Legal Question in Real Estate Law in North Carolina

I don't know what you could have filed in the register of deeds' office if you do not have title to the land. There is no document that you can file. You need to bring a court action to establish adverse possession of a home.

You say that the home is vacant and that you are maintaining it. Well and good. Have you and/or your predecessors been doing this for 20 years? If not, there is no adverse possession unless you are claiming color by color of title (and then its 7 years). It does not sound like you have color of title though.

You had better see a real estate attorney who practices in the county in which the land is located before you get yourself into trouble.