What happens if the online plat date doesn’t match the date I was told—am I in the wrong book or is there a revision? – North Carolina

Short Answer

In North Carolina, a mismatch between the date shown in an online plat index and the date someone quoted usually comes from how the register of deeds records and displays plats, not from being in the “wrong” book. Online systems often show the date the plat was recorded or imaged, while surveyors and closing documents use the survey or revision date printed on the plat itself. To know whether there has been a revision or a different plat recorded, the actual recorded plat in the plat book or official electronic record must be pulled and compared.

Understanding the Problem

The narrow question is whether a North Carolina subdivision or survey plat with an online index date that differs from the date given by a surveyor, closing attorney, or agent means the search is in the wrong plat book or whether the plat has been revised. The concern is typically whether the correct recorded map controls the property description, and whether any later revisions or re-recordings exist that change lots, easements, or boundaries. The focus here is how North Carolina real estate recording rules treat survey dates, revision dates, and recording dates for plats, and how those different dates show up in the register of deeds systems.

Apply the Law

Under North Carolina law, plats and subdivision maps are recorded in the office of the register of deeds and indexed in a consolidated index for real property. The controlling record is the plat actually recorded in the plat book or official plat file, not what appears in a secondary index or someone’s cover sheet. Surveyors must put the survey date and any revision dates directly on the plat, while the register’s index will usually reflect the date the document was received or recorded. Subdivision plats generally must be approved under local subdivision procedures before the review officer certifies them for recording. The main forum is the county register of deeds; there is no specific statutory “deadline” for correcting an index date, but the index must function as a reliable way to locate the recorded plat.

Key Requirements

Recorded plat controls: The legal description follows the plat as recorded in the plat book or official electronic plat system; index entries are finding tools, not the plat itself.
Survey and revision dates on the face of the plat: North Carolina mapping rules require the survey date and any revision dates to be stated in the plat’s title information, separate from the later recording date assigned by the register of deeds.
Proper indexing and plat books: Registers of deeds must maintain a general index and plat books/files so that plats can be located by book and page, with the index showing basic information such as parties, instrument type, and often a recording date.

What the Statutes Say

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 47-30 (Plats and subdivisions; mapping requirements) – sets detailed requirements for the information that must appear on plats, including survey and revision dates, and how plats are recorded.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 47-108.8 (Recording plats in “Book of Plats”) – validates recording methods used by registers of deeds for plats and maps.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 161-21 (General index kept) – requires a consolidated index of deeds and other real property documents in the register of deeds office.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: With no specific facts, consider two common scenarios. In one, a surveyor tells a client the plat is dated March 10, but the online index shows an April 2 recording date; the plat book and page number match, and the face of the recorded plat shows a March 10 survey date—this is not the wrong book, just a normal difference between survey and recording dates. In another, the book and page match but the plat on file shows a later revision date than the version the client has; here, a revised plat was recorded, and the later recorded version controls even if someone supplied an older survey date.

Process & Timing

Who files: Typically the surveyor, closing attorney, developer, or their agent. Where: The county Register of Deeds in the North Carolina county where the land lies. What: The original or properly formatted plat that complies with North Carolina mapping requirements and any local subdivision approvals. When: After any required local subdivision approval and review officer certification; the recording date then appears in the index.
Once recorded, the register of deeds indexes the plat by book and page (or plat file number) and adds it to the consolidated index. Online systems may later add imaging or electronic document dates, which can differ from the survey or revision dates printed on the plat.
If an error or discrepancy is found (such as an index entry that appears to refer to the wrong plat, or a missing revision), the next step is to contact the register of deeds for that county. The office can confirm whether the index reflects the correct recorded plat and, if needed, explain local procedures to correct an indexing error or record a corrected or revised plat.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

Different date types cause confusion: the survey date, revision dates on the face of the plat, and the recording date in the index can all be different but still refer to the same recorded plat.
Relying only on the online index or a printed listing, without pulling the actual recorded plat, can lead to using an outdated version and missing later revisions to lot lines, easements, or notes.
Older plats may have been recorded in a different format or book system; some counties have scanned these into online systems with imaging dates that do not match the original recording date, which does not change the legal effect of the original recording.
If a true indexing error exists (for example, the wrong book and page tied to a parcel, or a plat mis-labeled in the index), failing to correct it can complicate future title searches and closings; each register of deeds has procedures for addressing these issues.

Conclusion

Under North Carolina law, a mismatch between an online plat date and a date given by a surveyor or closing professional usually reflects different types of dates—survey or revision dates on the plat versus the recording or imaging date in the index—rather than being in the wrong plat book. The legally controlling document is the recorded plat in the register of deeds office. The key next step is to obtain and review the actual recorded plat at the cited book and page from the county register of deeds and confirm whether its survey and revision dates match the information being relied on.

Talk to a Real Estate Attorney

If there is confusion about plat dates, revisions, or whether the correct map has been recorded in North Carolina, our firm has experienced attorneys who can help explain what the records really show and what that means for a transaction or boundary question. Call us today at 919-341-7055.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice for any specific situation and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If there is a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.