Recorder Office
Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.
Lake County Assessor-Recorder
About the Lake County Assessor-Recorder
Land records in Lake County are recorded by the Assessor-Recorder. The office is held by Richard A. Ford.
Guard Dog, a free property-fraud notification service operated by ParcelQuest, sends an email when a document matching a registered parcel number or name is recorded in Lake County's Official Records Index.
Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Assessor - Recorder | Lake County, CA
Recording Fees
These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.
| All documents | $14.00 first page, $3.00 each additional page (standard sized documents) |
|---|
Added at recording
| Government Code 27388.1-Building Homes and Jobs Act (SB-2) | $75.00 Each title on document; maximum $225.00 per transaction. Gov. Code § 27388.1 |
|---|---|
| Monument Fee | $5.00 Grant Deeds, for preservation of monumentation; grant deeds conveying lots created by recorded tract maps exempt. Board of Supervisors Resolution No. 2024-57; Gov. Code §§ 27584, 27585 |
Other charges
| Document that does not meet the formatting standards | $3.00 per page when A page or sheet does not conform to the dimensions described in Section 27361.5(a) |
|---|---|
| Additional names indexed | $1.00 each beyond the 10 included (per additional group of 10 names or portion thereof) |
| Copies, per page | $0.50 |
| Certification | $1.00 |
Fee schedule effective January 1, 2026.
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)).
Non-Standard Sized Documents (any page not exactly 8.5 inches by 11 inches in size): First Page $17.00; each additional page $6.00. Each additional Title (Combined Documents) $14.00. Recording Maps: First Page $8.00; each additional page $2.00. Financial Statements (UCC): two pages or less $10.00; three or more $20.00. Abstract of Judgement: notification of 1st debtor $5.00; each additional debtor $2.00. Computer screen prints (per screen) $1.00.
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).
Lake County schedule of charges lists Documentary Transfer Tax (per $1,000) $1.10.
Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Lake County Recorder's Office Schedule of Charges · California Government Code § 27361 (FindLaw) · California Government Code § 27388 (FindLaw) · California Revenue and Taxation Code § 11911 (FindLaw) · California Revenue and Taxation Code § 11932 (FindLaw)
Document Requirements
Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.
| Paper size | 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches (a sheet not greater than 8 1/2 inches by 14 inches) (statewide, Cal. Gov. Code § 27361.5) |
|---|---|
| First page top margin | 2.5 in (statewide, Cal. Gov. Code § 27361.6) |
| Other margins | 0.5 in (statewide, Cal. Gov. Code § 27361.6) |
| Ink and paper | Paper quality and print size and color must reproduce legibly by microphotographic or imaging processes (statewide, Cal. Gov. Code § 27361.6) |
| Return address required | Yes (statewide, Cal. Gov. Code § 27361.6) |
| Tax statement mailing address required | Yes (statewide, Cal. Gov. Code § 27321.5(a)) |
| Printed names under signatures required | Yes (statewide, Cal. Gov. Code § 27280.5) |
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.
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 EqualizationMay 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
- Recording Cover Page Lake County Assessor-RecorderComplete this form to declare that the document being recorded is exempt from the fee imposed by GC 27388.1 (SB2)
Submitting documents
| In person | Accepted |
|---|---|
| Electronic recording | Accepted |
Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Assessor - Recorder | Lake County, CA · Recorder Forms | Lake County, CA · Exciting News: Lake County Goes Live with eRecording! - CeRTNA · 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)
Deeds.com Resources & Services
Using Deeds.com is optional. Contact the recorder's office directly for its services and submission options.
How to Get a Copy of Your Deed
Read Deeds.com's guide to requesting document copies from the recorder's office.
Deeds.com eRecording
Not available through Deeds.com
Deeds.com does not currently offer eRecording in Lake County. Contact the recorder's office about its submission options.
Recorder Office
Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.
Lake County Assessor-Recorder
Deeds.com Forms
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Supplemental Document Resources
Recording-related forms and instructions for reference. Confirm which documents apply with the recorder's office.
Deeds.com Customer Care
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