Colusa County Deed Records
Colusa County deed records are maintained by the Recorder-Clerk in the town of Colusa. This office files all property ownership documents for the county's 1,151 square miles of mostly agricultural land. With only about 21,000 residents, Colusa is one of California's smallest counties by population. The area is known for rice farming, orchards, and hunting clubs along the Sacramento River. Most deed activity here involves farmland sales, estate transfers, and ranch properties. The recorder office does not yet have online search capabilities. You must visit in person or call to request deed searches. The office is located at 546 Jay Street in Colusa and can be reached at (530) 458-0500 during regular business hours Monday through Friday.
Colusa County Quick Facts
Recorder Office Location
The Colusa County Recorder office sits at 546 Jay Street in Colusa. Call (530) 458-0500 for assistance. Hours are Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm. This small office handles all recording duties for the county.
Because the county has not computerized its deed records, you cannot search online. Staff must look through paper files and card indexes to find deeds. If you know the names of the grantor and grantee or the property address, they can locate documents for you. Bring as much information as possible to make the search faster.
Recording a deed in Colusa County works the same as other California counties. You submit your signed and notarized deed along with the recording fee. Staff review it for proper formatting. If everything is correct, they stamp it with the date and time and add it to the public index. You get back a recorded copy.
Electronic recording is not available in Colusa County. You must file deeds in person or by mail. Many rural California counties have not yet adopted eRecording systems due to cost and low volume. When they do, they will likely use vendors certified by the California Attorney General's office.
How to Search Deed Records
To search Colusa County deed records, visit the courthouse in person or call the recorder office. Staff can look up deeds if you provide names or property information. They may charge a search fee depending on how long it takes.
Once they find the deed you need, you can view it at the office. If you want a copy, they will make one for a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more but include the official county seal and a signed statement from the recorder verifying the copy is accurate.
Old deeds from decades past are stored in files at the courthouse. Some may be on microfiche. The recorder can pull these older records if you need them for title research or legal matters. This process takes longer than online searches but the staff can help.
If you cannot visit in person, you can mail a request to the recorder. Include the property address or APN, names of owners if known, and an approximate time frame. Also include payment for copies and a self-addressed stamped envelope. They will search for the deed and mail you copies.
Recording Fees
Colusa County charges state-mandated recording fees. The base fee for the first page is around $14 under Government Code Section 27361. Counties can add fees for fraud prevention and other purposes. The total first-page fee typically runs $15 to $20. Each additional page costs $3.
Documentary transfer tax is 55 cents per $500 of consideration. On a $250,000 farm sale, the transfer tax is $275. This applies to most property sales. Gifts, inheritances, and certain other transfers may be exempt from transfer tax.
Copy fees are a few dollars per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost more. Expect to pay around $6 for the first page and $3 for each additional page of a certified copy. Certification adds the county seal and recorder signature.
Payment methods include cash and checks. If mailing a deed for recording, send a check or money order made out to Colusa County. Include enough to cover the recording fee plus any transfer tax due.
Common Deeds in Colusa County
Grant deeds are standard for property sales in Colusa County. The seller grants the property to the buyer with implied warranties. Under California law, using the word "grant" means the seller promises they have not sold the property to anyone else and that no hidden liens exist. This gives the buyer some protection.
Quitclaim deeds transfer property without promises. The grantor simply releases any claim they have. These work well for family transfers or clearing title defects. A quitclaim does not guarantee good title. It just says "I give up my interest, whatever it may be."
Deeds of trust secure agricultural loans and mortgages in Colusa County. When you borrow money to buy farmland or a home, you sign a deed of trust. This gives the lender a security interest. If you do not pay, they can foreclose. When the loan is paid off, they file a reconveyance deed.
Tax liens can attach to Colusa County property for unpaid taxes. The IRS files federal tax liens. The state files for unpaid income taxes. The county files for delinquent property taxes. All these liens get recorded with the county recorder and affect the property title.
California deed law comes from statutes like Civil Code Section 1113 which explains the implied covenants in a grant deed. Reading this helps you understand what protection different deed types provide.
Filing a Deed
To record a deed in Colusa County, prepare a proper document. It must be typed on standard paper with margins for the recorder's stamp. Include the property's legal description, names of all parties, and the consideration amount if it is a sale.
Get the deed notarized. California requires notarization for most deeds. The notary verifies your identity and watches you sign. This prevents fraud. You can find notaries at banks, law offices, and some businesses in Colusa.
California notaries are commissioned by the Secretary of State for four-year terms. They must pass an exam and background check. You can verify a notary's status on the Secretary of State website.
Submit the deed to the Colusa County Recorder at 546 Jay Street, Colusa, CA 95932. Include payment for the recording fee. If mailing, add a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of the recorded copy. The recorder will review the deed and either accept or reject it based on formatting requirements.
California Recording Statutes
All deeds in Colusa County must follow California law. Real property transfers require a written instrument signed by the grantor. This comes from California Civil Code Section 1091. Oral agreements to transfer land are not valid.
California uses a race-notice recording system. The first person to record a deed generally has priority over later buyers, as long as they had no notice of earlier unrecorded transfers. This makes prompt recording important to protect your ownership.
Recording provides constructive notice. Once a deed is in the Colusa County public index, everyone is considered to know about it. Later buyers cannot claim they were unaware of your ownership. This transparency helps prevent fraud and double-selling.
Nearby County Recorders
If your property is outside Colusa County, check these neighboring recorders: