Sutter County Deed Records

Sutter County Recorder Office

The Sutter County Recorder-Clerk sits at 463 Second Street in Yuba City. Phone (530) 822-7134 for questions. Hours are Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm. This office processes all deed recordings for Sutter County.

When you file a deed, staff check 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.

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 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. Sutter County offers online searches for records from 1993 forward.

Search Deed Records Online

Sutter County offers online deed searches for records from 1993 to present. You can look up documents by name, date, or document number. The system shows recording dates, document types, and parties involved.

To search by grantor or grantee, enter the last name. The system returns matching results. Click on one to see details. Full document images may be available for viewing or there may be a fee to access them.

If you need deeds recorded before 1993, you must visit Yuba City or contact the office. Older records are in paper files or on microfiche. Staff can help you locate what you need. Bring property addresses or owner names to make the search easier.

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 like refinancing or title insurance.

Electronic recording is coming soon to Sutter County but is not yet available. For now, file deeds in person or by mail. Bring the original signed and notarized deed plus payment.

Recording Fees

Recording a deed in Sutter 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 sale price. On a $350,000 home in Yuba City, the transfer tax is $385. This applies to most property 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, check, and money order. If mailing a deed for recording, include a check payable to Sutter County and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of the recorded copy.

Common Sutter County Deeds

Grant deeds are standard for property sales in Sutter 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 on the deed.

Quitclaim deeds transfer property without warranties. The grantor simply releases any claim they have. These work for family transfers or clearing title defects. A quitclaim makes no promises about title quality. It just says "I give you whatever I have."

Deeds of trust secure farm loans and home mortgages in Sutter 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 Sutter 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 off.

Learn about grant deed warranties at California Civil Code Section 1113 which explains the implied covenants in a grant deed.

How to Record a Deed

To record a deed in Sutter 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 Sutter County Recorder, 463 Second Street, Yuba City, CA 95991. Include payment. If mailing, add a self-addressed stamped envelope. The recorder will process it and return a recorded copy.

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.

California Recording Law

All Sutter 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 Sutter County public 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 Sutter County, check these neighboring recorders:

• Yuba County
• Butte County
• Colusa County
• Yolo County
• Placer County