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Monterey County, California public records

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

Last checked against official sources on .

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. Historical records
  13. Good to know about Monterey County records
  14. Office addresses, phones and hours
  15. Records that are not online: public records requests
  16. Questions people ask
  17. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  18. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsMonterey County Recorder4Search deeds2$2.00 per page3
Property values and ownersMonterey County Assessor5Property search6Fee charged—
Property tax billsMonterey County Treasurer-Tax Collector7Tax bill search7—
Court casesSuperior Court of California, County of Monterey - Clerk's Office8Superior Court of California, County of Monterey9Record search $15.00 per name; copies $0.50 per page; certification $25.00 per document (dissolution/marriage-related certification $15.00); off-site retrieval $10.00 for up to 3 files; audio CD $20.008
Marriage recordsMonterey County Recorder4—$19 marriage record (from January 1, 2026)10
Divorce recordsSuperior Court of California, County of Monterey - Family Law11——
Birth certificatesMonterey County Recorder4—$31.00 per certificate; VitalChek adds $12.95 per transaction12
Death certificatesMonterey County Recorder4—$26 death record (from January 1, 2026)4
Probate and willsSuperior Court of California, County of Monterey - Probate13——
Business names (DBA)Monterey County Clerk15—$50.00 statement (5 years, one certified copy); $7.00 each additional name; $2.00 certified copy of a filed statement14

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Monterey County are recorded by the Monterey County Recorder (Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder).4

About this search
Official Records index 1978-present, also Fictitious Business Names and CEQA indexes2
Who runs it
Vendor-hosted portals linked by the Recorder: tylerhost.net (1978-present index) and bmiimaging.com (historical index 1850-1977)2
Years online
Index 1978-present (current system); historical index 1850-19772
Copy fee
$2.00 per page3
Certified copy fee
$2.00 per document (plus $2.00 per page copy fee)14
Recording fee
Documents paying documentary transfer tax: $13.00 first page/title + $3.00 each additional page (all 8.5x11); documents not paying DTT: $98.00 first page/title + $3.00 each additional page (includes $75 SB2 housing fee unless exempt); notice: standard recording fee rises from $22.00 to $23.00 per title effective March 3, 202614
Transfer tax
Documentary transfer tax $0.55 per $500 or fractional part14
How to order
In person at 168 W. Alisal Street, 1st Floor, Salinas, or by mail with check or money order to the Monterey County Recorder; give document or reel/page number, recording year, a party name and document type3

How deeds work in California

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Monterey County Assessor (Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder) sets property values5; the Monterey County Treasurer-Tax Collector bills and collects the tax7.

Property search
assr.parcelquest.com/impl/MONASSR (Assessor 'APN, Address & Map Page Search', ParcelQuest-hosted, linked by the Assessor); assessment roll search via 'Property Value Notice' (fee parcel and assessment number)6
Tax bill search
common3.mptsweb.com/… (Pay/View Property Tax, linked by the Treasurer-Tax Collector)7
Parcel map (GIS)
County GIS parcel layer, free download (Monterey County open data)14
Appealing a value
Assessment Appeals Board via the Clerk of the Board: regular appeals July 2-November 30; supplemental/escaped within 60 days of notice; Clerk of the Board, P.O. Box 1728, Salinas, CA 93902-1728, (831) 755-506616

How property tax works in California

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Superior Court of California, County of MontereyFelony, misdemeanor, civil, family, probate, juvenile, traffic (unified superior court)Superior Court of California, County of Monterey - Clerk's Office (civil, family, probate records, Monterey Courthouse)portal.monterey.courts.ca.gov Public portal: cases back to 2008, no registration9
Fees
Record search $15.00 per name; copies $0.50 per page; certification $25.00 per document (dissolution/marriage-related certification $15.00); off-site retrieval $10.00 for up to 3 files; audio CD $20.008

Criminal records and background checks

Overview
Superior Court criminal records: online public portal (party name or case number) or Clerk's Office at the Salinas Courthouse17
State repository
California DOJ criminal history: restricted to law enforcement and authorized agencies; individuals may get their own record18

