JACKSON – Those seeking to record legal documents with the Northampton County Register of Deeds just prior to the 5 p.m. weekday closing of that office will need to slightly adjust their schedule.

At their meeting here Wednesday morning, the Northampton Board of Commissioners approved two requests from Robin Williams regarding the daily cut-off times for her office to accept and process document recordings as well as issuing marriage licenses.

Williams, the county’s Register of Deeds, requested a cut-off time of 4:30 p.m. (Monday through Friday) to receive documents in need of processing and filing before the close of the business day. She also asked for a 4 p.m. cut-off time (Monday through Friday) for issuing marriage licenses.

“The cut-off time will assist us in actually processing documents after receipt, avoiding mistakes caused by pressure to get the documents completed before the close of business,” Williams told the commissioners. “We currently have attorneys that do come in with stacks of documents at 4:30 (p.m.) and expect them to be recorded correctly by 5 o’clock. Sometimes that is quite impossible.”

She explained the 30-minute difference in the requested 4 p.m. cut-off for issuing marriage licenses and 4:30 p.m. for other matters is due to the additional documentation that is required prior to issuance of such a license.

Williams also noted that of the 12 counties within District VI of the North Carolina Association of Register of Deeds, Northampton is the only one currently not using a cut-off time. She said the other 11 have cut-off times varying between 4 and 4:45 p.m. daily.

“This sounds like we’re just falling in line with what the other counties in our district are doing,” stated Commission Board chair Fannie Greene.

Commission vice chair Joe Barrett asked if the other counties in District VI currently use different cut-off times to accept document recordings and/or requests for a marriage license.

“Our district does not, but some districts do,” Williams answered.

On a motion from Commissioner Robert Carter and a second from Commissioner Virginia Spruill, the requests were granted without objection.

The cut-off times become effective on Oct. 1.