Mono County Property Deeds
Mono County deed records are maintained at the Recorder-Clerk office in Bridgeport. The county covers 3,044 square miles of Eastern Sierra mountains and high desert with about 14,000 residents. Property here includes vacation homes in Mammoth Lakes, rural parcels, ranch land, and residential properties. The recorder offers online deed searches and electronic recording is available through certified vendors. Most deed activity involves vacation property sales, estate transfers, and rural land parcels near June Lake, Crowley Lake, and the Long Valley area. You can call (760) 932-5530 to ask about searching records or visit 74 North School Street in Bridgeport to file new documents or access older records.
Mono County Quick Facts
Mono County Recorder Office
The Mono County Recorder-Clerk office is at 74 North School Street in Bridgeport. Call (760) 932-5530 for information. Hours are Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm. This office processes all deed recordings for Mono County.
When you file a deed, staff check it for proper formatting. The document must be notarized, typed clearly, and include a valid legal description. If anything is missing, they reject it and explain what needs to be fixed. Once accepted, they stamp it with the recording date and time.
California law governs county recorders. Under Government Code Section 27201, the recorder must accept any instrument authorized by statute as long as you pay the proper fees and it meets formatting standards.
The recorder maintains a public index of all documents. Anyone can search this index to find property ownership or liens. Mono County offers online searches for deed records.
Search Mono County Deeds
Mono County offers online deed searches through their website. You can look up documents by name, date, or document number. The system shows recording dates, document types, and parties involved. Full document images may be available for viewing or download.
To search by grantor or grantee, enter the last name in the search box. The system returns all matching records. Click on one to see details and possibly view the full deed image. There may be a fee for viewing or printing documents.
Certified copies come from the recorder office. Request them online, by mail, or in person. Certification adds the official county seal and recorder's signature confirming the copy matches the original. These are required for legal purposes like refinancing or title insurance.
Electronic recording is available in Mono County. Title companies and attorneys can submit deeds electronically through certified vendors. This is faster than mail and more convenient than driving to Bridgeport. Most eRecordings process within hours.
Recording Fees
Recording a deed in Mono County costs around $14 to $20 for the first page. Each additional page costs $3. The exact amount depends on local fees added to the state base fee set by Government Code Section 27361.
Documentary transfer tax is 55 cents per $500 of the purchase price. On a $500,000 vacation home in Mammoth, the transfer tax is $550. This applies to most sales. Gifts and certain family transfers may be exempt.
Copy fees are separate from recording fees. Plain copies cost a few dollars per page. Certified copies cost around $6 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. Certification includes the county seal and recorder's signature.
Payment options include cash, check, and money order. If mailing a deed for recording, include a check payable to Mono County and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of the recorded copy.
Types of Mono County Deeds
Grant deeds are most common for property sales. 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 just releases any claim they have. These work for family transfers or clearing title issues. A quitclaim offers no promises about title quality.
Deeds of trust secure mortgages in Mono County. When you borrow to buy property, you sign a deed of trust. This gives the lender a security interest. If you default, they can foreclose. When paid off, they file a reconveyance deed.
Transfer on death deeds let you name someone to inherit your property without probate. You file the deed while alive but it only takes effect when you die. You can revoke it any time. These are useful estate planning tools in California.
Learn about grant deed warranties at California Civil Code Section 1113 which explains the implied covenants in a grant deed.
Filing a Deed
To record a deed in Mono County, prepare a proper document on standard paper. Include the legal description, names of all parties, and consideration amount for sales. Leave margins for the recorder's stamp.
Get the deed notarized. Most deeds require notarization. The notary verifies your identity and witnesses your signature. California notaries are commissioned by the Secretary of State for four-year terms.
Submit the deed to Mono County Recorder, 74 North School Street, Bridgeport, CA 93517. Include payment. If mailing, add a self-addressed stamped envelope. The recorder will process it and return a recorded copy.
Recording gives you priority. California uses a race-notice system. The first to record generally has priority over later buyers, as long as they had no notice of earlier unrecorded transfers.
California Recording Law
All Mono County deeds must comply with California statutes. Real property can only be transferred by written instrument signed by the grantor. This comes from California Civil Code Section 1091. Oral agreements to transfer land are not valid.
Recording provides constructive notice. Once your deed is in the Mono County index, everyone is legally considered to know about it. They cannot claim ignorance later. This helps prevent fraud.
Nearby Counties
If your property is not in Mono County, try these neighboring recorders: