Glenn County Deed Records
Glenn County deed records are kept by the Recorder-Clerk office in Willows. All property ownership documents for the county's agricultural and residential land get filed here. Glenn County has about 28,000 residents across 1,327 square miles in the northern Sacramento Valley. The area is known for rice farms, orchards, and cattle ranches. Most deed activity involves farmland sales, rural property transfers, and residential homes in Willows and Orland. The recorder office has not yet computerized its deed records so online searches are not available. You must visit the courthouse in person or contact the office by phone at (530) 934-6412 to request deed searches and copies.
Glenn County Quick Facts
Glenn County Recorder Office
The Glenn County Recorder sits at 526 West Sycamore Street in Willows. Phone (530) 934-6412 for assistance. Hours are Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm with a lunch break from noon to 1pm. This office handles all deed recordings for Glenn County.
Glenn County has not yet computerized its deed records. Staff maintain paper files and card indexes. To find a deed, they must search manually through these files. If you provide names of the grantor and grantee or the property address, they can locate documents more easily.
When you file a deed, staff review it for proper formatting. The deed must be typed, notarized, and include a valid legal description of the property. California law sets these requirements through statutes like Government Code Section 27201 which outlines county recorder duties.
The office cannot give legal advice. If you need help deciding what type of deed to use or how to fill out forms, consult a lawyer or title company. Recorder staff only process the documents you submit. They check formatting but not whether the transaction makes legal sense.
How to Find Deed Records
To search Glenn County deed records, visit the Willows courthouse or call the recorder office. Staff can look up deeds if you provide enough information. Bring property addresses, owner names, or approximate dates if possible. This makes the search faster.
Once they locate a deed, you can view it at the office. If you need 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 that the copy is accurate.
Old deeds from past decades are stored in files at the courthouse. Some may be on microfiche or other formats. The recorder can retrieve these older records for title research or legal purposes. This manual process takes longer than online searches but staff can assist you.
Electronic recording is coming soon to Glenn County but is not yet available. For now you must file deeds in person or by mail. When eRecording does become available, the county will likely use vendors certified by the California Attorney General as shown at the AG's eRecording page.
Recording Fees
Glenn County charges state-mandated recording fees. The first page costs around $14 to $20 depending on local add-on fees. Each additional page costs $3. A typical two-page deed would cost the first-page fee plus $3.
Documentary transfer tax is 55 cents per $500 of consideration. On a $200,000 farm sale, the transfer tax is $220. This applies to most property sales. Gifts between family members and certain other transfers may be exempt from transfer tax.
Copy fees are a few dollars per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost around $6 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. Certification adds the county seal and recorder's signature verifying the copy matches the original on file.
Payment methods include cash and checks. If you mail a deed for recording, send a check or money order payable to Glenn County. Include enough to cover recording fees plus any transfer tax due. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of the recorded copy.
Common Glenn County Deeds
Grant deeds are standard for property sales in Glenn County. Using the word "grant" creates implied warranties under California law. The seller promises they have not sold the property to anyone else and that no hidden liens exist except those disclosed on the deed.
Quitclaim deeds transfer property without warranties. The grantor releases any claim they have but makes no promises about title quality. These work well for transfers between family members or to clear title defects. A quitclaim says "I give you whatever I have, if anything."
Deeds of trust secure farm loans and home mortgages in Glenn County. When you borrow money to buy property, you sign a deed of trust giving the lender a security interest. If you default on payments, they can foreclose. When the loan is paid off, the lender files a reconveyance deed releasing their claim.
Tax liens can attach to Glenn County property for unpaid taxes. The IRS files federal tax liens. California files state tax liens. The county files liens for delinquent property taxes. All these get recorded and affect the property title until paid.
California deed law appears in statutes like Civil Code Section 1113 which explains the implied covenants in a grant deed and how they protect buyers.
Filing a Deed
To record a deed in Glenn County, prepare a proper document on standard paper. Include the property's legal description, names of all parties, and consideration amount for sales. Type clearly and leave margins for the recorder's stamp.
Get the deed notarized. California requires notarization for most deeds. The notary verifies your identity and watches you sign. This prevents forgery and fraud. Notaries are commissioned by the Secretary of State for four-year terms after passing an exam.
Submit the deed to Glenn County Recorder, 526 West Sycamore Street, Willows, CA 95988. Include payment for recording fees. If mailing, add a self-addressed stamped envelope. The recorder will review the deed and either accept or reject it based on formatting requirements.
Recording gives you priority under California's race-notice system. The first person to record 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.
California Recording Statutes
All Glenn County deeds must follow California law. Real property can only be transferred by written instrument signed by the grantor. This requirement comes from California Civil Code Section 1091. Oral agreements to transfer land are not valid in California.
Recording provides constructive notice. Once a deed is in the Glenn County public index, everyone is legally considered to know about it. Later buyers cannot claim they were unaware of your ownership. This transparency helps prevent fraud and double-selling of property.
Nearby Counties
If your property is not in Glenn County, check these neighboring recorders: