(A) The County Register of Deeds shall refuse to record any deeds or other instrument of conveyance (other than a deed of trust or mortgage) until tax information as described herein shall have been presented to the Register of Deeds, along with the deed or other conveyance.
(B) Information to be obtained on behalf of the Tax Administrator by the Register of Deeds shall include the following items:
(1) Name of the seller or grantor;
(2) Name of the buyer or grantee; and
(3) Current, correct, and complete mailing address of the grantee.
(C) A violation of this section by providing false or misleading information to the Register of Deeds in order to have a deed recorded shall be a Class 3 misdemeanor and punishable as by law provided in G.S. § 14-4.
(D) Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, the Register of Deeds may record a deed without the current mailing address of the grantee when he or she finds that the overriding public interest requires that the deed be immediately recorded. Provided, however, that the current mailing address of the grantee is obtained within 30 days thereafter and duly furnished to the Tax Administrator.
(E) This section shall be effective 2-1-1988.
(Ord. passed 12-21-1987; Ord. passed 3-21-2022)