California Forms

Sonoma County Transfer on Death Affidavit Form

Sonoma County Transfer on Death Affidavit Form

Sonoma County Transfer on Death Affidavit Form

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

Document Last Validated 6/11/2025
Sonoma County Transfer on Death Affidavit Guide

Sonoma County Transfer on Death Affidavit Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document Last Validated 1/29/2025
Sonoma County Completed Example of the Transfer on Death Affidavit Document

Sonoma County Completed Example of the Transfer on Death Affidavit Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Document Last Validated 8/4/2025

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

Immediate Download • Secure Checkout

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

Where to Record Your Documents

Clerk-Recorder-Assessor-Registrar
Address:
585 Fiscal Dr, Room 103 / PO Box 1709
Santa Rosa, California 95403 / 95402

Hours: 8:00 to 5:00, Wed until 4:00 / Same-day Recording until 4:00

Phone: (707) 565-2651

Recording Tips for Sonoma County:
  • Check margin requirements - usually 1-2 inches at top
  • Recording fees may differ from what's posted online - verify current rates
  • Avoid the last business day of the month when possible
  • Request a receipt showing your recording numbers

Cities and Jurisdictions in Sonoma County

Properties in any of these areas use Sonoma County forms:

  • Annapolis
  • Bodega
  • Bodega Bay
  • Boyes Hot Springs
  • Camp Meeker
  • Cazadero
  • Cloverdale
  • Cotati
  • Duncans Mills
  • El Verano
  • Eldridge
  • Forestville
  • Fulton
  • Geyserville
  • Glen Ellen
  • Graton
  • Guerneville
  • Healdsburg
  • Jenner
  • Kenwood
  • Monte Rio
  • Occidental
  • Penngrove
  • Petaluma
  • Rio Nido
  • Rohnert Park
  • Santa Rosa
  • Sebastopol
  • Sonoma
  • Stewarts Point
  • The Sea Ranch
  • Valley Ford
  • Villa Grande
  • Vineburg
  • Windsor

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Sonoma County

How do I get my forms?

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

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Sonoma 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 Sonoma 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 Sonoma County?

Recording fees in Sonoma County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (707) 565-2651 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 Sonoma County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

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

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Sonoma 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 Sonoma 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.

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September 1st, 2022

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March 23rd, 2019

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February 21st, 2024

I appreciated the fact that the forms were by Texas County and I knew I had the right form. The form were fairly easy to complete. I had trouble completing the form because the property description was long and kept disappearing and I had to re-type. It would also have helped it I could have saved and not had to start over every time.

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Sandra M.

November 17th, 2019

The forms were easy to use but there was a software issue that made it impossible to get the county name to appear on the form in the correct place. It made the deed look a little sloppy

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October 20th, 2021

Worked great very quick and easy without the sample model for my state would have been difficult for me thank's

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November 13th, 2019

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October 7th, 2020

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May 12th, 2025

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November 12th, 2022

Your website was very helpful. Hopefully, I will have it completed correctly prior to use.

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March 3rd, 2020

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July 15th, 2021

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August 5th, 2020

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June 21st, 2020

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Patrick A.

April 13th, 2019

Real value. Excellent forms, guidance & samples. Included Homestead Exemption form & info are also valuable & greatly appreciated.

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March 4th, 2019

Straight forward easy to understand completing my document. The guide readily explained filing all portions of the document.

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