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Recorder Offices
Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.
County Administration South
South County Branch Office
North County Branch Office
About the Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Land records in Orange County are recorded by the Clerk-Recorder.
A free Property Fraud Prevention Courtesy Notice, offered since 2007 with the Orange County District Attorney, is automatically sent to the property owner when a document affecting title to a property is recorded; no sign-up is required. The notice includes a first page preview of the recorded document.
Checked October 2026 against the sources below. Some of them are not official publications, so confirm with the recorder's office. Sources: Orange County Clerk-Recorder · Real Estate Fraud Prevention Courtesy Notice flyer
Recording Fees
These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.
| All documents | $12.00 first page, $3.00 each additional page (per title; standard 8 1/2 x 11 one-sided pages) |
|---|
Added at recording
| District Attorney Fraud Fee | $10.00 Per title on certain documents, pursuant to GC 27388 |
|---|---|
| SB 2 Fee | $75.00 Per title pursuant to Senate Bill 2, unless expressly exempt under GC 27388.1(a)(1) or (a)(2); documents must be labeled "Exempt" with a valid exemption on the face of the document or on a cover page |
| Survey Monument Preservation Fund | $20.00 Each Grant Deed recorded showing a legal description other than a complete lot and tract |
| Notification of Involuntary Lien | $10.00 Per debtor; not applicable to Mechanic Liens |
| Change of Ownership | $20.00 Recording a change of ownership without a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report |
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 group of 10 names beyond 10) |
| Additional references or marginal notations | $1.00 each (per reference) |
| Copies, per page | $1.00 |
| 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)).
Release of any state, county, city, or municipality tax lien: $18.00. Conformed copies: $1.00. Maps and documents exceeding 11" x 18": $1.00. Return check service fee: $25.00. All fees are subject to change without notice.
Paying the office
| Accepted | Cash, Check, Money order, Cashiers check, Credit card, Debit card |
|---|---|
| Checks payable to | County of Orange |
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Discover Card, MasterCard, and Visa. Mail-in recording payment by check, cashier's check, or money order only.
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 the sources below. Some of them are not official publications, so confirm with the recorder's office. 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) · Orange County Clerk-Recorder Fee Schedule · Property Documents
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
Submitting documents
| In person | Accepted |
|---|---|
| By mail | Accepted |
| Electronic recording | Accepted |
Over-the-counter recording transactions are limited to a maximum of three documents. Document recording services close for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Anaheim branch office. Document examiner line: (714) 834-2887.
Checked October 2026 against the sources below. Some of them are not official publications, so confirm with the recorder's office. 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) · Property Documents · Orange County Clerk-Recorder Surpasses 11 Million Electronically Submitted Documents
Report an error or send an update
Help improve the information for Orange County, California. Recorder staff and the public may report an error, suggest an update, or request a special message.
This goes to Deeds.com Customer Care, not the recorder's office. It is not for submitting documents, requesting deed copies, getting legal advice, or account support. We review submissions before making changes; publication is not guaranteed. Contact details are for our staff and are not displayed publicly. Do not include Social Security numbers, payment details, or other sensitive information.
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 Orange County. Contact the recorder's office about its submission options.
Recorder Offices
Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.
County Administration South
South County Branch Office
North County Branch Office
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.
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