Kings County Recorder: Deeds & Records
The Kings County Clerk/Recorder in Hanford records deeds, deeds of trust, liens, easements, affidavits, reconveyances and other documents affecting real property in Kings County, California.
A major 2026 search detail is easy to miss: the Clerk/Recorder’s current website says it no longer publicly posts real-estate records or their indexes on the internet. If you need a deed or document image, the correct workflow is now to contact or visit the Recorder rather than relying on an old online-index tutorial.
What Does the Kings County Recorder Handle?
In Kings County, recorder services are part of the Assessor/Clerk/Recorder Department, but the Assessor and Clerk/Recorder perform different jobs. The Clerk/Recorder records and preserves legal instruments; the Assessor handles assessment-roll ownership, parcel information and property valuation.
Clerk/Recorder
Records deeds, deeds of trust, liens, easements, affidavits of death, reconveyances and other legally recordable instruments.
Use this office for: the recorded legal document itself.
County Assessor
Handles parcel ownership information on the assessment roll, values, exemptions, parcel maps and property-tax assessment questions.
Use this office for: parcel or assessed-value questions.
Legal / Title Professional
Helps determine which deed, affidavit or ownership instrument is legally appropriate when transferring or correcting title.
Use professional advice for: deed preparation and legal title issues.
How to Search Kings County Deeds and Recorded Documents
The current Kings County Clerk/Recorder page states that the office does not provide public internet access to its recorded real-estate documents or related indexes. The county explains that privacy restrictions involving elected and appointed officials prevent it from safely publishing those indexes online.
Identify the Property or Party First
Gather the owner name, prior owner name, approximate transaction date, APN, property address or known document number before contacting the Recorder. The more specific your information, the easier it is to identify the correct instrument.
If You Only Know the Address, Start With the Assessor
Kings County says property ownership information is available through the Assessor by phone or in person. Use that information to identify the name or APN connected with the parcel before requesting deed research.
Contact the Clerk/Recorder for the Current Access Method
Call 559-852-2470 and explain whether you need a deed, lien, easement, deed of trust, reconveyance or another recorded instrument. The current county page specifically tells users to contact the office for alternatives to internet viewing or obtaining records.
Visit the Hanford Office When Document Review Is Needed
The Clerk/Recorder is located at the Kings County Government Center, 1400 W. Lacey Blvd., Hanford, CA 93230. Current office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.
Verify the Document Before Ordering Copies
Compare the indexed parties, property description, recording reference and transaction period. When working through a chain of title, save each document number or book/page reference so you can trace the prior instrument.
Common Kings County Recorder Documents
Grant or Quitclaim Deed
Used to transfer an interest in real property. The Recorder records the instrument but cannot advise which deed type is legally appropriate.
Deed of Trust
A three-party security instrument commonly used when real property secures a loan or other obligation.
Reconveyance
Releases property from a deed-of-trust lien after the secured obligation has been satisfied.
Easement
Records certain rights to use another person’s land, such as access or utility-related rights.
Notice or Lien
Depending on document type, recorded notices or liens may affect property interests, foreclosure procedures or title review.
Affidavit of Death
Can be used in appropriate circumstances to make the death of a person with a recorded property interest part of the public record.
How to Record a Deed in Kings County, California
Kings County publishes detailed local recording standards in addition to California statutory requirements. The Recorder examines documents for recording compliance, not for whether the transaction is legally advisable.
Use the Correct Legal Instrument
Prepare the deed or other instrument appropriate to the transaction. Kings County expressly states that Recorder staff cannot provide legal advice or help prepare legal documents.
Put the Current APN and Situs on Page One
Kings County requires the current Assessor’s Parcel Number and the commonly known situs address on the face of the first page for documents pertaining to real property.
Include the Legal Description and Transfer-Tax Declaration
The county’s deed/easement recording checklist identifies grantor and grantee names, the legal description, APN, documentary transfer-tax declaration, tax-statement mailing address and applicable signatures/acknowledgment among the principal deed requirements.
Complete the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report
California requires the transferee to complete a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report, commonly called the PCOR, with many ownership-transfer documents. Kings County’s 2026 fee schedule lists an additional $20 charge when a document that requires the PCOR is recorded without it.
Check Page Formatting and Recorder Space
The county prefers black or blue ink on white 8½ × 11-inch pages. A $3-per-page surcharge applies to nonconforming page sizes. Pages larger than 8½ × 14 inches are not accepted.
Reserve the First-Page Recorder Area
The first page needs space for the recording request/return information and Recorder label. If sufficient space is unavailable, a separate cover page may be needed and becomes part of the recorded document.
