Page 8 - Guilford County ROD Process Reengineering

Background

The Register of Deeds office is to record, preserve, maintain and provide access to real

estate and vital records in an effective and efficient manner in accordance with North Carolina

General Statute (https://www.guilfordcountync.gov/our-county/register-of-deeds/about-

us/message-from-jeff-thigpen). The first land record filed in the Guilford County Register of

Deeds office came into the office on May 4, 1771. Historically, our office has provided a place to

record a land transfer in a book with the names of the parties, terms of sale and payment and

descriptions of the property. In this space, we are a place to determine who owns what, that

parties are who they say they are, and essential to plainness in fair dealing. In sum, Register of

Deeds offices are essential to democracy, commerce, and the rule of law.

DRAFT
Guilford County was established in 1771 by the North Carolina General Assembly. Today,

the county’s population is nearly 500,000. The Register of Deeds is one of the few counties in

North Carolina with two major urban cities: High Point and Greensboro. We have two offices

and process about 110,000 land record documents each year. In addition, the office issues

marriage licenses, certified birth and death certificates and military discharges. Guilford County

Register of Deeds Jeff Thigpen has a staff of 25 employees and a $1.6 million fiscal year budget.

https://www.guilfordcountync.gov/our-county/register-of-deeds/about-us/rod-history Guilford

County’s ROD has two offices located in Greensboro and High Point. The NC State Statute

dictates the amounts of fees charged for specific services.

I5O Consulting Services interviewed several individuals at the Guilford County’s Register

of Deeds to determine current processes and procedures. In our examination, I5O noted the

Register of Deeds maintain adequate controls over managing their transactional processes.

Controls appear to be adequate and reasonably accurate and reliable. The automated system

appears to be reliable but requires additional user utilization to gain and strengthen operational

efficiencies. In addition, the system infrastructure and data security and integrity improvements

will augment accountability and ensure appropriate segregation of duties.

8