Orange County, California • deeds, liens and recorded property documents
Orange County CA Recorder: Search Deeds, Liens and Official Property Records
The Orange County Clerk-Recorder is the county office that
records and maintains deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances, liens,
notices of default and other official real-property documents for
property located in Orange County, California.
The most important point for a first-time searcher is that Orange County’s
online system is primarily a Grantor/Grantee Index.
You normally search the names of parties connected with a recorded
document, identify the correct recording, save its document number,
and then request the official document copy if you need the actual image.
Fastest route:
know a current or former owner name → open the official Grantor/Grantee
Index → search the name → compare document type and recording date →
save the instrument/document number → use the Clerk-Recorder’s official
copy service or request form if you need the full recorded document.
Official office
Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Current Clerk-Recorder
Hugh Nguyen
Main office
601 N. Ross Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Online search type
Grantor / Grantee Index
Important limitation:
Orange County states that its online Grantor/Grantee search displays
an index of results. The index itself does not provide
the recorded document image. Find the document number first, then follow
the copy procedure explained below.
Independent guide:
County-CAD.us is not the Orange County Clerk-Recorder, Orange County
Assessor, Treasurer-Tax Collector, County of Orange or another California
government agency. Search, recording, copy and certification transactions
are completed through the official government resources linked in this guide.
Choose your exact task
What Do You Need From the Orange County Recorder?
Recorder search workflow
From a Name to the Actual Recorded Document
1
Gather name
Current or prior party.
2
Search index
Grantor / Grantee.
3
Match record
Type + date + parties.
4
Save number
Instrument/document ID.
5
Request copy
Regular or certified.
6
Verify context
Follow related recordings.
The moving line is a lightweight CSS transform used to explain the
workflow. It loads no JavaScript, image asset or animation library.
Official government resources
Which Orange County Website Should You Open?
Most direct recorder search
How to Search Orange County Deeds by Grantor or Grantee Name
Orange County directs users to its online Grantor/Grantee database before
requesting copies. The purpose of the search is to identify the correct
recorded document and save its recording number.
Open the official index using the button above.
Confirm that the browser is on the Orange County Clerk-Recorder
government search system.
Choose the Grantor/Grantee or party-name search available in the system.
Use the name of a current owner, prior owner, buyer, seller, trust,
company or other party connected with the transaction.
Begin with reliable spelling.
If a full name produces too many or too few results, try useful
name variations rather than assuming the first result is correct.
Use recording-date information when you know it.
A purchase closing date, refinance date, payoff date or other approximate
transaction date can help distinguish similar names.
Review the document type.
Determine whether the result is a Grant Deed, Quitclaim Deed,
Deed of Trust, Reconveyance, lien, Notice of Default or another instrument.
Compare every party carefully.
A person with the same name may have documents involving entirely
different property.
Save the recording/document number and recording date.
These are the most useful identifiers when ordering a copy.
Do not expect the search result to display the full deed image.
Orange County specifically states that the Grantor/Grantee search provides
an index rather than document images.
If you need the actual deed, continue to the official-copy process.
Use the document number rather than asking staff to conduct a broad name search.
Same name does not mean same property or same person.
Verify multiple facts—party names, recording date, document type,
transaction context and related records—before associating a recording
with someone.
What Do “Grantor” and “Grantee” Mean?
Grantor
The party granting, conveying or otherwise giving the interest
represented by the document. On a typical transfer deed, this
is commonly the seller or transferring owner.
Grantee
The party receiving the interest represented by the document.
On a typical transfer deed, this is commonly the buyer or
receiving owner.
Document context matters.
Grantor/grantee indexing applies to many kinds of instruments.
Do not automatically interpret the parties on a lien, reconveyance
or trust document the same way you would interpret the parties on
a property-transfer deed.
You only know the street address
How to Start an Orange County Deed Search From an Address
The Recorder’s primary online lookup is a Grantor/Grantee index,
so a street address is not always the best first search key.
Start by identifying the parcel and collecting reliable property clues.
Open the Orange County Assessor website.
Look for Find My Assessed Value,
Property Information or parcel-map resources.
Search or identify the correct parcel.
Obtain the Assessor Parcel Number (APN) and confirm that the physical
property matches the address you are researching.
Keep the APN as your parcel-verification reference.
The APN is useful for assessment and tax research even though the
Recorder’s principal online index is party-name based.
Gather owner or transaction names from reliable records you already have.
Examples include a closing statement, old deed, title report,
tax correspondence or other transaction paperwork.
Open the Recorder’s Grantor/Grantee Index.
Search those party names.
Compare the recording dates with the property’s transaction history.
Save the relevant document number.
Move to the copy process only after you have identified the likely recording.
Why keep the APN?
It helps you confirm that you are researching the correct Orange County
parcel across Assessor and tax systems. It should not be confused with
the Recorder’s instrument/document number.
Best identifier once found
Orange County Document Numbers: 1982+ vs Older Records
Orange County’s official copy instructions make an important distinction
between older recorded documents and documents recorded from 1982 forward.
Recording period
Identifier to preserve
Practical use
1982 or later
Instrument number consisting of the recording year followed by a
six-digit number.
Use it to identify the exact document when requesting copies.
Before 1982
Book, page and instrument number when available.
Older-record requests are much easier when these historical
references are already known.
Once you have the correct document number, stop repeating broad
name searches.
Save the number permanently with your property records.
Common Orange County Recorded Property Documents
Grant Deed
Common document used to transfer title to real property.
Quitclaim Deed
Transfers whatever interest the grantor may have without the same
implied assurances associated with some other deed forms.
Deed of Trust
Loan/security instrument commonly recorded with real-property financing.
Reconveyance
Recording associated with full or partial satisfaction of a deed-of-trust loan.
Substitution of Trustee and Reconveyance
May document trustee substitution together with reconveyance of the
secured interest.
Lien
Recorded claim or encumbrance that can appear in the public record.
Release
May show that a previously recorded lien or other interest was released.
Notice of Default
Recorded foreclosure-related notice associated with a deed of trust.
Trustee’s Deed
Deed associated with certain trustee transactions, including foreclosure contexts.
Easement
Recorded property-use or access right.
Restrictive Covenant Document
Recorded restriction or covenant affecting real property.
Other Official Records
The Recorder maintains many additional documents affecting real property.
Grant Deed vs Deed of Trust: Do Not Confuse Ownership With the Loan
Grant Deed
Orange County’s Recorder FAQ explains that a Grant Deed is used
to transfer title to real property.
It can be recorded when property is purchased or later when names
are added or removed through an appropriate transfer.
Deed of Trust
A Deed of Trust is a financing/security document tied to a loan.
It is commonly recorded during a purchase loan or refinance and
should not be mistaken for the ownership-transfer deed.
New homeowner shortcut:
if you are trying to find the document that transferred ownership,
do not stop merely because you found a Deed of Trust with the same
recording date.
Mortgage payoff search
Paid Off Your Mortgage? Search for a Reconveyance, Not a New Deed
Orange County’s official Recorder FAQ explains that paying off a
mortgage/deed of trust does not result in a new deed.
The later recorded document is generally a
Reconveyance or
Substitution of Trustee and Reconveyance.
Find the original Deed of Trust if possible.
Save its recording number, date, borrower/trustor and lender/beneficiary information.
Open the official Grantor/Grantee Index.
Search the relevant borrower or parties.
Focus on recordings after the payoff or refinance date.
Look for a Reconveyance or Substitution of Trustee and Reconveyance.
Compare the related parties and document references.
Save the reconveyance recording number.
Request a copy when you need to confirm the original loan reference inside the document.
Why unfamiliar names can appear on a reconveyance:
Orange County explains that the document can list the trustor,
trustee and beneficiary, and the trustee or beneficiary may have changed
if the loan was sold. Those parties are not automatically owners of the property.
Recorder’s own cross-check method
How to Check Whether an Orange County Lien Was Released
Orange County’s official recorded-document FAQ gives a practical
cross-check method: the release should match the relevant parties,
be recorded after the original lien, and reference the recording
being released.
Search for the original lien first.
Save its document number, recording date and parties.
Search the same relevant party names again.
Focus on documents recorded after the original lien.
Look for a release or satisfaction-type recording.
Compare grantor/grantee parties.
Make sure the later document logically corresponds with the original lien.
Confirm that the release was recorded after the lien.
Obtain the actual release document when legal confirmation matters.
The body of the release can reference the document number of the
original instrument being released.
Cross-check that referenced number against the original lien.
A later document with a similar name is not enough.
Verify that the release actually references the correct original recording.
Regular and certified copies
How to Get a Copy of an Orange County Deed or Recorded Document
Orange County recommends finding the document number in the online
Grantor/Grantee Index before requesting an official copy.
