Basic Recording Requirements

The following list of basic recording requirements is provided only to assist you in the recording process.  The Recorder's Office staff is prohibited from giving legal advice; nor can staff assist the public in the preparation of legal documents. If you have questions concerning which document or form is appropriate for your purposes, or if you are in need of assistance in the preparation of that form or document, you should consult an attorney or obtain other professional advice. Basic Recording Requirements (pdf) available here)

Requirement 

Reference 

Description 

Original Signature Required

GC 27201(b)1

Requires original signatures on all instruments, papers or notices presented for recording except as otherwise provided by law. A certified copy is also acceptable.

All-Purpose Acknowledgment

CC 1188 & CC 1189

Any California notary public or other officer taking acknowledgments in California must complete the California all-purpose notary acknowledgment. (pdf)

Legibility

GC 27361.6

Documents presented for recording must be sufficiently legible to reproduce a readable photographic copy. This includes notary seals and any attachments or exhibits.  
 
Note: For illegible notary seals, you may print an "Illegible Notary Seal Declaration" (pdf) to be completed and attached.   

Page Size

GC 27361.5

A page is defined as one printed side of a single piece of paper measuring 8 ½" x 11".

Page Margins

GC 27361.6

All documents submitted for recording must have at least a ½" margin along each vertical side. In addition, the top 2 ½" of the first page or sheet must be reserved for recording information. The left 3 ½" of this space is used to show the name of the party requesting the recording and where to mail the document after it is recorded.

Cover Page

GC 27361.6

If the first page of the document does not have required space for the recording information, a separate page or cover sheet (pdf) must be attached to the front of the document. This cover sheet must show the name of the party requesting the recording, where to mail the document after it is recorded and the title or titles of the document. Recording fees will be charged for this page.

Document Titles

GC 27324

All documents submitted for recording must indicate the title or titles of the documents contained therein. Titles should appear on the first page, directly below the space reserved for the Recorder.

Additional titles indexed

GC 27324

The Recorder is required to index all titles shown on the first page. Additional titles may also be identified and indexed at the discretion of the Recorder. Additional titles indexed by Humboldt County Recorder include, but are not limited to, Assignment of Rents and Assignment of Leases found in the body of the document. When a document contains more than one title to be indexed, the recording fee will increase $13.00 for each additional title to be indexed.

Recording Reference Number Required

GC 27361.6

Any document that modifies, releases or cancels the provisions of a previously recorded document must contain the recording reference number of that prior document.

Basic Recording Fees

GC 27361

All recording fees are due at the time of recording. Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder charges $13.00 for the first page and $3.00 for each additional page per document. For a complete list of our fees, please see our fee schedule.

Recording Fee for Non-Conforming Documents

GC 27361

If any page of a document is double sided or does not measure 8 ½" x 11", or if the document has anything taped, pasted or stapled to an individual page, an additional non-conforming fee of $3.00 will be charged for each page of the document. For a complete list of our fees, please see our fee schedule.

 

Notice: All information provided by the Clerk-Recorder's Office through this website is subject to change without notice.  The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace information or advise obtained from your attorney or other legal professional.