Lexington County Deed Records Search and Land Records Access
Lexington County deed records are maintained by the elected Register of Deeds in Lexington, South Carolina. Lexington County is one of only six South Carolina counties with an elected Register of Deeds, a distinction that reflects the county's size and the volume of property transactions recorded each year. The office maintains records for all land transfers, mortgages, plats, liens, and related instruments within the county. Online records are available from August 1, 1984 through the current date. Whether you are searching for ownership history, checking a lien, or tracing a chain of title, the Register of Deeds is the starting point for all property record research in Lexington County.
Lexington County Quick Facts
Where Lexington County Deed Records Are Kept
Lexington County has an elected Register of Deeds, making it one of only six counties in South Carolina where voters directly choose the official responsible for maintaining real property records. The elected Register of Deeds is accountable to the public and manages the recording of all property instruments filed in the county. Documents recorded include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages, plats, liens, powers of attorney, and other instruments affecting real property within Lexington County.
The Lexington County Register of Deeds office maintains online records from August 1, 1984 through the current date. All records are considered public record and most are accessible online. The Lexington County Government website provides additional information about county departments, services, and access to online tools. The county seat of Lexington serves as the administrative center, and the Register of Deeds office is open for in-person visits during regular business hours for older records or certified copy requests.
| Office | Lexington County Register of Deeds |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Lexington, SC |
| Type | Elected Register of Deeds |
| Online Records | August 1, 1984 - Present |
| Website | lex-co.sc.gov/departments/register-deeds |
The Lexington County Register of Deeds office page, shown below, provides direct access to online search tools, recording guidelines, and contact information for the elected Register of Deeds.
The Register of Deeds office page is the most direct starting point for online searches and information about recording requirements in Lexington County.
The broader Lexington County Government website, pictured below, links to all county departments including the Register of Deeds and provides context for how the county's various offices interact with property records.
The county government site provides a broader overview of county services and links to the Register of Deeds and other offices involved in property-related transactions.
Note: Lexington County is one of only six South Carolina counties with an elected Register of Deeds, alongside Aiken, Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester, and Greenville counties.How to Search Lexington County Deed Records Online
Lexington County offers robust online access to deed records, with digital records available from August 1, 1984 through the present. The county's own Register of Deeds website provides direct search tools for recent instruments. The SC Land Records portal also covers Lexington County and allows searches by grantor or grantee name, book and page reference, or instrument type. For the most complete current-day access, the Register of Deeds office website is the preferred starting point.
The SC Property Checker for Lexington County aggregates ownership data, deed history, and parcel details into a searchable format. This tool is especially useful for quickly identifying the current property owner, reviewing the transfer history of a parcel, and checking for recorded liens. The SCIWAY directory at sciway.net also lists the Lexington County Register of Deeds with contact details and web links.
The screenshot below shows the SC Property Checker tool for Lexington County, displaying deed records and property ownership data for parcels throughout the county including Lexington, Cayce, Irmo, and West Columbia.
Given Lexington County's extensive online record coverage, most deed searches for instruments recorded after August 1984 can be completed without a courthouse visit.
What Lexington County Deed Records Contain
Recorded deeds in Lexington County contain the standard required elements under South Carolina law. The grantor and grantee are named with their addresses. A legal description of the property is required, either in metes and bounds or by reference to a recorded plat. The consideration reflects the price or value exchanged. An instrument number and recording date are assigned at the time of filing with the Register of Deeds.
Under Section 30-5-35 of the South Carolina Code, all deeds executed after July 1, 1976 must include a derivation clause identifying how the grantor acquired title. This clause establishes a continuous link in the chain of ownership. The grantee's mailing address is also required. Lexington County deeds frequently reference plat books and subdivision records covering the county's many planned communities, residential developments, and commercial properties in the Lexington, Cayce, Irmo, and West Columbia areas.
Additional content that commonly appears on Lexington County deeds includes easements, homeowners association covenants, rights-of-way, and deed restrictions. Tax map numbers and plat book references are standard inclusions. Lexington County is one of South Carolina's fastest-growing counties, and the volume of recently recorded deeds reflects that growth, with frequent new subdivision plats and transfer recordings for properties across the county.
Note: Lexington County deeds recorded before August 1984 are not available in the online system and must be reviewed in person at the Register of Deeds office.Documents Recorded in Lexington County
The Lexington County Register of Deeds records a wide range of real property instruments. Mortgages and deeds of trust are filed by lenders holding a security interest in real property. Plats are recorded separately as official boundary maps and serve as the legal basis for many property descriptions used throughout the county. Judgment liens, tax liens, and mechanics liens are part of the county recording system and are available to the public.
