San Joaquin County Recorder Information

Land records in San Joaquin County are recorded by the County Recorder. The office is held by Steve J. Bestolarides.

Recorded documents date back to 1851. The Grantor/Grantee Index includes information from January 1, 1968, to the present; earlier deeds and official documents are available digitally and on film. The county mails a courtesy notification to the property owner listed with the Assessor when certain property documents are recorded.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: California Government Code § 27201 (FindLaw) · San Joaquin County Recorder Fee Schedule · Recorded Documents & Maps

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 July 1, 2025.

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)).

The standard first page fee rose from $14.00 to $16.00 on July 1, 2025, adding a $2.00 AB 1466 fee; Gov. Code § 27388.2 bars charging it after December 31, 2027 unless the board of supervisors reauthorizes it. Each additional title: $16.00 (exempt from fraud fee and SB2), $24.00 (not exempt from fraud fee), $99.00 (not exempt from fraud fee and SB2). Filing UCC-1 or UCC-3 Standard: $96.00 (1 to 2 pages), $106.00 (3 pages and more). Map recording fee $22.00 exempt from SB2, $97.00 not exempt, $3.00 each additional map page. Notification of Involuntary Lien (per debtor) $8.00. Filed Document Fee $7.00. Prelien 20 Day Notice $40.00.

Paying the office

Mail-in recordings: payment may be made by check, cashier's check, or money order. Lathrop office accepts credit card, checks, and cashier checks 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).

San Joaquin County collects Documentary Transfer Tax on taxable conveyances over $100 at $.55 per $500 or fractional portion of real property value, excluding liens or encumbrances already of record (R&T Code 11911). A Transfer Tax Declaration must appear on each deed. When no tax is due, "0" is entered on the tax line and a completed Affidavit of Exemption from Documentary Transfer Tax form is provided, with a valid Revenue & Taxation exemption code on the face of the document.

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) · San Joaquin County Recorder Fee Schedule · Recording and Retrieving Information · Recorder - County Clerk's Satellite Office · Documentary Transfer Tax

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.

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
• Affidavit of Exemption from Documentary Transfer Tax San Joaquin County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk
  A claimed exemption must be stated on the document and the form completed and submitted at the time of recording

Submitting documents

Documents are recorded the same day until 4:00 pm. Documents submitted until 4:30 pm are recorded the following business day. The Lathrop satellite office at Lathrop City Hall offers document recording but not recording of maps.

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) · Recorder Overview · Recording and Retrieving Information · Documentary Transfer Tax