Contra Costa County CA Recorder Office: Address, Hours, Deeds & Records
The Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder’s Office in Martinez maintains official recorded documents involving real property, including deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances, liens, easements, maps and other legally recordable instruments.
If you need to find a recorded deed, order a document copy, record a transfer, check an instrument number or visit the office, this guide explains the actual search process, what the online system does and does not show, and which county office can resolve your question.
What Does the Contra Costa County Recorder Office Handle?
The Recorder is the right office when your question concerns an officially recorded document. California counties do not use the same recording-office names as every other state: in Contra Costa County, the recording function is administered by the County Clerk-Recorder.
Recorder / Clerk-Recorder
Recorded deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances, liens, easements, official-record indexes, recorded maps and document copy orders.
County Assessor
Assessor Parcel Numbers (APNs), property assessments, ownership information used for assessment, assessed values and assessment-related exemptions.
Treasurer-Tax Collector
Property-tax bills, current balances, tax payments, delinquent taxes and tax-payment questions.
Contra Costa County Recorder Office Address, Phone Number and Hours
The Recorder’s public office is in downtown Martinez at 555 Escobar Street. The county identifies the location as near the Martinez Amtrak station. This is the office to contact for recording and official-document copy services.
Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder
Officeholder: Kristin B. Connelly
Street address:
555 Escobar Street
Martinez, CA 94553
Main phone:
(925) 335-7900
Published office hours:
Monday–Friday
8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Closed on legal holidays
Official website:
Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder ↗
How to Search Contra Costa County Recorded Documents Online
The county’s RecorderWorks Official Records Index supports several searches, including name, document number, document type, recording date, map, and older book references. You do not need to guess how to format a name: the portal provides an example directly above its name-search field.
Open the Official Records Index
Go to Contra Costa County RecorderWorks. The search page provides tabs including Name, Document Number, Document Type, Map, Recording Date, Book and Page, and Old Book.
Use the Name Tab for Deeds
Enter the person’s last name, followed by first name. For example, use Smith Allison, not necessarily Allison Smith. The portal also accepts a partial first name such as Smith A, and business names.
A partial match option is available. If the search takes too long or returns many results, add more of the first name or narrow the recording-date range.
Search by Document Number When You Have It
If an older deed, title report or escrow document gives you the recording number, select Document Number. This is often more precise than searching a common surname.
Use Document Type or Recording Date to Narrow Results
For deed research, select a relevant document type such as DEED, DEED OF TRUST or QUITCLAIM DEED when appropriate. If you know approximately when a home transferred, try a narrower recording-date range rather than searching every year.
Open the Document Number and Check the Indexed Parties
Select the document number in the results. The portal explains that clicking a person’s name in the document’s left-side menu can display other indexed documents under that name, sorted by document type and recording date.
Order a Copy if You Need the Actual Deed
Online index details do not replace reading the full deed. If a copy is needed, select the matching record and use the portal’s Add to Shopping Cart process. Verify the document number, parties and date before purchasing.
Which Contra Costa Recorder Search Should You Use?
| What You Know | Search Option | What to Enter | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner or former owner’s name | Name | Last name, first name, or business name. | Find deeds and other instruments involving an identified party. |
| Exact recording number | Document Number | The recording number supplied in another document. | Locate a specific recorded instrument. |
| Approximate transaction date | Recording Date | A start and end date in the portal’s required format. | Narrow a large set of recorded documents. |
| Type of instrument | Document Type | Available recorder classification and recording dates. | Locate deeds, reconveyances, liens or other categories. |
| Recorded subdivision or parcel map | Map | Map-related recording details and available date criteria. | Research recorded maps rather than assessor valuation records. |
| Older book and page reference | Book and Page / Old Book | Known book/page information using the relevant portal option. | Locate documents referenced in older instruments. |
Why Can’t You Find a Deed in Contra Costa County?
The most common practical problem is using the wrong search information rather than the record being missing. Try these corrections before contacting the office.
| Problem | Likely Explanation | What to Try |
|---|---|---|
| No results under the current owner | The deed may be indexed under a different party-name form. | Try prior owner, surname-only, first-name variation, or trust/business name. |
| Name search times out | Too many possible matches. | Add part of the first name and shorten the recording-date range. |
| Document not found using street address | The recorder index is not primarily an address-search tool. | Use assessor information to identify owner names, then search RecorderWorks. |
| Mortgage appears but no release | A later reconveyance or related filing may have another document classification. | Search RECONVEYANCE, RELEASE, assignments and related parties. |
| Very old deed not found | Record may predate online index coverage. | Contact the office regarding historical book indexes or in-person records research. |
| Matching surname but wrong property | The person may have multiple recorded transactions. | Confirm instrument date, grantee, grantor and full document details before ordering. |
How to Get a Copy of a Contra Costa County Recorded Deed
Finding an index entry is the first stage. If you need to inspect the deed’s exact language, legal description or recorded endorsements, you need the recorded document itself.
Order Through RecorderWorks
- Open the official recorded-documents search.
- Search by name or document number.
- Open the matching document number.
- Confirm party names and recording date.
- Select Add to Shopping Cart.
- Review the current price and complete the order.
Ask the Recorder About Certified Copies
If a lender, attorney, court or agency requests a certified copy, clarify that requirement when placing the order or contacting the office.
Have the document number, approximate recording date and indexed names ready. Ask about current copy fees, certification availability and delivery methods.
Call (925) 335-7900How to Record a Deed in Contra Costa County, California
Recording a deed is different from searching one. The Recorder reviews whether a submitted instrument meets applicable recording requirements, but the office cannot draft your deed or determine which legal transfer form is appropriate.
Prepare the Correct Legal Instrument
A transfer could involve a grant deed, quitclaim deed, trust transfer deed or another legally appropriate instrument. The correct choice depends on the transaction. Consult a qualified California real-estate attorney or title professional where needed.
Confirm Property and Party Details
Check the grantor and grantee names, legal description, applicable APN information, signing authority, notarization and return address. The APN helps identify the assessment parcel but does not replace a legally sufficient property description.
Review the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report
California real-property transfers commonly involve the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR), identified by the state as BOE-502-A. Confirm whether the report must accompany your deed and whether a statutory exception applies. Omitting a required PCOR can result in an additional recording charge.
Check Documentary Transfer Tax
Depending on the transfer, documentary transfer tax may apply. The amount and applicable city or county tax treatment can depend on the property location, consideration and statutory exceptions. Do not use an estimated tax amount as a final recording quote.
Verify Recording Fees and Possible SB 2 Charges
California’s Building Homes and Jobs Act (SB 2) may impose additional recording fees on certain real-estate documents, subject to statutory exemptions and limits. Confirm current county recording charges, page fees and any required exemption declaration before submitting.
Submit the Document to the Recorder
Contact the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder to confirm whether your particular document may be submitted in person, by mail or through an authorized electronic-recording process. Ask for the current fee total and payment instructions.
What Types of Documents Does the Contra Costa Recorder Index?
The RecorderWorks search includes many document classifications. These are some of the most useful for homeowners and property researchers.
Grant and Quitclaim Deeds
Deeds may document transfers of an interest in real property. Compare the grantor, grantee, recording date and complete instrument before drawing conclusions about ownership.
Deeds of Trust
California commonly uses deeds of trust in real-estate financing. Search subsequent reconveyances, assignments or modifications when investigating a loan’s recorded history.
Reconveyances
A reconveyance may document the release of a deed-of-trust security interest. Match the original instrument reference before assuming it applies to a particular loan.
Liens and Notices
Recorded items may include mechanics liens, abstract judgments, notices of default, notices of trustee sale or pending-action notices. Their legal effect depends on the full circumstances.
Maps and Easements
Parcel maps, subdivision maps, record-of-survey maps and easement documents can provide valuable land-use or access clues. They do not replace a current professional boundary survey.
Trust and Estate-Related Instruments
You may encounter trustee deeds, affidavits of death, trust-related documents or other instruments affecting a parcel’s recorded history. Legal interpretation may require professional assistance.
Contra Costa County Recorder Fees: What Can Affect the Total?
There is no single recording price that applies to every deed or other instrument. The final amount can depend on the document, number of pages, statutory surcharges, transfer tax, PCOR requirements and exemptions.
| Potential Cost | When It Matters | How to Verify |
|---|---|---|
| Base recording fee | Most documents submitted for official recording. | Check the county’s current Recorder Fee Schedule. |
| Additional page fees | Documents longer than the first-page allowance. | Count recordable pages and confirm the charge. |
| SB 2 recording fee | Specified recorded real-estate documents unless an exemption applies. | Review current county instructions and California Government Code section 27388.1. |
| Documentary transfer tax | Certain transfers of real property for consideration. | Confirm applicable county/city treatment and any exemption with the recording office or title professional. |
| PCOR-related charge | When required ownership-change reporting is not submitted and no exception applies. | Check California PCOR instructions and the Recorder’s current fee schedule. |
| Document copy or certification | Ordering official copies for a lender, court, title company or personal records. | Review prices in RecorderWorks or contact the office before ordering. |
| Additional instrument requirements | Special instruments, nonstandard pages or additional titles/functions. | Ask the Recorder for a document-specific fee assessment. |
Contra Costa County Recording Notification Service
The Clerk-Recorder offers a recording notification service that provides email notices when a name, address or Assessor Parcel Number is recently indexed on a recorded document. This is useful for owners who want to become aware of unexpected recording activity.
What the Service Does
It notifies users about recently indexed records associated with monitored information. The notification provides an opportunity to check the document and investigate an unfamiliar filing.
What It Does Not Do
A notification does not prevent a document from being recorded, establish fraud or invalidate the recorded instrument. Investigating suspected fraud may require assistance from the District Attorney or an attorney.
Official Contra Costa Recorder Resources and How to Use Them
The following resources lead to the county office or the systems it provides. Each is useful for a different task, so choose the one that matches what you need to accomplish.
1. Official Recorded Documents Search
RecorderWorks — search and order official-record documents.
- Open the portal and choose Name if you know an owner or previous owner.
- Enter last name followed by first name, or enter a business name.
- Set a useful recording-date range to reduce unrelated results.
- Click the relevant document number and verify its index details.
- Use the shopping-cart function if an official document copy is required.
2. County Clerk-Recorder Website
Official county agency website for recording and Clerk services.
- Open the official Clerk-Recorder website.
- Find the Recorder or Official Records service area.
- Look for current recording information, fees and document-ordering instructions.
- Confirm current counter procedures or call the office for an unusual recording.
3. Contra Costa County Government Directory
Official government listing of the Clerk-Recorder’s public location and telephone number.
- Locate the Clerk-Recorder entry.
- Confirm 555 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA 94553.
- Use the listed main phone number to request current office instructions.
4. Contra Costa County Assessor
Use the county assessment office for APN, assessment and property-value questions.
- Open the county government website and locate the Assessor department.
- Choose the appropriate property-assessment or parcel-information service.
- Identify the Assessor Parcel Number and current assessment details.
- Return to the Recorder search using relevant owner or deed information.
5. Recording Notification Help
Official explanation of notifications and how to report suspected fraudulent recordings.
- Read which name, address or APN events can trigger notices.
- Follow the application navigation to access enrollment options.
- Review any alert against the actual recorded document before deciding what it means.
- Contact the District Attorney’s Real Estate Recording Unit if a filing appears fraudulent.
Which Office Should You Contact for Your Property Issue?
| Your Situation | Best Next Step | Responsible Office |
|---|---|---|
| Need a recorded deed | Search by party name or document number, then order the correct record. | Clerk-Recorder |
| Need to record a new deed | Prepare the document, check PCOR and transfer-tax requirements, and confirm current recording fees. | Clerk-Recorder |
| Only know property address | Identify the parcel and relevant owner information through county assessment resources before searching the deed index. | Assessor, then Recorder |
| Need assessed value | Look up assessment details and applicable assessment exemptions. | County Assessor |
| Need a property-tax balance | Review the actual property-tax account and payment information. | Treasurer-Tax Collector |
| Suspect an unauthorized deed | Obtain the record and report suspected fraudulent activity to the appropriate authorities. | Recorder / District Attorney |
| Need confirmation of clear title | Request a professional title search or legal title review. | Title company / California attorney |
Contra Costa County Recorder Office FAQs
Where is the Contra Costa County Recorder Office?
The Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder’s Office is located at 555 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA 94553. The county identifies this location as being near the Martinez Amtrak station.
What is the Contra Costa County Recorder phone number?
The Clerk-Recorder’s main phone number is (925) 335-7900. You can call for recording, official-record search and copy-ordering questions.
What are the Recorder Office hours?
The published Recorder office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding legal holidays. Confirm any special closure before traveling.
Who is the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder?
Kristin B. Connelly is the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder.
Can I search Contra Costa County deeds online?
Yes. The official RecorderWorks index allows searches by name, document number, recording date, document type and other available categories. The online index begins January 1, 1986, with the current end date displayed on the portal.
How do I search by owner name?
Open RecorderWorks, choose Name, and enter the last name followed by first name. The portal also supports business names and offers a partial-match option. Narrow the recording-date range when results are too broad.
Can I search RecorderWorks using a street address?
The verified RecorderWorks interface centers on party names, recording numbers, dates, types, maps and historical references. For address-based research, begin with county assessment information to find owner or parcel clues, then search the Recorder index.
How can I get a copy of my deed?
Find the deed in RecorderWorks by name or document number. Select the matching document and use the Add to Shopping Cart option for ordering. Ask the office about certified-copy requirements if another agency needs certification.
Does Contra Costa County provide property recording alerts?
Yes. The Clerk-Recorder’s recording-notification service provides email alerts when monitored names, addresses or APNs are recently indexed on recorded documents. Alerts do not stop recording or establish that a document is fraudulent.
Can the Recorder help me complete a deed?
The Recorder can explain recording procedures but cannot provide legal advice, choose your deed type or draft an ownership-transfer document. Use a qualified California attorney or title professional when legal preparation is needed.
Is a recorded deed the same as proof of clear title?
No. Recorded deeds are important public documents, but determining clear title may require reviewing liens, earlier transfers, trust instruments, court records and other matters. A professional title search may be necessary.
About This Independent Guide
County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent informational website. It is not affiliated with Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder, the County Assessor, the Treasurer-Tax Collector or any California government agency.
This article explains published government procedures and helps readers choose the correct official service. It is not legal advice, a title search, tax advice or a guarantee that any document will be accepted for recording.
Office procedures, charges, laws and online search coverage can change. Always verify current requirements with the responsible county office before filing, paying or relying on a recorded instrument.
Official information referenced: Contra Costa County Government Clerk-Recorder Directory, Contra Costa County RecorderWorks Official Records Index, County Clerk-Recorder website, California recording requirements and the county’s Recording Notification service.
Property-owner information should not be used for employment, tenant, credit, insurance or other regulated consumer eligibility screening. This website is not a consumer reporting agency.