Names, Addresses, County -- Then the One Field That Slows Everyone Down
A California quitclaim deed asks for plenty of information you already know off the top of your head. The legal description isn't one of them. It's not your street address -- it's the formal, surveyed description your county clerk-recorder relies on to identify the parcel in its own records: a platted lot and block if the property sits in a subdivision or town, or a metes-and-bounds or government survey description for larger, unplatted land.
Check Your Own Files First
The quickest path is usually sitting in a drawer somewhere. Pull the deed or closing paperwork from when you acquired the property -- the legal description is almost always printed there word for word, ready to copy directly onto your new deed.
Can't Find That Paperwork? Your County Can Probably Help
No copy on hand doesn't mean starting from zero. Most California county clerk-recorder and assessor offices run a free online property lookup -- searchable by owner name, address, or parcel number -- that surfaces the recorded legal description. Several counties also offer an interactive assessor's parcel map where clicking a property brings up its full file.
Jump to Your County's Search Tool
Every county page on this site links straight to that county's official website. Once there, look for something labeled "property search," "records search," or a parcel/GIS map. Pick your county below:
Browse All California Counties →
FAQs About Legal Descriptions
What is a legal description?
A surveyed, formal description of a property's boundaries -- whether that's a metes-and-bounds description, a government survey reference, or a platted lot and block -- used to uniquely identify a parcel on official documents. It's a different piece of information than your street address, and county records rely on it specifically.
Can I look up my California legal description online?
In most counties, yes. County clerk-recorder or assessor offices typically offer a free property search by name, address, or parcel number that returns the recorded legal description along with other property details.
My county doesn't have online records -- now what?
Start with your own closing or settlement paperwork; the legal description is almost always printed there already. If that's not available, contacting your county clerk-recorder's or assessor's office directly will get it tracked down.
Does a quitclaim deed require a fresh survey?
Typically not. The deed carries forward the legal description that's already on file rather than creating a new one. A new survey usually only becomes necessary if the parcel itself is being divided into separate lots.