Los Angeles Recorder: Search Deeds, Request Records & Record Documents
Need to find a grant deed, confirm a recorded deed of trust, get a certified property record or record a new deed in Los Angeles County? The responsible agency is the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC).
There is no public online deed-index search operated by the county. You can order copies online, by mail or in person, but the county’s recorded-document indexes are not freely browsable on the internet. If you do not know the document reference, an in-person search or a properly prepared mail index-search request may be needed.
This guide explains countywide record access, mailing and in-person options, useful branch offices, copy fees, deed-recording requirements and the difference between County Recorder and property-tax information.
Where to Search Los Angeles County Recorder Records
The correct starting point depends on whether you already know the deed’s recording information. LA County offers several request channels, but it does not provide the kind of public online owner-name and deed-image search offered by some other California counties.
Find an Unknown Deed
Use the county’s View Real Estate Records appointment procedure. Records are indexed by grantor/grantee name and recording year.
See the search workflow →Get a Known Deed Copy
Use the online copy-request service or submit a mail request with the document title, party names and recording details.
How to request a copy →Record a New Instrument
Use the Recorder’s property-document recording process for eligible deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances and other recordable documents.
Recording requirements →How to Find a Los Angeles County Deed Without an Online Index
The Recorder’s official index is organized by grantor, grantee and recording year. The county says it does not accept telephone index-search requests. These steps help you gather the required information before using the official search or request process.
Identify the Property and County
Check the deed, escrow paperwork, title report or tax notice to confirm the property is in Los Angeles County. A Los Angeles mailing address alone does not always establish the recording jurisdiction.
Gather Grantor and Grantee Names
The grantor is generally the person transferring an interest, while the grantee receives it. Collect current and prior owner names, plus trust or business names where relevant.
If you have only a property address or Assessor’s Identification Number, look for party information in title, escrow or appropriate Assessor records first.
Find the Approximate Year of Recording
Start with the year the property was purchased, inherited or otherwise transferred. The actual recording date may be different from the signing or closing date, so allow for reasonable variation.
Open the Official Viewing Records Page
Visit the LA County View Real Estate Records page. Read the record-age categories and use the official appointment process.
Visit the Appropriate Viewing Area
For the Norwalk headquarters, county guidance places 1851–1957 records in the lower-level viewing area and 1958–present records on the second floor.
Appointments for record viewing can be scheduled up to two weeks in advance, subject to availability.
Compare the Indexed Document With Your Property
Check the parties, recording year, document type and available legal description. Do not assume a same-name result belongs to your property. Save the document number or other recording reference.
Request the Complete Document
Once the document is identified, use the online, mail or in-person copy process. The Recorder says a copy request must be for the entire document rather than selected individual pages.
Los Angeles Recorder Documents: Grant Deeds, Quitclaim Deeds, Liens and Reconveyances
Grant Deed
A common California conveyance instrument. The county explains that it contains implied warranties concerning the grantor’s prior conveyance or encumbrance of the property. Review its legal description and named parties.
Quitclaim Deed
Conveys whatever interest the grantor may have, without title warranties. Recording a quitclaim deed is not proof that the person signing it actually held the interest claimed.
Deed of Trust
Commonly secures a mortgage loan. It is not the same as the grant deed transferring ownership to the buyer. Search related recordings when researching a loan’s release.
Full Reconveyance
Often recorded after a secured loan obligation is satisfied. It can provide evidence of release of a particular deed of trust. Confirm the correct loan and recording reference.
Liens and Releases
Recorded documents may reveal claims affecting the property. A release typically concerns a specific lien; it does not automatically remove every other recorded claim.
Easements and Restrictions
Rights of access, utility easements and recorded restrictions can affect property use. A title examination may require reviewing more than the latest ownership deed.
Request a Los Angeles County Recorder Deed Copy
Unlike the public index, copy requests are available remotely. The county’s online ordering page directs users to LexisNexis for the request transaction. A certified-copy fee applies to online orders.
Online Request
- Open the official Online Request page.
- Follow the county’s LexisNexis request link.
- Supply the requested document identification.
- Review the certified-copy charges and complete the payment.
- Save the order confirmation.
The county lists processing within 20 working days of receiving the request, not a guaranteed delivery date.
Mail Request
- Identify the document title.
- List the names appearing on the document.
- Give the recording year or years to search.
- Include the applicable payment.
- Mail the request to the Real Estate Records section in Norwalk.
Mail address:
Real Estate Records
P.O. Box 1130
Norwalk, CA 90651-1130
In-Person Request
- Open the county’s In-Person Request page.
- Use the appointment instructions.
- Bring the document reference and payment.
- Visit the correct office or service counter.
In-person copy appointments at Norwalk can be scheduled up to three weeks in advance, subject to availability.
Los Angeles Recorder Certified Copy, Plain Copy and Search Fees
| Service | Published Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy — first page | $6 | $3 for every additional page |
| Plain copy — first page | $5 | $3 for every additional page |
| Mail name/year search | $0.50 per name per year | $1 minimum; nonrefundable |
| Expedited mail / UPS | $18.50 | As listed on the county fee page |
| Card-order handling | $1.75 | When applicable to the payment channel |
| Conformed copy at recording | First copy free when properly supplied | Different from an officially certified copy |
Four-Page Certified Copy Example
First page: $6
Three additional pages: 3 × $3 = $9
Estimated copy charge: $15
Before optional delivery or payment charges.
Four-Page Plain Copy Example
First page: $5
Three additional pages: 3 × $3 = $9
Estimated copy charge: $14
Before optional delivery or payment charges.
How to Record a Deed With the Los Angeles County Recorder
For a new grant deed, quitclaim deed or deed of trust, the Recorder checks document recordability and collects the required charges. This is different from searching or purchasing an already recorded document.
Confirm the Property’s Location and Document Type
The document must affect property in Los Angeles County and be permitted or required by law to be recorded. Identify whether you are presenting a grant deed, quitclaim deed, deed of trust, reconveyance or another instrument.
Check Execution and Acknowledgment Requirements
Original signatures are generally required unless a permitted certified-copy exception applies. The document must have a proper acknowledgment when legally necessary, as well as a legible notary seal and signature.
Check Page Format and Recording Space
The county identifies standard 8.5-by-11-inch paper, a 2.5-inch first-page top recording area, a specified portion for return information, and at least 0.5-inch blank side margins. Nonconforming documents can require a compliant cover sheet or additional charges.
Prepare the APN and Ownership Report
The county requires an Assessor’s Parcel Number on specified property instruments. For a document evidencing a change in ownership, check whether a completed Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR) must accompany the deed.
Use the official Deeds and Forms page to identify the relevant form and applicable transfer-tax declaration.
Calculate the Applicable Fees and Taxes
Check the instrument-specific Recorder fees, SB 2 requirements and exemptions, documentary transfer tax, and any city-level taxes that apply to the parcel’s actual location.
Submit the Document Through an Accepted Method
Follow the county’s in-person appointment, drop-off or mail recording instructions. Couriers, third-party representatives and attorney services have specific drop-off procedures for certain document types.
For mail submissions, use the Document Analysis and Recording Section, not the existing-record copy-request address.
Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
Document Analysis and Recording Section
P.O. Box 1250
Norwalk, CA 90651-1250
Los Angeles County Recording Fees and City Transfer Taxes
Although the Recorder collects documents countywide, the tax consequences of a conveyance can depend on which city contains the property. A transfer in the City of Los Angeles can have a different city tax from a transfer in an unincorporated area or another city.
| Item | Published Rule / Amount | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Regular base recording fee | $15 | Not necessarily the final charge |
| Additional recorded page | $3 | Where the county schedule applies |
| SB 2 fee | $75 per applicable document/title; $225 transaction cap | Statutory exemptions can apply |
| Restrictive covenant modification program | $2 per applicable title/document | Part of the county’s published fee schedule |
| Special real estate fraud fee | $10 where applicable | Varies by document category |
| Standard documentary transfer tax rate | $0.55 per $500 or fraction | Applied as described in the county’s transfer-tax guidance |
| City of Los Angeles standard city rate | $2.25 per $500 or fraction | Separate from the county-rate component |
| City of LA high-value ULA tiers, effective July 1, 2026 | 4% above $5.4 million and below $10.9 million; 5.5% at $10.9 million or above | Subject to actual transaction rules, exemptions and value thresholds |
Recording Fees ↗ City Transfer Tax Rules ↗
Los Angeles Recorder Office Locations: Norwalk and Branches
You do not always need to travel to Norwalk for a recent document copy or new recording. The county’s official branch directory identifies several service locations, but the scope and years of records available differ by branch.
Norwalk Headquarters
12400 Imperial Highway
Norwalk, CA 90650
Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.
The main records and recording headquarters, including historical real-estate records and document analysis.
Directions ↗Van Nuys
14340 W. Sylvan Street
Van Nuys, CA 91401
Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM.
County directory lists document recording and copies of real-estate records dated 1982–present.
Directions ↗LAX / Courthouse
11701 S. La Cienega Boulevard, 6th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM.
County directory lists recording and copies of real-estate records dated 1982–present.
Directions ↗Lancaster
44509 16th Street West, Suite 101
Lancaster, CA 93534
Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM.
County directory lists recording and copies of real-estate records dated 1982–present.
Directions ↗East Los Angeles
4716 E. Cesar Chavez Boulevard, Building B
Los Angeles, CA 90022
Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:00 PM.
This location offers other County Clerk services but is not listed as a real-estate document recording and copy branch.
Check branch services →Beverly Hills
9355 Burton Way, 4th Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:00 PM.
The listed services focus on marriage and voter-registration matters, not real-estate record copies or deed recording.
Check branch services →View Official Branch Services ↗
Map shows the county’s principal Recorder office in Norwalk. For branch appointments, parking and accessible access, check the relevant office before visiting.
LA County Recorder vs. Assessor vs. Treasurer and Tax Collector
| Your Question | Agency | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Where is my grant deed recorded? | Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk | Use official real-estate viewing or copy requests |
| Can I obtain a certified deed or lien copy? | Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk | Order a certified full document |
| What is my property assessed at? | LA County Assessor | Review property assessment information |
| How do I pay a secured property-tax bill? | LA County Treasurer and Tax Collector | Use the property-tax account/payment services |
| Where are building permits or plans? | Relevant city building department or LA County Public Works | Search permit records for that jurisdiction |
| Where is a will recorded? | Superior Court | Use the court’s probate record process |
| Is the property title clear? | Title insurer or qualified real-estate attorney | Obtain appropriate title examination |
What to Do When an LA County Deed or Lien Cannot Be Found
You Only Know the Address
- Check your closing statement or title report.
- Identify the legal owner at the approximate time of transfer.
- Look for a grantor or grantee name.
- Determine the likely recording year.
- Use a viewing appointment or mail index search.
You Found an Old Owner’s Name
- Check later grant deeds and quitclaim deeds.
- Look for trusts, estates or business entities.
- Review both sides of the transfer.
- Compare legal descriptions, not just names.
- Use a wider recording-year range when necessary.
You Need Proof a Mortgage Was Released
Find the deed of trust and look for a corresponding reconveyance or other release. If it has not been recorded after payoff, follow up with the lender or loan servicer.
You Suspect Real-Estate Fraud
Preserve the document reference and request a copy. LA County directs real-estate fraud questions to its Department of Consumer and Business Affairs at (800) 593-8222 or homehelp@dcba.lacounty.gov.
Los Angeles Recorder Official Links With Instructions
Use these county-government pages to complete your task. Each resource identifies what you should do once the official page opens.
Real Estate Records — General Information
County overview of recorded property documents and available request methods.
- Read the county’s online-access limitation.
- Choose Online Request, In-person Request, Fax Request or Mail Request.
- Follow the instructions for the request channel you actually need.
