Humboldt County Recorder Information

Land records in Humboldt County are recorded by the Clerk-Recorder. The office is held by Juan P. Cervantes.

Online index search 1979 to present; non-certified copies of documents and maps 04/09/1999 to present may be purchased and printed through Self-Service Web. Documents recorded before 1979 are indexed in book volumes that can be examined in the office at no cost.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Record a Document | Humboldt County, CA · Staff Directory • Recorder · Search / Self-Service Web

These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.

Added at recording

Other charges

Fee schedule effective January 1, 2022.

StatewideThe recorder charges $1 extra per page or sheet when printing on printed forms is spaced more than nine lines per vertical inch or more than 22 characters and spaces per inch (Gov. Code § 27361(a)(1)). Counties may adopt additional fees: up to $10 per real estate instrument for the Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Trust Fund upon a board of supervisors resolution (Gov. Code § 27388); $1 for the first page for a social security number truncation program (Gov. Code § 27361(d)); $1 per instrument fees for micrographics/archive, business-day operation, and indexing within two business days (Gov. Code § 27361.4); and up to $1 per instrument for an electronic recording delivery system (Gov. Code § 27397). A recorder may charge an additional $20 recording fee when a document evidencing a change in ownership is presented without a concurrent Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (Rev. & Tax. Code § 480.3(b)).

Combined document: $13.00. When a document contains more than one title to be indexed, the recording fee increases $13.00 for each additional title indexed. Release of government lien: $20.00 for the first page and one reference, $3.00 each additional page, $20.00 each additional lien referenced. Involuntary lien notice: $14.00 per debtor. Twenty-day preliminary notice: $89.00. UCC financing statement: $10.00 (1-2 pages), $20.00 (3+ pages). Conformed copy: $2.00 (copy must be provided). Official copies of recorded documents: $2.00 first page, $1.00 each subsequent page; map copies: $7.00 first page, $5.00 each subsequent page.

Paying the office

All applicable fees must be paid at the time of recording. If unsure of the total fee, the check amount may be left blank with "not to exceed $_____" written below the line.

Transfer tax

Documentary Transfer Tax. $0.55 for each $500 or fractional part thereof of consideration or value exceeding $100 (county); cities may impose one-half that amount. The tax is collected when the document is recorded. (statewide, Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code § 11911)

StatewideA county's documentary transfer tax is imposed by board of supervisors ordinance under Rev. & Tax. Code § 11911(a). A city within a taxing county may impose its own tax at one-half the county rate (§ 11911(b)), and a credit is allowed against the county tax for the city tax (§ 11911(c)). Some charter cities levy their own rates. Every taxed document must show on its face the amount of tax due and the incorporated or unincorporated location of the realty (§ 11932).

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: California Government Code § 27361 (FindLaw) · California Government Code § 27388 (FindLaw) · California Revenue and Taxation Code § 11911 (FindLaw) · California Revenue and Taxation Code § 11932 (FindLaw) · Record a Document | Humboldt County, CA · County of Humboldt Clerk-Recorder Fee Schedule · Recording Tips

Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.

StatewideAt least a 1/2-inch margin on the two vertical sides except in the space reserved for recording information. The left-hand 3 1/2 inches of the top 2 1/2 inches of the first page is used to show the name of the person requesting recording and the return name and address.

StatewideIf the first page does not meet the recording-space requirements, a separate page meeting them and showing the document title must be attached to the front. A document that modifies, releases, or cancels a previously recorded document must state the recorder identification number or book and page of that document. A deed of trust or mortgage with power of sale must specify the trustor's or mortgagor's address and contain a request for notice of default and sale.

Titles should appear on the first page, directly below the space reserved for the Recorder. Additional titles indexed by the Humboldt County Recorder include, but are not limited to, Assignment of Rents and Assignment of Leases found in the body of the document. Each document should be stapled individually and separately.

Forms filed along with a transfer

• Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (BOE-502-A) Statewide County assessor and recorder; form prescribed by the State Board of Equalization
  May be filed with the recorder concurrent with the recordation of any document effecting a change in ownership; the recorder may charge an additional $20 recording fee without it
• SB2 exemption coversheet Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder
  Claiming an exemption from SB2’s additional $75 fee; attached to the document, with the additional $3 page fee

Submitting documents

Documents may also be left in the drop box outside the Clerk Recorder’s Office door. Documents that cannot be processed by 5:00 p.m. are held, with payment, to be recorded on the following business day. Documents received by mail that do not meet recording requirements are generally returned within 3 days.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: California Government Code § 27361.5 (FindLaw) · California Government Code § 27361.6 (FindLaw) · California Government Code § 27321.5 (FindLaw) · California Government Code § 27280.5 (FindLaw) · California Revenue and Taxation Code § 480.3 (Onecle) · Recording Tips · Basic Recording Requirements · Recording Process Time & Return