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San Mateo County, California public records

In San Mateo County, deeds are recorded by the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections: County Clerk-Recorder Division; property values come from the ACRE: Assessor Division; court files are kept by the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo: Records Management Division.

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 San Mateo 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 recordsAssessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections: County Clerk-Recorder Division4Search deeds2$5 for the first page of each document, $1 for each additional page3
Property values and ownersACRE: Assessor Division5Property search6—
Property tax billsTreasurer-Tax Collector5Tax bill search7—
Court casesSuperior Court of California, County of San Mateo: Records Management Division8Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo9Copies $0.50 per side; certification $40.00; exemplification $50.00; search longer than 10 minutes $15.00; off-site file $10.0010
Marriage recordsACRE: County Clerk-Recorder Division4—$19.00 general public; $14.00 government agency11
Divorce recordsSuperior Court: Family Law Division12—$15.00 certified copy of marriage or domestic partnership dissolution record10
Birth certificatesACRE: County Clerk-Recorder Division4—$34.00 general public; $24.00 government or private adoption agency11
Death certificatesACRE: County Clerk-Recorder Division4—$26.0011
Probate and willsSuperior Court: Probate Division13Search probate cases9—
Business names (DBA)ACRE: County Clerk-Recorder Division4Search business names4FBN statement filing $34.00 (each additional name/registrant $5.00); certified copy $5.00; search fee $10.00 per name per year14

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in San Mateo County are recorded by the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE): County Clerk-Recorder Division.4

Years online
Index of property documents recorded since 1985; earlier documents only by document number and/or recording date15
Copy fee
$5 for the first page of each document, $1 for each additional page3
Certified copy fee
$5 for the certification, in addition to the regular copy fees3
Conformed fee
$10 per copy3
How to order
By mail (written request with parties' names, document type, recording date and recording number, payment by check/money order/cashier's check and a self-addressed stamped envelope) or in person at 555 County Center, 1st Floor16
Pre
Documents recorded before 1985 can only be retrieved by document number and/or recording date15
Research fee
$20.00 research files (Recording Fees table)17

How deeds work in California

Property values, owners and tax bills

The ACRE: Assessor Division sets property values5; the Treasurer-Tax Collector (Tax Collector) bills and collects the tax5.

Tax bill search
county-taxes.net/…7
Appealing a value
Assessment Appeals Board; file with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors: annual assessments July 2 to November 30, supplemental within 60 days of the notice mailing date; info (650) 363-457319
Assessor data
Assessment roll files, property characteristics and sales history files $305.00 each; assessor's map photocopy $2.00 (plus $1 to certify)20
Tax dates
First installment due Nov 1, delinquent after Dec 10; second due Feb 1, delinquent after Apr 10 (10% penalty plus $40.00 cost)21

How property tax works in California

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo (unified trial court: criminal, civil, small claims, family law, probate, unlawful detainer)Criminal, Civil, Small Claims, Family Law, Probate, Unlawful Detainer10Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo: Records Management Division (civil, small claims, unlawful detainer files)web.sanmateocourt.org/midx9
Fees
Copies $0.50 per side; certification $40.00; exemplification $50.00; search longer than 10 minutes $15.00; off-site file $10.0010
Cert fee
$40.0010
In person
Public case files viewable at Records Management, Hall of Justice, Redwood City; filed documents online at lobby computers for cases filed after 20009
Mail requests
Mail requests answered within 30 days; the Records Management Division does not research files10

Criminal records and background checks

In person
Criminal files viewable at Records Management, up to 5 files at a time8

How California courts keep their files

Marriage records

Only from the county where the license was purchased22

Fee
$19.00 general public; $14.00 government agency11
By mail
Mailed requests must be notarized22
Online
No county online orders; VitalChek (county partner) with extra fee22
Index from
Certificates from 185622

California marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Kept by: Superior Court Records Management Division (not the Clerk-Recorder)23

Fee
$15.00 certified copy of marriage or domestic partnership dissolution record10

California divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Kept by the ACRE: County Clerk-Recorder Division (Vital Records).4

Fee
$34.00 general public; $24.00 government or private adoption agency11
What it covers
Births that occurred in San Mateo County only24
Recent
Recent births: San Mateo County Vital Statistics/Health Department, (650) 573-2395, about 2-3 weeks after birth; at ACRE usually 4 weeks after24
Online fee
VitalChek adds $724
No record
Fee retained if no record is found24

Ordering a California birth certificate

Death certificates

Kept by the ACRE: County Clerk-Recorder Division (Vital Records).4

Fee
$26.0011
Index from
Certificates from 186525

Ordering a California death certificate

Probate records and wills

Kept by the Superior Court: Probate Division.13

Copies
Probate files copied by Records Management ($0.50 per side; $40.00 certification)10

Finding a will or probate case in California

Business names (DBA)

Kept by the ACRE: County Clerk-Recorder Division (County Clerk).4

Fee
FBN statement filing $34.00 (each additional name/registrant $5.00); certified copy $5.00; search fee $10.00 per name per year14

Voter records

Kept by the ACRE: Registration & Elections Division.26

Access
Voter data only for candidates, ballot measure committees, and election, scholarly, journalistic, political or government purposes, by written application; commercial use prohibited27
Fee
$125.00 per voter information file; printed list $0.50 per 1000 voters27

Historical records

Naturalization
Naturalization index (petitions of intent) 1906-1925 at the County Clerk; view by appointment, (650) 363-4500 ext. 606328
Offsite vitals
Pre-1966 birth, death and marriage records are off-site and need 24-hour notice22

Good to know about San Mateo County records

  • One elected official heads the Assessor, County Clerk-Recorder and Registration & Elections divisions (ACRE)26
  • County formed in April 1856 from the southern part of San Francisco County29
  • Online recorder index covers 1985 onward and has no images15
  • Some older court case files are off-site: $10 per file pre-paid, available within 72 hours8
  • The Clerk-Recorder does not keep divorce records; the Superior Court does23

Office addresses, phones and hours

Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE): County Clerk-Recorder Division

Address
555 County Center, 1st Floor, Redwood City, CA 9406330
Mail
San Mateo County Assessor Clerk-Recorder, Attn: Customer Service Desk, 555 County Center, 1st Floor, Redwood City, CA 9406316
Phone
(650) 363-4500 (document recordings, copies of deeds and maps); in-person appointments (650) 599-171330
Hours
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays; in person by appointment or walk-in30

ACRE: County Clerk-Recorder Division (County Clerk)

Address
555 County Center, 1st Floor, Redwood City, CA 9406330
Phone
(650) 363-4500; in-person appointments (650) 599-171330
Hours
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays; in person by appointment or walk-in30

ACRE: County Clerk-Recorder Division (Vital Records)

Address
555 County Center, 1st Floor, Redwood City, CA 9406330
Mail
555 County Center, First Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063, Attn: Vital Records22
Phone
(650) 363-4500 (vital records)30
Hours
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays; in person by appointment or walk-in30

ACRE: Assessor Division

Address
555 County Center, 3rd floor, Redwood City, CA 9406330
Hours
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays; in person by appointment or walk-in30

Treasurer-Tax Collector (Tax Collector)

Address
555 County Center, Floor 1, Redwood City, CA 9406321
Mail
Secured annual bills: San Mateo County Tax Collector, P.O. Box 45878, San Francisco, CA 94145; unsecured annual bills: P.O. Box 45901, San Francisco, CA 94145; all other bills: 555 County Center, 1st Floor, Redwood City, CA 9406321
Hours
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday (closed on holidays and for departmental functions)21

Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo: Records Management Division (criminal files)

Address
Hall of Justice & Records, 400 County Center, 1st Floor, Room A, Redwood City, CA 940639
Mail
San Mateo Superior Court, Records Management, 400 County Center, 1st Floor Room A, Redwood City, CA 9406310
Hours
By appointment only, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Records Management)9

Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo: Records Management Division (civil, small claims, unlawful detainer files)

