"The recording system is designed to keep track, in public records, of who owns every square inch of land in California."
-Mary Randolph, Deeds for California Real Estate
Each county in California has a recorder's office to collect and index deeds and other documents affecting the ownership ("title") of real estate. Prospective buyers and lenders (or the title companies they hire) search these records to verify property ownership and whether it is subject to any mortgages, liens, or easements.
In Sacramento County, as in many counties, the recorder's office is combined with the county clerk's office (http://www.ccr.saccounty.net/). The office is located at:
600 8th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 874-6334
An online index of records since 1965 is located at http://www.erosi.saccounty.net/. The online index shows grantee and grantor names and document titles, but not document contents. Records going back to 1850 can be searched in person. Copies of documents may be ordered from the Recorder's Office; for more information, see http://www.ccr.saccounty.net/Copies_OR.asp.
The Sacramento Clerk/Recorder's Office also:
- Issues marriage licenses and provides certified copies of them;
- Provides certified copies of birth and death certificates;
- Administers notary public and process server registrations.
For more information and a fee schedule, visit http://www.ccr.saccounty.net/Fees.asp.
Commonly recorded documents include deeds, liens, homestead forms, affidavits of death of joint tenants or trustees, and other forms related to ownership of property. Documents must follow specific format and content requirements (see http://www.ccr.saccounty.net/R_CRules.asp). Samples of some widely-used documents are available on the Law Library's website (see below).
A documentary transfer tax is imposed on each recorded document reflecting the sale of real property. Payment must be made when the document is recorded. See http://www.ccr.saccounty.net/FAQ.asp for more information on this tax.
FORMS
The Sacramento County Public Law Library has prepared sample copies of common forms for your use. Please note that these forms may not be suitable for all situations. You are advised to consult an attorney or do additional research before relying on them.
You can find additional forms at stationary stores and on the Web. Two useful sources of forms on the Web are:
Documents transferring ownership (whether by sale or other transaction, such as gift) must always be accompanied by a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR), available free at http://www.assessor.saccounty.net/Forms/SAC_ASR_DF_Owenrship_Change.
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