On January 1, 1998, the name of the office changed from Register of Mesne Conveyances (RMC) to Register of Deeds (ROD). Current office holders, whether appointed or elected, were authorized to keep the name of ROD during their tenure in office, however, after their term, the name is to change to ROD.

The Code of Laws of South Carolina sets out the duties of the Register of Deeds. The proper recording of documents provides notice to subsequent purchasers or creditors of the interests of others in the property and establishes priority of claims against that property. Generally, all instruments conveying an interest in real property must be recorded in that county's Register of Deeds in order to be valid. Other documents of public interest may also be recorded by the Register of Deeds.

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As of November 1, 2019 state tax liens are listed on the South Carolina Department of Revenue's State Tax Lien Registry. State tax liens will no longer be reported and filed in county offices. The SCDOR State Tax Lien Registry is available at dor.sc.gov/LienRegistry.

The Register of Deeds exists as a separate governmental office in 23 counties in South Carolina. In Anderson, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Georgetown, Horry,  Jasper,  Kershaw, Lancaster, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Spartanburg and Sumter, the position is appointed by the governing body. In the counties of Aiken, Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester, Greenville and Lexington, the holder of the office is elected. In the remaining 23 counties, the functions are performed by the elected Clerk of Court.

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Our department has both online terminals and index books for the research of records. All documents are recorded on the same day they are brought into the office. Originals will be mailed out three (3) to five (5) business days from the recorded date. Please see the link below for all requirements and fees for any document recorded in this office. 

 

DOR Recording Fee Policies

Register of Deeds Fees List

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Any ROD documents or Common Pleas cases brought in for recording after 4 p.m. will not be clocked or recorded until the following day. These documents may not be available on this website for up to one work week. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the recording of these documents, please feel free to contact our office.