Document Recording

Legal Advice Limitation:

  • The Assessor’s Office is prohibited from giving legal advice. It may be advisable to consult an attorney because of the legal aspects involved in holding title to property or transferring title.

How To Transfer Title:

  • Name changed to the tax records on real property cannot be made by request, only by documents recorded in the Office of the San Bernardino 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 stationery stores that carry legal forms. They are not available in this office, however, some forms can also be found on the Recorder’s Website.
  • The deed must be recorded in the county where the property is located. There is a fee for the recordation.
  • A Preliminary Change of Ownership Report should be completed, signed, and returned with the document. If it is not completed and submitted, an additional fee of $20.00 will be required for recording. If you need assistance in completing this form, call (909) 387-8307.

For property in San Bernardino County, please contact the Recorder’s Office for information regarding procedures.

San Bernardino County Recorder
Hall of Records
222 W. Hospitality Lane
San Bernardino, CA 92415-0022
Telephone: (909) 387-8306

  • The form used for a California Notary Acknowledgment shall be in the format as shown.
  • An acknowledgment is to be completed legibly by either type or legible block print. It is to be completed with blue or black ink only.
  • A complete notary acknowledgment includes a completed venue, meaning the state and county is to be completed.
  • A complete notary acknowledgment includes the date the document was signed in front of the notary.
  • A complete notary acknowledgment includes the name of the notary as set out on his/her oath and the entire title of the notary public.
  • A complete notary acknowledgment includes the name(s) of the parties that the notary witnessed sign the document.
    • Must be complete names for each signor. Example, John and Jane Smith would not be acceptable. Example, John Smith and Jane Smith is acceptable.
  • Must contain a legible notary seal. All characters and numbers must be clearly legible.
  • Statute requires that the document be photographically reproducible. This includes all portions of the documents including areas completed by pen, signatures and/or seals.
  • 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.
  • Documentary Transfer Tax is due on all taxable conveyances in excess of $100 at a rate of $.55 per $500 or fractional portion of real property value, excluding any liens or encumbrances already of record. Transfer tax is collected at the time of recording.
  • A Documentary Transfer Tax Declaration must be completed for all conveyances. DTT $dollar amount is not considered an acceptable documentary transfer tax declaration.
  • Per RTC11933 a declaration of the amount of tax due, signed by the party determining the tax or his or her agent, shall appear on the face of the document in compliance with RTC11932 “Every document subject to tax that is submitted for recordation shall show on the face of the document the amount of tax due and the incorporated or unincorporated location of the lands, tenements, or other realty described in the document.”
  • Prior to submitting your document for recording, refer to the Fee Calculator.
  • The Recorder’s Office does accept Not To Exceed (NTE) checks. All checks submitted for recording fees are to include a current date, be made payable to San Bernardino County Recorder and state on the memo line the NTE amount. Do not write after the dollar sign $ or on the dollar line. Be sure to sign your check.
  • Checks must have the name and address preprinted on the check. Temporary checks are not acceptable.
  • A conformed copy is an exact photo copy 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.
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