Submit the Recordable Instrument and Correct Fees
Present the document to the Kings County Clerk/Recorder at the Government Center. Confirm the current fee before filing because SB 2, real-estate-fraud, transfer-tax, extra-page or other charges may apply depending on the document.
Recording Requirements That Commonly Cause Rejections or Extra Fees
| Requirement | Kings County Rule | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| APN | Valid current APN must appear on the first page of real-property documents. | County says a qualifying document missing the APN will not be recorded. |
| Situs address | Commonly known street name and number must appear on the first page when applicable. | Local ordinance adds a Kings County-specific property-identification requirement. |
| Paper size | Standard is 8½ × 11 inches; nonstandard pages can trigger $3 per-page surcharge. | Oversized pages increase fees; pages larger than 8½ × 14 are not accepted. |
| Document title | Title should appear on the first page beneath the Recorder-reserved area. | Recorder needs to identify and index the instrument properly. |
| Original signatures | Document must contain original signatures unless an authorized certified copy is recordable. | Missing or improper execution can prevent recording. |
| Party names | Names to be indexed must be legibly printed or typed near signatures and used consistently. | Incorrect names can create indexing problems and complicate later searches. |
| Prior recording reference | Documents modifying or releasing an earlier instrument should identify affected parties, county, recording number/book-page and date. | Helps connect releases and modifications to the correct prior record. |
Kings County Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR)
The BOE-502-A Preliminary Change of Ownership Report is an important part of many Kings County real-property transfers. It is completed by the transferee and is filed with the Recorder when a deed or other document causes a change in ownership.
What the PCOR Does
- Reports transfer details to the Assessor.
- Helps determine whether a change in ownership occurred.
- Helps the Assessor determine whether reassessment is required.
- Is treated as confidential assessment information rather than a public deed image.
Why Filing It With the Deed Matters
Kings County states that if the required PCOR is not filed when the transfer document is recorded, the Recorder must charge an additional $20.
The Assessor may also need a later ownership statement to obtain the missing information.
Kings County Recorder Fees for 2026
Kings County’s 2026 Clerk/Recorder fee schedule was published February 5, 2026. Recording cost depends on the document title, number of pages, SB 2 status, indexing, transfer tax and other transaction-specific factors.
| Fee Item | 2026 Amount | Important Detail |
|---|---|---|
| First page — title not associated with real-estate-fraud fee | $13 | Standard 8½ × 11-inch first-page category. |
| First page — title associated with real-estate-fraud fee | $16 | County schedule lists instruments including quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, easements, liens, reconveyances and several other titles in this category. |
| Each additional page | $3 | Added after the first page. |
| SB 2 Building Homes & Jobs Act | $75 | May apply to real-estate recording documents unless an exemption applies; statutory cap can reach $225 per transaction. |
| Electronic recording | $1 per document | County Recorder fee; vendor or submission-service costs may be separate. |
| Nonconforming page | $3 per page | Applies when page size does not comply with the standard-format requirement. |
| Document without required PCOR | $20 | Avoidable when a required Preliminary Change of Ownership Report is properly filed with the transfer instrument. |
| Document copy — first page | $3 | Clerk-provided document-copy charge. |
| Each additional copy page | $0.50 | Added to the copy charge. |
| Certification | $1 | Added when certification is requested. |
| Documentary Transfer Tax | $0.55 per $500 of taxable value/consideration | County explains that applicable transfer value and existing liens/encumbrances can affect the taxable base. |
Kings County Documentary Transfer Tax
Kings County says Documentary Transfer Tax is collected on qualifying real-property transfers when the value or consideration exceeds $100. The county rate is $0.55 for each $500 or fraction thereof of the applicable taxable consideration.
Simple Illustration
If the entire taxable amount were $250,000, a simple rate-only illustration would be:
$250,000 ÷ $500 × $0.55 = $275
This is only an illustration. Existing liens, statutory exemptions and transaction structure can change the taxable amount.
Do Not Guess an Exemption
Some transfers may be exempt or may use a different taxable base. The Recorder can explain recording requirements but cannot provide individualized legal or tax advice about structuring a transfer.
How to Get a Copy of a Kings County Deed
Because the current Clerk/Recorder site no longer publicly displays recorded real-estate documents on the internet, request the current copy-access method directly from the office.
Gather Identifying Information
Have the owner or party name, APN, approximate transaction date, prior owner or known recording number available.
