Breakfast Recap: Why The Register of Deeds Office Is Important
At this morning’s breakfast sponsored by Lexington Medical Center, Tina Guerry, Register of Deeds for Lexington County, spoke to members about her office
and its role in our community.
So how did the Register of Deeds office come to exist? During the Civil War, Sherman and his troops came through Lexington County on their way to the Capital.
They left behind a path of destruction by burning down the Court House that held the vital land records of that time. The current ROD office has original
land records dating back to the mid 1800’s. The Register of Deeds office in 23 counties are separate government offices with 6 of these being elected
and 17 being appointed offices. The remaining counties perform the Register of Deeds functions under the elected Clerk of Court office.1976 Home Rule
Act –SC Code of Laws 30-5-10
Why is the Register of Deeds Office Important? The office aids in the legal transfer of property, liens on property and property divided by family but
never recorded all while preserving the integrity of these documents.
at the office is a daily occurrence. The staff is cross trained in all areas of the office and includes members who bring 26 years of experience to
this office.
- Deeds, Deeds of Distribution, Title to Real Estate, Quit Claim Deeds
- Easements and Right of Ways
- Federal & State Tax Liens – (satisfactions and withdrawals, releases, expungements)
- Mechanics Lien
- Mortgages – (assignments, satisfactions, modifications, releases)
- Plats ( One plot, Subdivision)
- Power of Attorneys (Revocations)
- UCC Finance Statements- Uniform Commercial Code
- ( Only related to Real Property all other UCC’s are filed in the Secretary of State Office)
- Performs all duties pertaining to recording of real property documents, (deeds, mortgages, plats, etc.)
- Performs duty by making documents available to the public ( In office and Online)
- Perform all duties for recording state and federal tax liens
- Perform all duties for recording of mechanics liens
- Maintain and Preserve all land records for Lexington County
- Assist our citizens and other users with obtaining copies of all documents pertaining to real property.
- Collects the state and county mandated deed stamp fees for deeds and easements
- Provides integration with eRecording partners for electronic submittals
Moving forward, the Register of Deeds will be making improvements including increased eRecording, implementing new software, scanning older records for
preservation and so residents can access them electronically and the electronic transfer of oversized plats to the SC Archives.
Join us at our next
breakfast on Tuesday, April 9 at 7:30 a.m. at RADIUS Church where Columbia Metropolitan Airport Executive Director Mike Gulla will make the keynote address.