Due to the rise in identity theft cases all across our nation, the concern among citizens about personal information being available on the internet has increased. In Caldwell County, we have proactively taken steps to protect your identity while still providing access to records that are considered public under NC law. We have scanned all of our internet records with optical character recognition software to redact any social security or driver’s license numbers that were found in our internet records.
However, this is the only information NC law currently allows this office to redact without your permission. There is a provision in state law that allows you to request the redaction of other information from our records. General Statue 132-1.10(f) states "Any person has the right to request that a register of deeds or clerk of court remove, from an image or copy of an official record placed on a register of deeds' or court's Internet Website available to the general public or an Internet Web site available to the general public used by a register of deeds or court to display public records by the register of deeds or clerk of court, the person's 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 that official record. The request must be made in writing, legibly signed by the requester, and delivered by mail, facsimile, or electronic transmission, or delivered in person to the register of deeds or clerk of court. 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."
Click here for a redaction form. We accept the forms in person, by mail, or fax.
