Madera County CA Recorder: Deeds, Official Records, Copies, Fees & Recording Guide
The Madera County Recorder records and preserves deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances, liens, leases, maps, notices of default, mechanics’ liens, declarations of homestead and other official documents affecting property in Madera County.
The most important search detail is easy to miss: Madera County’s recorded-document index is organized by the names of the principal parties and recording year. The county says recorder documents cannot be searched by street address or Assessor’s Parcel Number in the online index.
How to Search Madera County Deeds and Recorded Documents Online
Use the Madera County Recorder’s official online index when you need to locate a grant deed, quitclaim deed, deed of trust, lien, reconveyance, notice, lease or other recorded document. The county’s search method is party-name based, not an address-based deed lookup.
Start With a Person, Trust, Company or Prior Owner Name
Madera County says official records are indexed by the names of the principal parties. For a deed, useful names can include the grantor, grantee, seller, buyer, trust, LLC or prior owner.
Open the Official Madera County Recorder Index
Use the county-linked Tyler self-service records system. Avoid paid third-party deed sites when the goal is simply to identify the official recording number or confirm that a document was recorded.
Open Official Recorder Index ↗Search the Name and Narrow by Approximate Recording Year
The county advises knowing at least one principal party and the approximate year the document was recorded. A narrow date period is especially helpful for common surnames, multiple refinances or repeat transfers.
Compare Document Type, Parties and Recording Date
A property can have many recorded documents. Do not assume the newest item is the deed you need. Look at document type and party names to distinguish a deed from a deed of trust, reconveyance, lien, notice or other instrument.
Save the Document Number or Book/Page Reference
Once you identify the likely record, save its document number or older book/page reference. Madera County uses that information when fulfilling official-record copy requests.
Request the Actual Document Copy When Needed
An index entry identifies a recorded instrument; it is not a substitute for reviewing the recorded document itself. Use the county copy-request process when you need the deed image, legal description, signatures, recording stamp or certified copy.
What to Try When a Madera County Deed Search Returns No Useful Result
Try Other Party Names
- Search a former owner.
- Try a spouse or co-owner.
- Try a trust or LLC name.
- Search lender or trustee names for financing records.
Broaden the Recording Year
Closing, signing and recording dates can differ. Search the likely year plus nearby years if you are uncertain when the instrument reached the Recorder.
Older Than 1980?
The county’s online-index guidance says documents recorded before 1980 are not indexed online. Older handwritten or typed index volumes can be examined at the Recorder office at no charge.
What Common Madera County Recorder Documents Mean
| Record Type | Usually Indicates | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Grant Deed | A transfer of real-property interest from a grantor to a grantee. | Names, legal description, APN reference, recording date and documentary transfer-tax statement. |
| Quitclaim Deed | A grantor releases or conveys whatever interest the grantor has, if any. | Who signed, who received the interest and whether the property description matches the intended parcel. |
| Deed of Trust | A real-estate financing or security instrument. | Borrower/trustor, lender/beneficiary, trustee and recording date. |
| Reconveyance | A recorded release associated with a deed of trust after the secured obligation is satisfied. | Reference to the earlier deed of trust and affected parties. |
| Notice of Default | A foreclosure-related document tied to a deed of trust. | Trustee, borrower, referenced loan document and recording date. |
| Mechanics’ Lien | A recorded claim connected with labor, services or materials. | Claimant, property reference, amount stated and later releases or related recordings. |
| Tax Lien | A county, state or federal lien recorded in the official records. | Filing agency, debtor name and any later release. |
| Subdivision / Parcel / Survey Map | A recorded or filed land map. | Map number, pages, lots, parcels and survey references. |
How to Get a Madera County Deed or Recorded Document Copy
First find the document number or book/page reference in the official index. Then use the Madera County Recorder’s Copy Request form or contact the office for a plain or certified copy.
Plain Official-Record Copy
First page: $3
Each additional page: $1
Use a plain copy for research or reference when the receiving agency does not require certification.
Certified Copy
Madera County lists the normal copy charge plus $2 certification per document.
Request certification only when a court, government agency, lender or other recipient specifically requires it.
