Stanislaus County, California • Clerk-Recorder / deeds / official records guide • reviewed September 19, 2026
Stanislaus County CA Recorder: Deeds, Official Records, Copies, Recording Fees & Property Fraud Help
The Stanislaus County Recorder function is handled by the Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder.
This office records and preserves deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances, maps, liens and other documents affecting real property in Stanislaus County.
The current County Clerk-Recorder is Donna Linder. The office is located at 1021 I Street, Suite 101, Modesto, CA 95354.
Use this guide to search official records, request deed copies, understand recording steps, check fees, contact the right county office and avoid common deed-record mistakes.
Start here
Stanislaus County Recorder Quick Facts
Handles recordings of real-property documents and maintains official records.
Current Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters.
Modesto, CA 95354.
Main Clerk-Recorder phone number.
Spanish-language phone number listed by the office.
Recording window is listed as 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Search official records by name, recording date, document details and APN where available.
The online index describes records tied to names from 1850 to present.
Additional pages are listed at $3.00, and certification is listed at $2.00 per document.
The Recorder records and preserves documents. It does not prepare deeds, give title opinions, perform legal due diligence or guarantee that a recorded document is legally correct.
Correct office
Recorder vs Assessor vs Treasurer-Tax Collector: Who Handles What?
Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder
Use for: deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances, liens, maps, official records, certified copies, notary oaths and recording questions.
Address: 1021 I Street, Suite 101, Modesto, CA 95354
Phone: 209-525-5250
Spanish: 209-525-5252
Fax: 209-525-5804
Open Clerk-Recorder WebsiteStanislaus County Assessor
Use for: assessed value, parcel maps, property tax assessment, property characteristics, mailing address and assessment records.
Phone: 209-525-6461
The Assessor does not record deeds or issue certified copies of recorded documents.
Open Assessor Public InquiryStanislaus County Treasurer / Tax Collector
Use for: property tax bills, tax payments, delinquent taxes, tax sale questions and payment receipts.
Address: 1010 10th Street, Suite 2500, Modesto, CA 95354
Phone: 209-525-6388
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Open Property Tax DivisionDistrict Attorney Real Estate Fraud Unit
Use for: suspected forged deeds, fraudulent transfers, fraudulent real-estate documents and related scams.
The DA asks complainants to provide the location, facts and photocopies of relevant documents.
Do not send original evidence unless the office specifically asks for it.
Open Real Estate Fraud InformationOfficial records search
How to Search Stanislaus County Deeds and Official Records Online
Stanislaus County uses RecorderWorks for public official-record searches.
The index is organized by grantor/grantee names, recording date, document number, document type and related document details.
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Open the official RecorderWorks search.
Use the county-hosted search page rather than an unofficial records site.
Open RecorderWorks Official Records IndexAfter opening: search by last name and first name, business name, recording date, document number or APN if available in the search options. -
Start with a name search.
For deeds, the grantor is commonly the seller or transferring party. The grantee is commonly the buyer or receiving party.
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Use recording dates when possible.
If you know the sale, refinance, reconveyance, lien or court-recording period, narrow the search by date.
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Open the matching document number.
The county search instructions say to click a document number to view the record.
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Use the party-name menu for more documents.
After opening a document, click a name from the menu to list documents tied to that person by type and recording date.
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Save the locator number.
For older records, the locator may be a Volume/Book and Page. For later records, save the document or instrument number.
If you only know the property address, start with the Assessor or tax record to identify owner names and parcel information. Recorder records are usually easier to find by party name or recording reference.
If a name search fails: try maiden names, trust names, LLC names, spelling variations and prior owners.
If results are too broad: narrow the recording date range or document type.
If you need older records: pre-1978 documents may require Volume/Book and Page locator information.
If you need legal certainty: use a title company or attorney. A public index search is not a title opinion.
Copies and certification
How to Request a Copy of a Deed or Official Record
Stanislaus County provides copies of recorded official records for a fee.
If the document will be used for legal purposes, ask whether a certified copy is required.
Listed for reproduction of recorded documents.
Listed per additional page, per document.
Listed as certification fee per document.
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Search for the document first.
Find the document number, recording date, party names, volume/book and page if available.
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Use the official copy request form.
The county provides a Copy Request Form for Official Records.
Open Copy Request FormAfter opening: fill in the date of record, document number, volume, page and party names as completely as possible. -
State whether certification is needed.
Certification is separate from a regular copy and may be required by courts, title companies or agencies.
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Prepare payment correctly.
The county fee page says fees may be paid by cash, cashier’s check, certified check, personal check or money order made payable to “Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder.”
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Call if the page count is unknown.
Ask the office to confirm the total before mailing a request with payment.
Certification confirms the copy is from the official record. It does not guarantee that the document is legally effective for your situation.
Recording workflow
How to Record a Deed or Real-Property Document in Stanislaus County
The Recorder’s Office records documents affecting title to real property located in Stanislaus County.
Documents may be presented over the counter or by mail. Documents accepted during the recording window are recorded the same day.
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Prepare the correct document.
Common real-property documents include grant deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances, liens, easements and maps.
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Use original signatures or an acceptable certified copy.
The county’s basic recording requirements state that original signatures are required except as otherwise provided by law.
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Use a proper California acknowledgment when needed.
California notary acknowledgment rules apply to many recordable real-estate documents.
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Make the document legible.
The office says documents must be sufficiently legible to reproduce a readable photographic copy, including notary seals and attachments.
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Check page size and cover-page rules.
The county describes a standard page as 8.5 by 11 inches and a sheet up to 8.5 by 14 inches.
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Include PCOR or exemption when required.
California deed transfers often require a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report or an applicable reason for not submitting it.
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Confirm documentary transfer tax.