Corrective deeds, deeds of gift, quitclaim deeds, and powers of attorney are also regularly recorded. Given Lexington County's significant growth, the volume of subdivision plats, new development agreements, and deed of trust filings is substantial. Understanding which document type is relevant to a particular search helps researchers and property owners work efficiently with the recording system.
- Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds
- Mortgages and deeds of trust
- Plats and subdivision maps
- Judgment liens and tax liens
- Mechanics liens
- Powers of attorney
- Deeds of gift and corrective deeds
Recording Requirements for Lexington County Deed Records
South Carolina recording law is primarily established by Title 30, Chapter 5 of the state code. Section 30-5-30 requires that all deeds be acknowledged before a notary public or other authorized officer prior to recording. The acknowledgment confirms the grantor's voluntary signature and the document's authenticity. The Lexington County Register of Deeds requires this acknowledgment before accepting any deed for filing.
The recording fee in South Carolina is $1.85 per $500 of the property's stated value under Section 12-24-10. The grantor is responsible for paying this transfer fee. Per-page recording fees also apply, with the first page typically costing between $10 and $15 and each additional page at $5. Contacting the Lexington County Register of Deeds to confirm the current fee schedule before submitting a document is recommended. Documents must be recorded within 30 days of receipt under Section 30-5-90. Lexington County processes a high volume of recordings given the county's growth, and timely submission is important for establishing priority.
Lien recording is governed in part by Section 30-7-70, which establishes lien filing procedures and priority rules. Proper recording provides constructive notice to all future buyers and lenders. In a county with Lexington County's transaction volume, the date and time of recording frequently determine the priority of competing claims against a property.
Historical Deed Records and Title Research in Lexington County
Lexington County has a long recording history, with the county established as one of South Carolina's original counties. Deed records from the early county period reflect the agricultural character of the region before the area's transformation into one of the state's most active suburban growth corridors. Researchers tracing older title chains can find deed books and index records from the 19th and early 20th centuries through the Register of Deeds office and through the South Carolina Department of Archives and History.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds materials relevant to Lexington County's early recording history, including land plats and deed records from the county's formation period. These resources are useful for genealogical researchers and title examiners working on properties with long ownership histories. Lexington County's rapid growth in recent decades has also generated a large volume of modern plats, subdivision covenants, and deed of trust filings that are accessible online through the Register of Deeds portal.
Periodic property reassessments are part of the normal property tax cycle in Lexington County. Researchers working on current tax status or ownership records may find it useful to cross-reference deed records with the county assessor's data, which reflects the most current valuation and ownership information for each parcel.
Note: Lexington County's online deed record portal covers instruments from August 1, 1984 forward; for documents recorded before that date, an in-person visit to the Register of Deeds office in Lexington is required.Certified Copies and Fees in Lexington County
Certified copies of Lexington County deed records can be obtained from the Register of Deeds in person or by mail. Certified copies carry the official seal and signature of the elected Register of Deeds and are accepted in legal proceedings. Uncertified photocopies are available at a lower per-page cost. Fee schedules are set by the county and may change; contacting the Register of Deeds directly to confirm current pricing before submitting a request is advisable.
To expedite a document request, include as much identifying information as possible. The grantor and grantee names, recording date, book and page number, and instrument number all help staff locate the correct document. For records in the online system, the instrument number is particularly useful. Mail requests should include payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return delivery.
Public Access and South Carolina FOIA
Deed records in Lexington County are public records. The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, codified at S.C. Code Section 30-4-10, gives any person the right to inspect or receive copies of public documents maintained by government offices, including the Register of Deeds. No stated reason is required when requesting deed records, and no special status is needed to access filed instruments. This open-access policy applies to all instruments recorded with the Lexington County Register of Deeds.
South Carolina law provides a mechanism for redacting Social Security numbers from online versions of recorded documents. If a Social Security number appears in a document available in the online system, the affected individual may request that the Register of Deeds remove it from the digital display. The physical record remains unchanged, but the online version will not display the number. This request can be submitted to the Lexington County Register of Deeds office in Lexington.
Nearby Counties
Lexington County borders several South Carolina counties in the central Midlands region, each with their own recording offices and deed record systems.