How California courts keep their files

Marriage records

Certified copies of (public) marriage certificates from the County Recorder for marriages in Monterey County; licenses and confidential marriage records from the County Clerk10

Copy fee
$19 marriage record (from January 1, 2026)10
Marriage license fee
$95 public marriage license; $100 confidential marriage license; $19 to certify or search a confidential marriage record14

California marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Divorce records are Superior Court family law files; certified copy of a dissolution record $15.00 per document plus copy fees; case number needed (search the case index online)8

California divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

County Recorder issues certified (authorized) and informational birth certificates for births in Monterey County; in person (kiosk/online pre-application), by notarized mail request, or VitalChek12

Fee
$31.00 per certificate; VitalChek adds $12.95 per transaction12
Local registrar
The Health Department local registrar keeps only the current and prior year19

Ordering a California birth certificate

Death certificates

County Recorder issues death certificates for deaths in Monterey County10

Fee
$26 death record (from January 1, 2026)4

Ordering a California death certificate

Probate records and wills

Superior Court Probate (Department 13, Monterey Courthouse, Wednesdays); probate records viewable at the Clerk's Office, Monterey Courthouse; a copy of a will not in a probate case requires a certified death certificate8

Finding a will or probate case in California

Business names (DBA)

Fictitious Business Name statements are filed with the County Clerk within 40 days of starting business; index online with the Recorder's Official Records index15

Fee
$50.00 statement (5 years, one certified copy); $7.00 each additional name; $2.00 certified copy of a filed statement14

Voter records

Monterey County Elections (Registrar of Voters); voter registration data is confidential under Elections Code 2194 except for permitted uses20

Historical records

Deeds
Recorder's historical Official Records index 1850-1977 online (bmiimaging.com, linked by the Recorder)2
Which court
Certain historical Superior Court records are archived at the Monterey County Historical Society, which makes non-confidential records available21

Good to know about Monterey County records

  • Monterey County combines the Assessor, County Clerk and Recorder under one elected Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder.22
  • Documents can be recorded only at the Salinas office; there are no branch offices.4
  • The Recorder's office closes 4-5 p.m. on the third Tuesday of March, May, August and November.4
  • Certified birth, death and marriage copies rose $2 on January 1, 2026 (birth $31, death $26, marriage $19).4
  • Recorded-document indexes online reach back to 1850 (historical index 1850-1977).2
  • Superior Court historical records are kept by the Monterey County Historical Society under an agreement with the court.21

Office addresses, phones and hours

Monterey County Recorder (Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder)

Address
Monterey County Government Center Administration Building, 168 West Alisal Street, 1st Floor, Salinas, CA 93901 (the only recording location; no branch offices)23
Mail
Monterey County Recorder, P.O. Box 29, Salinas, CA 9390223
Phone
(831) 755-5041; (831) 647-7741 (toll free for the Monterey Peninsula)23
Hours
Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-5 p.m. (closed for lunch); documents recorded 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed 4-5 p.m. on the third Tuesday of March, May, August and November23

Monterey County Clerk (Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder)

Address
Monterey County Government Center Administration Building, 168 West Alisal Street, 1st Floor, Salinas, CA 9390124
Mail
Monterey County Clerk, P.O. Box 29, Salinas, CA 9390224
Phone
(831) 755-5450; (831) 647-7741 (toll free for the Monterey Peninsula)24
Hours
Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-5 p.m. (closed for lunch); marriage licenses issued 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.24

Monterey County Assessor (Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder)

Address
Monterey County Government Center Administration Building, 168 West Alisal Street, 1st Floor, Salinas, CA 9390125
Mail
Monterey County Assessor, P.O. Box 570, Salinas, CA 93902-057025
Hours
8 a.m.-5 p.m., closed for lunch 12-1 p.m., Monday-Friday, excluding holidays25

Monterey County Treasurer-Tax Collector

Address
168 West Alisal Street, 1st Floor, Salinas, California 939017

Superior Court of California, County of Monterey - Clerk's Office (criminal records, Salinas Courthouse)

Address
Salinas Courthouse, 240 Church St., Salinas, CA 9390126

Superior Court of California, County of Monterey - Clerk's Office (civil, family, probate records, Monterey Courthouse)