Address
Hall of Justice & Records, 400 County Center, 1st Floor, Room A, Redwood City, CA 940639
Mail
San Mateo Superior Court, Records Management, 400 County Center, 1st Floor Room A, Redwood City, CA 9406310
Hours
By appointment only, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Records Management)9

Superior Court: Probate Division

Address
Hall of Justice & Records, 400 County Center, 1st Floor, Room A, Redwood City, CA 940639
Mail
San Mateo Superior Court, Records Management, 400 County Center, 1st Floor Room A, Redwood City, CA 9406310
Hours
By appointment only, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Records Management)9

Superior Court: Family Law Division (records via Records Management)

Address
Hall of Justice and Records, 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063-166223
Mail
San Mateo Superior Court, Records Management, 400 County Center, 1st Floor Room A, Redwood City, CA 9406310
Hours
By appointment only, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Records Management)9

ACRE: Registration & Elections Division

Address
40 Tower Road, San Mateo, CA 9440226
Phone
(650) 312-5222; fax (650) 312-534830
Hours
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.26

Technology Services Department: GIS

Records that are not online: public records requests

Request page
smcgov.org/…31

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in San Mateo County?

The Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE): County Clerk-Recorder Division keeps deed records. To order copies: By mail (written request with parties' names, document type, recording date and recording number, payment by check/money order/cashier's check and a self-addressed stamped envelope) or in person at 555 County Center, 1st Floor. Plain copies: $5 for the first page of each document, $1 for each additional page. Certified copies: $5 for the certification, in addition to the regular copy fees.4163

How much is a birth certificate in San Mateo County?

$34.00 general public; $24.00 government or private adoption agency.11

Where do I get a divorce decree in San Mateo County?

Divorce decrees are court records; ask the Superior Court Records Management Division (not the Clerk-Recorder).23

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

Use the property search of the ACRE: Assessor Division: gis.smcgov.org/apps/raster6

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 San Mateo 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, 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, 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 32 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 Grantor-Grantee Information | San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRESan Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE)
  3. Fees for Copy of Recorded Document | San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRESan Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE)
  4. San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRESan Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE)
  5. Listing of County Assessors, Auditors and Auditor-Controllers, Clerks of the Board, and Tax CollectorsCalifornia State Board of Equalization
  6. GIS | County of San Mateo, CACounty of San Mateo Technology Services Department
  7. Property Tax Look-up | San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRESan Mateo County ACRE
  8. Viewing Court Records | Superior Court of California | County of San MateoSuperior Court of California, County of San Mateo
  9. Records Management | Superior Court of California | County of San MateoSuperior Court of California, County of San Mateo
  10. Request Copies By Mail - Records Management | Superior Court of California | County of San MateoSuperior Court of California, County of San Mateo
  11. Vital Records Fees | San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRESan Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE)
  12. Home | Superior Court of California | County of San MateoSuperior Court of California, County of San Mateo
  13. Probate Division | Superior Court of California | County of San MateoSuperior Court of California, County of San Mateo
  14. Fictitious Business Names (FBN) Fees | San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRESan Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE)
  15. San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE)
  16. Obtain a Copy of Recorded Documents | San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRESan Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE)
  17. Recording Fees | San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRESan Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE)
  18. Assessor Maps | San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRESan Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE)
  19. Appeal an Assessment | San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRESan Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE)
  20. Assessment Data Fees | San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRESan Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE)
  21. Tax Collector | County of San Mateo, CACounty of San Mateo Tax Collector
  22. Marriage Certificates | San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRESan Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE)
  23. Divorce Records | San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRESan Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE)
  24. Birth Certificates | San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRESan Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE)
  25. Death Certificates | San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRESan Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE)
  26. County Elections Offices :: California Secretary of StateCalifornia Secretary of State
  27. Voter File Information | San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRESan Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE)
  28. Naturalization Index | San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRESan Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE)
  29. About San Mateo County | County of San Mateo, CACounty of San Mateo
  30. Contact | San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRESan Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE)
  31. Skip to main contentCounty of San Mateo County Executive’s Office
  32. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau