About CLERK-RECORDER

NEWS:

 $1.00 Fee Increase to Redact Social Security Information
California Government Code section 27361 (d) establishes a $1.00 recording fee to redact Social Security information from the Recorders Official Records retroactive to 1980. The County's Board of Supervisors will consider adopting the $1.00 fee increase on 4/22/2008, effective May 1st, 2008. This fee will be applicable for all official records. To see Recorder's Fee Schedule, click here.

 Commissioner of Civil Marriages for Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County Clerk Recorder is designated as the Commissioner of Civil Marriages for Santa Barbara County. As the Commissioner of Civil Marriages, the Clerk Recorder may appoint individuals as Deputy Civil Marriage Commissioners in order to marry specific couples (pursuant to California Family Code Section 401(a) & (b) and County Code Sec. 2-10.7, pursuant to Government Code 26861). This means that your friend or family member may be appointed as a Deputy Civil Marriage Commissioner for a Day and perform your marriage. Click here for more information.


OTHER

• The County Clerk is authorized to issue marriage licenses and perform civil marriages. The Clerk is also the official filing location for certain other official documents, such as: vital records of birth, death, or marriage; notaries public, or persons acting with power of attorney; fictitious business name statements; licenses for humane officers, process servers, and professional photocopiers; passport applications; revocations of process server registrations.



• These records are made available to the public as allowed by law. Copying and certification costs may apply.



• The County Recorder maintains a permanent archive of documents related to recordable transactions, such as deeds and maps relating to real property sales. The Recorder is responsible for examination and recording of all documents presented for recording that deal with establishing ownership of land in the County or as required by law.



• The Recorder collects documentary transfer and conveyance taxes on all property sales. Documents are recorded, indexed, scanned, and stored. The public may search, view, and copy these records. Copying and certification costs may apply.