§ 161-6. Appointment of assistant and deputy registers of deeds; authority to sign in name of register of deeds; holdover assistants and deputies. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 161‑6. Appointment of assistant and deputy registers of deeds; authority to sign inname of register of deeds; holdover assistants and deputies.

(a)        The registers of deeds of the several counties are herebyauthorized to appoint one or more assistant registers of deeds and one or moredeputy registers of deeds, whose acts as assistants or deputies shall be validand for which the registers of deeds shall be officially responsible. Thecertificate of appointment of an assistant or deputy shall be filed by theappointing register of deeds in the office of the clerk of the superior court,who shall record the same.

(b)        Each assistant and deputy register of deeds so appointedshall  be authorized, in addition to his other powers and duties, to registerand sign instruments and documents in the name and under the title of theappointing register of deeds, by himself as assistant or deputy, asappropriate. Such signing shall be substantially as follows:

John Doe, Register of Deeds

by Richard Roe, Assistant (or Deputy, as appropriate).

(c)        Such registering and signing, when regular and sufficient inall other respects, shall be valid for all purposes, and of the same force andeffect as if the instrument or document had been registered and signed by theregister of deeds personally.

(d)        Wherever in the General Statutes reference is made to"the register of deeds and (or) his assistant" or "the registerof deeds and (or) his deputy" or words substantially to this effect, orreference is made only to "the assistant register of deeds" or"the deputy register of deeds," such reference to either assistant ordeputy, unless the contrary intent is specifically stated in the text, shallalso include the other, insofar as such reference pertains to the authority,powers, duties, rights, privileges, or qualifications for office of assistantor deputy register of deeds.

(e)        Incumbent assistant and deputy registers of deeds holdingover after a vacancy in the office of register of deeds, pursuant to theprovisions of G.S. 161‑5(b), shall continue to have and exercise alllawful power and authority of office until lawfully relieved of office,including, but not restricted to, all power and authority set forth insubsections (a), (b), (c) and (d), and in Chapter 161 generally, and their actsas assistant or deputy registers of deeds shall be official and valid, and theappointing register of deeds, or his estate, and the official bond under G.S.161‑4 shall be responsible for their acts as assistant or deputyregisters of deeds, and such assistant or deputy register of deeds shall alsobe individually, personally and officially responsible for his own acts.  (1909, c. 628, s. 1; C.S., s. 3547; 1949, c. 261;1959, c. 279; 1963,  c. 191; 1965, c. 900.)