Stanislaus County Recorder Information

Land records in Stanislaus County are recorded by the County Clerk-Recorder. The office is held by Donna Linder.

Both the index and documents from 1978 to present can be searched by name or document number and date of recording; copies can be requested from inside office terminals only. Older records back to 1853 are held on film, fiche and roll film.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Recorder General Information - Clerk Recorder · Stanislaus County 2026 Fee Schedule · How do I Search for a Document?

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, 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)).

Each additional title per document: $14.00; each combined document: $14.00 (GC 27361.1). The first page is limited to an 8 1/2 x 14 sheet. Reproduction of recorded documents: $6.75 first page, $3.00 each additional page (GC 27366). Release of lien by state or local government if the original lien was recorded without fee: $20.00 (GC 27361.3). Notification of involuntary lien: $10.00 per defendant (GC 27387). Penalty print: $1.00. Preliminary 20-day notice: $57.00 (GC 27361.9). Maps: $9.00 first page, $3.00 each additional page (GC 27372). Military discharge (DD214): no fee.

Paying the office

Third party checks are not acceptable. Customer must be present.

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).

Stanislaus County states its rate as $.55 for each $500, or fractional part thereof, of the value of real property, less any loans assumed by the buyer. Each document in which real property is sold must have a tax declaration on the first page (Rev. & Tax. Code § 11933).

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) · Stanislaus County 2026 Fee Schedule · Fees - Clerk Recorder - Stanislaus County · Documentary Transfer Tax - Clerk Recorder

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.

Recording fees are charged for a cover page. The Recorder indexes all titles shown on the first page and may index additional titles found in the body, including Assignment of Rents and Assignment of Leases; each additional title is charged. Titles should appear on the first page, directly below the space reserved for the Recorder.

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

Submitting documents

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 General Information - Clerk Recorder · Basic Recording Requirements - Clerk Recorder · Frequently Asked Questions of the Recorder