Frequently Asked Questions

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1. What types of documents can be recorded?

Any document affecting title to real property that is authorized or required by law to be recorded.  Including such documents as Grant Deeds, Deed of Trusts, Mechanic’s Liens, Tax Liens and Reconveyances.  The recording requirements are established by California Statutes.

2. How do I transfer Title?

Legal Advice Limitation:               

The Clerk/Recorder’s Office is prohibited from giving legal advice, cannot advise which forms are needed, nor advise how to fill them out.  It may be advisable to consult an Attorney, CPA or Title Agent because of the legal aspects involved in holding title to property or transferring title.

How to Transfer Title:

• Name changes to the tax records on real property cannot be made by request, only by documents recorded in the office of the Humboldt County Recorder.
• To change the name(s) on real property, the present owner(s) may execute a new deed conveying the property from the name(s) as they presently appear, to the name(s) that will be used to hold title.  Full names of all parties must be used.  The new deed should state how title will be held, i.e. joint tenants, tenant in common, etc.  The new deed must be acknowledged by a Notary Public.
• Deed forms may be obtained from stationary stores that carry legal forms or through various websites, including some Title company websites.  They are not available in this office.
• The deed must be recorded in the county where the property is located.  There is a fee for recordation.  Humboldt County Recorder Fee Schedule.
• A Preliminary Change of Ownership Form (PCOR) made available by the Humboldt County Assessor, should be completed, signed by the Grantee, and returned with the document at the time of recording.  If it is not completed and submitted, an additional fee of $20.00 will be required for recording.

3. Will the Recorder’s Office help me prepare my document?

The Recorder’s Office is prohibited by law from providing you with legal advice.  We can only provide you with the recording requirements for a particular document when presented for recording.  We recommend that you contact a legal advisor for assistance in preparing your document.

4. What is documentary transfer tax?

California Revenue and Taxation Code 11911(a) allows each county to impose a documentary transfer tax on realty transferred when the consideration or value of the property is greater than $100.00.  Transfer Tas is calculated at the rate of $0.55 per $500.00 of property value.  It is due at the time of recording unless a valid exemption under the Revenue and Taxation Code is provided (R & T 11911 – 11930)   Transfer Tax Table

5. How do I release a Lien?

The Recorder-County Clerk does not have the authority to release a lien without a properly signed Release of Lien form. A Release of Lien form can be obtained by contacting the party/entity who issued the lien.

6. What does the Recorder’s office mean by “document is not legible?”

Statute requires that the document be photographically reproducible. This includes all portions of the documents including areas completed by pen, signatures, seals and all Exhibits including maps and charts.

Type must be complete. No chipped type will be accepted.

Maps, diagrams and pictures are strongly discouraged. Scanning is done in black and white therefore colored images/documents often lose their detail when imaged, and would therefore not be accepted.

7. What is a Conformed Copy?

A conformed copy is an exact photocopy of the completed document, made by the customer and presented to the examiner at the time of the recording.

For a fee, the examiner will affix the recording information, which includes the document number and date of recording on the copy to be conformed. If the document is being submitted via mail, a self-addressed stamped envelope is required.

8. How do I find out what has been recorded on a particular property?

• The Clerk/Recorder’s office does not provide searches of our records: however, our lobby is open to the public 8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, except legal holidays.
• Lobby computers contain an Index of Official Public Records recorded from 1979 to the present.
• Search index by owner last name first then first name, no punctuation.
• Documents recorded prior to 1979 are indexed in book volumes which can be examined in our office at no cost.
• Surveys, Tract Maps and Parcel Maps are also available for viewing and purchase ($7.00 for the first page, $5.00 each additional page)
• Recorded Document copies are $2.00 for the first page, $1.00 each additional page.
• Request Copies from our Copy Counter. 

9. How do I obtain a copy of a document?

• Request Copies, in person, from our Copy Counter.
• To request a copy, you must provide the Recording Information, including Book & Page or Instrument number and the date of Recording, as well as the type of document.
• If you do not know the Recording Information, searches may be done in the Clerk/Recorder’s office on the computers located in our lobby.  The lobby is open from 8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, except legal holidays.

10. How can I search the Official Records online?

Currently, the Humboldt County Recorder’s Office does not offer our Index available online.  Searches of our Index must be done in person in our lobby located at 825 Fifth Street, Fifth Floor, Eureka, California.  Any member of the public may search on our public computers and purchase documents.  If you are unable to come into our office, you may hire a local abstractor to search for you.

11. What happens to my document after it is recorded?

The Recorder’s Office is required to make a permanent record of all documents.  All documents are scanned into the computer system for immediate viewing the day after recording.  Copies are also stored on microfilm for archival purposes.

Once the images on the computer & microfilm have been checked for accuracy, the originals are returned to the requester in approximately two to three weeks.

12. May I use an INFORMATIONAL ONLY Death Certificate as an attachment on my Affidavit of Death recording?

YES, "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY” on the Death Certificate is recordable.  
Documents stamped “For Veterans Use ONLY” are NOT Recordable.