Plumas County Deed Records
Plumas County deed records are filed at the Recorder-Clerk office in Quincy. The county covers 2,553 square miles of northern Sierra Nevada mountains with about 19,000 residents. Property here includes vacation homes near lakes, timber land, rural parcels, and residential properties in Quincy, Portola, and Chester. The recorder offers online deed searches for recent records with electronic recording services coming soon. Most deed activity involves vacation property sales, rural land transfers, and estate matters. Call (530) 283-6256 to ask about searching records or visit 520 Main Street in Quincy to file new documents or access older deed records not yet available in the online system.
Plumas County Quick Facts
Plumas County Recorder
The Plumas County Recorder-Clerk office sits at 520 Main Street in Quincy. Phone (530) 283-6256 for questions. Office hours are Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm. This office handles all deed recordings for Plumas County.
When you file a deed, staff review it for proper formatting. The document must be typed, notarized, and include a complete legal description. If something is wrong, they reject it and tell you what to fix. Once accepted, they stamp it with the recording date and time.
Plumas County follows California recording statutes. Under Government Code Section 27201, the recorder must accept any instrument authorized by law as long as you pay the fees and it meets formatting requirements.
The recorder maintains a public index of all documents. Anyone can search this index to find property ownership or liens. Plumas County offers online searches for recent deed records.
Search Deed Records
Plumas County offers online deed searches through their website. You can look up documents by name or document number. The system shows recording dates, document types, and parties involved. Full document images may be available for viewing.
To search by grantor or grantee, enter the last name. The system returns matching results. Click on one to see details. There may be a fee to view or print full deed images. Check with the office for current pricing.
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 is accurate. These are required for legal purposes.
Electronic recording is coming soon to Plumas County but is not yet available. For now, file deeds in person or by mail. Bring the original signed and notarized deed plus payment. Same-day recording may be possible if you submit early.
Recording Fees
Recording a deed in Plumas County costs around $14 to $20 for the first page. Each additional page costs $3. California sets the base fee through Government Code Section 27361.
Documentary transfer tax is 55 cents per $500 of the sale price. On a $250,000 lakefront property, the transfer tax is $275. This applies to most sales. Gifts and certain family transfers may be exempt.
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 includes the county seal and recorder's signature.
Payment methods include cash and checks. If mailing a deed, send a check payable to Plumas County and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of the recorded copy.
Common Deeds
Grant deeds are standard for property sales in Plumas County. Using "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.
Quitclaim deeds transfer property without warranties. The grantor releases any claim they have. These work for family transfers or clearing title defects. A quitclaim makes no promises about title quality.
Deeds of trust secure loans in Plumas 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.
Tax liens can attach to Plumas County property when owners owe back taxes. Federal, state, and local governments can record tax liens. These show up in the public index and affect property title until paid.
Learn about grant deed warranties at California Civil Code Section 1113 which explains the implied covenants in a grant deed.
How to Record
To record a deed in Plumas 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 Plumas County Recorder, 520 Main Street, Quincy, CA 95971. 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.
Recording Law
All Plumas County deeds must comply with California law. 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 Plumas County index, everyone is legally considered to know about it. They cannot claim ignorance later. This transparency helps prevent fraud.
Nearby Counties
If your property is not in Plumas County, check these neighboring recorders: