How to Search California Recorded Documents

California deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land records are recorded at the county recorder's office (or town clerk in New England states). Each county maintains its own records — some online, others in-person only.

  • County recorders maintain deeds, mortgages, releases, and lien records.
  • UCC filings: business liens through the California Secretary of State.
  • Property transfer tax records: state Department of Revenue or Taxation.
  • Federal liens: IRS tax liens are filed at the county.
  • For specific deeds and mortgages, contact the county recorder where the property is located.
Population
39,128,162
Households
13,217,000
Median Income
$91,905
Median Home Value
$684,800

Recorded Documents Databases

38 official California recorded documents sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Recorded Documents

Alameda County
Official Free
Search the Alameda County Clerk-Recorder's records for Recorded Documents (deeds, mortgages, liens, etc.) by name, date range, instrument #.
🌐 auditor.alamedacountyca.gov
Amador County
Official Free
Search for recorded/official documents in Amador County by grantor/grantee name, date, document type/recording date, or year and document #.
🌐 mint.amadorgov.org
Calaveras County
Official Free
Calaveras County Clerk Recorder official land records (deeds, mortgages) and clerk records (FBNs, notaries, notices, professional registrations).
🌐 clerkrecorder.calaverasgov.us
El Dorado County
Official Free
El Dorado County Recorder Clerk recorded documents and FBN filings.
🌐 recorderclerkservice.edcgov.us
Fresno County
Official Free
Search for Recorded/Official Documents in Fresno County by record year range, then name, document number, date range, document type, and/or assessor.
🌐 fresnocountyca.gov
Imperial County
Official Free
Online Official Document Index provided by the Imperial County Recorder.
🌐 recorder.co.imperial.ca.us
Lake County
Official Free
Recorded document (Grantor/Grantee) search from the Lake County Office of the Assessor-Recorder.
🌐 publicapps2.lakecountyca.gov
Marin County
Official Free
Marin County Recorder official records.
🌐 apps.marincounty.gov
Merced County
Official Free
Merced County Clerk-Recorder's Office Grantor/Grantee recorded document search.
🌐 web2.co.merced.ca.us
Monterey County
Official Free
Monterey County Recorder's Office Official Records index.
🌐 countyofmonterey.gov
Napa County
Official Free
Napa County Recorder/County Clerk official records.
🌐 services.napacounty.gov
Orange County
Official Free
Search for Orange County recorded documents by name, document number, type, or recording date.
🌐 cr.occlerkrecorder.gov
San Bernardino County
Official Free
Search the San Bernardino County Auditor/Controller-Recorder database for deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents by name, document number.
🌐 arcselfservice.sbcounty.gov
San Diego County
Official Free
San Diego County recorded documents by grantor / grantee by name or document number.
🌐 arcc-acclaim.sdcounty.ca.gov
San Francisco County
Official Free
Search this City and County of San Francisco Recorder's service for recorded documents (deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, etc.).
🌐 recorder.sfgov.org
San Mateo County
Official Free
Search this database of the San Mateo County Assessor, Clerk-Recorder's office for recorded documents (deeds, mortgages, liens, etc.) by name of.
🌐 apps.smcacre.org
Santa Clara County
Official Free
Recorded Documents in Santa Clara County.
🌐 scccroselfservice.org
Shasta County
Official Free
Official record search from the Shasta County Recorder's Office.
🌐 recorderselfservice.shastacounty.gov
Solano County
Official Free
Solano County Assessor Recorder recorded documents (deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, and other official records).
🌐 recorderonline.solanocounty.gov
Sonoma County
Official Free
Search for Sonoma County deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents.
🌐 crarecords.sonomacounty.ca.gov
Sutter County
Official Free
Grantor/Grantee search for recorded documents from the Sutter County Clerk-Recorder's office.
🌐 crrecords.suttercounty.org
Tulare County
Official Free
Search for Tulare County deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, and other recorded documents.
🌐 tularecounty.ca.gov
Tuolumne County
Official Free
Search this Tuolumne County index by instrument number, document type, recording date, grantor, grantee, book, page or APN to view recorded.
🌐 records.co.tuolumne.ca.us
Ventura County
Official Free
Ventura County Clerk and Recorder's Office recorded documents (deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, etc.) by name, date, instrument, or legal.
🌐 clerkrecorderselfservice.venturacounty.gov
Butte County
Official Free
Butte County deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents by name and date range, or document number.
🌐 recorder.buttecounty.net
Contra Costa County
Official Free
Search for Contra Costa County recorded document by name of business or person, block & lot number, or number, type, or date of document. Gives details of document and a link to order a copy.
🌐 crsecurepayment.com
Inyo County
Official Free
Search the Inyo County Clerk-Recorder for recorded documents (deeds, mortgages, liens, etc.).
🌐 inyococa-web.tylerhost.net
Kern County
Official Free
Kern County official documents by grantor/grantee name, document number, document date, or document class.
🌐 kerncounty.com
Nevada County
Official Free
Search for recorded/official documents in Nevada County by name, document number, document type, date, or block & lot numbers. Images for records are not viewable on the website.
🌐 recorder.mynevadacounty.com
Placer County
Official Free
Placer County Clerk-Recorder official documents.
🌐 countyfusion4.kofiletech.us
San Joaquin County
Official Free
Deeds, mortgages, and other land records from the San Joaquin County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk.
🌐 sanjoaquincountyca-web.tylerhost.net
Santa Barbara County
Official Free
Search the Santa Barbara County Clerk, Recorder and Assessor records for recorded documents (deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, etc.) by name, name type (grantor, grantee, creditor, etc.), Stat type, and/or recording date.
🌐 records.sbcrecorder.com
Santa Cruz County
Official Free
Search for Santa Cruz County deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents.
🌐 santacruzcountyca-web.tylerhost.net
Stanislaus County
Official Free
Search for Stanislaus County recorded documents by document number, document date, or name of person/business. Gives names of grantor & grantee, document type, and a link to order a copy of the document.
🌐 crweb.stancounty.com
Tehama County
Official Free
Search the Tehama County Recorder database for recorded documents (deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, etc.) by document type, recording date, party name, or book & page.
🌐 countyrecords.com
Yolo County
Official Free
Search for Yolo County recorded documents by name, record type and date.
🌐 yolocountyca-web.tylerhost.net
Yuba County
Official Free
Use this Yuba County Recorder's Office service to search for recorded documents (deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, etc.) by name and date or by document number.
🌐 recorder.co.yuba.ca.us:8443
Sacramento County
Official Free
Search by individual name, organization name, and year or decade for recorded documents (grantor/grantee) in Sacramento County, California.
🌐 ccr.saccounty.gov

California Counties

All 58 California counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Los Angeles San Diego Orange Riverside San Bernardino Santa Clara Alameda Sacramento Contra Costa Alpine Amador Butte Calaveras Colusa

Frequently Asked Questions

Deeds are recorded at the county recorder's office (or in some New England states, the town clerk). California has 58 counties.

Check the county page for the county where the property is located. Each county page lists the recorder's contact info.

Some counties offer free online deed search; most require in-person, mail, or paid online access. Recent transfers are often searchable through county GIS portals.

Most states have a real estate transfer tax. The tax return is typically filed with the county recorder at recording. Check the state Department of Revenue for current rates.

Last reviewed: