereby declared to be, in all respects validly admitted to record, although such officer at the date of such acknowledgment or proof had ceased to be an officer of such corporation, or such corporation at the date of such acknowledgment or proof had ceased to exist. (1943, c. 598.)

G.S. 47-108.2 Acknowledgments and examinations before notaries holding some other office.

§ 47-108.2.  Acknowledgments and examinations before notaries holding some other office. In every case where deeds or other instruments have been acknowledged, and where privy examination of wives had, before a notary public, when the notary public at the time was also holding some other office, and the deed or other instrument has been otherwise duly probated and recorded, such acknowledgment taken by, and such privy examination had before such notary public is hereby declared to be sufficient and valid. (1945, c. 149.)

G.S. 47-108.3 Validation of acts of certain notaries public prior to November 26, 1921.

§ 47-108.3.  Validation of acts of certain notaries public prior to November 26, 1921. In all cases where prior to November 26, 1921, instruments by law, or otherwise, required, permitted or authorized to be registered, certified, probated, recorded or filed with certificates of notaries public showing the acknowledgments or proofs of execution thereof as required by the laws of the State of North Carolina have been registered, certified, probated, recorded or filed, such registration, certifications, probates, recordations and filings are hereby validated and made as good and sufficient as though such instruments had been in all respects properly registered, certified, probated, recorded or filed, notwithstanding there are no records in the office of the Governor of the State of North Carolina or in the office of the clerk of the superior court of the county in which such notaries public were to act that such persons acting as such notaries public had ever been appointed or subscribed written oaths or received any certificates or commissions or were qualified as notaries public at the time of the performance of the acts hereby validated. (1947, c. 102.)

G.S. 47-108.4 Acknowledgments, etc., of instruments of married women made since February 7, 1945.

§ 47-108.4.  Acknowledgments, etc., of instruments of married women made since February 7, 1945. All acknowledgments, probates and registrations of instruments wherein any married woman was a grantor, including deeds and mortgages on land, made since February 7, 1945, are hereby validated, approved and declared of full force and effect. (1947, c. 991, s. 2.)

G.S. 47-108.5 Validation of certain deeds executed in other states where seal omitted.

§ 47-108.5.  Validation of certain deeds executed in other states where seal omitted. All deeds to lands in North Carolina, executed prior to January 1, 1991, without seal attached to the maker's name, which deeds were acknowledged in another state, the laws of which do not require a seal for the validity of a conveyance of real property located in that state, and which deeds have been duly recorded in this State, shall be as valid to all intents and purposes as if the same had been executed under seal. (1949, cc. 87, 296; 1959, c. 797; 1983, c. 398, s. 6; 1985, c. 70, s. 6; 1987, c. 277, s. 6; 1989, c. 390, s. 6; 1991, c. 489, s. 6.)

G.S. 47-108.6 Validation of certain conveyances of foreign dissolved corporations.

§ 47-108.6.  Validation of certain conveyances of foreign dissolved corporations. In all cases when, prior to April 1, 2021, any dissolved foreign corporation has, prior to its dissolution, by deed of conveyance purported to convey real property in this State, and the instrument recites a consideration, is signed by the proper officers in the name of the corporation, sealed with the corporate seal and duly registered in the office of the register of deeds of the county where the land described in the instrument is located, but there is error in the attestation clause and acknowledgment in failing to identify the officers signing the deed and to recite that authority was duly given and that it was the act of the corporation, the deed has the same force and effect as if the attestation clause and acknowledgment were in every way proper. (1949, c. 1212; 2013-204, s. 1.35; 2021-91, s. 4(k).)

G.S. 47-108.7 Validation of acknowledgments, etc., by deputy clerks of superior court.

§ 47-108.7.  Validation of acknowledgments, etc., by deputy clerks of superior court. All acts heretofore performed by deputy clerks of the superior court in taking acknowledgments, examining witnesses and probating wills, deeds and other instruments required or permitted by law to be recorded are hereby validated: Provided, nothing in this section shall affect pending litigation. (1949, c. 1072.)

G.S. 47-108.8 Acts of registers of deeds or deputies in recording plats and maps by certain methods validated.

§ 47-108.8.  Acts of registers of deeds or deputies in recording plats and maps by certain methods validated. All acts heretofore performed by a register of deeds, or a deputy register of deeds in recording plats and maps by transcribing a correct copy thereof or permanently attaching the original to the records in a book designated "Book of Plats" is hereby validated the same as if said plats had been recorded as required by G.S. 47-30: Provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall affect pending litigation. (1949, c. 1073.)

G.S. 47-108.9 Validation of probate of instruments pursuant to § 47-12.

