The County Recorder, upon payment of proper fees and taxes, will accept any document which is authorized or required by California law to be recorded, if the document contains the required information and if it is photographically reproducible. The office of the Clerk-Recorder is PROHIBITED from giving ANY legal advice or assisting in document preparation. For more information click here.

Foreign Language Documents:

Pursuant to Government Code 27293, if all or a portion of a document is in a language other than English, the recorder must not accept it for recording. The customer should bring the original document to a certified or registered court interpreter or to an accredited translator.

California Courts website for certified/registered court interpreters:

American Translator’s Association website for accredited translators:

The certified/registered court interpreter or accredited translator will translate the foreign language portion into English and give the customer a signed, completed, and notarized Declaration. The customer should then bring the original document, the English translation, and the notarized Declaration to the County Clerk’s office. The County Clerk will verify that the translation was performed by a certified/registered court interpreter or by an accredited translator. Upon verification, the County Clerk will prepare a Translation Certification and staple all the documents together. The County Clerk’s office charges a fee of $10.00 for this service.

The customer may then submit all documentation to the Recorder for recordation.

Map Filings:

The submission and filing of all maps must be done at the Recorder’s Main Office Riverside (at Gateway). This office is located at 2724 Gateway Drive, Riverside, California, 92507. Maps must be submitted between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM. All maps, with the exception of Condominium Plans, must be printed on 18” x 26” Mylar paper. Pursuant to Government Code 66466 (a) of the Subdivision Map Act, the County Recorder shall have not more than 10 days, from the date of receipt, within which to examine and accept or reject a map for filing. Maps are recorded in the order in which they are received. For questions regarding map filings, please call our office at (951) 486-7000 and request to speak with an employee from the map recording department.

Document Recordings:

Documents may be presented for recording at any of the Riverside (at Gateway), Downtown Riverside (County Administrative Center), Hemet, Indio or Temecula Recorder's offices.

Please be advised, the above listed offices are the only locations where documents can be recorded. Other branch offices will not be able to assist you. All applicable fees must be paid at the time of recording.

Each document presented for recording MUST include or comply with the following general requirements:

• The property must be located in Riverside County. (CC 1169)
• The document must be authorized or required by law to be recorded. (GC 29201)
• The document must be submitted with the proper fees and taxes. (GC 6103, 27201, 27261)
• The document must be in compliance with state and local laws.
• The document should name the person requesting recording. (GC 27361.6)
• The document should state the name and address to whom the document should be returned. Fill in "Recording Requested By and Mail To". (GC 27361.6)
• The entire document, including the notary seal, must be legible enough to produce a readable photographic record. (GC 27201, 27361.6, 27361.7, GC 8207)
• Signatures must be original unless the document is a certified copy issued by the appropriate custodian of the public record. (GC 27201b)
• The document must be properly acknowledged, unless exempt. (California requires an all-purpose acknowledgment). (GC 27201, 27289, 27285, 27287, 27288, CC 1189)
• The Assessor's Parcel Number and Tax Rate Area are required on all conveyances by local Ordinance (R&T Code 11911.1)

Documentary Transfer Tax is due on all taxable conveyances in excess of $100 at a rate of $.55 per $500 or fractional portion of real property value, excluding any liens or encumbrances already of record. Property located within the city of Riverside is taxable at a rate of $1.10 per $500 or fractional portion of real property value, excluding any liens or encumbrances already of record (R&T Code 11911). Transfer tax is collected at the time of recording. A Documentary Transfer Tax Declaration must be completed for all conveyances. If no Documentary Transfer Tax is due, so indicate by entering "0" on the tax line.

If a "Preliminary Change of Ownership Report" is required, but not completed, signed and submitted at the time of recording, an additional $20.00 will be due. Preliminary Change of Ownership Forms are available online, at all Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder branch offices, or can be mailed to you upon request by calling (951) 955-6200.

You may also mail in your documents for recording with a check, cashiers check or money order made payable to:

Riverside County Recorder       P.O. Box 751 Riverside, CA 92502-0751

Your request is processed upon receipt. Please allow 6-8 weeks to receive your original recorded document back in the mail.

Once you have the appropriate form, you may prepare it yourself, consult legal counsel, or contact a local title/escrow company for further assistance.  The office of the Clerk-Recorder is PROHIBITED from giving ANY legal advice or assisting in document preparation. We are also unable to provide notarial services.

Various types of forms may be purchased at office supply stores or stationary stores. Many common forms are available for download here on our website.