California Forms

Santa Cruz County Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Form

Santa Cruz County Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Form

Santa Cruz County Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Form

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

Document Last Validated 7/8/2025
Santa Cruz County Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Guide

Santa Cruz County Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document Last Validated 7/30/2025
Santa Cruz County Completed Example of the Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Document

Santa Cruz County Completed Example of the Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Document Last Validated 4/17/2025

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

Immediate Download • Secure Checkout

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

Where to Record Your Documents

County Recorder
Address:
701 Ocean St, Rm 230
Santa Cruz, California 95060

Hours: 8:00am to 12:00 and 1:00 to 4:00pm

Phone: (831) 454-2800

Recording Tips for Santa Cruz County:
  • Ask if they accept credit cards - many offices are cash/check only
  • Bring extra funds - fees can vary by document type and page count
  • Leave recording info boxes blank - the office fills these
  • If mailing documents, use certified mail with return receipt

Cities and Jurisdictions in Santa Cruz County

Properties in any of these areas use Santa Cruz County forms:

  • Aptos
  • Ben Lomond
  • Boulder Creek
  • Brookdale
  • Capitola
  • Davenport
  • Felton
  • Freedom
  • Los Gatos
  • Mount Hermon
  • Santa Cruz
  • Scotts Valley
  • Soquel
  • Watsonville

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Santa Cruz County

How do I get my forms?

Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz County?

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Santa Cruz County including margin requirements, content requirements, font and font size requirements.

Can I reuse these forms?

Yes. You can reuse the forms for your personal use. For example, if you have multiple properties in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz County?

Recording fees in Santa Cruz County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (831) 454-2800 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 Santa Cruz County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

This Affidavit of Surviving Spouse meets all recording requirements specific to Santa Cruz County.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Santa Cruz County recording requirements for formatting. If there's an issue caused by our formatting, we'll make it right and refund your payment.

Save Time and Money

Get your Santa Cruz 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.

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