Important:
Clerk-Recorder staff state that they do not conduct broad record searches
for customers over the phone, in person or by mail. Do your index search
first and bring or send the document reference.
Search the Grantor/Grantee Index first.
Save the exact document number and recording date.
For pre-1982 documents, preserve book/page/instrument information when available.
Decide whether you need a regular or certified copy.
Ask the court, lender, title company, government agency or other recipient
if certification is actually required.
Open the official copy-instructions page above.
Use the Official Records Copy Request Form when ordering by mail.
Enter the document information accurately.
Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a mail request.
Include the correct payment.
Orange County currently lists recorded-document copies at $1 per page
plus $1 for certification of each document or map.
Mail the request to the Clerk-Recorder’s Santa Ana address.
Keep a copy of everything you send.
Copy service
2026 fee
Practical meaning
Recorded document
$1 per page
Multiply by the number of pages in the requested document.
Certification
$1 per completed document
Added when an official certified document is required.
Conformed copy
$1
Separate Clerk-Recorder fee listed in the current schedule.
Mailing an Orange County Property Record Copy Request
Orange County Clerk-Recorder
601 N. Ross Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Information:
714-834-2500
Your request should clearly identify:
- document/instrument number;
- document description or type;
- book/page when relevant to an older record;
- number of pages when known;
- whether a regular or certified copy is required;
- your requester/contact information;
- correct payment; and
- a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Best practice:
print the index result or write the complete document reference on your
copy-request worksheet before mailing anything.
Recording a new property document
How to Record a Deed or Other Real Property Document in Orange County
Confirm that the real property is located in Orange County.
Orange County only records documents for property within its jurisdiction.
Make sure the document is legible.
Legibility is one of the Recorder’s stated acceptance requirements.
Include the name of the person requesting recording.
Provide the name and address where the recorded document should be returned.
Determine whether the document changes ownership.
A completed Preliminary Change of Ownership Report is generally
submitted when recording a document affecting a change in ownership.
Check the current fee schedule.
Total fees depend on titles, pages, applicable fraud fees, SB 2,
transfer tax and other document-specific charges.
If recording over the counter, note Orange County’s transaction limit.
The current instructions limit each over-the-counter transaction to
a maximum of three documents.
Choose in-person or mail submission as appropriate.
The Clerk-Recorder also accepts qualifying document submissions by
mail, FedEx or UPS.
Keep a complete copy of the unrecorded package before submission.
The Clerk-Recorder cannot provide legal advice or prepare your deed.
If you are uncertain which deed or legal instrument is appropriate,
consult a qualified California attorney or other appropriate professional
before recording.
Document examiner:
Orange County currently directs recording-document questions to
714-834-2887.
Change-of-ownership filing
Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR)
Orange County’s recording instructions state that a completed
Preliminary Change of Ownership Report should accompany
documents affecting a change in ownership of real property.
The form can be obtained through the Clerk-Recorder or Orange County Assessor.
The 2026 Recorder fee schedule lists a $20 Change of Ownership
charge when recording a change of ownership without a
Preliminary Change of Ownership Report.
Fee schedule effective January 1, 2026
Orange County Recorder Fees: Important 2026 Amounts
The amount required to record a deed is not always just the first-page
charge. Different titles, pages and statutory surcharges can change
the final amount.
$12
Standard first page
One-sided 8½ × 11 standard first page, per title.
$3
Each additional standard page
Additional page charge.
$10
District Attorney Fraud Fee
Per title on certain documents under the cited Government Code provision.
$75
SB 2 Fee
Per title unless a valid statutory exemption applies.
$0.55
Documentary Transfer Tax
Listed per $500 in the current Orange County fee schedule.
$20
Change of Ownership
Listed when a change of ownership is recorded without a PCOR.
$20
Survey Monument Preservation Fund
Applies to specified Grant Deeds described in the fee schedule.
$1
Multiple reference
Per additional reference under the fee schedule.
$1
More than 10 names
Per group of 10 names indexed.
Do not add these numbers blindly.
Whether a particular charge applies depends on the document, titles,
exemptions and transaction. Ask a document examiner when you cannot
determine the correct amount.
SB 2:
Orange County’s current fee schedule states that an exempt document
must be labeled “Exempt” with a valid exemption on the
face of the document or on a cover page before it is submitted for recording.
Orange County Documentary Transfer Tax
The 2026 Orange County Clerk-Recorder fee schedule lists
Documentary Transfer Tax at $0.55 per $500.
