What California Expects Before It Will Record Your Deed
A California county clerk-recorder can send a deed back over any one of a handful of requirements. Here's what has to be right before you file.
Notarized Acknowledgment
California requires the grantor's signature to be acknowledged before a notary public before a county clerk-recorder will accept a deed for recording. No additional witnesses are needed beyond the notary, and the grantee doesn't have to sign at all. One California-specific wrinkle worth knowing ahead of time: state law requires the notary to take the signer's right thumbprint in their journal specifically for deeds and other real property documents (Government Code § 8206) -- confirm your notary has a journal and inkpad on hand before the appointment.
Grantee's Full Mailing Address
The deed should state the complete mailing address of the person or entity receiving the property, not just their name. It's a small detail that's easy to overlook and a common, entirely avoidable reason a county clerk-recorder sends a deed back for correction.
A Preliminary Change of Ownership Report
California requires a separate Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR) to accompany most deeds when they're filed. The county assessor's office uses it to determine whether the transfer triggers a reassessment. It's a distinct form with its own signature, not a box you check on the deed itself -- a penalty applies if it's left off or incomplete, so it's worth getting right the first time.
Legal Description
A mailing address alone won't satisfy a California county clerk-recorder — the deed needs the property's full legal description. See our guide to finding your legal description if you don't have it on hand.
Paper Size and Format
Most California counties accept standard letter-size (8.5 x 11 inch) paper, and some accept legal-size as well. A county clerk-recorder can refuse a document that doesn't conform to its formatting preferences, so it's worth checking your specific county's requirements before you print and sign.
Recording Fee and Documentary Transfer Tax
California's base recording fee is a flat, statute-set amount per document. On top of that, counties charge a documentary transfer tax calculated as a percentage of the property's value, and some cities layer on their own additional city transfer tax. Your county clerk-recorder can confirm the current structure for where the property sits.
E-Recording Varies by County
Many California counties accept e-recording through vendors like Simplifile or CSC, but this isn't available everywhere in the state yet. Check your county's page to see what that office currently supports.
Constructive Notice and the Recorder's Discretion
Once recorded, a deed gives constructive notice of the transfer to everyone else -- that's the whole reason recording matters, since it's what protects a new owner if someone else later tries to claim an interest in the same property. County clerk-recorders also have the discretion to refuse a document that doesn't meet the applicable requirements, so getting the details right the first time saves a trip back.
Recording Office
Every California deed is recorded with the elected County Clerk-Recorder for the county where the property sits -- though a few counties fold in additional duties under a longer title. Find your county's exact office name, address, and hours here.
FAQs About Quitclaim Deed Recording in California
What paper size does California require for a quitclaim deed?
Most California counties accept standard letter-size (8.5 x 11 inch) documents; some also accept legal-size. Check your county's page for any additional formatting preferences on margins or font size.
Does a quitclaim deed need a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report?
Yes, in almost all cases. The PCOR is a separate form the county assessor uses to evaluate whether the transfer triggers a property tax reassessment. A penalty applies if it's missing or incomplete when the deed is recorded.
Is notarization required to record a quitclaim deed in California?
Yes. The grantor's signature must be acknowledged before a notary public, and California notaries are required to take the signer's right thumbprint in their journal specifically for real estate documents like deeds.
Can a California notary notarize my deed online?
Not yet through a California-commissioned notary -- that option isn't available until January 1, 2030. An out-of-state online notary can still validly notarize a California document, since California recognizes notarial acts performed under another state's laws.
Does California charge a real estate transfer tax?
Yes. California counties charge a documentary transfer tax based on a percentage of the property's value, and some cities charge an additional city transfer tax on top of the county's -- your county clerk-recorder can confirm what applies.
How is California's recording fee calculated?
California's base recording fee is a flat, statute-set amount per document, separate from the documentary transfer tax described above. Your county clerk-recorder can provide the current fee schedule.
Can a quitclaim deed be e-recorded in California?
It depends on the county. Many California counties accept e-recording through vendors like Simplifile or CSC, but availability isn't universal statewide -- check your county's page or call ahead.