The Alexander County Register of Deeds (RoD) office improved its services for county residents and customers in 2025. Register of Deeds Scott Hines and his staff have been on a positive course this past year, with ongoing progress in both processes and the services the office provides. The Register of Deeds office had a busy year in 2025, with revenues of $530,438 in recording fees and excise tax — a 7.5% increase compared to 2024 and an 8.5% rise in activity. Funds raised in the Register of Deeds office support a range of essential county and state government services for the public.
Vital Records
In terms of vital records, the office recorded 274 death certificates in 2025, reflecting a 3% increase compared to 267 deaths recorded in 2024. However, this is a decrease from the county’s peak of 311 deaths recorded in 2021, during the height of the pandemic. Register Hines explains that due to the absence of a hospital or delivery facility in Alexander County, the office does not record many birth certificates. Most Alexander County females give birth at hospitals in neighboring counties such as Catawba, Iredell, Wilkes, and Caldwell; however, the office recorded three births in 2025. Birth rates in the county have been steadily declining since the 1980s when the county hospital ceased offering delivery services. The Register of Deeds office issued 138 marriage licenses in 2025, averaging just under 12 per month, which is a slight decrease from 2024. Over the past decade, the annual average has been around 170 licenses. This represents a nearly 20% decline compared to the average over the last decade. In Alexander County, the months with the highest number of marriage licenses issued are October and September with 21 and 19, respectively.
Land and Legal Records
On the land records side, the Register of Deeds staff processed 2,303 certified copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates in 2025. Additionally, the office handled more than 2,345 uncertified copies and other records throughout the year. In addition to the document activity, the Register of Deeds office recorded a wide range of transactions, including administering oaths for 141 notaries public – a 23% increase over 2024. In total, the office handled nearly 10,000 transactions, with nearly half related to real estate. Revenue stamps collected by the office represented over $175.3 million in value of land transfers within Alexander County during 2025. This figure excludes land transactions where no money was exchanged, such as gifts between family members. Transactions that included excise taxes accounted for 5.22% of Alexander County’s total real property value of over $3.36 billion.
Instruments Recorded in the Register of Deeds office (2025):
Significant Developments in 2025
The Register of Deeds office plays a vital role in preserving critical records for the citizens of Alexander County. Through ongoing preservation and restoration efforts, the office ensures the integrity of physical records and safeguards important documents for the future. In the past, the acidic nature of paper led to deterioration, making records fragile and sometimes illegible. Preservation halts this degradation process, stabilizing materials and ensuring that essential property and legal documents remain accessible for future generations.
REAL ID Issues: The Register of Deeds provides the foundational documents (births and marriages) that verify who you are and prove any legal name changes, which the DMV then uses to issue a REAL ID. Beginning May 7, 2025, REAL ID enforcement in North Carolina went into effect. The REAL ID, which is a driver’s license with a star designation, became mandatory for domestic flights and entering federal buildings. The Register of Deeds office helped residents obtain the vital records needed to obtain the REAL ID.
Melissa Dula Takes Oath as Deputy Register of Deeds: Register Hines administered the Deputy Register of Deeds oath to Melissa Dula on July 28, 2025. Dula is the newest member of the Alexander County Register of Deeds office. The oath ceremony occurred in the Register of Deed’s Ben Hines Memorial Records Vault at the Alexander County Services Center in Taylorsville. Deputy Register Dula successfully completed the demanding six-month Register of Deeds training program. She completed her training ahead of schedule attesting to her expertise in the essential duties of the office. “Melissa has great enthusiasm, great commitment and great skills. She is a credit to this office and a welcome addition to our team. She is a wonderful asset for Alexander County,” stated Register Hines.
Office Professionalization: Register Hines remains committed to professional development within his office. He continues to work towards certifying all staff through the North Carolina Association of Register of Deeds (NCARD). Two staff members attended the University of North Carolina’s (UNC) School of Government (SOG) Basic Register of Deeds course in November 2025. Deputies Brandi McClellan and Melissa Dula both scored 100% of the end-of-course exam. This course is the first step toward NCARD Certification for Register and Staff. Register Hines attended the Advanced Register of Deeds Course, also held at the UNC-SOG. This class is for seasoned Register of Deeds and is led by a senior professor and advisor to Registers statewide — Professor Charles Szypszak, the Albert Coates Distinguished Professor of Public Law and Government. Register Hines also scored 100 on the end-of-course test. The professionalization goal for 2026 is to have a fully certified staff in the Register’s office. This goal should be realized in September at the Annual NCARD Conference. Hines commented, “The professionalization of the Alexander County Register of Deeds office and staff reflects a strong commitment to serving the community and meeting the needs of its residents ultimately to provide the highest quality service to the public.”
PropertyCheck: In 2025, Register Hines promoted a valuable property protection service through his office’s recording system. The office informed residents about PropertyCheck, a free service that helps protect against property fraud. Hines said property deeds are public record in the register’s office and online to ensure deeds are accurate. Property owners should check the names and dates, even making sure names are spelled correctly. Over 300 people created new signups for PropertyCheck, reflecting over 25% increase in usage. However, with only 1,553 sign-ups total, only about 11.5% of Alexander County’s 13,496 households are currently covered by this important fraud protection service. PropertyCheck alerts users if any documents are filed under their name in the Alexander County Registry, offering an added layer of security. To enroll in PropertyCheck, residents can visit https://alexandercountync.gov/rod and click on the PropertyCheck link at the top of the page to access this free service.
Adoptive Birth Certificates: In November 2025, Register Hines announced that Registers of Deeds across North Carolina will begin to issue certified copies of adoptive birth certificates based on Senate Bill 248 – Birth Certificates for Persons Adopted. Previously, adoptive birth certificates had to be obtained via the NC Office of Vital Records (NCOVR) in Raleigh. Original birth certificates and associated paperwork will remain sealed. The Alexander Register of Deeds Office is coordinating with NCOVR and state systems to ensure smooth implementation.
About the Alexander County Register of Deeds Office
The Alexander County Register of Deeds office, led by Scott H. Hines, is supported by Assistant Jonathan Barnes and Deputies Dawn Rudisill, Brandi McClellan, and Melissa Dula. The office is located in the Alexander County Services Center in downtown Taylorsville, at 151 West Main Avenue. Residents are encouraged to visit the office and see the progress firsthand. Learn more at https://alexandercountync.gov/rod.