Map Copies
The county lists 11×17 map copies at $2 per page and 18×24 or digital PDF/TIFF map copies at $5 per page.
Official Madera County Online Index & Copy Request Process
Find the recording reference first, then request the actual document.
- Search the Recorder index for a principal party and approximate year.
- Write down the document number or book/page information.
- Open the Copy Request form linked by the county.
- Enter the recording reference and specify plain or certified copy.
- The county says completed requests may be emailed to RecorderInfo@maderacounty.com.
- Recorder staff contact the requester to process card payment; the county notes an additional card service fee may apply.
How to Record a Document With the Madera County Recorder
Recording a new deed is different from searching for an old one. The Recorder accepts eligible documents, checks them for recordability, collects fees and taxes, creates the official recording entry, and returns the original after processing.
Use the Correct Legal Document
Recorder staff cannot choose a deed type, prepare legal instruments or tell you how to complete a deed. If the transaction involves trusts, estates, divorce, gifts, adding family members or disputed ownership, get qualified legal or document-preparation help before submitting.
Prepare a Recordable Page Format
Madera County identifies 8.5×11 inches as the standard page size. Pages may not exceed 8.5×14 except for recorded maps. Non-standard sizes can trigger an additional $3-per-page charge.
Leave Recorder Space and Return Information
The first page must reserve the required top area for recording information and include the return name and address so the original recorded document can be mailed back.
Include Transfer-Tax and Ownership Documents When Required
Conveyance documents may require a documentary transfer-tax declaration and a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report. Madera County lists a $20 PCOR penalty when an ownership-change document is recorded without a required PCOR.
Calculate All Recording Fees Before Submission
Base recording charges are only one part of the total. SB 2 housing fees, transfer tax, extra titles, extra pages, indexing charges and other statutory fees may apply depending on the instrument.
Submit In Person, by Mail or Through an Eligible eRecording Channel
Documents can be presented at the Recorder counter or mailed to Madera County Recorder, 200 W. 4th Street, Madera, CA 93637. Electronic recording is available through authorized CeRTNA agents for qualifying professional and government submitters.
Keep the Recording Reference
Once recorded, save the document number and recording date. The county says original paper documents are generally mailed to the return address after archival processing, with its recording-requirements page describing roughly a 2–3 week return period.
Madera County Recorder Fees for Deeds and Official Records
The following figures come from Madera County’s recorder fee pages and 2026 fee schedule. They are not a complete quote for a particular deed; statutory surcharges can materially change the final amount.
| Item | County-Listed Amount | Important Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Standard first recording page | $14 | For a standard 8.5×11 page before applicable additional fees. |
| Each additional page | $3 | Additional statutory charges may also apply. |
| Additional document title | $14 | Applies when multiple documents are serially incorporated into one form. |
| SB 2 / Building Homes & Jobs Act fee | $75, up to $225 | May apply to each qualifying document unless a statutory exemption is properly cited. |
| Documentary transfer tax | $0.55 per $500 | Equivalent to $1.10 per $1,000 where taxable; exemptions must be properly declared when applicable. |
| Missing PCOR penalty | $20 | Can apply when an ownership-change document is recorded without the required Preliminary Change of Ownership Report. |
| Official-record copy | $3 first page + $1 each additional | For Recorder official-record copies. |
| Certification | $2 per document | Added to the normal document-copy charge. |
Can You eRecord a Deed in Madera County?
Madera County supports electronic recording through the California Electronic Recording Network Authority, or CeRTNA. This is not presented as a simple consumer upload portal for individual homeowners.
Who Commonly Uses eRecording?
The county identifies government agencies, title companies, attorneys and lending institutions as users. Non-government agencies must submit through an authorized CeRTNA agent.
Electronic Recording Hours
The Recorder says electronic documents are received from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Madera County Property Recording Courtesy Notification Program
This is a particularly important Madera-specific feature. The Recorder began mailing courtesy notices in 2025 when certain documents that may affect ownership are recorded against property tied to the current owner information held by the County Assessor.
What Triggers a Notice?
Madera County says documents can include grant deeds, quitclaim deeds and similar instruments that may change ownership.
Review the Enclosed Document
The courtesy mailing includes information about the recording and copies of the first pages so the owner can determine whether the transaction is familiar.
If You Do Not Recognize It
Contact the Recorder at 559-675-7724. The county also publishes a Property Alert Hotline at 559-844-7226.
Madera County Recorder vs Assessor vs Tax Collector
These offices deal with the same property but answer different questions. Using the correct office can save a trip and prevent a deed issue from being confused with an assessment or tax-bill issue.
County Recorder
Use for:
- Recorded deeds
- Deeds of trust and reconveyances
- Liens and releases
- Official-record copies
- Maps and recorded instruments
- Recording a new eligible document
Recorder phone: 559-675-7724
County Assessor
Use for:
- APN / parcel information
- Assessed value
- Property characteristics
- Assessment exemptions
- ParcelQuest Lite
- Assessment appeals guidance
Assessor phone: 559-675-7710
Treasurer-Tax Collector
Use for:
- Property-tax bills
- Tax payments
- Delinquent taxes
- Payment status
- Receipts and collections
Do not contact the Recorder to dispute assessed value or make a property-tax payment.
Madera County Recorder Office Address and Hours
Madera County Recorder
County Clerk-Recorder-Elections
Recorder Division
200 W. 4th Street
Madera, CA 93637
Recorder: Rebecca Martinez, County Clerk/Recorder/Registrar
Recorder phone: 559-675-7724
Email: RecorderInfo@maderacounty.com
Division hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, except holidays.
Recording cutoff: documents are accepted for recording from 8:00 AM–4:00 PM.
Official Madera County Recorder Resources
Madera County Recorder Official Page
Use this as the starting point for Recorder services, office details and department links.
- Confirm the current Recorder contact information and recording hours.
- Use the department menu for Online Index, Recording Requirements, Fees, Forms or Electronic Recording.
- If your task is a deed search, continue to the Online Index rather than the Assessor parcel portal.
Madera County Official Recorder Index
Use for deeds, liens, trust deeds, reconveyances and other official recorded-document index entries.
- Start with the name of at least one principal party.
- Use the approximate recording year to reduce unrelated results.
- Compare the document type and party names.
- Save the document number or book/page reference before requesting a copy.
- If you only know an address or APN, use the Assessor search first because the Recorder says its index is not searchable by those fields.
Madera County Recording Requirements
Use before mailing or presenting an original deed or other recordable instrument.
- Confirm page dimensions and first-page recording space.
- Check return-address requirements.
- Review payment methods and applicable taxes.
- Verify whether a PCOR or additional declaration is required.
- Do not mail a deed until the total fee has been checked.
Madera County Recorder Fee Schedule
Use to calculate recording, copy, certification, transfer-tax and statutory charges.
- Count the number of pages and document titles.
- Check whether the $75 SB 2 fee applies or a valid exemption should be cited.
- Calculate documentary transfer tax if the transaction is taxable.
- Add PCOR or indexing charges if applicable.
- Verify the total before mailing payment.
Madera County Assessor Parcel Search
Use this when you know an address but need parcel or ownership clues before searching Recorder documents.
- Continue to the county-linked ParcelQuest Lite service.
- Locate the correct parcel using the available property information.
- Save the APN, current owner information and property details.
- Return to the Recorder index and search the relevant party names for deed history.
Property Recording Courtesy Notification Program
Use when you receive a county notice about a deed or ownership-related document you do not recognize.
- Compare the notice with any recent sale, refinance, trust or title transaction.
- Check the document number and recording date.
- Search that recording in the official Recorder index.
- If you do not recognize it, call the Recorder at 559-675-7724.
- If fraud is suspected, follow the county’s complaint and hotline instructions promptly.
Mistakes to Avoid With Madera County Deeds and Recorder Records
What Often Goes Wrong
- Trying to search the Recorder index by street address.
- Trying to search Recorder records only by APN.
- Using the Assessor when the actual need is a recorded deed copy.
- Assuming a recorded document proves clear legal title.
- Mailing a recording packet with only the base $14 fee.
- Failing to state a valid SB 2 exemption when one applies.
- Submitting a transfer without a required PCOR.
- Expecting Recorder staff to choose or draft a deed.
- Arriving after the 4:00 PM recording cutoff.
Better Workflow
- Confirm the property is in Madera County.
- Use the Assessor if address is your only starting information.
- Search Recorder records by party name and year.
- Save the official document number.
- Order the actual recorded image before relying on an index line.
- Verify all recording fees before submission.
- Keep the recording receipt and returned original.
Choose the Right Next Step
| Your Situation | Best Next Step |
|---|---|
| I need a copy of my deed. | Search the official Recorder index by party name, save the document number, then submit a copy request. |
| I only know the street address. | Use the Madera County Assessor parcel search first, identify the owner/APN, then search Recorder records by party name. |
| I need to record a new deed. | Review Madera County recording requirements, PCOR, transfer-tax, SB 2 and page-format rules before submitting the original. |
| I need proof for court or another agency. | Ask whether a certified copy is required before paying the extra certification charge. |
| I found a suspicious deed. | Save the recording number, obtain the document, contact the Recorder and use the county’s property-fraud complaint guidance. |
| The assessed value is wrong. | Contact the Madera County Assessor and follow the assessment-appeal process; the Recorder does not set property value. |
| The property-tax bill is wrong. | Determine whether the problem is assessment/value or billing/payment, then use the Assessor or Treasurer-Tax Collector accordingly. |
Madera County Recorder FAQs
Where is the Madera County Recorder office?
The Madera County Recorder is located at 200 W. 4th Street, Madera, CA 93637. The Recorder phone number is 559-675-7724 and the published email is RecorderInfo@maderacounty.com.
What are the Madera County Recorder recording hours?
The Recorder division lists general business hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except holidays. Documents are accepted for recording only from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Can I search Madera County deeds online by address?
No. Madera County’s online-index instructions state that Recorder documents cannot be searched by address or APN. Recorded records are indexed by principal party names and recording year. Use the Assessor parcel search first if a street address is your only starting information.
How do I get a copy of a Madera County deed?
Search the official Recorder index for the relevant party and year, save the document number or book/page reference, then use the Recorder’s Copy Request process. The county lists official-record copies at $3 for the first page and $1 for each additional page.
How much does a certified Madera County Recorder copy cost?
The county lists the normal copy fee plus an additional $2 certification charge per document. Confirm that certification is actually required before ordering it.
How much does it cost to record a deed in Madera County?
Madera County’s 2026 schedule lists a $14 standard first-page recording fee and $3 for each additional page, but the total can also include SB 2 charges, documentary transfer tax, additional document-title charges, indexing fees or a PCOR penalty. Verify the complete amount before filing.
What is Madera County documentary transfer tax?
The Recorder fee page lists documentary transfer tax at $0.55 per $500 of taxable value, equivalent to $1.10 per $1,000. The transfer declaration and any valid exemption should be completed correctly on the recording.
Can I electronically record a deed in Madera County?
Madera County supports eRecording through CeRTNA-authorized agents. The program is used by qualifying government agencies, title companies, attorneys, lenders and other approved submitters. Individual homeowners should not assume there is a direct consumer upload portal.
What should I do if I receive a Madera County property recording notification I do not recognize?
Review the document number, recording date and enclosed pages, search the official index, and contact the Recorder at 559-675-7724 if the transaction is unfamiliar. Madera County also publishes the Property Alert Hotline at 559-844-7226 for assistance with suspicious ownership-related recordings.
Does a recorded deed prove that someone has clear legal title?
No. Recording creates an official public record of the instrument, but the Recorder does not determine whether title is legally clear, whether competing claims exist, or whether the document was the correct instrument. Title defects, forged signatures, estate issues and disputed ownership may require professional legal or title assistance.
Independent Records Guide
County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with Madera County, the Madera County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department, the Madera County Assessor, the Treasurer-Tax Collector or the State of California.
Recorder employees cannot provide legal advice, choose a deed form for you, prepare a legal instrument or determine whether a transfer solves a title problem. Use a qualified California attorney, title professional or permitted legal document assistant when legal document preparation or title interpretation is required.
Public deed and property records should not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or other regulated consumer-reporting decisions. This website is not a Consumer Reporting Agency.