Contra Costa County Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Form

Last validated July 27, 2026 by our Forms Development Team

Contra Costa County Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Form

Contra Costa County Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Form

Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.

Document Last Validated 7/22/2026
Contra Costa County Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Guide

Contra Costa County Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document Last Validated 7/27/2026
Contra Costa County Completed Example of the Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Document

Contra Costa County Completed Example of the Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Document Last Validated 7/9/2026

All 3 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees

Immediate Download • Secure Checkout

Important: Your property must be located in Contra Costa County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

Where to Record Your Documents

Contra Costa Clerk-Recorder

Address:
555 Escobar St / PO Box 350
Martinez, California 94553

Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday

Phone: (925) 335-7910

Recording Tips for Contra Costa County:
  • Documents must be on 8.5 x 11 inch white paper
  • White-out or correction fluid may cause rejection
  • Avoid the last business day of the month when possible
  • Both spouses typically need to sign if property is jointly owned

Cities and Jurisdictions in Contra Costa County

Properties in any of these areas use Contra Costa County forms:

  • Alamo
  • Antioch
  • Bethel Island
  • Brentwood
  • Byron
  • Canyon
  • Clayton
  • Concord
  • Crockett
  • Danville
  • Diablo
  • Discovery Bay
  • El Cerrito
  • El Sobrante
  • Hercules
  • Knightsen
  • Lafayette
  • Martinez
  • Moraga
  • Oakley
  • Orinda
  • Pinole
  • Pittsburg
  • Pleasant Hill
  • Port Costa
  • Richmond
  • Rodeo
  • San Pablo
  • San Ramon
  • Walnut Creek

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Contra Costa County

How do I get my forms?

Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Contra Costa County forms will be in your account ready to download to your computer. An account is created for you during checkout if you don't have one. Forms are NOT emailed.

Are these forms guaranteed to be recordable in Contra Costa County?

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable formatting requirements used for recording in Contra Costa County, including margin requirements, font requirements, and other layout standards. This guarantee applies to formatting, not to the legal sufficiency of information entered by the user or the suitability of a form for a particular transaction.

Can I reuse these forms?

Yes. You can reuse the forms for your personal use. For example, if you have multiple properties in Contra Costa County you only need to order once.

What do I need to use these forms?

The forms are PDFs that you fill out on your computer. You'll need Adobe Reader (free software that most computers already have). You do NOT enter your property information online - you download the blank forms and complete them privately on your own computer.

Are there any recurring fees?

No. This is a one-time purchase. Nothing to cancel, no memberships, no recurring fees.

How much does it cost to record in Contra Costa County?

Recording fees in Contra Costa County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (925) 335-7910 for current fees.

Questions answered? Let's get started!

Transferring California Community Property to the Surviving Spouse

Section 100(a) of the California Probate Code states that when a married person dies, one-half of the couple's community property belongs to the surviving spouse and the other half stays in the decedent's name, ostensibly for probate distribution. For transfers occurring after July 1, 2001, California property owners gained the option to hold title as community property with the right of survivorship. By vesting this way, the remaining spouse acquires the deceased spouse's portion of the shared property without the need for probate (Cal Civ Code 682.1(a)).

The surviving spouse files an affidavit (a statement of facts, made under oath), along with an official copy of the death certificate, at the recording office for the county where the property is located. The content may vary depending on the circumstances, but it generally contains the names of both spouses, a formal legal description of the shared real estate, and the recording information for the deed transferring ownership to the couple, confirming their intention to hold title as community property. Note that the right of survivorship is not automatic with community property -- it must be written on the face of the deed. To alleviate any questions about the survivorship status, consider including an official copy of the recorded deed.

The affidavit should also confirm, among other things, that the co-owners were married when the decedent died, that there are no probate actions related to the property, and that the surviving spouse is submitting the affidavit to ensure clear title. A clear title is important because it makes future transactions involving the real estate less complicated.

