E-Recording Services for California Counties
We e-record deeds, liens, abstracts of judgment, and other documents with county recorders across California. Mail us the originals, and we scan and submit them, advance the county fees, and email you the recorded copy.
E-recording coverage
47 of 58
California counties
Recorded copy sent by email
- From $55per recording
- Fees advancedon one itemized invoice
- No setup feeand no monthly charges
- Deeds, liens & judgments
- Checked against your upload
- Recorded copy by email
- 65+ years in California
Since 1961, Direct Legal Support has handled court and county filings for California law firms. Our e-recording service gets documents recorded without a trip to the recorder's office. You place the order online and mail us the signed originals. We compare them with your upload, scan them, submit them to the county, and email you the recorded copy. County recording fees are advanced and billed on one itemized invoice.
E-Recording Rates
| Service Level | Our Fee |
|---|---|
| RoutineSubmitted within 3 days of receiving your documents | $55 |
| PrioritySubmitted within 1 day of receiving your documents | $75 |
| UrgentSubmitted the same day we receive your documents | $95 |
| Additional DocumentRecorded in the same submission. Must have the same APN or case number. | $35 |
| Outside CaliforniaRoutine e-recording in another state, where the county allows it | $95 |
Rates are the same for law firms and parties without an attorney. Timing for each service level starts when we receive your original documents. The deadline for e-recording is 1:00 PM Pacific, and the deadline for documents recorded on paper varies by county.
County recording fees, the SB 2 fee, and any documentary transfer tax are paid in addition to our fee. We advance them and bill everything on one itemized invoice.
Our fee applies whether the county records or rejects the document. There are no setup fees, monthly fees, or subscriptions.
California Counties We E-Record In
We e-record in 47 of California's 58 counties, including Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Sacramento, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.
- Alameda County
- Butte County
- Calaveras County
- Contra Costa County
- El Dorado County
- Fresno County
- Glenn County
- Humboldt County
- Imperial County
- Inyo County
- Kern County
- Kings County
- Lake County
- Los Angeles County
- Madera County
- Marin County
- Merced County
- Modoc County
- Mono County
- Monterey County
- Napa County
- Nevada County
- Orange County
- Placer County
- Plumas County
- Riverside County
- Sacramento County
- San Benito County
- San Bernardino County
- San Diego County
- San Francisco County
- San Joaquin County
- San Luis Obispo County
- San Mateo County
- Santa Clara County
- Santa Cruz County
- Shasta County
- Solano County
- Sonoma County
- Stanislaus County
- Sutter County
- Tehama County
- Tulare County
- Tuolumne County
- Ventura County
- Yolo County
- Yuba County
Physical Recording Counties
Documents for these 11 counties are recorded on paper rather than electronically. Call us before you order for one of them.
Counties add e-recording over time, and a new state law requires county recorders to set up an electronic recording system by January 1, 2028. Call (800) 675-5376 to confirm a county before you order.
How E-Recording Works
Log In or Create an Account
Log in to your Direct Legal account, or create one for free. There is no setup fee.
Place a County Recording Order
Choose County Recording and the county. Upload each document, and each supporting form such as the PCOR, as a separate file. You can upload from your computer, Clio, or NetDocuments. Then choose Routine, Priority, or Urgent.
Mail Us the Originals
Send the signed, notarized originals to 901 Corporate Center Dr., Ste. 400, Monterey Park, CA 91754. Your service level starts when they arrive.
We Submit and Send the Recorded Copy
We compare the originals with your upload, scan them, and submit them to the county. When the county records or rejects a document, we email you. Download the recorded copy from the email or your order. A rejection comes with the reason and the corrections needed.
Start an Order or call (800) 675-5376
Our step-by-step guide, How to Place an E-Recording Order, walks through every screen (download the PDF).
Documents We E-Record
We record the documents law firms, estate planning attorneys, and property owners need most, including:
- Deeds. Grant deeds, quitclaim deeds, interspousal transfer deeds, and trust transfer deeds.
- Transfer on death deeds. A revocable transfer on death deed only takes effect if it is recorded within 60 days after it is notarized (Probate Code § 5626). Revocations can be recorded too.
- Affidavits of death. Affidavits of death of a joint tenant or trustee, usually recorded with a certified copy of the death certificate.
- Abstracts of judgment. Recording an abstract of a money judgment creates a judgment lien on the debtor's real property in that county, lasting 10 years from entry of judgment unless renewed (CCP § 697.310). To collect on the judgment, see our writ levy service.
- Notices of pendency of action (lis pendens). Mailed to adverse parties and owners of record before recording, then recorded with the proof of service (CCP §§ 405.22 and 405.23).
- Liens and releases. Mechanics liens, releases of lien, and acknowledgments of satisfaction of judgment.
- Deeds of trust and related documents. Deeds of trust, reconveyances, substitutions of trustee, and assignments.
- Other recordable documents. Powers of attorney, homestead declarations, easements, and other documents the law allows to be recorded.
Before You Mail Your Documents
Recorders reject documents that are missing required information. Before you mail the originals, check that:
- Signatures are original and notarized. Most documents must be acknowledged before a notary using the California all-purpose acknowledgment, and the notary seal must be legible.
- The first page has room for the recorder. Pages are 8½ by 11 inches. Leave the top 2½ inches of the first page clear, except for the name and address the recorded document goes back to, at the upper left (Government Code § 27361.6).
- The title is on the first page. Name the document, such as Grant Deed or Abstract of Judgment, on the first page (Government Code § 27324).
- A PCOR goes with ownership changes. Deeds and other documents that change ownership need a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report, or the recorder can charge an extra $20. It goes to the assessor and is not recorded.
- Transfer tax is declared. Deeds that transfer property show the documentary transfer tax due, or the reason no tax is due.
- The SB 2 fee or exemption is noted. Real estate documents carry a $75 Building Homes and Jobs Act fee, up to $225 per transaction, unless an exemption applies. State any exemption on the document or on a cover page.
- A cover page is added if the first page is full. Our recording cover page has the return address block and room for the document title.
Forms and Guides
- Guide
How to Place an E-Recording Order
Step-by-step guide to placing an e-recording order in your Direct Legal account. Download the PDF
- Cover page
Recording Cover Page
A simple fillable cover page with the return address block and the document title (PDF). Use it when the first page of your document has no room for the recorder. It counts as an extra page.
- BOE-502-A
Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR)
Each county assessor publishes its own version of the PCOR. Download it from the assessor for the county where the property is located. Los Angeles County lists the documents that need one in its PCOR guide (PDF).
- BOE-19-P
Parent-Child Exclusion Claim (Proposition 19)
For transfers between parents and children on or after February 16, 2021. Earlier transfers use the Proposition 58 claim, form BOE-58-AH. Claims are filed with the county assessor, not recorded. Upload the claim with your PCOR as one file.
Fees and forms vary by county. Check the recorder's website for the county where you are recording, such as the Los Angeles County recording fee schedule.
California E-Recording Law and 2027 Changes
Electronic recording in California is governed by the Electronic Recording Delivery Act of 2004 (Government Code §§ 27390 to 27399). A county recorder can accept electronic documents only through a system certified by the Attorney General, and only from authorized submitters that have a contract with the county. Authorized submitters include title companies, lenders, government agencies, and other submitters that carry the required liability insurance. California's e-recording counties use one of two multi-county systems, CeRTNA and SECURE.
New for 2027: AB 2224
Assembly Bill 2224 was signed on September 18, 2026. Starting January 1, 2027:
- The recording and indexing fee in Government Code § 27361 is $15 for the first page and $4 for each additional page, up from a maximum of $10 and $3. Counties add other required fees, so totals vary by county.
- The extra per-page charges for nonconforming print spacing and page size end.
- County recorders that collect the fee must implement an electronic recording delivery system under the Electronic Recording Delivery Act on or before January 1, 2028 (Government Code § 27361(a)(2)). Documents still go through authorized submitters.
- Counties can keep contracting with authorized submitters other than title companies, lenders, and government agencies. Those contracts were set to end on January 1, 2027, and the end date was removed.
Counties will be updating their fee schedules, so check the county's current fees before you record in January.
Why Law Firms Choose Direct Legal
One Order, One Invoice
We advance the county recording fees and bill everything on one itemized invoice.
Checked Before Submission
We compare the originals with your upload so documents go in complete and in the right order.
Recorded Copy by Email
Download the recorded copy from our email or from your online order.
Same-Day Option
Urgent orders are submitted the day we receive your documents.
No Setup or Monthly Fees
No memberships or subscriptions. You pay only for each order.
Full Litigation Support
The same company files with the courts, serves papers, and enforces judgments.
E-Recording Questions
How much does e-recording cost?
Our e-recording fee is $55 for Routine service, submitted within 3 days of receiving your documents, $75 for Priority, submitted within 1 day, and $95 for Urgent, submitted the same day. Each additional document in the same submission is $35 when it has the same APN or case number. County recording fees and any taxes are extra. There are no setup or monthly fees.
Which California counties accept e-recording?
We e-record in 47 of California's 58 counties, including Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Sacramento, Santa Clara, and San Francisco. Documents for Alpine, Amador, Colusa, Del Norte, Lassen, Mariposa, Mendocino, Santa Barbara, Sierra, Siskiyou, and Trinity counties are recorded on paper.
How long does e-recording take?
Most counties record e-recorded documents the same day they receive them during business hours. The recording date is the day the county processes the document, which can range from the same day to about 72 hours depending on the county. Most recorded documents come back within 48 hours.
Do I need to send the original documents?
Yes. Mail the signed, notarized originals to our Monterey Park office. To avoid errors, we only submit originals scanned by our own staff, after comparing them with the files you uploaded so nothing is missing or out of order.
Is a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report recorded?
No. A PCOR is not recorded, but it must go with a deed or other document that changes ownership, or the recorder can charge an extra $20. Upload the PCOR, and any transfer tax affidavit the county requires, as separate files in your order.
How do I submit a parent-child exclusion claim?
For transfers on or after February 16, 2021, use form BOE-19-P under Proposition 19. Earlier transfers use the Proposition 58 claim, form BOE-58-AH. The claim goes to the county assessor and is not recorded. Scan it with your PCOR as one attachment, and if a trust is involved, add the trust behind the claim.
What is the $75 SB 2 fee?
The Building Homes and Jobs Act fee (Government Code 27388.1) is $75 per real estate document, up to $225 per transaction. It does not apply to documents recorded with a transfer subject to documentary transfer tax, or with a transfer of a residential dwelling to an owner-occupier. When an exemption applies, it must be stated on the document or a cover page.
Can you record several documents in a specific order?
Yes. Upload each document as a separate file and tell us the order. Documents in one order must relate to the same property or case.
Can you e-record outside California?
Yes, where the county allows it. Routine e-recording outside California is $95. When you order, choose any county and name the state and county in the special instructions.
What happens if the county rejects a document?
We email you the county's reason and the corrections it needs. Our service fee applies whether the county records or rejects the document.
How do I pay?
We accept credit cards, debit cards, and ACH (subject to approval). If you pay by credit or debit card, our system places a pre-authorization on the card for our base fees. We advance the recording fees, charge the payment method on file when the order is complete, and email a receipt and paid invoice.
What is your deadline for e-recording?
Original documents must reach us by 1:00 PM Pacific for e-recording. Documents recorded on paper have deadlines that vary by county.
Are recording fees changing in 2027?
Yes. Under AB 2224, starting January 1, 2027, the recording and indexing fee in Government Code 27361 is $15 for the first page and $4 for each additional page, up from a maximum of $10 and $3. Extra charges for nonconforming documents also end. Counties add other required fees, so totals vary by county.
Need a Document Recorded?
Create a free account and submit your order in a few minutes. There are no setup fees. If you have a question first, call us or send a message.
Existing client? Log in to your portal