Simple rate conversion:
$0.55 per $500 equals $1.10 per $1,000 for the county transfer-tax
component before considering whether a particular transfer, deduction,
exemption or additional local requirement changes the calculation.
Do not calculate a real closing solely from this simplified rate conversion.
Transfer-tax liability can depend on the facts of the transaction and
applicable law. Use the Recorder’s current Transfer Tax Information Sheet
or professional closing guidance.
Recording an Orange County Property Document by Mail, FedEx or UPS
Orange County currently accepts real-property recording submissions by
mail, FedEx or UPS, subject to the Recorder’s requirements.
Confirm the property is in Orange County.
Check document legibility and execution.
Include the requester’s name and return-address information.
Include the PCOR when required for a change of ownership.
Calculate the current recording amount carefully.
Use an accepted mail-payment method.
Orange County currently lists check, cashier’s check or money order
for mail recording submissions.
Make payment payable as instructed by the Orange County Clerk-Recorder.
Send the package to 601 N. Ross Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701.
Use a trackable delivery method for important original documents.
Orange County has an automatic notification program
Orange County Real Property Fraud Courtesy Notices
Orange County automatically sends a free Real Property Fraud Prevention
Courtesy Notice when certain documents affecting title are recorded.
The Clerk-Recorder states that no enrollment is required
for this county courtesy-notice program.
The current program covers recordings such as grant deeds, quitclaim
deeds, trustee’s deeds and notices of default. Orange County’s May 2026
update states that the courtesy notice includes a copy of the first page
of the recorded document so the owner can quickly review the transaction.
What to Do If You Receive an Unfamiliar Courtesy Notice
Do not ignore the notice.
Compare the property and owner information immediately.
Open the official Grantor/Grantee Index independently.
Do not rely on a link from an unsolicited text message or email.
Search the named parties and recording information.
Save the document number, recording date and document type.
Compare the first page provided with the courtesy notice.
Determine whether the transaction is one you recognize.
If the recording appears unauthorized, contact the appropriate fraud authority promptly.
Orange County currently directs suspected real-estate fraud reports
to the Orange County District Attorney’s Real Estate Fraud Unit.
A Recorder cannot simply delete a document because an owner says it is fraudulent.
Suspected forged or fraudulent title documents can require law-enforcement
and legal action. Preserve every document, envelope, recording number and
communication.
Recorder Warning Signs Worth Investigating
Unexpected transfer notice
You receive a county notice showing a transfer you do not recognize.
Missing tax bill
The Clerk-Recorder fraud guidance identifies a missing expected tax bill
as a possible warning sign worth investigating.
Unknown mortgage paperwork
You receive payment books or mortgage documents for a loan you did not obtain.
Unexpected deed in your name search
A grantor/grantee result appears that does not fit your known transaction history.
Historical deed research
How to Research an Orange County Record From Before 1982
Orange County’s current copy instructions state that records recorded
before 1982 should be identified using book, page and instrument
number when available.
Gather every old document you already have.
Look for deed references, title reports, probate papers, abstracts,
maps, loan papers or prior recording stamps.
Write down prior owner names and approximate transaction years.
Look for book/page references on later recorded documents.
Newer instruments can refer back to older deeds.
Preserve the instrument number when one appears.
Use Orange County Archives when the research becomes historical rather than merely transactional.
Contact the Clerk-Recorder with specific references.
Do not ask staff to conduct an open-ended family or title-history search.
Is the Orange County Recorder Index a Complete Title Search?
No. An online Grantor/Grantee search and one deed copy can be extremely
useful, but they are not the same thing as a professional title examination.
A complete ownership review may require examining:
- current and prior deeds;
- deeds of trust;
- reconveyances;
- assignments;
- judgment liens;
- tax liens;
- easements;
- restrictions and covenants;
- probate or trust interests;
- court orders;
- recorded maps; and
- other documents affecting title.
For a purchase, refinance, inheritance, boundary dispute,
foreclosure or ownership dispute:
use a California title company, qualified real-estate attorney or other
appropriate professional rather than relying on one index result.
Recorder vs Assessor vs Tax Collector: Which Office Do You Need?
Your task
Correct office
What that office does
Find a deed, lien or reconveyance
Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Records and maintains official real-property documents.
Find APN or assessed value
Orange County Assessor
Identifies and values property for assessment purposes.
Pay a property-tax bill
Treasurer-Tax Collector
Collects property taxes and maintains payment status.
Challenge assessed value
Assessor / Assessment Appeals
Assessment questions start with the Assessor; formal appeals go through
the appropriate appeals process.
Determine legal ownership conclusively
Recorder records + title/legal professional
Recorder records provide source documents; legal/title review determines
their combined effect.
Need the APN or Tax Bill Instead of a Deed?
If your real goal is assessed value or a property-tax payment,
do not stay inside the Recorder workflow.
APN
Orange County Assessor
APN, assessment value and parcel information.
Open Assessor
TAX
Orange County Property Taxes
Search tax information using parcel number, address and other supported identifiers.
Open Property Tax Resources
Orange County’s countywide property-tax page currently says users can
search property-tax information using parcel number, property address,
tax-lien number or certain other supported identifiers.
Current office locations
Orange County Recorder Office Locations and Recording Hours
Service-location detail matters.
The Old Orange County Courthouse is primarily listed for marriage services
and Orange County Archives. Use the Clerk-Recorder’s current location page
to confirm that the office you plan to visit performs the property-record
service you need.
What to Bring Before Visiting for a Property Record
-
document/instrument number;
-
grantor/grantee names;
-
recording date or approximate year;
-
book/page information for older documents;
-
APN if useful for confirming the parcel;
-
the exact document type you need;
-
whether you need a regular or certified copy;
-
accepted payment method; and
-
any PCOR or other filing document required for a new recording.
Do the index search at home first.
Orange County specifically recommends finding the document number before
visiting for copies.
Orange County-specific shortcuts
Local Tips That Prevent Common Recorder Search Mistakes
Do not expect a deed image from the index.
The online Grantor/Grantee system is an index. Save the document number,
then use the official copy route.
Search both sides of a transfer when needed.
If one party’s spelling is uncertain, try a reliable name for the
other party connected with the transaction.
Use transaction dates aggressively.
Purchase, refinance and payoff dates can dramatically narrow a
name-based search.
Do not confuse Grant Deed and Deed of Trust.
One concerns title transfer; the other is commonly a loan/security document.
Mortgage paid off? Search “Reconveyance.”
Orange County specifically says a new deed is not issued merely because
a deed-of-trust loan was paid.
Cross-check a lien release by document number.
The later release should reference the original recording being released.
Before 1982, save book and page.
Older records need more historical reference information than a modern
instrument number alone.
Keep APN and Recorder document number separate.
APN identifies an assessment parcel. The Recorder instrument/document
number identifies a recorded document.
Don’t ask the copy desk to do the search for you.
Orange County instructs users to perform the Grantor/Grantee index
search first.
Check the 2026 fee PDF on filing day.
Recording charges depend on the document and statutory surcharges.
Fraud notices are automatic.
Orange County’s courtesy-notice program does not require homeowners
to sign up.
Choose the nearest recording branch strategically.
Anaheim and Laguna Hills currently accept real-property recordings,
but recording hours are shorter than general office hours.
Property Buyer, Heir or Owner Research Checklist
Identify the parcel
Confirm the Orange County APN and physical property.
Search the current owner names
Use the Recorder’s Grantor/Grantee Index.
Search prior names
Follow earlier transfers when reconstructing history.
Find the latest relevant deed
Do not confuse the transfer deed with a Deed of Trust.
Check later recordings
Look for liens, releases, reconveyances, easements and notices.
Review tax status separately
Use the Treasurer-Tax Collector for bills and balances.
Verify assessment information
Use the Orange County Assessor.
Use professional title review for legal certainty
An online index is research—not title insurance.
Official research ledger
Primary Sources Used for This Orange County Recorder Guide
Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Used to verify the current Clerk-Recorder, official recorder services
and county property-document resources.
Open Official Clerk-Recorder
Property Document Recording Services
Used for over-the-counter and mail-recording requirements, PCOR,
payment methods, document limits and document-examiner contact.
Open Recording Instructions
Official Record Copy Instructions
Used for Grantor/Grantee index limitations, copy-request procedure,
pre-1982 references, modern instrument numbers and copy fees.
Open Copy Instructions
2026 Clerk-Recorder Fee Schedule
Effective January 1, 2026; used for recording, transfer-tax,
copy and certification amounts.
Open Official Fee PDF
Real Estate Fraud Alert
Used for Orange County fraud warning signs and property-monitoring guidance.
Open Fraud Guidance
2026 Fraud Courtesy Notice Update
Used for the current automatic courtesy-notice program and Orange
County District Attorney reporting route.
Open 2026 County Update
Official Hours & Locations
Used for current Santa Ana, Anaheim and Laguna Hills office and
real-property recording hours.
Open Hours & Locations
Official Property Document Forms
Used for copy request, PCOR-related resources, restrictive-covenant
documents, recording notices and transfer-tax information.
Open Official Forms
Editorial verification: August 14, 2026.
Recorder interfaces, statutory fees, office locations, hours, forms and
submission procedures can change. Recheck the official government page
before paying, mailing an original document or traveling to an office.
Orange County Recorder Search Checklist
-
Start with the official Orange County Clerk-Recorder.
-
Use the Grantor/Grantee Index for recorded-document searching.
-
Search reliable party names and transaction dates.
-
Do not assume a same-name result belongs to the property you want.
-
Check document type before treating a result as an ownership deed.
-
Save the instrument/document number.
-
Remember that the online index does not provide the full document image.
-
For 1982+ documents, preserve the year + six-digit instrument number.
-
For pre-1982 records, preserve book/page/instrument details when available.
-
Use the official copy instructions for regular or certified copies.
-
Use the Assessor for APN/value information.
-
Use the Treasurer-Tax Collector for tax bills and payments.
-
Search for a Reconveyance after mortgage payoff—not a new deed.
-
Cross-check lien releases against the original document number.
-
Check the current fee schedule immediately before recording.
-
Use professional title/legal help when ownership certainty matters.
10 Orange County Recorder questions
Orange County CA Recorder FAQs
1. What is the official Orange County CA Recorder website?
The official office is the Orange County Clerk-Recorder at
OCRecorder.com. Use its Recorder Services section for property
document recording, Grantor/Grantee searching, official copies,
fraud information, forms, fees and office locations.
2. How do I search Orange County deeds online?
Open the Orange County Clerk-Recorder’s official Grantor/Grantee Index.
Search a reliable current or former party name, compare document type
and recording date, identify the correct recording and save the
document/instrument number. The online index provides search results
but does not itself display the full document image.
3. Can I search the Orange County Recorder by property address?
The Recorder’s main public online search is organized around the
Grantor/Grantee index rather than an ordinary address-only deed lookup.
If you know only the address, start with the Orange County Assessor to
identify the parcel/APN and gather reliable property information, then
use known current or former party names in the Recorder index.
4. Can I view the actual Orange County deed image in the Grantor/Grantee Index?
Orange County states that the online Grantor/Grantee search provides
an index of results and does not provide document images. Use the index
to obtain the document number, then follow the Clerk-Recorder’s official
record-copy procedure for the full document.
5. How much does an Orange County recorded document copy cost?
The Orange County Clerk-Recorder’s 2026 fee schedule lists recorded
document copies at $1 per page. Certification is an additional $1
for each completed document or map. Confirm the current fee before
ordering because county fees can change.
6. How much does it cost to record a deed in Orange County in 2026?
The 2026 fee schedule lists $12 for a standard first page per title
and $3 for each additional standard page, but total recording cost
can also include applicable fraud fees, the $75 SB 2 fee, documentary
transfer tax, multiple-reference charges, PCOR-related charges and
other document-specific fees. Use the current official fee schedule
or contact a document examiner for the exact transaction.
7. I paid off my mortgage. Will Orange County record a new deed?
No. Orange County’s Recorder FAQ explains that paying off a
mortgage/deed of trust does not result in a new deed. Search for a
Reconveyance or Substitution of Trustee and Reconveyance recorded after
the payoff or refinance.
8. How can I tell whether an Orange County lien was released?
Find the original lien first and save its recording number and parties.
Then search later recordings for a release involving the appropriate
parties. Orange County advises checking that the release was recorded
after the original lien and that the release document references the
document number of the recording being released.
9. What should I do if I receive an Orange County property fraud courtesy notice?
Verify the document independently through the official Grantor/Grantee
Index, save the recording number, date, document type and parties, and
compare the notice with your known transactions. If the document appears
unauthorized, preserve the evidence and contact the appropriate law
enforcement or real-estate fraud authority. Orange County currently
directs suspected real-estate fraud reports to the District Attorney’s
Real Estate Fraud Unit.
10. Where is the Orange County Clerk-Recorder office?
The main Orange County Clerk-Recorder office is at County Administration
South, 601 N. Ross Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701. The information line is
714-834-2500. Real-property recording is also currently available at
branch offices in Anaheim and Laguna Hills during the recording hours
published by the Clerk-Recorder.