Stanislaus County lists documentary transfer tax at 55¢ per $500 for deeds where the tax applies.
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Submit before the window closes.
The recording window is listed as 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
Adding someone to title, removing a deceased owner, transferring property to a trust or using a quitclaim deed can affect taxes, mortgage rights, probate, Medi-Cal planning and ownership.
Fees and payment
Stanislaus County Recording Fees and Cost Traps
Recording costs can change based on document type, page count, title count, indexing, documentary transfer tax, PCOR status and state surcharges.
Always use the live county fee schedule before mailing a document.
Listed for deeds where documentary transfer tax applies.
Listed as omission of Change of Ownership Report fee.
Additional recorded-document copy pages are listed at $3.00 each.
Certification is listed per document.
Each subsequent page is listed at $3.00, plus applicable map fraud fee.
The fee page says the office no longer accepts debit or credit cards.
If your deed has multiple titles, many names, missing PCOR, transfer tax, or an exemption claim, call 209-525-5250 before mailing payment.
Fraud and owner monitoring
Property Fraud, Suspicious Deeds and Owner Alerts
Stanislaus County’s Clerk-Recorder website does not currently advertise a Recorder-operated owner-alert signup service on the main official pages reviewed for this guide.
California financial regulators advise property owners to check county recorder records regularly and watch for suspicious title activity.
A statewide California requirement for county recorder property-fraud notification programs is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.
Check your records: periodically search RecorderWorks for your name, trust, business name and property-related documents.
Watch mail carefully: do not ignore unexpected loan, deed, foreclosure, tax or title notices.
Verify before signing: confirm the source before transferring ownership or signing a deed-related document.
Report suspected fraud: gather copies and contact the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Real Estate Fraud information page.
Use professionals when needed: title companies and attorneys can help evaluate suspicious title activity.
If you see a deed, lien, mortgage or reconveyance you did not authorize, contact the Recorder for copies and speak with law enforcement, a title company or a qualified attorney.
Visit the office
Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder Address, Map and Visit Tips
Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder
1021 I Street, Suite 101
Modesto, CA 95354
Phone: 209-525-5250
Spanish: 209-525-5252
Fax: 209-525-5804
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Bring the document number, recording date, grantor/grantee names, parcel information, payment, and your unsigned or signed original document depending on the service needed.
Avoid mistakes
Common Stanislaus County Recorder Mistakes
Searching only by street address: Recorder searches work best by party name, document number, date or APN when available.
Confusing deed and deed of trust: a deed transfers ownership; a deed of trust usually relates to a loan.
Assuming a reconveyance transfers ownership: a reconveyance usually shows release of a deed of trust after loan payoff.
Mailing the wrong fee: copy fees, recording fees, transfer tax, PCOR fees and state surcharges are separate issues.
Forgetting PCOR: omission of the Change of Ownership Report can add a fee.
Using the Recorder for property value: value and assessment questions belong with the Assessor.
Using the Recorder for tax bills: tax bills and payments belong with the Treasurer-Tax Collector.
Expecting legal advice: the office can explain recording procedures, but it cannot draft or approve your legal strategy.
Decision path
What Should You Do Next?
If you need a deed image: search RecorderWorks by grantor, grantee, document date, document number or APN if available.
If you need a certified copy: use the official copy request form and confirm fee, certification and delivery requirements.
If you need to record a deed: review recording requirements, PCOR rules, transfer tax and current fees before signing or mailing.
If you only have a parcel issue: use the Assessor for parcel maps, ownership display, valuation and assessment information.
If you only need a tax bill: use the Treasurer-Tax Collector property tax service.
If you suspect fraud: search the record, request copies, preserve evidence and review the DA Real Estate Fraud page.
Important caution
Independent Information, Legal Caution and Property-Records Notice
This page is independent informational content. It is not the official website of Stanislaus County, the Clerk-Recorder, the Assessor, the Treasurer-Tax Collector or any government agency.
It is not legal advice, title advice, tax advice, a deed-drafting service, a title search or an official certification of a public record.
Recorded documents can affect ownership, liens, trusts, mortgages, probate, taxes and property rights. Verify current requirements with the official office or a qualified professional before recording or relying on a document.
Do not use property-record information for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or any other FCRA-regulated consumer-reporting purpose.
FAQs
Stanislaus County CA Recorder FAQs
Who is the Stanislaus County Recorder?
The recorder function is handled by the Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder. The current Clerk-Recorder is Donna Linder.
Where is the Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder located?
The office is located at 1021 I Street, Suite 101, Modesto, CA 95354.
What is the Stanislaus County Recorder phone number?
The main Clerk-Recorder phone number is 209-525-5250. The Spanish-language phone number listed by the office is 209-525-5252.
What are the Stanislaus County Recorder office hours?
The office lists hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding holidays.
How do I search Stanislaus County deed records online?
Use the official RecorderWorks search. Search by grantor or grantee name, business name, recording date, document number or APN if available in the search option.
How far back do Stanislaus County official records go online?
The RecorderWorks search page describes records tied to names from 1850 to present.
How do I get a copy of a deed in Stanislaus County?
Find the document reference in RecorderWorks, then use the county’s Copy Request Form for Official Records and pay the applicable copy and certification fees.
How much does a recorded document copy cost?
The county fee page lists recorded-document reproduction at $6.75 for the first page and $3.00 for each additional page, with certification listed at $2.00 per document.
Does the Recorder prepare deeds?
No. The Recorder records qualifying documents but does not prepare deeds, choose forms, give legal advice or decide how you should transfer property.
What should I do if I suspect real estate fraud?
Search the official record, request copies, preserve photocopies of related documents and review the Stanislaus County District Attorney Real Estate Fraud information page.
Official resources