Call the Recorder
Call 559-852-2470 and ask for the current method to search, inspect or obtain the specific recorded real-estate document.
Specify Whether You Need Certification
A plain copy may be enough for research, while a lender, court, title company or other recipient may require a certified copy. Ask the recipient what form it needs before ordering.
Confirm the Current Cost
The 2026 schedule lists $3 for the first copy page, $0.50 for each additional page and $1 for certification. Confirm the total before ordering.
Kings County Owner Alert of Potential Property Fraud
Kings County links to a Recorder fraud-monitoring service that can alert participating users when a document matching selected owner information is recorded. Treat an alert as a prompt to inspect the document—not as proof that fraud occurred.
Useful For
- Monitoring future recorded activity.
- Spotting unexpected documents sooner.
- Checking a suspicious recording with the Recorder.
Does Not Replace
- Title insurance.
- Legal review.
- Identity-theft reporting.
- Immediate review of an already-known suspicious instrument.
Kings County Clerk/Recorder Address, Phone & Hours
Kings County Clerk/Recorder
Kings County Government Center
1400 W. Lacey Blvd.
Hanford, CA 93230
Phone:
559-852-2470
Fax: 559-582-6639
Email:
ClerkRecorder@co.kings.ca.us
Published office hours:
Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
The current Clerk page notes that recordings and vital-record requests are processed through close of business as time permits. Arrive early enough for staff to complete the transaction.
Open Directions ↗Recorder or Assessor: Who Handles Your Kings County Problem?
| Your Question | Best Office | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I need the recorded deed. | Clerk/Recorder | Recorder maintains the recorded legal instrument. |
| I only know the property address. | Assessor first | Assessor can help identify assessment-roll ownership or parcel information before Recorder research. |
| I want to add a person to title. | Legal adviser + Recorder | A new legal instrument may be required; Recorder cannot choose or prepare it for you. |
| The tax bill still shows the old owner. | Assessor | Assessment-roll ownership and tax-record updates are Assessor functions after recording information is processed. |
| I need parcel maps. | Assessor | Kings County says Assessor parcel maps are maintained by the Assessor and are available for review/purchase through that office. |
| I need a lien or reconveyance. | Clerk/Recorder | These are recorded instruments maintained in the official records. |
Official Kings County Recorder Resources
Use these county resources for the live rules and forms. The steps below explain what to do after each page opens.
Kings County Clerk/Recorder
Current office information, internet-access notice and Recorder services.
- Read the current notice under Online Access to Real Estate Records.
- Confirm that public internet deed/index access is still unavailable.
- Use the published phone number for current viewing or copy alternatives.
- Check the office-hours notice before visiting Hanford.
Recording Guidelines & Forms
Local APN, situs, page-format, signature, indexing and Recorder-space requirements.
- Read General Recording Guidelines.
- Confirm the APN and situs requirements.
- Check page size, first-page margins and return-address space.
- Find your document type in the county’s list of common instruments.
- Download a cover sheet only if your filing needs one.
2026 Kings County Clerk/Recorder Fee Schedule
Current first-page, additional-page, SB 2, copy, certification and transfer-tax charges.
- Open the county Fee Schedule page.
- Select 2026 Clerk/Recorder Fees.
- Identify your document’s first-page category.
- Check SB 2, extra-page, PCOR and transfer-tax entries separately.
- Call the Recorder if you cannot confidently calculate the filing total.
Preliminary Change of Ownership Report
Kings County Assessor forms page includes BOE-502-A for real-property transfers.
- Find BOE 502-A: Preliminary Change of Ownership Report.
- Complete the transferee/buyer and property sections applicable to the transfer.
- Do not attach the form as though it were part of the public deed image; it is used for assessment purposes.
- Submit it with the qualifying transfer document to avoid the Recorder’s listed $20 missing-PCOR charge.
Kings County Assessor
Use when the problem concerns parcel ownership information, assessed value, exemptions or assessor maps.
- Use the Assessor when you only have an address or APN.
- Ask for assessment-roll ownership or parcel information.
- Save the exact owner name and APN.
- Use those details when contacting the Clerk/Recorder for the actual recorded instrument.
Owner Alert of Potential Property Fraud
County-linked Recorder notification service for newly recorded activity.
- Open the county Owner Alert page.
- Read the county’s external-site notice.
- Continue to the Recorder-linked FraudGuard system.
- Review current enrollment terms and any applicable notification fee before submitting information.
- If an alert is received, contact the Recorder to inspect the matching instrument.
Common Kings County Recorder Mistakes
What Goes Wrong
- Following an outdated online deed-search tutorial.
