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How to Record a Document

ATTENTION: Effective January 1, 2018, certain recordable documents will be charged an additional $75 fee to support the Building Homes & Jobs Act. Please read here for more information.

With integrity and commitment to customer service, the Office of the Assessor-Recorder is responsible for recording and preserving official documents related to marriage, real property, and business functions. 

The Assessor-Recorder will record only those documents as permitted by State law. Once recorded or filed, the documents and certificates are made available for examination by interested parties upon request.

Reminder:  Documents are examined only to determine if they meet “Recording Requirements,” which are very different from legal requirements. It is highly recommended that you speak with an attorney, title company representative, or other authorized individual for assistance. Only documents permitted by law may be recorded.  

Documents may be submitted to our office in one of three ways:

In person: At our City Hall location (1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 190, San Francisco) from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except legal holidays.  Payment for recording fees and transfer taxes (if applicable) may be made by cash, Visa, MasterCard, checks (with preprinted name and address), or money order payable to SF Assessor-Recorder.

By mail: To our City Hall location (1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 190, San Francisco, 94102). Payment for recording fees and transfer taxes (if applicable) may be made by cash, checks (with preprinted name and address), or money order payable to SF Assessor-Recorder.

Electronically: Electronic Recording (e-recording) is the process of recording documents via a secure internet portal that would otherwise be sent by mail or courier to the San Francisco County Assessor-Recorder’s Office.  Note that only Title Companies, Title Insurers, Banks, and Government Entities, may submit documents via e-recording. Please check with your title company, title insurer, or bank to see if they are authorized to submit in San Francisco County.

The San Francisco County Assessor-Recorder’s Office does not impose a surcharge for e-recording; the fees are the same for paper documents submitted over the counter or by mail as those arriving through e-recording. However, Agents charge Submitters a fee for the convenience of e-recording. Each Agent’s fee structure is different, so you are encouraged to inquire with the Agent for pricing.

Reminder: Although we would like to give you as much information as possible, under California law, our document examiners are PROHIBITED from providing legal advice or assisting in document preparation. (Section 6125 of the Business and Professions Code).
What are your hours for recording documents in person?
Our hours are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except legal holidays.
Where are you located?
We are located in Room 190 at City Hall (1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco).
What types of payment do you accept?
When recording documents in person, payment for recording fees and transfer taxes (if applicable) may be made by cash, Visa, MasterCard, checks (with preprinted name and address), or money order payable to SF Assessor-Recorder.
What is electronic recording?
Electronic Recording (e-recording) is the process of recording documents via a secure internet portal that would otherwise be sent by mail or courier to the San Francisco County Assessor-Recorder’s Office. Note that only Title Companies, Title Insurers, Banks, and Government Entities, may submit documents via e-recording. Please check with your title company, title insurer, or bank to see if they are authorized to submit in San Francisco County.
How do I find the Assessor Parcel Number(s) (APN)?

The Assessor Parcel Number(s) is the same as the Assessor Block and Lot Numbers. You can find these numbers on your property tax bill. Another easy way is to use the Property Search Tool, type in your property address, then click SEARCH.

What is a deed? Who is the grantor? Who is the grantee?
A Deed is the written document that transfers title of land or real property between the grantor and the grantee. The grantor is also known as the transferor or sellor or the party transferring an interest in land or real property. The grantee is also known as the transferee or the buyer or the party receiving an interest in land or real property.
What is an Affidavit of Death?
An Affidavit of Death is the written document that is sworn to or affirmed before an officer who has the authority to administer an oath or affirmation (for example, a notary public). Otherwise, it may be signed under penalty of perjury that the contents are true and correct. This document verifies the death of a decedent as a former interest holder for a specifically described real property.
What is a Deed of Trust?
A Deed of Trust is the loan document that involves three parties: Trustor (Borrower), Beneficiary (Lender such as a bank or mortgage company), and Trustee (Third Party who has the power to sell the property if the borrower does not pay the mortgage). This document shows the land or real property used as collateral, interest rates, loan amount, and other terms.
What is a Substitution of Trustee?
A Substitution of Trustee is the written document that is used to change the trustee in a Deed of Trust.
What is a Reconveyance?
A Reconveyance is the written document that the trustee executes when a loan is paid off.
What is a Subordination Agreement?
A Subordination Agreement is the written document that the lender executes when it gives a new loan priority over an existing loan.
What is an Assignment of a Deed of Trust?
An Assignment of a Deed of Trust is the written document that transfers the beneficial interest in a deed of trust from one party to another party. In other words, it transfers a lender’s rights for money to another party.
What is a Notice of Default?
A Notice of Default is a notice showing that the borrower under a deed of trust is not paying the mortgage.
What is an Abstract of Judgment?
An Abstract of Judgment is a lien for money payment by a judgment creditor against the judgment debtor.
I am a contractor who finished some remodeling work for a homeowner’s kitchen. The homeowner hasn’t paid me the full payment. What can I do? How do I record a mechanic’s lien?
It is possible that you may execute a mechanic’s lien and then have it recorded it in our office. A Mechanic’s Lien is a lien created in favor of person(s) who provided labor, materials, supplies, etc., to a work of improvement upon land or real property. Forms are not provided by our office.
I just received my credit report and it is showing a lien on my record. How can I obtain a copy of the lien and whom should I contact to remove it from my record?

The Assessor-Recorder’s Office is not authorized to release any Federal, State, Mechanic, Local Liens or Abstracts of Judgment from your real property or your name without a Release of Lien issued by the party that recorded the lien. Please do not contact the Assessor-Recorder’s Office to dispute any lien issues unless the lien was placed by the Assessor-Recorder for Delinquent Transfer Taxes. You may obtain copies of any document recorded in our office either in person or by a written request (copying charges apply).

How far back do your records date?
Our official records date back to April 1906 and our maps date back to 1850. For any historical records, please contact the San Francisco Public Library or the San Francisco Historical Society.