§ 47-108.9.  Validation of probate of instruments pursuant to § 47-12. The probates of all instruments taken on and after February 7, 1945, in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 47-12, as amended by section 11 of Chapter 73 of the Session Laws of 1945 and section 1  of Chapter 991 of the Session Laws of 1947 and as further amended by sections 2 and 3 of Chapter 815 of the Session Laws of 1949, are hereby in all respects validated; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to pending litigation. (1949, c. 815, s. 3.)

G.S. 47-108.10 Validation of registration of plats upon probate in accordance with § 47-30.

§ 47-108.10.  Validation of registration of plats upon probate in accordance with § 47-30. The registration of all plats which have prior to February 6, 1953, been admitted to registration upon probate thereof, in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 47-30 as amended by section 1 of Chapter 47 of the Session Laws of 1953, is hereby validated. (1953, c. 47, s. 2.)

G.S. 47-108.11 Validation of recorded instruments where seals have been omitted.

§ 47-108.11.  Validation of recorded instruments where seals have been omitted. In all cases of any deed, deed of trust, mortgage, lien, or other instrument authorized or required to be registered in the office of the register of deeds of any county in this State, where it appears of record or it appears that from the instrument, as recorded in the office of the register of deeds of any county in the State, that there has been omitted from the recorded or registered instrument the word "seal" or "notarial seal" and that any of the recorded or registered instruments shows or recites that the grantor or grantors "have hereunto fixed or set their hands and seals" and the signature of the grantor or grantors appears without a seal thereafter or on the recorded or registered instrument or in all cases where it appears there is an attesting clause that recites "signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of," and the signature of the grantor or grantors appears on the recorded or registered instrument without any seal appearing thereafter or of record, then all such deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, or other instruments, and their registration in the office of the register of deeds, are in all respects valid and binding and are in all respects valid and binding to the same extent as if the word "seal" or "notarial seal" had not been omitted, and the registration and recording of the instruments in the office of the register of deeds in any county in this State are valid, proper, legal, and binding registrations. This section does not apply in any respect to any instrument recorded or registered subsequent to April 1, 2021, or to pending litigation or to any instruments now directly or indirectly involved in pending litigation. (1953, c. 996; 1959, c. 1022; 1973, c. 519; c. 1207, s. 2; 1977, c. 165; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1185, s. 1; 1983, c. 398, s. 7; 1985, c. 70, s. 7; 1987, c. 277, s. 7; 1989, c. 390, s. 7; 1991, c. 489, s. 7; 1995, c. 163, s. 16; 1999-456, s. 12; 2013-204, s. 1.36; 2021-91, s. 4(l).)

G.S. 47-108.12 Validation of instruments acknowledged before United States commissioners.

§ 47-108.12.  Validation of instruments acknowledged before United States commissioners. All deeds, mortgages, or other instruments permitted or required by law to be registered, which prior to January 1, 1933, have been proved or acknowledged before a United States commissioner, or U.S. commissioner, are hereby in all respects validated as to such proof or acknowledgment, and all registrations of such deeds or conveyances, upon such probates, acknowledgments and private examinations, or any of them, are hereby declared to be sufficient and validated. (1953, c. 987.)

G.S. 47-108.13 Validation of certain instruments registered prior to January 1, 1934.

§ 47-108.13.  Validation of certain instruments registered prior to January 1, 1934. In all cases where prior to January 1, 1934 instruments by law required or authorized to be registered show the signatures and seal of each of the grantors therein and further show that each of such grantors has appeared before or signed such instruments in the presence of a notary public, justice of the peace or other person duly authorized to take acknowledgments, and such instruments have been ordered registered by the clerk of the superior court or other officer qualified to pass upon probate and admit instruments to registration, and actually put on the books in the office of the register of deeds, as if properly acknowledged, all such instruments and their registrations are hereby validated and made as good and sufficient as though such instruments had been in all respects properly acknowledged: Provided, that this section shall not apply to any privy examination or acknowledgment of a married woman. (1953, c. 1334.)

G.S. 47-108.14 Conveyances by the United States acting by and through the General Services Administration.

§ 47-108.14.  Conveyances by the United States acting by and through the General Services Administration. The United States of America, acting by and through the General Services Administration may convey lands and other property in the State of North Carolina which is transferable by deed, quitclaim deed, or other means of conveyances without the Regional Director or other duly authorized agent acting for and on behalf of the United States of America, adopting or placing a "seal," in any form, after the signature of the grantor's agent, or elsewhere on said deed, quitclaim deed, or other instrument, and the conveyances of the United States of America acting by and through the General Services Administration, and executed by its Regional Director or other duly authorized agent, although without a "seal" appearing thereon, shall be in all respects valid and binding to the same extent as if the word "seal" or some other type of seal, appeared after the signature of the grantor's agent, or elsewhere on said conveyances. All conveyances prior to April 19, 1955, where any deed, quitclaim  deed, or other instrument conveying land or other property in the State of North Carolina has been executed by the United States of America, by and through the General Services Administration, and said conveyances are authorized or required to be registered in the office of the register of deeds of any county in this State, and it appears from said instrument, or said instrument as recorded in the office of the register of deeds of any county in this State, that a seal has been omitted from said instruments, that notwithstanding the absence of a seal all such conveyances are hereby declared to be in all respects valid and binding to convey lands and property rights in the State of North Carolina to the grantees named therein, to the same extent as if the word "seal," or a seal in some other form, had appeared after the signature of the grantor's agent, or elsewhere on said conveyances, and the registration and recording of such conveyances in the office of the register of deeds in all counties in  this State are hereby declared to be valid, proper, legal and binding  registrations to the same extent as if such conveyances were executed  under seal. (1955, c. 629, s. 1.)

G.S. 47-108.15 Validation of registration of instruments filed before order of registration.

§ 47-108.15.  Validation of registration of instruments filed before order of registration. All deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, chattel mortgages, contracts and all other instruments required or permitted by law to be registered which have heretofore been accepted for filing and registration by registers of deeds on a date preceding the date of the clerk's order of registration are hereby validated, approved, confirmed and declared to be valid, proper, legal and binding registrations to the same extent as if such instruments had been accepted for filing and registration on the date of or subsequent to the date of the clerk's order of registration. (1957, c. 1430.)

G.S. 47-108.16 Validation of certain deeds executed by nonresident banks.

§ 47-108.16.  Validation of certain deeds executed by nonresident banks. All deeds and other conveyances of land in this State executed on behalf of banks not incorporated in the State of North Carolina, by a trust officer thereof, and properly recorded on or before December 31, 1963, which deeds are otherwise regular and valid, are hereby validated. (1965, c. 610.)

G.S. 47-108.17 Validation of certain deeds where official capacity not designated.

§ 47-108.17.  Validation of certain deeds where official capacity not designated. In all cases where an executor, executrix, administrator, administratrix, guardian or commissioner has executed a deed, deed of  trust or other instrument of conveyance permitted by law to be registered in this State and the granting clause of the instrument sets forth the official capacity of the grantor, neither the failure to redesignate the grantor's official capacity following his or her signature nor the failure to designate the official capacity of the grantor in the acknowledgment of the instrument shall invalidate the conveyance provided the instrument is otherwise properly executed. (1973, c. 1220, s. 1.)

G.S. 47-108.18 Registration of certain instruments containing a notarial jurat validated.

§ 47-108.18.  Registration of certain instruments containing a notarial jurat validated. A notarial jurat constitutes an acknowledgment in due form for all plats or maps that have heretofore been accepted for filing and registration under G.S. 47-30 as amended. No plat or map heretofore accepted for filing and registration, that contains a notarial jurat instead of an acknowledgment may be held to be improperly registered solely for lack of a proper acknowledgment. (1983, c. 391.)

G.S. 47-108.18A Registration of certain instruments containing a notarial acknowledgment.

§ 47-108.18A.  Registration of certain instruments containing a notarial acknowledgment. A notarial acknowledgment constitutes a jurat in due form for all instruments that have heretofore been accepted for filing and registration under this Chapter or which relate to real estate located within this State. (2013-204, s. 1.37.)

G.S. 47-108.18B Registration of certain instruments containing a notarial jurat.

§ 47-108.18B.  Registration of certain instruments containing a notarial jurat. A notarial jurat constitutes an acknowledgment in due form for all instruments that have heretofore been accepted for filing and registration under this Chapter or which relate to real estate located within this State. (2013-204, s. 1.37.)

G.S. 47-108.19 Validation of certain maps and plats that cannot be copied.

§ 47-108.19.  Validation of certain maps and plats that cannot be copied. All maps and plats registered before June 1, 1983, pursuant to G.S. 47-30 that met all of the requirements of that statute except  that they were not on a material from which legible copies could be made or did not contain the original of the surveyor's signature and acknowledgment are declared to be valid registrations. (1983, c. 756.)

G.S. 47-108.20 Validation of certain recorded instruments that were not acknowledged.

§ 47-108.20.  Validation of certain recorded instruments that were not acknowledged. All instruments recorded before April 1, 2021, that were not reexecuted and reacknowledged and that correct an obvious typographical or other minor error in a recorded instrument that was previously properly executed and acknowledged are valid instruments. (1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 842, s. 2; 2013-204, s. 1.38; 2021-91, s. 4(m).)

G.S. 47-108.21 Sales for 1930 on dates other than first Monday in June validated.

§ 47-108.21.  Sales for 1930 on dates other than first Monday in June validated. All sales of land for failure to pay taxes held or conducted by any sheriff or any tax collector of any county, city, town, or other municipality during the year 1930, on any day subsequent to or other than the first Monday in June of said year, are hereby approved, confirmed, validated, and declared to be proper, valid, and legal sales of such land and legally binding in all respects, and all certificates of sale made and issued upon and in accordance with such sales are hereby approved and validated to all intents and purposes with such full force and legal effect as if said sales had been held and conducted on said first Monday of June, 1930. (1931, c. 160; 1971, c. 806, s. 1; 1987, c. 777, s. 4(1).)

G.S. 47-108.22 Tax sales for 1931-32 on day other than law provides and certificates validated.

§ 47-108.22.  Tax sales for 1931-32 on day other than law provides and certificates validated. All sales of land for failure to pay taxes held or conducted by any sheriff or any tax collector of any county, city, town, or other municipality during the years 1931 and 1932, on any day subsequent to or other than the first Monday in June of said year, are hereby approved, confirmed, validated, and declared to be proper, valid, and legal sales of such land and legally binding in all respects, and all certificates of sale made and issued upon and in accordance with such sales approved and validated to all intents and purposes with such full force and legal effect as if said sales had been held and conducted on said first Monday of June, 1931 and 1932. (1933, c. 177; 1971, c. 806, s. 1; 1987, c. 777, s. 4(1).)

G.S. 47-108.23 Tax sales for 1933-34 and certificates validated.

§ 47-108.23.  Tax sales for 1933-34 and certificates validated. All sales of land for failure to pay taxes held or conducted by any sheriff or any tax collector of any county, city, town, or other municipality during the years 1933 and 1934, or on any date subsequent to or other than the date prescribed by law, and all certificates of sale executed and issued pursuant to and in accordance with such sales be and the same are hereby approved, confirmed, and validated and shall have the same force and legal effect as if said sales had been held and conducted on the date prescribed by law. The board of county commissioners of any county or the governing board of any city, town, or other municipality may by resolution order the sheriff or tax collecting officer of the said county, city, town, or other municipality to advertise in the manner provided by law and sell all land for the taxes of any year levied by the said county, city, town, or other municipality, which land has not heretofore been legally sold for the failure to pay said taxes. The sale or sales herein authorized shall be held not later than the first Monday in September 1935, and certificates of sale shall be issued in accordance with and pursuant to said sale or sales in the same manner as if said sale or sales had been held and conducted as provided by law. Any sale held and conducted under the provisions of this paragraph and all certificates issued pursuant to such a sale shall be and the same are hereby approved, confirmed, and validated and shall have the same force and legal effect as if said sale had been held and conducted on the date prescribed by law. All actions instituted in any county, city, town, or other municipality for the foreclosure of certificates of sale issued for the taxes of the years 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931 and 1932 subsequent to October 1, 1934, and all such actions instituted before October 1, 1935, shall be and the same are hereby approved, validated, and declared to be legally binding and of the same force and effect as if said actions were instituted prior to October 1, 1934: Provided, that this section shall not be construed to repeal any private or local act passed by the General Assembly of 1935. (1935, c. 331; 1971, c. 806, s. 1; 1987, c. 777, s. 4(1).)

G.S. 47-108.24 Notices of sale for taxes by publication validated.

§ 47-108.24.  Notices of sale for taxes by publication validated. All sales of real property under tax certificate foreclosures made between January 1, 1927, and March 13, 1937, where the original notice of sale was published for four successive weeks, and any notice of resale was published for two successive weeks, preceding said sales, whether the notice of sale was required to be published in a newspaper or at courthouse door, or both, shall be, and the same are in all respects validated as to publication of said notice: Provided said publication was completed as above set out within 10 days of the date of the sale. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the Counties of Alleghany, Beaufort, Cabarrus, Camden, Carteret, Caswell, Currituck, Halifax, Harnett, Henderson, Hertford, Hyde, Iredell, Johnston, Jones, Macon, Mitchell, Moore, Nash, New Hanover, Perquimans, Pitt, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Scotland, Surry, Wake, Warren, Washington, and Wayne. (1937, c. 128; 1971, c. 806, s. 1; 1987, c. 777, s. 4(1).)