- Submitting a real-property document without the current APN.
- Leaving the situs address off the first page when required.
- Forgetting the PCOR on a qualifying ownership transfer.
- Using nonstandard paper and overlooking the surcharge.
- Assuming the Recorder can choose or prepare a deed.
- Using Assessor ownership information as a substitute for the recorded instrument.
Better Workflow
- Confirm which county contains the property.
- Get the correct APN and owner information first.
- Read the current Kings County recording guidelines.
- Complete the appropriate PCOR when required.
- Check the 2026 fee schedule before arriving.
- Save every recording reference after filing.
- Verify Assessor records later if ownership changed.
What Should You Do Next?
| Your Situation | Best Next Step |
|---|---|
| You need a recorded deed. | Call the Clerk/Recorder at 559-852-2470 for the current viewing or copy method because public internet real-estate record access is unavailable. |
| You only know the street address. | Start with the Assessor to obtain parcel/ownership information, then contact the Recorder. |
| You need to record a deed. | Review Recorder guidelines, APN/situs requirements, PCOR requirements and current fees before submitting the document. |
| You need to add or remove an owner. | Determine the appropriate legal instrument with qualified legal/title help, then record it with the Clerk/Recorder. |
| The tax roll still has the old owner. | Contact the Assessor after confirming the deed was properly recorded. |
| You received a fraud alert. | Contact the Recorder, identify the matching instrument and inspect it before deciding whether legal or law-enforcement action is needed. |
Kings County Recorder FAQs
Who is the Recorder for Kings County, California?
Recorder duties are handled by the Kings County Clerk/Recorder within the Assessor/Clerk/Recorder Department. The office is at the Kings County Government Center, 1400 W. Lacey Blvd., Hanford, CA 93230.
Can I search Kings County deeds online in 2026?
The current Kings County Clerk/Recorder page says the office no longer publicly posts real-estate records or related indexes on the internet. Call 559-852-2470 for current alternatives to viewing or obtaining a recorded document.
Why did Kings County remove public online access to real-estate indexes?
The Clerk/Recorder cites California privacy restrictions affecting the online publication of the names, home addresses and APNs of elected or appointed officials. Because the office cannot reliably identify every protected appointed official within recorded documents, it no longer makes those real-estate records and indexes publicly available through the internet.
What information must appear on a Kings County deed?
Kings County’s recording guidance identifies items including grantor and grantee names, legal description, current APN, documentary transfer-tax declaration, tax-statement mailing address, applicable signatures and acknowledgment. Real-property documents must also show the commonly known situs address on the first page when applicable.
Does Kings County require the APN on a recorded deed?
Yes. Kings County says a valid current Assessor’s Parcel Number must appear on the first page of documents pertaining to real property, together with the commonly known situs address. The county states that a qualifying document missing these items will not be recorded.
What is the Kings County PCOR fee if I do not file the form?
Kings County’s 2026 Clerk/Recorder fee schedule lists a $20 charge for documents recorded without a required Preliminary Change of Ownership Report. The BOE-502-A PCOR is available through the Kings County Assessor forms page.
How much does Kings County charge to record a document in 2026?
The 2026 schedule lists a $13 first-page charge for titles not associated with the real-estate-fraud fee and $16 for titles associated with that fee, plus $3 for each additional page. SB 2, documentary transfer tax, PCOR, indexing and other charges may also apply.
How much is Kings County documentary transfer tax?
Kings County lists documentary transfer tax at $0.55 for each $500 or fraction of the taxable value or consideration. The county explains that existing liens or encumbrances can affect the calculation, and some transfers may qualify for exemptions.
Can Kings County Recorder staff help me fill out a grant deed or quitclaim deed?
No. Kings County states that Recorder staff are prohibited from giving legal advice or assisting with legal-document preparation. A real-estate attorney, title professional or other authorized adviser can help determine which document is appropriate.
What are the Kings County Clerk/Recorder office hours?
The current Clerk/Recorder page lists Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It also advises visitors to arrive early enough for staff to complete recording or vital-record transactions before the close of business.
Independent Records Guide
This website is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with Kings County, the Kings County Assessor/Clerk/Recorder, the State of California or any title company or law firm.
Recording acceptance, legal title, transfer-tax exemptions, reassessment consequences and document sufficiency depend on California law and the facts of the transaction. The Recorder examines documents for recording requirements but does not provide legal advice.
Public property-record information should not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or another regulated consumer-reporting purpose. This website is not a Consumer Reporting Agency.