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

Contra Costa County Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Guide
Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Contra Costa County Completed Example of the Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Document
Example of a properly completed form for reference.
All 3 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees
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Additional California and Contra Costa County documents included at no extra charge:
Where to Record Your Documents
Contra Costa Clerk-Recorder
Martinez, California 94553
Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday
Phone: (925) 335-7910
Recording Tips for Contra Costa County:
- Ensure all signatures are in blue or black ink
- Ask if they accept credit cards - many offices are cash/check only
- Leave recording info boxes blank - the office fills these
- Verify the recording date if timing is critical for your transaction
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
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 )
Kathryn L.
July 27th, 2020
I went to the recorders office. Had no problem was finished in about 10 minutes .The forms was excellent . With the instructions it was easy for me to fill out. Thank you, Kathryn L
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Mary S.
March 25th, 2022
Really, really great. Instructions are so helpful.
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Norma G.
May 9th, 2019
Thank you! This is very helpful
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Diana H.
February 10th, 2019
little expensive same document in other county is free. however quite fast in responding. and just what i needed.
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William A.
September 11th, 2019
I was able to get the documents I wanted, and very quickly. Good service.
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Russell N.
March 16th, 2021
Very simple process to purchase and download. Made it easy to understand the different forms and their uses and how to select the right form.
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April 2nd, 2020
Very satisfied. In the middle of COVID19 I was able to complete important paperwork even though I wasn't completely sure what I was doing on my own. Quick and easy. Thank you. It means a lot to me.
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Melody L.
November 8th, 2020
Beware, you cannot save the information you typed and change it later. It will be a PDF upon saving. So if you need corrections...you have to start all over!
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Virginia S.
June 28th, 2022
Very easy to use. Had my Transfer of Death Designation Affidavit done in no time and filed with the Recorder's Office the next day.
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Timothy M.
June 2nd, 2019
I like what I see so far!
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Diana A.
February 5th, 2019
My service today was outstanding.your rep asked me several questions and was able to get me all the information I needed.
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Lance G.
January 12th, 2021
Fast and dependable service, which is so critical in the real estate business. Excellent experience.
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Ute P.
February 14th, 2019
Thank you it was hard for me to pull these documents online you been a big help since I am in a different state, quick and awesome.
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Cassandra C.
February 7th, 2022
I was easy fast and easy to order and download.
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Michael R.
August 25th, 2025
A suggestion: Include instructions on how to add your spouse to the deed, rather than transferring completely to a third party
Thank you for your thoughtful feedback. Adding a spouse to a deed is a common need, and suggestions like yours help us identify where additional guidance would be useful. We’ll take this into consideration as we continue improving our resources.