Office of the County Clerk-Recorder

The County Clerk-Recorder’s Office is responsible for providing direct services to the public, including recording, and maintaining real property transactions, issuing vital records (e.g., birth, death, and marriage certificates), issuing marriage licenses, scheduling, and performing wedding ceremonies, and filing fictitious business name statements as well as other para-professional registrations.

The County Clerk is authorized to issue marriage licenses and perform civil marriages. The County Clerk is a source of public information and provides customer service to the general public, government agencies and the private sector. Records are made available to the public as allowed by law. Copying and certifications costs may apply. Payment types accepted in the office are cash, check and credit or debit card (Visa & Mastercard only). Payment types via mail are limited to checks at the time. All checks must be payable against a USA bank.

The Recorder preserves the official archive of documents relating to legally recordable transactions of events. The Recorder collects documentary transfer tax and conveyance taxes on property sales. Documents are recorded, indexed, digitally archived and made available to the public. 

By recording a document, the document becomes part of the public records of the County Recorder. The Recorder’s Division will assist the public with accessing this information. Copying and certification costs may apply.

Note: Please note that the Recorder’s Division is unable to give legal advice, such as, what type of document you need or how to complete a document. We recommend that you seek advice from an attorney or real estate professional before you record documents that affect title to property.

The County Clerk is the official filing location for certain official documents, such as:

- Coroner’s Report
       Certified Copy
       Search
- Environmental Impact Reports
- Fictitious Business Name Statements
- Military Discharge (DD214)
       Filing
       Scanning and Indexing
       Certified Copy
- Naturalization Certificate (1800 to 1991)
- Notary
       Oath & Bond
       Verification of Notary Signature
       Return of Notary Journal
- Para-Professional Registrations
​​​​​​​       Process Server
​​​​​​​       Legal Document Assistant (LDA)
​​​​​​​       Unlawful Detainer Assistant (UDA)
       Professional Photocopier
- Statement of Economic Interest
- Translator Declaration & Verification
​​​​​​​- Vital Records (Birth, Death and Marriage)

The Recorder Division is responsible for the recording of various documents, such as:

- Deeds
- Mortgages
- Court Decrees
- Liens & Releases
- Other documents that affect title to real property

Book an Appointment

The public is encouraged to utilize the  Self-service Appointment Scheduling Tool to obtain information and book in-person appointments.

Book an Appointment Learn How to Use the Appointment Scheduling Tool

Search the Online Grantee-Grantor Index

The San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder’s Office presents the information on this website as a service to the public.

Search the Index

Proposition 19

The new law will make important changes to two existing statewide property tax saving programs. Click for more information.

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Schedule a Wedding Ceremony

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Schedule a civil wedding ceremony in the county chapel.

Book a Ceremony