Timothy J. Esolen, Register of Deeds
Virginia H. Moore, Assistant

The Register of Deeds is an elected office serving a term of four years. The office exists primarily to enable the owner of an interest in property to give public notice of that ownership. The record notice in turn affords other persons interested in the property some protection against unknown transactions and secret liens. All transactions in Washington County go back to 1799 when the county was formed from Tyrrell County. Various types of documents filed in the office are old land grants, deeds, deeds of trust, maps, leases, agreements and powers of attorney.

The Register of Deeds also issues birth, death and marriage certificates as well as marriage licenses.