About the Office

About the Office of the Register of Deeds

The Register of Deeds is an elected county office, chosen directly by the citizens of the county to serve a four-year term of office. The Register of Deeds is responsible for providing the proper and safe repository of deeds and other instruments affecting property or personal status (such as, birth certificates and other vital records). The Register of Deeds reports to the County Manager and Board of County Commissioners after his/her election. If a vacancy should occur in the office, the Board of Commissioners appoints a successor for the unexpired term.

It is the duty of the Register to record and index all real estate deeds, plats and maps, deeds of trust, mortgages, financial statements, conditional sale agreements, and other personal property. Because these records are so important, they are kept in vaults in the courthouse.

In addition to the preceding duties, other papers are recorded and indexed, such as discharge certificates of persons who have served in the armed forces. Moreover, cancellations of mortgages, involving real and personal property, and cancellations of other claims previously recorded are entered on the recorded copies of the mortgages and claims. The Register of Deeds assists the public in finding records in which they are interested and makes certified copies of deeds, instruments, and other papers upon request.

The Register of Deeds is responsible for issuing marriage licenses and is also required to record and index marriage licenses. Other vital records, such as birth and death certificates, are also recorded and indexed in the office.  

Persons offering deeds and other instruments for recording, or otherwise using the services of the Register of Deeds, are charged fees for the services. These fees are much larger than the operating budget for the office and thus provide revenues for the General Fund. Please call 704-862-7687 for further information.

About Register of Deeds Susan S. Lockridge

Susan was first elected as Register of Deeds in 2004 and has faithfully served the citizens of Gaston County since that time. Prior to her election as Register, she worked in the Register of Deeds office as a Certified Assistant and Certified Deputy to the Register of Deeds.

Susan has served in various positions with the North Carolina Register of Deeds Association, including Chairman for the District II NCARD and president of the State Association. She has also served on multiple committees such as the Vital Record Committee, Legislative Committee, and Education Committee. For her service, in 2016, Susan was named Outstanding Register of Deeds from the NC Association of County Commissioners, and she received the Eunice Ayers Distinguished Service Award from her peers of the NC Register of Deeds Association.

During her spare time, Susan volunteers with multiple community organizations, serving 15 years with the Meals on Wheels program in the Dallas community, serving as a Tiger Cub Leader for the Boy Scouts, and Treasurer for the North Carolina Federation of Republican Women. She also serves at the St. John's Lutheran Church on the Church Council, Endowment Committee, and as a Vacation Bible School teacher.