Address
Monterey Courthouse, 1200 Aguajito Road, Monterey, CA 93940 (Clerk's Office, 2nd floor)8
Mail
Superior Court, Attention: Records, 1200 Aguajito Road, Monterey, CA 939408
Phone
Monterey Courthouse (831) 647-580013
Hours
Case file viewing and copy requests 8:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.8

Superior Court of California, County of Monterey - Probate (Department 13, Monterey Courthouse)

Address
Monterey Courthouse, 1200 Aguajito Road, Monterey (Department 13, 3rd floor)13

Superior Court of California, County of Monterey - Family Law (records: Clerk's Office, Monterey Courthouse)

Address
1200 Aguajito Road, Monterey, CA 9394011

Monterey County Elections (Registrar of Voters)

Address
1441 Schilling Place - North Building, Salinas, CA 9390127
Mail
P.O. Box 4400, Salinas, CA 9391227

Monterey County Health Department - Local Registrar of Births and Deaths

Address
1270 Natividad Road, Room 227.01, Salinas, CA 93906-319819

Records that are not online: public records requests

Request page
countyofmontereyca.nextrequest.com (NextRequest portal for any county department)28

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Monterey County?

The Monterey County Recorder (Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder) keeps deed records. To order copies: In person at 168 W. Alisal Street, 1st Floor, Salinas, or by mail with check or money order to the Monterey County Recorder; give document or reel/page number, recording year, a party name and document type. Plain copies: $2.00 per page. Certified copies: $2.00 per document (plus $2.00 per page copy fee).4314

How much is a birth certificate in Monterey County?

$31.00 per certificate; VitalChek adds $12.95 per transaction.12

Where do I get a divorce decree in Monterey County?

Divorce records are Superior Court family law files; certified copy of a dissolution record $15.00 per document plus copy fees; case number needed (search the case index online).8

How much does a marriage license cost in Monterey County?

$95 public marriage license; $100 confidential marriage license; $19 to certify or search a confidential marriage record.14

How do I look up who owns a property in Monterey County?

Use the property search of the Monterey County Assessor (Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder): assr.parcelquest.com/impl/MONASSR6

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Monterey County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

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, Marin County, Mendocino County, Merced 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 29 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. On-line Document AccessCounty of Monterey
  3. Record SearchesCounty of Monterey
  4. RecorderCounty of Monterey
  5. Listing of County Assessors, Auditors and Auditor-Controllers, Clerks of the Board, and Tax CollectorsCalifornia State Board of Equalization
  6. Property Inquiry (On-line Parcel Info)County of Monterey
  7. Treasurer-Tax CollectorCounty of Monterey
  8. Civil / Family / Probate Court RecordsSuperior Court of California, County of Monterey
  9. Case SearchSuperior Court of California, County of Monterey
  10. Vital RecordsCounty of Monterey
  11. Monterey CourthouseSuperior Court of California, County of Monterey
  12. Birth CertificatesCounty of Monterey
  13. ProbateSuperior Court of California, County of Monterey
  14. Fee Schedule (Assessor, Clerk, Recorder)County of Monterey
  15. Fictitious Business StatementsCounty of Monterey
  16. Assessment AppealsCounty of Monterey
  17. Criminal Court RecordsSuperior Court of California, County of Monterey
  18. Criminal Records - Request Your OwnCalifornia Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General
  19. County Registrar and Recorder DirectoryCalifornia Department of Public Health - Vital Records
  20. Elections Code § 2194 (voter registration information confidentiality)California Legislature (Legislative Counsel)
  21. Historical RecordsSuperior Court of California, County of Monterey
  22. Assessor-County Clerk-RecorderCounty of Monterey
  23. Recorder's Contact InformationCounty of Monterey
  24. County Clerk's Contact InformationCounty of Monterey
  25. Assessor's Contact InformationCounty of Monterey
  26. Salinas CourthouseSuperior Court of California, County of Monterey
  27. County Elections OfficesCalifornia Secretary of State
  28. Public Records RequestCounty of Monterey
  29. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau