Document recording › Grant Deed
After the Notary signs, the deed still needs to reach the county recorder to make the transfer official. We pick up your notarized grant deed and file it at the recorder's office — same-trip notarization also available.
What to have ready: the completed, notarized grant deed, a signed PCOR (Preliminary Change of Ownership Report), and the grantee's mailing address for the recorder to return the original.
What we record
Grant deeds are used in nearly every California real property transaction where the grantor is providing an implied warranty of title.
The grant deed from a seller to a buyer is recorded to complete the transfer of ownership at closing. Escrow typically coordinates this directly — we handle the recording leg.
Transferring property to a child, sibling, or other family member. The deed is notarized and recorded even when no money changes hands.
Moving property from individual ownership into a revocable living trust. The deed names the trust as grantee and must be recorded to fund the trust for estate planning purposes.
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Common questions
A grant deed is the most common deed used in California to transfer ownership of real property. Unlike a quitclaim deed, a grant deed contains an implied warranty that the grantor has not previously transferred the property and that it is free from encumbrances made by the grantor.
Yes. California law requires any deed affecting real property to be notarized before the county recorder will accept it. The grantor's signature must be acknowledged before a notary public.
LA County charges $15 for the first page and $3 for each additional page, plus $75 SB2, a $7 Real Estate Fraud Notification Fee (Gov. Code 27297.6), and $2 AB 1466. A 3-page grant deed comes to $105 in county fees. Note that the $7 notification fee is not the same as the $10 District Attorney fraud fee, which applies to other instruments. Use our calculator for an exact estimate.
Walk-in same-day recording is available at most county offices. The deed is stamped and dated on the day it is presented. The original is typically mailed back to the grantee within 4–6 weeks.
A Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR) is a California form that must accompany most deeds when recorded. It notifies the county assessor of the transfer so they can determine whether a property tax reassessment is required.
No. We are not attorneys or tax advisors. Questions about Proposition 19 exclusions, reassessment, or tax consequences belong to your attorney or CPA.
Yes. If your document still needs notarization, we notarize it first and take it to the recorder's office in the same trip — saving you time and a second appointment.
If the recorder rejects a document for formatting or content reasons, we notify you immediately and explain what correction is needed. County filing fees are non-refundable but we will help you understand the rejection.
Text us the county, whether you still need notarization, and the number of pages. We confirm same-day and give you an exact cost before we go.