San Diego County Transfer on Death Affidavit Form

Last validated August 20, 2026 by our Forms Development Team

San Diego County Transfer on Death Affidavit Form

San Diego County Transfer on Death Affidavit Form

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

Document Last Validated 8/11/2026
San Diego County Transfer on Death Affidavit Guide

San Diego County Transfer on Death Affidavit Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document Last Validated 8/13/2026
San Diego County Completed Example of the Transfer on Death Affidavit Document

San Diego County Completed Example of the Transfer on Death Affidavit Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Document Last Validated 8/20/2026

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

Immediate Download • Secure Checkout

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

Where to Record Your Documents

San Diego Clerk/Recorder Main Office

Address:
County Administration Center - 1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 260
San Diego, California 92101

Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm

Phone: (619) 236-3771, 238-8158; (760) 630-1219 North County

Mail to: San Diego Assessor/Recorder/Clerk

Address:
P.O. Box 121750
San Diego, California 92112-1750

Hours: N/A

Phone: mailing address

El Cajon Branch Office

Address:
200 S Magnolia Ave
El Cajon, California 92020

Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm

Phone: (619) 238-8158 or (619) 236-3771 Assessor

San Marcos Branch Office

Address:
141 E Carmel St
San Marcos, California 92078

Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm

Phone: (619) 238-8158 or (760) 630-1219 North County

Chula Vista Branch Office

Address:
590 3rd Ave.
Chula Vista, California 91910

Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.

Phone: (619) 238-8158

Recording Tips for San Diego County:
  • Ask if they accept credit cards - many offices are cash/check only
  • Double-check legal descriptions match your existing deed
  • Leave recording info boxes blank - the office fills these
  • Make copies of your documents before recording - keep originals safe
  • Both spouses typically need to sign if property is jointly owned

Cities and Jurisdictions in San Diego County

Properties in any of these areas use San Diego County forms:

  • Alpine
  • Bonita
  • Bonsall
  • Borrego Springs
  • Boulevard
  • Camp Pendleton
  • Campo
  • Cardiff By The Sea
  • Carlsbad
  • Chula Vista
  • Coronado
  • Del Mar
  • Descanso
  • Dulzura
  • El Cajon
  • Encinitas
  • Escondido
  • Fallbrook
  • Guatay
  • Imperial Beach
  • Jacumba
  • Jamul
  • Julian
  • La Jolla
  • La Mesa
  • Lakeside
  • Lemon Grove
  • Lincoln Acres
  • Mount Laguna
  • National City
  • Oceanside
  • Pala
  • Palomar Mountain
  • Pauma Valley
  • Pine Valley
  • Potrero
  • Poway
  • Ramona
  • Ranchita
  • Rancho Santa Fe
  • San Diego
  • San Luis Rey
  • San Marcos
  • San Ysidro
  • Santa Ysabel
  • Santee
  • Solana Beach
  • Spring Valley
  • Tecate
  • Valley Center
  • Vista
  • Warner Springs

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for San Diego County

How do I get my forms?

Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The San Diego 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 San Diego County?

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable formatting requirements used for recording in San Diego 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 San Diego 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 San Diego County?

Recording fees in San Diego County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (619) 236-3771, 238-8158; (760) 630-1219 North County for current fees.

Questions answered? Let's get started!

Using an Affidavit of Death to Claim Real Estate from a California Transfer on Death Deed

Transfer on death deeds allow individual landowners to transfer their real estate when they die, without a will or the need for probate distribution. The transferor simply executes a TODD form, then records it during the course of his/her natural life, and within 60 days of the signing date (5626(a)). Unlike grant deeds or quitclaim deeds, the owner continues to hold title to the property when a transfer on death deed is recorded (5650). As such, TODDs are exempt from transfer taxes and the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR).

What happens, then, when the owner dies? Section 5680 defines the process for switching the title over to the beneficiary. The beneficiary may establish the fact of the transferor's death under the procedure provided in California Probate Code Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 210) of Part 4 of Division 2. The first step is obtaining a certified copy of the death certificate. Then research the recording information from the transfer on death deed identifying the beneficiary. Complete an affidavit of death and sign it in front of a notary. Finally, file the affidavit, along with the copy of the death certificate, in the recording office for the county where the property is situated. Note that this act transfers title to the beneficiary, so it also requires the PCOR and any associated taxes and fees.

Beneficiaries take title to the property under the rules set out at section 5652. Be aware that any associated debts, obligations, or agreements in place when the owner died follow the real estate to the beneficiaries. In addition, the title transfers without warranty, so the beneficiaries might find themselves liable for future claims against the property. For these reasons, among others, some beneficiaries might wish to disclaim the gift (5652(a)(1)).

In general, transferring title to the beneficiary of a transfer on death deed is a simple process. Even so, complications may arise. Contact an attorney for complex situations or with any questions.

(California Transfer on Death Affidavit Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)

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

This Transfer on Death Affidavit meets all recording requirements specific to San Diego County.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable San Diego 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 San Diego County Transfer on Death Affidavit 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 - ( 4777 Reviews )

Scott S.

November 20th, 2020

This is the best resource I have found for documents related to beneficiary deeds!

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

kevin d.

April 19th, 2022

the quitclaim form worked well with the Nevada Recorders office. Tried other vendors, theirs were rejected.

Reply from Staff

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

Lajeanne F.

March 31st, 2019

Your service was as you promoted and I was able to get a copy of my deed and find the information on it I needed. Thank you.

Reply from Staff

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

Lester A.

May 29th, 2020

Couldnt have been easier. Docs recorded the next day!

Reply from Staff

Thanks Lester, glad we could help.

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May 8th, 2020

The site is a good idea, however, I couldn't find what I needed with just the address alone. I was looking to get the name of a former landlord, as I can't remember it.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

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June 1st, 2023

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Reply from Staff

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

Jearsel W.

January 5th, 2019

I was surprised how helpful the completed example was. It was nice to see what the form should look like when it is filled out. Great job!

Reply from Staff

That's wonderful to hear Jearsel, thanks for your feedback. Have an awesome day.

Rhonda D.

February 24th, 2021

The boxes do not allow you to add the entire information. The after recording return to box would not let me add a zipcode.

Reply from Staff

Thanks for the feedback Rhonda, we’ll take a look at that input field.

Ronald S.

May 20th, 2019

got what i wanted

Reply from Staff

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

Matthew D.

February 16th, 2019

Fantastic forms easy process couldn't be happier! Thanks

Reply from Staff

Thank you Matthew!

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April 9th, 2020

if i could give this site ten stars i would

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Evelyn N.

May 3rd, 2019

Great website, efficient and informational. Very helpful!

Reply from Staff

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

Shelly S.

November 12th, 2021

was fairly easy to work through the forms but needed better information on what goes on a few of the lines

Reply from Staff

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

Virginia P.

December 10th, 2019

Not user friendly despite additional guide. There are other products out there that are superior. A waste of $20.

Reply from Staff

Sorry to hear that Virginia. Your order and payment has been canceled. We do hope that you find something more suitable to your needs elsewhere. Have a wonderful day.

Judith S.

December 17th, 2025

Very prompt and good resource. Unfortunately, I am unable to find a form for the Quitclaim Deed for an individual to a UNA, so I do not know how to proceed.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for the kind words, Judith — we’re glad you found the site helpful. Quitclaim deed forms are offered for common ownership scenarios, and some arrangements are not available as pre-made templates. If you have questions about the forms currently offered on the site, our support team can help clarify what is and isn’t available.