Aug112025
Probate Q&A Series

What steps do I need to take to re-record or update a joint survivorship deed after co-owners died? — North Carolina

Short Answer

In North Carolina, you generally do not “re-record” a deed. If the property was held as joint tenants with right of survivorship (or by spouses as tenants by the entirety), title passes to the survivor(s) automatically at death. To update the land records, record a certified death certificate (and often an affidavit of survivorship) with the county Register of Deeds. If all co-owners have died, title ends up in the last survivor’s estate, and you’ll clear title through that estate (not by re-recording the old deed).

How North Carolina Law Applies

North Carolina treats survivorship differently depending on how the deed was written. Spouses usually own as “tenants by the entirety,” which carries survivorship by law. Other co-owners can have survivorship only if the deed expressly says so; otherwise, it’s a tenancy in common and each person’s share goes through their estate at death. When survivorship applies and a co-owner dies, the survivor becomes the owner by operation of law. To reflect that in the public record, you record proof of death (and, in many counties, a brief affidavit reciting the original deed, the deaths, and who remains).

If multiple co-owners died, you determine who survived whom. If at least one owner survived the others by 120 hours, survivorship operates as usual. If deaths were essentially simultaneous or no one survived by 120 hours, survivorship can fail and each decedent’s share passes through their estate, which means you’ll need estate documents or personal representative deeds to complete the chain of title. If all co-owners are now deceased, title rests in the last survivor’s estate and must be transferred out of that estate by will or intestacy.

Key Requirements

  • Confirm how the deed was titled: tenants by the entirety (spouses), joint tenants with right of survivorship (express wording), or tenants in common (no survivorship).
  • Have a certified copy of each deceased co-owner’s death certificate.
  • Use an affidavit of survivorship where appropriate (many counties accept a short notarized affidavit referencing the book/page of the deed, naming deceased owners, dates of death, and identifying the surviving owner).
  • If all co-owners are deceased, open the last survivor’s estate (or rely on a probated will already of record) and convey by personal representative’s deed or by heirs’/devisees’ deed.
  • Apply the 120-hour survivorship rule when deaths are close in time; if it applies, each decedent’s share is handled through their estate rather than by survivorship.

Process & Timing

  1. Pull the recorded deed. Confirm the exact vesting language (e.g., “as joint tenants with right of survivorship” or “husband and wife”).
  2. Collect certified death certificates. You’ll need one for each deceased co-owner.
  3. If survivorship applies and at least one owner is alive: record the death certificate(s) in the county Register of Deeds where the property sits. Many counties also accept or prefer a survivorship affidavit referencing the original deed book/page.
  4. Ask the county tax office to update the tax listing to the surviving owner(s). Provide the recorded document numbers and legal description/parcel ID.
  5. If all co-owners have died: determine who died last. Open or use the last survivor’s estate. Record certified death certificates for prior deceased owners to document the chain. Transfer title from the last survivor’s estate by executor/administrator’s deed, or by devisees’/heirs’ deed if the estate is closed and title has vested.
  6. If deaths were nearly simultaneous or order is unclear: apply the 120-hour rule and handle each decedent’s share through their estate. You may need parallel estate deeds to reunify title.
  7. Out-of-state probate for the last survivor: record an exemplified copy of the out-of-state probate and will in the North Carolina county where the land is located, then convey as needed.

What the Statutes Say

Exceptions & Pitfalls

  • “Joint” isn’t always survivorship. If the deed lacks clear survivorship language (and the owners weren’t spouses holding by the entirety), each deceased owner’s share must be handled through their estate.
  • Deaths close in time. The 120-hour rule can defeat survivorship; each share then goes to that owner’s estate.
  • All owners deceased. Title is in the last survivor’s estate; record death certificates for earlier deaths and transfer from the last survivor’s estate.
  • Out-of-state last survivor. Record an exemplified copy of the foreign probate and will in the NC county before conveying.
  • Slayer issues. If one co-owner unlawfully killed another, survivorship is blocked and special rules apply.
  • Creditor window. If heirs/devisees try to sell within two years of death, PR joinder or court authority may be required to protect creditor rights.
  • Wrong office. Record land documents with the Register of Deeds, not just in the estate file with the Clerk of Superior Court.

Helpful Hints

  • Bring the original deed’s book and page (or instrument number) to the Register of Deeds to ensure your affidavit and death certificates reference the correct chain.
  • Use certified death certificates; some Registers require long-form certificates.
  • Call the Register of Deeds for any local affidavit formatting or notary requirements; practices vary by county.
  • If you’re unsure how the property was titled, ask a real estate attorney to review the deed language.
  • If all co-owners are deceased, coordinate with the personal representative handling the last survivor’s estate to avoid title gaps.
  • Procedures and forms change; verify current county requirements before filing.

Sources & References

  • Clerks’ procedures manual (2024 ed.), Decedents’ Estates sections on title to real property, co-ownership, survivorship, and evidence of death (Chapter 2-6).
  • Estate Administration Manual (Supplemented 10th Edition, 2024), Chapters III, IX, and XII on handling real estate, survivorship property, intestacy/devise vesting, and out-of-state probate recordings.
  • Fiduciary Litigation Manual (2022), Chapter XVII on survivorship principles, statutory compliance for survivorship interests, and effects of timing of death.

Disclaimer: This article is general information about North Carolina law, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney‑client relationship.

Talk to a Probate Attorney

If you’re trying to clear title after one or more co-owners died, our firm has experienced attorneys who can help you understand your options and timelines. Call us today at (919) 341-7055.

Category: Probate Q&A Series

Author: jpierce

Attorney Jared Pierce is the founder of Pierce Law Group in Raleigh, North Carolina, a firm he established with a dedicated focus on probate administration and estate planning across North Carolina. Born and raised in the Republic of South Africa, Jared moved to Durham with his family in 2001, bringing with him a rich cultural background and a distinctive accent that often serves as a conversation starter.