Fullerton Property Deed Files
All Fullerton deed records are filed with Orange County Recorder in Santa Ana. Fullerton does not operate its own recording office. The county maintains deeds for all 34 cities in Orange County. When property changes hands in Fullerton, the new deed must be recorded at the county level to become official. The online database lets you search deeds from your home or office without making the trip to Santa Ana. Fullerton sits in northern Orange County near the Los Angeles County line. The city has roughly 143,000 residents and covers about 22 square miles. It is home to California State University Fullerton and a mix of residential neighborhoods and commercial districts.
Fullerton Quick Facts
County Recorder for Fullerton
Orange County Recorder processes all deed filings for Fullerton. The office is at 601 North Ross Street in Santa Ana. This is about 10 miles south of Fullerton near the Santa Ana courthouse. Office hours are Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Call 714-834-5043 for general questions or 855-886-5400 for the toll-free line.
You do not have to visit in person for most services. The county offers online document searches, mail-in copy requests, and electronic recording through certified vendors. Most real estate closings use eRecording now because it is faster and more reliable than paper.
When a deed gets recorded, the county stamps it with the official date and time. This establishes priority over other claims to the property. California uses a race-notice system which means the first person to record generally wins if there are competing claims. That is why buyers and lenders rush to record deeds and mortgages right after closing.
For detailed information about Orange County recording services, visit the Orange County deed records page which covers fee schedules, links to the online search system, information about eRecording vendors, and details about how to request certified copies of recorded documents for Fullerton properties and all other locations in the county.
Find Fullerton Deeds Online
Orange County provides free deed searches through the RecorderWorks system. Go to the Orange County online records portal and choose your search method. You can search by name, address, legal description, or document number. Most people search by the current or previous owner name.
Enter the last name first when searching by name. The system will show all matching records. Results include the recording date, document type, and how many pages the document has. Click on any result to view the scanned deed image for free. No login or payment is required to view documents online.
If you need a certified copy for legal purposes, you must request it from the recorder office. Certified copies have the county seal and a signed statement from the recorder. They cost $1 per page plus $1 for certification. Plain copies are cheaper but not acceptable for court filings or mortgage applications.
The database covers many decades of Fullerton property records. For very old deeds that predate the digital system, you may need to visit the recorder office or send a mail request with specific details about the property and the document you need.
Keep in mind the search covers all of Orange County. If you search a common name, you will see results from Anaheim, Irvine, and other cities. Always check the property address to make sure you have the correct deed for Fullerton.
Fullerton Recording Costs
Orange County charges $87 for a one-page deed. This breaks down to $12 base fee and $75 SB2 fee. Add $3 for each page after the first. A three-page deed costs $93 total. These fees are set by the county and apply throughout Orange County including Fullerton.
Copy fees are $1 per page for plain copies. Add $1 for certification if needed. So a certified copy of a five-page deed costs $6. This is lower than many California counties where certified copies can run $2 to $4 per page.
The SB2 fee is mandated by state law. The money goes to a statewide fund for affordable housing. Every county in California collects this fee. The amount is $75 per transaction for most documents with a maximum of $225 for complex transactions involving multiple parcels.
Orange County does not charge extra fees for credit card payments. Some counties add 2% to 3% for card transactions but Orange County absorbs this cost. You can also pay by cash or check if you visit in person or mail documents for recording.
Transfer Tax in Fullerton
Fullerton has no city transfer tax. You pay only the county rate of 55 cents per $500 of the sale price. On an $800,000 home, the transfer tax is $880. The seller usually pays this at closing but buyers and sellers can agree to split it or have the buyer pay.
The tax is based on the actual consideration paid. If a buyer assumes an existing loan, that amount gets subtracted from the purchase price for tax purposes. Only new money changing hands counts toward the taxable amount.
Documentary transfer tax is collected when the deed is recorded. The county stamps the amount on the deed. This becomes part of the public record so anyone searching the deed can see what was paid in transfer tax and work backward to estimate the sale price.
Transfer tax is separate from annual property tax. Property tax is based on assessed value and collected twice per year. Transfer tax is a one-time charge that applies only when ownership changes. Gifts and inheritances may be exempt from transfer tax depending on the circumstances.
California Recording Standards
The state oversees electronic recording systems to make sure they meet security and reliability standards. Check the California Attorney General Electronic Recording page to learn about the Electronic Recording Delivery Act and how counties implement eRecording programs.
Orange County has recorded over 11 million documents electronically since launching its eRecording program. This system cuts processing time from days to hours and reduces errors from illegible handwriting or missing pages.
Nearby Orange County Cities
All cities in Orange County record deeds at the same office in Santa Ana. Below are other major cities near Fullerton:
Recording fees and transfer tax rates are identical across all these cities because they use the county system and none have adopted city transfer taxes.