View Real Estate Records
County guidance for researching document indexes at headquarters.
- Determine whether you need historical or recent records.
- Read the viewing appointment instructions.
- Bring names, years and recording references, where available.
Mail Request Instructions
Search an index or request copies without visiting Norwalk.
- Identify the document title and parties.
- Provide the year or specific years to search.
- Calculate copy/search charges.
- Mail payment and request to Real Estate Records, P.O. Box 1130, Norwalk.
Recording Requirements and Deed Forms
For grant deeds, quitclaim deeds and other new property filings.
- Review original signature and acknowledgment requirements.
- Check the APN, page format and return address.
- Open the deeds/forms section for the PCOR and supporting instructions.
- Confirm fees and the permitted submission method.
Documentary Transfer Taxes
County and city-specific real-estate transfer-tax information, including the City of Los Angeles high-value tiers.
- Identify the property’s actual city jurisdiction.
- Find the applicable rate and effective period.
- Determine whether special city rates or exemptions apply.
- Confirm the calculation with the responsible county office or closing professional.
Branch Offices and Contact Details
Find a location that provides the needed Recorder service.
- Find the closest branch.
- Expand its published list of services.
- Verify the available years of real-estate copies.
- Check opening hours and appointment rules before traveling.
Your Next Step Depends on What You Found
Found the Correct Deed?
Keep the recording reference and compare the legal description. Order a certified full copy when your lender, agency or professional requires it.
Found an Unfamiliar Lien?
Record the lien reference, check for a later release, and contact the filer or qualified professional. A Recorder staff member cannot simply erase a legally recorded document at your request.
Want to Change Ownership?
Before preparing a quitclaim or grant deed, consider legal rights, existing loans, reassessment rules and possible transfer taxes. Consult a qualified California professional when necessary.
Still Cannot Identify the Deed?
Use a broader range of parties and recording years or request an assisted index search through an official channel. Do not repeatedly purchase records based only on similar names.
Los Angeles County Recorder FAQs
1. Who is the official County Recorder in Los Angeles?
The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk records real-property instruments for properties located in Los Angeles County. Its main headquarters is in Norwalk.
2. Can I search Los Angeles County deeds online?
LA County does not provide public internet access to its recorded real-estate indexes or images. You can request copies online, but finding an unknown deed generally requires the in-person viewing or mail index-search process.
3. Can I search LA County Recorder records by property address?
The Recorder indexes documents by grantor, grantee and recording year, not through a public online address or APN search. Use title or appropriate Assessor records to help identify the relevant names before searching.
4. How much does a certified LA County deed cost?
The published certified-copy fee is $6 for the first page and $3 for every additional page. Handling or delivery charges may apply depending on the request channel.
5. Can I get a Los Angeles County deed copy by mail?
Yes. Send the document title, recorded parties, year or years to search, and appropriate payment to the Real Estate Records Section, P.O. Box 1130, Norwalk, CA 90651-1130.
6. Where is the main Los Angeles County Recorder office?
The headquarters is at 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650. The Recorder/County Clerk contact number is (800) 201-8999.
7. Which LA County Recorder branches issue real-estate copies?
According to the official branch directory, the Van Nuys, Lancaster and LAX/Courthouse locations provide real-estate record copies for 1982–present and accept eligible recording submissions. The services at other branches differ.
8. What are the recording fees for an LA County grant deed?
The regular base recording fee is $15, but the final charge may include additional pages, applicable fraud fees, SB 2 fees, restrictive covenant modification fees and documentary transfer taxes. Use the official document-specific schedule.
9. Does every property in Los Angeles County pay Measure ULA tax?
No. Measure ULA concerns qualifying high-value real-property transfers in the City of Los Angeles, subject to its rules and exemptions. Other incorporated cities and unincorporated county areas have different transfer-tax treatment.
10. How can I report a suspicious Los Angeles County deed?
Obtain the recorded document details and contact the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs at (800) 593-8222 or homehelp@dcba.lacounty.gov. You may also need legal assistance depending on the suspected fraud.