G.S. 47-108.25 Validation of sales and resales held pursuant to § 105-374.

§ 47-108.25.  Validation of sales and resales held pursuant to § 105-374. All sales or resales held prior to April 14, 1951, pursuant to G.S. 105-374, where the advertisement was in accordance with G.S. 1-327 and 1-328 as provided by such sections prior to their repeal, are validated to the same extent as if such advertisement were in accordance with Article 29A of Chapter 1 of the General Statutes; and all such sales, where the provisions of G.S. 45-28 as to resales, as provided by such section prior to its repeal, were followed, are validated to the same extent as if the resale procedure provided for in Article 29A of Chapter 1 of the General Statutes had been followed. (1951, c. 1036, s. 2; 1971, c. 806, s. 1; 1987, c. 777, s. 4(1).)

G.S. 47-108.26 Validation of reconveyances of tax foreclosed property by county boards of commissioners.

§ 47-108.26.  Validation of reconveyances of tax foreclosed property by county boards of commissioners. The action of county boards of commissioners taken prior to March 20, 1951, reconveying tax foreclosed property by private sale to the former owners or other interested parties for amounts not less than such counties' interest therein is hereby ratified, confirmed, and validated. (1951, c. 300, s. 2; 1971, c. 806, s. 1; 1987, c. 777, s. 4.)

G.S. 47-108.27 Title to real property affected by boundary certification; liens.

§ 47-108.27.  Title to real property affected by boundary certification; liens. (a) Title to real property previously treated as being subject to the jurisdiction of the State of South Carolina but that is recognized as being within the boundaries of this State as a result of the certification of the boundary is not affected by the certification of the boundary or the recognition of the real property as being within the boundaries of this State. All conveyances and instruments of title, of any sort, made prior to the certification of the boundary shall be recognized and given full faith and credit in this State according to the law, jurisdiction, and terms in effect at the time of the conveyance in the jurisdiction the property was previously treated as being subject to. For the purposes of this subsection, "instruments of title" means any instrument that affects title or constitutes the chain of title to real property, including, but not limited to, all deeds, wills, estate documents evidencing transfer of title, plats, surveys, easements, rights-of-way, outstanding mortgages and deeds of trust, judicial orders or decrees, and documents evidencing intestate succession. (b) Liens recorded prior to the date of boundary certification with the register of deeds or docketed with the clerk of superior court in the county in this State where the affected parcel is situated shall attach, as a class, to the affected parcel as of the effective date and time of the boundary certification. This class of liens shall be assigned priority as of the date of boundary certification but shall retain the same priority among themselves as if this subsection did not apply. (2016-23, ss. 3(c), (d).)

G.S. 47-108.28 Seven-year curative statute.

§ 47-108.28.  Seven-year curative statute. (a) An instrument conveying or purporting to convey an interest in real property that contains a defect, irregularity, or omission shall be deemed effective to vest title as stated therein and to the same extent as though the instrument had not contained the material defect, irregularity, or omission, if both of the following conditions are met: (1) The instrument is recorded by the register of deeds in the county or counties where the property is situated. (2) The material defect, irregularity, or omission is not corrected within seven years after the instrument was recorded. The proper recordation and indexing of a curative instrument or a notice of lis pendens shall toll the seven-year curative period. (b) For the purposes of this section only, an instrument shall be deemed to contain a "defect, irregularity, or omission" when any of the following conditions are met: (1) The recorded instrument lacks any of the following: a. A properly executed form of acknowledgment as provided under Article 3 of this Chapter or Chapter 10B of the General Statutes. b. The proper recital of consideration paid. c. The residence of a party. d. The address of the property. e. The address of a party. f. The date of the instrument. g. The date of any instrument or obligation secured by the instrument. h. The proper affixation of seal by any person authorized to execute an instrument by virtue of an office or appointment held by the grantor that is required to affix the seal to the recorded instrument under applicable law. (2) The name of a grantor, trustor, mortgagor, assignor, borrower, or other person with an interest in the property does not appear in any part of the instrument, but the person executed the instrument without limitation or qualification. The person who executed the instrument without limitation or qualification shall be deemed to have conveyed or encumbered (as applicable) any interest or right such person then had in the property conveyed or encumbered by the terms of the instrument. (c) Nothing in this section is intended to modify any provisions of law pertaining to the competency or infancy of the grantor or the provisions of Chapter 22 of the General Statutes or to limit any remedies available under the laws of this State. (2017-110, s. 3; 2021-91, s. 12.)
Source: North Carolina General Assembly (ncleg.gov)URL: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByChapter/Chapter_47.htmlFetched: 10/19/2026

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