Santa Clara County, California public records

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

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 Santa Clara County records
13. Office addresses, phones and hours
14. Questions people ask
15. Official copies vs look-alike sites
16. Sources

Where to get each record

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Santa Clara County are recorded by the Office of the County Clerk-Recorder.³

Earliest year

1850⁹

Copy fee

Plain copies: $4.00 first page, $2.00 each additional page (maps same)²

Certified copy fee

Copy fee plus $2.00 certification per document²

How to order

In person or by mail only⁹

Fraud

Real estate fraud complaints go to the District Attorney's Real Estate Fraud Unit⁹

How deeds work in California

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Office of the Assessor sets property values⁴; the Department of Tax and Collections bills and collects the tax⁴.

Property search

sccassessor.org/…⁵

Tax bill search

santaclaracounty.telleronline.net⁶

Payment deadlines

1st installment by December 10, 2nd installment by April 10 (secured); unsecured by August 31¹¹

Parcel map (GIS)

Assessor 'Search by Map'¹²

Appealing a value

Assessment Appeals Board via the Clerk of the Board; regular filing period July 2 - September 15; online filing portal¹¹

How property tax works in California

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

Fees

Copies $0.50 per page; certification $40; search over 10 minutes $15 (statewide schedule eff. Jan 1, 2026)⁸

How to order

Mail or take a letter to the Clerk's Office with case details; include payment and SASE¹³

Criminal records and background checks

Court records

Superior Court criminal case index (2004+)¹³

Sheriff

Local criminal history from the Sheriff's Office¹³

How California courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the Office of the County Clerk-Recorder.³

Public access

Public marriage records: county recorder; confidential marriage records: county clerk only (state rule)¹⁴

Certified copy fee

$19 (from $17, effective January 1, 2026)⁹

Marriage license fee

Standard license $80.00; confidential license $83.00²

California marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Divorce (dissolution) files are Superior Court family records; certified copy of a dissolution record has a statewide fee⁸

California divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Kept by the Office of the County Clerk-Recorder.³

Fee

$34 (from $32, effective January 1, 2026)⁹

Coverage

Clerk-Recorder birth records back to 1873¹⁵

Types

Authorized (proof of identity; restricted) or Informational (anyone)¹⁵

Recent events

Public Health Local Registrar: certificates from 90 days of event; older from Clerk-Recorder³

Ordering a California birth certificate

Death certificates

Kept by the Office of the County Clerk-Recorder.³

Fee

$26 (from $24, effective January 1, 2026)⁹

Coverage

Clerk-Recorder death records back to 1873; recent records usually available four weeks after the event¹⁶

Ordering a California death certificate

Probate records and wills

Probate cases: Superior Court Probate Division, Downtown Superior Court¹⁷

Search fee

$15 search for estate documents over 10 minutes (statewide)⁸

Finding a will or probate case in California

Business names (DBA)

Fictitious Business Name (FBN) statements are filed with the County Clerk-Recorder¹⁰

Voter records

Kept by: Registrar of Voters¹⁸

Good to know about Santa Clara County records

• Santa Clara County removed its online Official Records index by County Executive directive; recorded documents are only available in person or by mail.⁹
• Recorded real estate records go back to 1850.⁹
• Birth and death records at the Clerk-Recorder go back to 1873.¹⁵
• Vital certificate fees rose January 1, 2026 (birth $34, death $26, marriage $19).⁹
• The Assessor's online lookup does not show owner names.¹⁹

Office addresses, phones and hours

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, 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, San Mateo County, Santa Barbara 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 23 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. Fee scheduleCounty of Santa Clara, Office of the County Clerk-Recorder
3. County Registrar and Recorder DirectoryCalifornia Department of Public Health - Vital Records
4. Listing of County Assessors, Auditors and Auditor-Controllers, Clerks of the Board, and Tax CollectorsCalifornia State Board of Equalization
5. Real Property SearchCounty of Santa Clara, Office of the Assessor
6. Obtain secured property tax informationCounty of Santa Clara Department of Tax and Collections
7. Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara homeSuperior Court of California, County of Santa Clara
8. Statewide Civil Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2026)Judicial Council of California
9. Records searchCounty of Santa Clara, Office of the County Clerk-Recorder
10. Office of the County Clerk-Recorder homeCounty of Santa Clara, Office of the County Clerk-Recorder
11. Assessment Appeal Dates and DeadlinesCounty of Santa Clara, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
12. Office of the Assessor homeCounty of Santa Clara, Office of the Assessor
13. Criminal Case RecordsSuperior Court of California, County of Santa Clara
14. Types of Marriage LicensesCalifornia Department of Public Health - Vital Records
15. Order a birth certificateCounty of Santa Clara, Office of the County Clerk-Recorder
16. Order a death certificateCounty of Santa Clara, Office of the County Clerk-Recorder
17. Probate Court LocationSuperior Court of California, County of Santa Clara
18. County Elections OfficesCalifornia Secretary of State
19. Contact UsCounty of Santa Clara, Office of the Assessor
20. Court Telephone Numbers & Email AddressesSuperior Court of California, County of Santa Clara
21. Locations & Contact InfoSuperior Court of California, County of Santa Clara
22. County of Santa Clara Department of Tax and Collections (TellerOnline)County of Santa Clara DTAC (Teller Online portal linked by the county)
23. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau