Amador County Recorder: Search Deeds, Mortgages & Property Records
Trying to find a deed in Jackson, Sutter Creek, Ione, Plymouth, Amador City or elsewhere in Amador County? The official recording authority is the Amador County Clerk/Recorder, which preserves deeds, liens, mortgages, maps and other documents affecting real property.
The county offers an unusually useful RecorderWorks Official Records Index, with searches by recorded name, instrument number, book/page, date, document type, assessor parcel number and legal description. This guide explains the steps, the current 2026 fees, how to get a copy and an important new rule affecting deeds and mortgages.
Where to Search Amador County Deed Records Online
Open Amador County RecorderWorks. Unlike many county deed portals, it gives you several different ways to find a document, including direct searches using an Assessor Parcel Number (APN) or a legal description.
Search by Owner Name
Best when you know the grantor, grantee or business involved in a transfer. Start with the last name, then add a partial first name to narrow the result set.
See exact search steps →Search by APN
Useful when you already know the assessor parcel number and want to investigate indexed recordings associated with the property.
Address and APN guidance →Purchase a Recorded Copy
Open an indexed document number and use Add to Shopping Cart if the record is available for online purchase. Check the final charge before payment.
Copy instructions →How to Search Amador County Recorder Deeds Step by Step
The steps below use the county’s actual RecorderWorks features, including its name format, linked-name research and document shopping cart.
Open the County Official Records Index
Go to RecorderWorks. Choose the search tab that best matches your information.
Enter a Name in the Correct Format
For an individual, the portal requests LAST NAME, FIRST NAME, MIDDLE INITIAL. Example: Smith, Allison, N. It also accepts business names and partial names.
Use a partial first name when practical: the county warns that searching only a common surname can make the system time out.
Choose a Search Range
Use the recording-date fields if you know approximately when the document was filed. You can also select the separate Document Number, Book and Page, or Recording Date search.
Open the Matching Document Number
Review the returned parties, document type and date. Click the relevant document number to open its details.
Follow the Name’s Recording History
On the document page, click the desired person’s name in the left-hand menu. RecorderWorks then lists documents linked to that name by document type and recording date, helping trace other transfers or mortgages.
Try Document Type or Map Search
If you know the instrument category, use Document Type. For parcel maps, surveys or subdivisions, use the separate Search By Map feature rather than relying only on a deed search.
Check APN and Legal Description
Where those fields are appropriate, search by Assessor Parcel Number or Legal Description. Compare the indexed information against the actual property; an APN is not a substitute for the legal description.
Save or Purchase the Correct Record
Keep the document number and recorded date. To buy a record available through the portal, select the item and choose Add to Shopping Cart. For older or unavailable documents, contact the Clerk/Recorder.
How to Find an Amador County Deed by Address
Start with the county’s parcel or assessment tools when all you know is a street address. Unlike many recording systems, Amador’s RecorderWorks also provides a specific APN search once the parcel number is known.
1. Identify the Property
- Open Amador County GIS and Mapping.
- Select the Public Parcel Viewer.
- Locate the land and note its parcel number.
- Compare the location and property details.
- Use the Assessor for assessment and ownership information as needed.
2. Search the Recording Index
- Return to RecorderWorks.
- Select Search by (APN) Assessor Parcel Number.
- Enter the parcel number in the form supported.
- Review matching document numbers and types.
- Confirm the deed’s legal description and parties.
Amador County Deeds, Mortgages, Mining Claims and Maps
Because Amador is a historic Gold Country county, its land records include ordinary real-estate transfers as well as older mining-related filings and specialized maps.
| Document Type | What It May Show | Research Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Grant Deed | A recorded conveyance of real-property interests. | Check parties and legal description. |
| Quitclaim Deed | Conveys whatever interest the grantor possesses. | Does not guarantee clear title. |
| Deed of Trust | Recorded security instrument for financing. | Look for a full reconveyance. |
| Reconveyance | May show release of an identified deed of trust. | Match it to the original instrument. |
| Easement | Recorded access or use rights. | Review exhibits and affected land. |
| Mining Claim Document | Recorded mining-related notices or other instruments. | Use the exact category and consider older archives. |
| Parcel Map / Record of Survey | Recorded subdivision or survey mapping. | Use Search By Map or the County Surveyor. |
| Declaration or Restriction | Recorded land-use covenants or other restrictions. | Check amendments and releases. |
Amador County Recorder Fees and Documentary Transfer Tax
Amador County published a Recorder fee schedule effective January 1, 2026. A standard document begins at $12 for the first page and $3 for each additional page, but California statutory surcharges and transaction-specific charges can significantly increase the amount due.
| Service | Published Rate | Important Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Standard recording — first page | $12 | Standard 8.5 × 11-inch page. |
| Each additional page | $3 | Per page after the first. |
| Nonstandard page-size surcharge | $3 per page | When pages do not meet the standard-size requirement. |
| Combined documents | $12 per additional title | Applies to qualifying combined instruments. |
| Penalty print | $1 per page | When the published print requirement is not met. |
| Survey monument fee | $10 when applicable | Check transfer-related exceptions. |
| California SB 2 recording fee | $75 when applicable | Subject to statutory exemptions and caps. |
| Missing or incomplete PCOR | $20 | When a required Preliminary Change of Ownership Report is omitted or incomplete. |
| Documentary transfer tax | $0.55 per $500 or fraction | On taxable consideration under applicable law. |
| Recorded copy | $2 first page + $1 additional page | County’s published copy schedule. |
| Certificate under seal | $4 | Certification charge in addition to copy charges. |
Example: Three-Page Deed
Base page fee: $12 + $3 + $3 = $18.
This does not include any applicable SB 2 fee, documentary transfer tax, indexing, nonstandard-format or other charge.
Example: Certified Five-Page Copy
Office copy calculation: $2 + (4 × $1) + $4 seal = $10.
Confirm available delivery methods and any additional charges before ordering.
New Amador County Deed and Mortgage Requirements Under SB 255
Amador County explains that California Senate Bill 255 changed its recording-notification requirements in 2026. The county’s official notice identifies a new first-page requirement for these documents:
- Deed
- Quitclaim Deed
- Mortgage
- Deed of Trust
Under the notification program, the Recorder sends a notice to the executing party or parties at the existing tax-bill mailing address for the identified APN within 30 days of recording. The county states that a related additional $10 recording fee starts on January 1, 2027.
How to Request an Amador County Deed or Certified Copy
Locate the Instrument
Search RecorderWorks by name, document number or APN. Save the recording reference and date.
Use the Shopping Cart When Available
Open the matching document number, then select Add to Shopping Cart if that record can be purchased online. Check charges before completing the order.
Ask if Certification Is Required
If an agency or lender requests a certified record, confirm whether the online purchase includes official certification. A regular copy should not be assumed to be certified.
Contact the Recorder for Older Records
Call (209) 223-6468 if the older instrument cannot be located or purchased online. Provide book/page, name, approximate date or other available reference.
Amador County Recorder Address, Phone and Counter Hours
Amador County Clerk/Recorder
810 Court Street
Jackson, CA 95642
Clerk/Recorder: Kimberly L. Grady
Phone: (209) 223-6468
Public counter: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–4 PM.
Office telephone: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM.
Marriage license appointments: Appointment required; this is separate from ordinary land-record searches.
Get Directions ↗Before Visiting or Mailing a Document
- Confirm that the specific instrument is available.
- Check current recording and copy fees.
- Verify payment methods and any return-mail instructions.
- Ask about public research area access.
- Review the required first-page APN for affected instruments.
- Confirm PCOR and documentary transfer tax treatment.
- Check current holiday closures.
The Recorder says the office cannot provide legal advice or blank legal documents.
Official Office Website ↗Amador County Recorder vs. Assessor vs. Surveyor
| What You Need | Correct Department | Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| Recorded deed or deed of trust | Clerk/Recorder | RecorderWorks or office records. |
| Certified recorded document | Clerk/Recorder | Copy request and certification. |
| Parcel number, owner or assessment | Assessor | Assessment inquiry or public counter. |
| Property map or parcel boundaries shown on maps | GIS / Surveyor | Public Parcel Viewer or Surveyor records. |
| Private boundary survey | Licensed land surveyor | Arrange a professional survey. |
| Property-tax payment | Treasurer–Tax Collector | Official tax payment service. |
| Legal ownership or clear-title dispute | California attorney / title professional | Appropriate title examination. |
Why an Amador County Deed May Not Appear Online
Search Times Out
Add part of the first name or narrow the recording date. The county says searching only a common surname may produce too many results.
The Instrument Is from Before 1991
Check historical indexes or contact the Recorder. The modern linked-name results are described as available from 1991 forward.
You Have Only an APN
Choose Search by (APN) Assessor Parcel Number instead of trying to fit the number into a party-name field.
You Need a Survey or Mining Map
Use Search By Map or contact the County Surveyor about available survey and historical map records.
Amador County Recorder Search, Fees and Parcel Resources
1. RecorderWorks Official Records Index
Recorded deeds, mortgages, instrument numbers, APN searches and maps.
- Choose Name, Document Number, APN or another available search.
- Enter the appropriate details and search.
- Click a matching document number.
- Save the reference or select Add to Shopping Cart.
2. Clerk/Recorder Office
Official contacts, hours, filing responsibilities and county forms.
- Review counter hours and telephone number.
- Choose the relevant Recorder service.
- Confirm document recording or copy requirements before visiting.
3. Recorder Fee Schedule
County-published 2026 recording, copying and certification charges.
- Open the current fee schedule document.
- Calculate recording page charges.
- Check SB 2, PCOR, transfer tax and other possible fees.
4. Public Parcel Viewer
Find the property’s parcel and map information before researching deeds.
- Choose the new Public Parcel Viewer.
- Identify the property and APN.
- Use the APN in RecorderWorks.
5. SB 255 Recorder Notifications
First-page APN requirements and the 2027 notification fee change.
- Review the affected document categories.
- Check the first-page APN requirement.
- Distinguish the 2026 rules from the added fee effective in 2027.
Amador County Recorder: 10 FAQs
1. Where can I search Amador County deeds online?
Use Amador County RecorderWorks at mint.amadorgov.org/RecorderWorksInternet/. It supports searches by name, document number, book/page, date, document type, APN and legal description.
2. Who is the Amador County Recorder?
Kimberly L. Grady is the county’s Clerk/Recorder. The office records and preserves qualifying property instruments.
3. Where is the Amador County Recorder office?
The office is at 810 Court Street, Jackson, CA 95642. The telephone number is (209) 223-6468. Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM–4 PM.
4. Can I search Amador County deeds by APN?
Yes. RecorderWorks includes a separate Search by (APN) Assessor Parcel Number option. Confirm the property and legal description before relying on a result.
5. How far back does Amador County’s online deed search go?
The RecorderWorks portal describes linked name-search records from 1991 onward. Older historical land instruments may require separate index-book or public-office research.
6. How much does it cost to record a deed?
Amador County’s 2026 basic fee is $12 for the first standard page and $3 for each additional page. Other charges, including SB 2 and documentary transfer taxes, may apply.
7. How do I buy a copy of an Amador County deed?
Open the matching RecorderWorks document number and use Add to Shopping Cart when available. Contact the Clerk/Recorder for a certified copy or an instrument not available for online purchase.
8. Does an Amador County deed need an APN on its first page?
Amador County’s SB 255 guidance requires the APN on the first page of deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages and deeds of trust. The county warns that covered documents without it will be rejected.
9. Is there a new $10 Recorder fee in 2026?
The county states that the additional $10 SB 255 notification-related fee begins January 1, 2027, for certain deeds and mortgage instruments. It should not be included in a 2026 fee calculation.
10. Does Amador County Recorder staff perform legal title searches?
No. The Recorder maintains official records but does not determine legal ownership or provide legal advice. Use the public index for research and consult a qualified title professional or attorney for a title opinion.