Each case is unique, so contact an attorney with specific questions or for complex situations.

(California Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)

Important: Your property must be located in Contra Costa County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

This Affidavit of Surviving Spouse meets all recording requirements specific to Contra Costa County.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable Contra Costa County recording format requirements. If there is a rejection caused by our formatting, we will correct the issue or refund your payment. This guarantee applies to document formatting only and does not extend to information entered by the user, the selection of the form, or the legal effect of the completed document.

Save Time and Money

Get your Contra Costa County Affidavit of Surviving Spouse form done right the first time with Deeds.com Uniform Conveyancing Blanks. At Deeds.com, we understand that your time and money are valuable resources, and we don't want you to face a penalty fee or rejection imposed by a county recorder for submitting nonstandard documents. We constantly review and update our forms to meet rapidly changing state and county recording requirements for roughly 3,500 counties and local jurisdictions.

4.8 out of 5 - ( 4772 Reviews )

NANETTE G.

March 6th, 2021

I was so Happy to find a website that had deeds for property, reasonable price, helpful directions for diy flling out the deed info, no surprise hidden fees at checkout...what a relief. Saved hundreds because I can do it myself! Great service here!!

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

Jorge O.

June 11th, 2019

Everything work excellent. Don't think any update is needed at this time. Thank you

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Sherrl F.

June 3rd, 2021

I had a excellent experience using DEEDS.COM. Very clear directions and site was easy to use. I paid the fee to have my deed electronically filed and it was done the day I requested it be filed.

Reply from Staff

We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!

Betty B.

August 2nd, 2021

So easy and convenient.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

Kenia B.

August 31st, 2020

Very convenient and efficient. I will recommend it, definitely.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Richard K.

February 20th, 2026

South Carolina Warranty Deed document is good. The example and instruction documents are marginal help for Trusts.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback, Richard. We’re glad to hear the South Carolina Warranty Deed met your needs. We appreciate your note about the trust-related guidance as well. That’s helpful input, and we’ll review the example and instruction materials to see where we can improve clarity for trust transfers.

Jason B.

August 8th, 2021

Deeds.com did a great job in explaining exactly what I'd need to file a deed transfer (quitclaim deed). I didn't have to order the forms piecemeal, but was able to order the whole package at once for a reasonable price. Once downloaded, their fill-in-the-blank PDF was easy to use with detailed instructions for each line item. I'd definitely use them again.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

DEBBY G.

January 12th, 2023

I was so confused on how to complete the form. But I followed the instructions and used the example and got it done.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

Steven B.

April 18th, 2026

County accepted the TODD form. Easy to understand and don’t have to hire an attorney! Excellent

Reply from Staff

Appreciate this, Steven. That's exactly the outcome we're aiming for. Wishing you well.

Donna J.

May 22nd, 2019

what do you do with it once filled out. doesn't tell you

Reply from Staff

Generally, once the documents are completed and executed they are recorded with the recorder where the property is located.

Rosalinda R.

January 4th, 2023

THESE FORMS ARE JUST WHAT I NEEDED, SHORT AND TO THE POINT. EXCELLENT QUESTIONS FOR MY NEED. THAK YOU!!!!

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

Jill M.

January 12th, 2019

This service gave me the information and guide I needed to file a Quitclaim Deed. I went through the process with no problems at all.

Reply from Staff

Thank you Jill, we appreciate your feedback.

Tom L.

January 10th, 2023

For better grammatical structure you should add the word "BE" after the first three words.... Your review may ..... BE....displayed.

Reply from Staff

Thanks for letting us know!

Jay B.

July 3rd, 2020

Fantastic!

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Lindsey B.

January 21st, 2025

The e-recording service was invaluable. This was my first experience recording a document in any capacity. The feedback I received was useful, concise, and presented kindly. I cannot imagine having to try to record by mail, or without the guidance that was provided to me.

Reply from Staff

We are delighted to have been of service. Thank you for the positive review!