Marin County, California public records

In Marin County, deeds are recorded by the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk: Recorder; property values come from the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk: Assessor; court files are kept by the Superior Court of California, County of Marin.

Last checked against official sources on November 4, 2026.

On this page

1. Where to get each record
2. Deeds and land records
3. Property values, owners and tax bills
4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
5. Marriage records
6. Divorce records
7. Birth certificates
8. Death certificates
9. Probate records and wills
10. Business names (DBA)
11. Voter records
12. Good to know about Marin County records
13. Office addresses, phones and hours
14. Records that are not online: public records requests
15. Questions people ask
16. Official copies vs look-alike sites
17. Sources

Where to get each record

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Marin County are recorded by the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk (ARCC): Recorder.²

Online search

apps.marincounty.gov/RecordersIndexSearch²

Years online

Grantor/Grantee index 1973 to present²

How deeds work in California

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk (ARCC): Assessor sets property values³; the Department of Finance, Property Tax Division: Tax Collector bills and collects the tax⁴.

Property search

apps.marincounty.gov/TaxRollSearch³

Tax bill search

apps.marincounty.gov/TaxBillOnline⁵

Appealing a value

Assessment Appeals Board via the Clerk of the Board: one application per parcel and assessment type, $50 non-refundable processing fee each; meet the Assessor first; Assessment Appeals Clerk 415-473-7331¹³

How property tax works in California

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

Official site

marin.courts.ca.gov¹⁴

Fees

$0.50 per page for copies of court records; other records fees per the Statewide Civil Fee Schedule⁶

How to order

Online records request form (forms.office.com/g/bVwSwGQKZk) or in person at Civic Center Room 113; no case information by phone or email⁶

Turnaround

Backlog: some requests may take more than 6 weeks⁶

Criminal records and background checks

Overview

Criminal case files are requested from the Superior Court Records Division; case index via ePortal (account required)⁶

How California courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk (ARCC): Recorder.²

Fee

$19.00 per certified copy of a public marriage certificate (as of January 1, 2026)⁸

How to order

In person (most printed while you wait), by mail to PO Box C, San Rafael, CA 94913, or online through VitalChek; no phone or email requests. Authorized copies by mail/online need a notarized sworn statement⁸

Coverage

Public marriage licenses registered in Marin County; confidential marriage certificates are handled separately⁸

Official page

arcc.marincounty.gov/…⁸

California marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Divorce records are held by the Marin County Superior Court, not the Recorder⁸

Official page

marin.courts.ca.gov/…⁶

California divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Kept by the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk (ARCC): Recorder.²

Fee

$31.00 per copy (as of January 1, 2026); full fee charged if no record is found⁹

Coverage

Births in Marin County from the 1850s; births within the last 6 weeks go to the Marin County Office of Vital Statistics; sealed adoption birth certificates are not available⁹

Who may order

Authorized certified copies only for parties defined in H&S 103526; informational copies to anyone⁹

How to order

In person, by mail (PO Box C, San Rafael, CA 94913) or online via VitalChek; no phone or email⁹

Official page

arcc.marincounty.gov/…⁹

Ordering a California birth certificate

Death certificates

Kept by the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk (ARCC): Recorder.²

Fee

$26.00 per copy (as of January 1, 2026)¹⁰

Coverage

Deaths in Marin County from the 1850s; deaths within the last 6 weeks go to the Marin County Office of Vital Statistics¹⁰

How to order

In person, by mail (PO Box C, San Rafael, CA 94913) or online via VitalChek¹⁰

Official page

arcc.marincounty.gov/…¹⁰

Ordering a California death certificate

Probate records and wills

Superior Court Probate handles decedents' estates and trusts, guardianships, conservatorships and other probate matters; wills must be lodged within 30 days of death¹¹

Copies

Through the Court Records Division at $0.50 per page⁶

Finding a will or probate case in California

Business names (DBA)

Fictitious business names are filed with the County Clerk within 40 days of starting business; valid 5 years; public records searchable by name¹²

Fee

Monthly FBN report $25 per month (filing fee not)¹²

Voter records

Kept by: Registrar of Voters, 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 121¹⁵

Good to know about Marin County records

• One elected Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk department (Shelly Scott) combines assessor, recorder and county clerk functions¹⁶
• Birth, death and marriage copy fees each rose $2 on January 1, 2026, per Assembly Bill 64⁹
• Recorder holds Marin birth and death records back to the 1850s¹⁰
• Court records requests are backlogged; some take more than 6 weeks⁶
• The court's vendor patched a global PHP vulnerability; eDelivery was restored October 29, 2026⁶

Office addresses, phones and hours

Records that are not online: public records requests

Where to send it

Court records: online records request form or Civic Center Room 113⁶

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

Other counties in California with a full guide: Alameda County, Butte County, Contra Costa County, El Dorado County, Fresno County, Humboldt County, Imperial County, Kern County, Kings County, Lake County, Los Angeles County, Madera County, Mendocino County, Merced County, Monterey County, Napa County, Nevada County, Orange County, Placer County, Riverside County, Sacramento County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County, San Francisco County, San Joaquin County, San Luis Obispo County, San Mateo County, Santa Barbara County, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, Shasta County, Solano County, Sonoma County, Stanislaus County, Sutter County, Tulare County, Ventura County, Yolo County, Yuba County. Every county in the state: California county list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 18 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
2. Search Recorder's Official RecordsCounty of Marin
3. Assessor ServicesCounty of Marin
4. Tax CollectorCounty of Marin
5. Property Tax PaymentsCounty of Marin
6. Court Records & ExhibitsSuperior Court of California, County of Marin
7. eCourt Online PortalSuperior Court of California, County of Marin
8. Getting a Copy of a Public Marriage CertificateCounty of Marin
9. Getting a Copy of a Birth CertificateCounty of Marin
10. Getting a Copy of a Death CertificateCounty of Marin
11. ProbateSuperior Court of California, County of Marin
12. Fictitious Business Name StatementCounty of Marin
13. Property tax assessment appealsCounty of Marin
14. Local Rules (superior courts list)Judicial Council of California
15. County Elections OfficesCalifornia Secretary of State
16. About Our Department (ARCC)County of Marin
17. Marin County Superior Court (location)Superior Court of California, County of Marin
18. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau