Find Rialto Deed Records
Deed records for Rialto are kept by San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-Clerk. The city does not maintain its own deed files. All property transfers in Rialto go through the county system in San Bernardino. You can search an index of records online or visit the county office in person. Rialto has over 104,000 people and sits in the western part of San Bernardino County near Fontana. The county offers an online self-service portal where you can search for deeds by name or document number. The index goes back to 1958 but only shows basic info. Document images are not available online for most records.
Rialto Quick Facts
San Bernardino County Recorder
San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-Clerk handles all deed filings for Rialto. The office is at 222 West Hospitality Lane in San Bernardino which is about 10 miles east of Rialto. Call (909) 387-8306 with questions. Hours are Monday through Friday during normal business times. Check their website for exact hours and holiday closures.
Rialto residents can file deeds by mail, in person, or through electronic recording. Most real estate professionals use eRecording for speed. Paper documents can take several days to a few weeks to process depending on volume. The county assigns a document number to each recorded deed and adds it to the searchable public index.
For more information about San Bernardino County's deed recording services, visit the San Bernardino County deed records page where you can find detailed information about the recorder office, fees, online databases, and how to search for property documents throughout the county including Rialto and all other San Bernardino County cities.
Search Rialto Deeds Online
San Bernardino County offers an online self-service portal at arcselfservice.sbcounty.gov/web/ where you can search for deed records. The system lets you search by name, document type, or date. The index goes back to 1958 but only shows basic information. Document images are not available online for most records. You must visit the office in person or order copies by mail.
To find a Rialto deed, enter the property owner name. Results show the document type, recording date, and document number. This gives you enough info to order a copy from the county. If you need to see the actual deed document, you will have to pay for a copy or visit the San Bernardino office to view it on their terminals.
Most Rialto home sales use grant deeds. A grant deed transfers ownership with implied promises that the seller has not sold the property to anyone else and there are no hidden liens. Quitclaim deeds also appear for transfers between family members or to clear title issues. Deeds of trust are used for mortgages and refinancing.
Fees and Transfer Tax
San Bernardino County charges $24 to record the first page of a deed with the fraud prevention fee included. Each additional page costs $3. Most deeds are two or three pages. Add the SB2 fee of $75 for real estate transactions. The SB2 fee funds affordable housing programs statewide.
If you need a certified copy of a deed, the county charges $3 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Certification adds another $1. Certified copies have the county seal and a signed statement. Courts and lenders require certified copies. Plain copies without the seal cost less but are not accepted for legal matters.
Documentary transfer tax in San Bernardino County is 55 cents per $500 of the purchase price. This is the standard California rate. The city of Rialto does not charge an additional city transfer tax. You only pay the county rate. This makes Rialto less expensive for closing costs compared to cities with their own transfer taxes.
California Recording Laws
All deeds in California must follow state law. The main rule is in Civil Code Section 1091 which says real property transfers must be in writing and signed by the person transferring the property. You cannot transfer land with a verbal agreement in California.
Grant deeds in Rialto include implied covenants under Civil Code Section 1113 which says the seller promises they have not sold the property to anyone else and the property is free from liens except those disclosed. These promises are automatic when you use the word grant in the deed.
The county recorder must accept your deed if it meets legal requirements and you pay the fees. This rule comes from Government Code Section 27201 which lists the duties of county recorders. The recorder cannot give legal advice or tell you if your deed is valid. They only check format and signatures.
Recording a deed gives constructive notice under Civil Code Sections 1213-1214 which establish California's race-notice recording system. The first buyer to record usually wins if there are competing claims. Always record your deed as soon as possible after closing to protect your interest.
Other San Bernardino County Cities
San Bernardino County has several cities over 100,000 population. All use the same county recorder. Nearby cities include:
All San Bernardino County residents file deeds at the same county office regardless of which city they live in. Recording fees and transfer tax rates are the same throughout the county. No San Bernardino County cities charge additional city transfer taxes.