How to Search California Recorded Documents (Start Here)
Recorded documents in California — deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other land records — are filed with the County Recorder in each county.
What this page covers: California recorded document searches — deeds, mortgages, assignments, liens, plats, and other instruments filed in the public land records. What it does not cover: Property valuations or tax data (those are on the Property Records page).
Where to start: Go to the County Recorder in the county where the property is located. Many county county recorders offer online document search by grantor/grantee name, book/page, or instrument number.
Common mistake: Recorded documents show what was filed — they do not confirm current ownership or lien status without a full title search. A deed in the index does not mean it is the most recent transfer.
Recorder of deeds
UCC-1 filings
Statewide deed index?
Recording statute
Number of counties
58 counties
Population
39,431,263
Households
13,628,600
Median Income
$96,334
Median Home Value
$715,900
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: California recorded documents URL verified against the official state publisher at www.sos.ca.gov on the review date. 6 primary .gov sources cited below.
California Recorded Documents — Key Facts (2026)
Deeds, mortgages, UCC filings, liens, military discharges in California — what gets recorded and where in 2026.
County
Where deeds live
Permanent record
SoS
Where UCC live
Secretary of State
Article 9
UCC governs
Secured transactions
Public
Most recorded docs
With redaction
Federal
DD-214 / IRS liens
National-level
Deeds
100
Mortgages
95
Liens (property)
70
UCC (business)
55
Powers of attorney
25
Military DD-214
10
Unit: relative volume (deeds=100).
What Changed in 2026 — California Recorded Documents
2026
California recorded documents portal active
The official California portal at www.sos.ca.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for recorded documents in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for recorded documents
The NASS UCC Filings overview at www.nass.org provides federal-level context that complements California state records.
2026
California access in 2026
For 2026, California continues to publish recorded documents information through state-authorized portals; check www.sos.ca.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE California's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for the .gov complement.
The 5-Type California Recorded Documents Map
1
Type 1 — Real property (Deeds, Mortgages)
California County Recorder / Register of Deeds. Permanent record.
2
Type 2 — UCC (business collateral)
Most filed with California Secretary of State. Some real-estate UCCs are county.
3
Type 3 — Liens (tax, mechanic's, judgment)
Property liens at the county. IRS federal tax liens may file at county OR state.
4
Type 4 — Personal documents (POA, military DD-214)
Often optional county recording in California for safekeeping. Originals at federal NPRC.
5
Type 5 — Maps & subdivisions
California county recorder; some at state mapping office.
Five Things People Get Wrong About California Recorded Documents
❌ Myth: "All UCC filings are at the California county."
✓ Truth: False. Most UCC filings (Article 9) are at the California Secretary of State, not county.
❌ Myth: "All liens show up in a deed search."
✓ Truth: False. Federal tax liens may file at county OR state. Judgment liens vary. Always cross-check.
❌ Myth: "Recording a deed transfers title."
✓ Truth: False. The deed transfers title when delivered. Recording gives public notice — important but different.
❌ Myth: "DD-214 is only federal."
✓ Truth: Partially false. The original is federal (NPRC), but many veterans record a copy at their California county for easy access.
❌ Myth: "Old California recorded docs are fully digitized."
✓ Truth: False. Most California counties only digitized records back to ~1990-2000. Older docs are paper at the courthouse.
Primary Sources (All .gov / Official)
- www.sos.ca.gov — Official California Recorded Documents — State portal for California recorded documents
- NASS UCC Filings overview — National Association of Secretaries of State
- National Archives — Military Records (DD-214) — National Personnel Records Center
- IRS Federal Tax Liens — Federal lien procedures
- HUD Recording Basics — Federal property recording basics
- USA.gov — Government Records — Federal record retrieval portal
- data.gov — Assessor datasets — Federal-cataloged county data
Related Recorded Documents Resources
📍 Other California records:
- California Court Records →
- California Criminal Records →
- California Property Records →
- California Vital Records →
- California Voter Records →
- California Wants & Warrants →
- California Licenses →
🇺🇸 Recorded Documents in other states:
- Alaska
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Montana
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- Nevada
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
National: U.S. Recorded Documents hub →
Related Public Records
More California records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Vital records · Voter records · Licenses
National view of this topic: All states: Recorded docs
Recorded Documents Databases
38 official California recorded documents sources.
Recorded Documents
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who records deeds and mortgages in California?▼
In California, deeds, mortgages, liens, and other real-property documents are recorded at the county level by the county Recorder (or Clerk-Recorder). The Official California Recorded Documents at www.sos.ca.gov handles statewide filings such as UCC-1 financing statements and corporate documents.
Where do I file a UCC-1 financing statement in California?▼
UCC-1 financing statements covering personal property and business collateral are filed centrally with the Official California Recorded Documents at www.sos.ca.gov. Fixture filings on real estate are an exception — those go to the county where the property is located.
Are California recorded documents available online?▼
Most California countys publish a free online index of recorded documents (by name, document type, or date). Image access (the actual deed image) is often available either free or for a small per-page fee. Statewide UCC and corporate filings are searchable through the Official California Recorded Documents at www.sos.ca.gov.
How do I obtain a certified copy of a California recorded deed?▼
Certified copies of deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents are issued by the county Recorder where the document was originally recorded. Fees and ID requirements vary; see your specific county page below. The Official California Recorded Documents (www.sos.ca.gov) handles certified copies of statewide filings such as UCCs and articles of incorporation.
What's the difference between a deed and a title in California?▼
A deed is the recorded instrument that conveys ownership; the title is the legal concept of ownership itself. Deeds in California are recorded with the county Recorder; title insurance and title searches are private-sector services that examine the chain of recorded deeds. The Official California Recorded Documents at www.sos.ca.gov publishes the statewide rules.