June 8, 2017

Redaction of Personal Information

Effective 12/01/2005, any person preparing or filing a document for recordation or filing in the official records may not include a social security number, employer taxpayer identification, drivers license, state identification, passport, checking account, savings account, credit card, or debit card number, or personal identification (PIN) code or passwords in the document, unless expressly required by law or redacted so that no more than four digits of the identification number is included.

Any person has a right to request a register of deeds to remove, from an image or copy of an official record placed on a register of deeds’ Internet Web site or available to the general public or an Internet Web site available to the general public used by a register of deeds to display public records, any social security, employer taxpayer identification, drivers license, state identification, passport, checking account, savings account, credit card, or debit card number, or personal identification (PIN) code or passwords contained in an official record. The request must be made in writing and delivered by mail, facsimile, or electronic transmission, or delivered in person, to the register of deeds. The request must specify the personal information to be redacted, information that identifies the document that contains the personal information and unique information that identifies the location within the document that contains the social security, employer taxpayer identification, drivers license, state identification, passport, checking account, savings account, credit card, or debit card number, or personal identification (PIN) code or passwords to be redacted. No fee will be charged for the redaction pursuant to such a request. Any person who requests a redaction without proper authority to do so shall be guilty of an infraction, punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each violation.

For questions regarding redaction of personal information, please call 828-688-2139 EXT 1401.

Download Redaction Request Form:
Public Records Redaction Request Form