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
13,548,091
Median Income
$95,521
Median Home Value
$734,700
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 additional official portals.
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"A printout equals a certified copy."
FACTCourts, lenders, and agencies usually want the certified copy with the county's seal — the free printout is for research, not proof.
MYTH"E-recording is a public search tool."
FACTE-recording is the submission pipe for title companies and lenders. The public searches the index — the two systems just meet at the recorder's desk.
MYTH"UCC filings are at the county."
FACTMost UCC financing statements are filed with the Secretary of State, not the county recorder. Searching only the county misses them.
MYTH"If the index shows it, the image is free."
FACTPlenty of counties show the index for free and charge per page for the document image. Budget for the image, not the search.
MYTH"Old documents are scrubbed of personal data."
FACTNew filings get SSNs redacted; images recorded decades ago may not. That's one reason bulk access to old images is often restricted.
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- 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
37 official California recorded documents sources.
Recorded Documents
Alameda County Auditor-Controller/Clerk-Recorder
Official Free
The Auditor-Controller/Clerk-Recorder is a combined agency delivering essential services such as countywide auditing, accounting, financial management, and issuing and safeguarding vital records.
RecorderWorks
Official Free
Searching by document number is available at the top of the page by clicking "Document Number". Please Select a Date of Recording from: 1/1/1991 through: 6/2/.
Clerk Recorder - Calaveras County
Official Free
Preserves the official archive of legally recordable documents. Maintains records of all marriages, births, and deaths occurring within Calaveras County.
El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk - Self-Service
Official Free
Recorded land documents for California — deeds, mortgages, and liens. Documents index by grantor and grantee, so search both directions to catch everything. Recording dates establish priority between competing claims — the timestamps matter.
Home - County of Fresno
Official Free
On Display Indefinitely · In response to the rapid rate of growth of the Fresno June Lightning Complex Fire (Bolt, Hog and Flash) and subsequent evacuation orders, the Fresno County Administrative Officer/Emergency Services Director Paul Nerland has proclaimed a Local Emergency
Imperial County Fictitious Business Name Search
Official Free
California law requires that FBN’s are filed at the County level; there is no State-wide registry or national registry.
Count_HtmlCumulativeReport
Official Free
Voter registration and election information for California. District assignments here settle which races you actually vote in. Election offices update the file continuously; a lookup today reflects the live roll.
Search Assessor records and maps | County of Marin Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk
Official Free
Further, this subdivision shall. of the county or the assessor for errors, omissions, or other defects in any other information or records provided by the assessor pursuant to the provisions of this part. California Revenue and Taxation Code section 408.3(d). By continuing to use this application you are agreeing to this disclaimer. This information has been scanned by the Mapping Division of the Marin County Assessor's.
Planning Commission Review Draft | June 2011 1 PART I: GENERAL PLAN OVERVIEW
Official Free
The County encompasses approximately 1,980± square miles, of which 1.2 million acres · or 98 percent is unincorporated. Approximately 24,128 acres, or 1.9 percent of the total · land area, lies within one of the six incorporated cities: Atwater, Dos Palos, Gustine, Livingston, Los Banos, and Merced.
AT A GLANCE: Monterey County | County of Monterey, CA
Official Free
The land-records trail for Monterey County runs through here: recorded deeds, liens, and related filings. If a link breaks, the office homepage at countyofmonterey.gov carries the new path.
“E” Use Permit Application Packet Kenzo Estates Winery P15-00293
Official Free
License and permit records for California — issued credentials and active-status checks. If a link breaks, the office homepage at services.napacounty.gov carries the new path.
Occlerkrecorder
Official Free
Recorded land documents for California — deeds, mortgages, and liens. Deeds, mortgages, releases, and liens make up most of the index; images often reach back decades. Recording dates establish priority between competing claims — the timestamps matter.
Public Access System Recorder-County Clerk - Self-Service
Official Free
This search site is provided as a service to our customers. All data contained herein is subject to change without notice. By using this service, in any form, the user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County and anyone involved in storing, retrieving, or displaying this information.
San Diego County Public Records
Official Free
CALIFORNIA STATE LAW CHANGE - NO. – California Public Records Act, the Assessor Parcel Number (APN) search functionality is no longer available in our online Official Record Search. APN searches remain available only at our in-person kiosks conveniently located at our five offices across the County of San Diego.
SF Recorder
Official Free
Document Availability Online official record index information is available from January 1, 1990 forward. Images of documents recorded January 1,.
San Mateo County :: Clerk. Assessor. Recorder. Elections.
Official Free
Property assessment records for California. Researchers use these records to trace ownership when deed indexes are thin. Tax amounts and payment status typically link from the same record.
Self-Service - Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder
Official Free
There are a variety of ways you can access Services at The Clerk-Recorder's Office. You may visit in person but, for the most efficient and least amount of wait time, we suggest the convenience of booking an appointment to have a set time for your service · Please visit the Office of the Clerk.
Self-Service
Official Free
This search site is provided as a service to our customers. All data contained herein is subject to change without notice. By using this service, in any form, the user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County and anyone involved in storing, retrieving, or displaying this information.
Solano County Recorder's office
Official Free
The Official Records index information is provided as a public service for your convenience. Updates and corrections occur on a regular basis; however, neither.
Self-Service
Official Free
The “Restrictive Covenant Modification” form can be obtained from the County Recorder’s office and may be available on its internet website (sonomacounty.gov/clerk). The form may also be available from the party that provided you with this document. Lawful restrictions under state and federal law on the age of occupants in senior housing or housing for older persons shall not be construed as restrictions based on familial status.
Self-Service
Official Free
This search site is provided as a service to our customers. All data contained herein is subject to change without notice. By using this service, in any form, the user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County and anyone involved in storing, retrieving, or displaying this information.
County Main | Tulare
Official Free
Find County Supervisor contact information. Request services of our Department for your function or event. Contact the Fraud Hotline. for department contact information. TipNow receives anonymous real-time SMS/text, voice, and email tips from the community to help prevent crime, theft, and emergency situations. Submit a tax-deductible donation to one of the 28 programs that are a part of our Tulare County 501(c)(3) non-profit, Friends of Tulare County.
Tuolumne County
Official Free
The land-records trail for Tuolumne County runs through here: recorded deeds, liens, and related filings. It is an official government source.
Self-Service
Official Free
This search site is provided as a service to our customers. All data contained herein is subject to change without notice. By using this service, in any form, the user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County and anyone involved in storing, retrieving, or displaying this information.
Self-Service
Official Free
Users should remember that the index is similar to a library card catalogue; it is a guide to the information contained within the documents referenced and should not be relied upon in making any decision or determination regarding the underlying document. The user is advised to search all possible spelling variations of names, as well as other search criteria, to maximize search results. If you choose not to accept the conditions stated above, please click the Back button to exit this search application.
the contra costa county clerk-recorder's office
Official Free
Recorded land documents for California — deeds, mortgages, and liens. Searching here confirms current ownership and surfaces any liens before a purchase. Deeds, mortgages, releases, and liens make up most of the index; images often reach back decades.
Self-Service
Official Free
This search site is provided as a service to our customers. All data contained herein is subject to change without notice. By using this service, in any form, the user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County and anyone involved in storing, retrieving, or displaying this information.
Departments | Kern County, CA
Official Free
Office directory for California. Phone first: five minutes with the right clerk saves a misdirected records request. It maps which office holds which record type, the question that stalls most searches.
Placer County - CountyFusion County Access Portal
Official Free
This site will not function properly if IE Compatibility Mode is enabled. Please disable Compatibility Mode and refresh the page. If you do not know how to disable Compatibility Mode please submit a ticket to our support team and they will be happy to assist you.
Self-Service
Official Free
This is a new grantor/grantee searching website · This search site is provided as a service to our customers. All data contained herein is subject to change without notice. By using this service, in any form, the user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County and anyone involved in.
Official Records Search - Web - Santa Barbara County
Official Free
After searching, copies or certified copies may be added to your shopping cart. Copy Fees: $10.00 per document and $2.00 per document for certification. Information on this web site is collected, maintained and provided by the County of Santa Barbara Clerk-Recorder's Office as a service to.
Self-Service
Official Free
This search site is provided as a service to our customers. All data contained herein is subject to change without notice. By using this service, in any form, the user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County and anyone involved in storing, retrieving, or displaying this information.
STANISLAUS clerk-recorder Event Reservation Page
Official Free
Recorded land documents for California — deeds, mortgages, and liens. Plats and surveys record here too, which helps when boundaries are in question. This is the permanent legal record of ownership — nothing here expires or rolls off.
CLS - Landing Page | County Records
Official Free
Click a link below to view a tutorials about using CountyRecords.com.
Yolo County Clerk and Recorder's Office - Self-Service
Official Free
Code §12956.1 Any discriminatory. redacted copy of the document to the County Recorder. Forms are available from the County Recorder’s office or its website, (clerk-recorder@yolocounty.gov).
Self-Service - Yuba County, CA Recorder
Official Free
By using this service, in any form, the user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Yuba County Clerk-Recorder and anyone involved in storing, retrieving, or displaying this information for any damage of any type that may be caused by retrieving this information over the Internet.
Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder
Official Free
Forms to correct or amend birth, death, or marriage records for events that occurred in California are available online from the California Department of Public Health. Contact us for more information about County Clerk/Recorder services including: recording documents, birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses and certificates, preliminary 20-day notices, and professional registrations. In Person Visit one of our office locations. By Mail Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder 3636 American River Drive, Suite 110 Sacramento, CA 95864
California Counties
58 California counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or 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
Which California counties publish deed and recording indexes online
36 of California's 58 counties run their own online source for deed and recording indexes, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above — click a county for its full records page.
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.