The Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder
The Clerk-Recorder is the official archive for legally recordable documents in the county. It preserves records on real and personal property, vital statistics, and other legal and administrative documents. This is a county office, separate from the court.
The office sits in downtown Modesto and serves the public at a counter. Its homepage links the full set of services, from recording to vital records to marriage licenses.
Because it is not the court, the Clerk-Recorder does not keep criminal, civil, family, or probate case files. Those live with the Clerk of the Superior Court.
This split matters more than it might seem. A person settling an estate, for example, often needs both offices: the court for the probate case, and the Clerk-Recorder for the death certificate and any recorded deed. A couple getting married needs the Clerk-Recorder for the license. A homeowner refinancing needs the recorded deed. Knowing which office holds which record turns a confusing errand into a short, direct one.
What the Clerk-Recorder Handles
The office covers a wide set of county records and filings. Most are public, though vital records carry authorized-copy rules. The list below covers the main functions.
- Recording official documents, such as deeds and liens.
- Issuing marriage licenses for the county.
- Keeping birth, death, and marriage records for events in Stanislaus County.
- Filing fictitious business names.
- Processing notary filings, bonds, and related county clerk documents.
For marriage licenses in detail, see marriage and divorce records.
A fictitious business name filing, often called a DBA, lets a business operate under a name other than the owner's legal name. New businesses file these here. The office also handles notary oaths and bonds, which is why a new notary or a business owner ends up at the same counter as someone ordering a birth certificate. The common thread is that all of these are official records the county must keep on file.
Vital Records: Birth, Death, and Marriage
Vital records are among the most requested documents. The Clerk-Recorder keeps certified birth, death, and marriage records for events that occurred in the county. These records are not fully open to anyone, since state law sets who may receive an authorized certified copy.
The fees and the authorized-copy framework come from state law.
Health and Safety Code section 103526 covers certified vital record fees and the authorized-copy rules, so be ready to show ID and meet those rules when you ask.
An authorized copy and an informational copy are not the same. An authorized certified copy can be used to establish identity and is limited to people the law names, such as the person on the record or a close family member. An informational copy carries the same data but is marked as not valid to establish identity. If you need a vital record for a passport, benefits, or similar use, ask for the authorized certified copy.
Recorded Documents and Property Records
The recording side of the office handles real-property documents. When a deed, a lien, or a similar instrument is recorded, it becomes part of the official county record. Title companies, lenders, and property owners rely on these records.
Documents deposited after 4:00 p.m. are recorded the next business day. For ownership and assessment data that pairs with a recorded deed, the County Assessor is the matching office. Together they give a fuller picture of a property than either one alone, which is why property researchers use both.
Recording does more than store a paper. It puts the public on notice of an interest in property, which protects buyers, lenders, and owners. A recorded document is indexed by the names on it and by its recording reference, which is the book and page or document number. That reference is the fastest way to pull a copy later, so keep it when you record something.
Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder Fees
The office publishes set fees for licenses, copies, recording, and certified records. The table lists the common amounts from the official fee schedule.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Public marriage license | $76.00 |
| Confidential marriage license | $81.00 |
| Duplicate marriage license | $11.00 |
| Civil marriage ceremony | $45.00 |
| Copying, first page | $3.00 |
| Copying, each additional page | $2.00 |
| Records search per file | $5.00 |
| Recorded document reproduction, first page | $6.75 |
| Certification per document | $2.00 |
| Certified birth record | $34.00 |
| Certified death record | $26.00 |
| Certified marriage record | $19.00 |
The office takes cash, cashier's check, certified check, personal check, or money order payable to the Clerk-Recorder. It does not accept third-party checks. The image below shows the official fee page.
Confirm the current amount on the official page before you pay, since fees change.
Fee changes can take effect at the start of a year, so a printed schedule may be out of date.
Official Records Copy Request Form
To request a copy of a recorded document by mail, the office uses an official records request form. A clear request, with the recording details, helps staff find the record. The table lists the form fields.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document type / record name | Text | Implied | Identifies the recorded instrument. |
| Document number / book / page | Text | If known | Recording reference for the record. |
| Recording date | Date | No | Helps locate the record. |
| Names on document | Text | Implied | Parties on the recorded document. |
| Number of copies | Number | Implied | Copy fee applies per page. |
| Certification requested | Checkbox | No | Certification fee per document. |
| Requestor name and address | Text | Yes for mail | Return address for the copy. |
| Payment | Check / money order | Yes for mail | Mailed with the request. |
Mail-in requests go with a check or money order to the Clerk-Recorder's mailing address. Include enough detail to identify the record, since a vague request slows the search and may come back for more information. If you have the document number or the recording date, list it. If you only have names, provide the full names exactly as they appear on the record. The clearer the request, the faster the copy reaches you.
How to Request a Certified Copy
A certified copy carries the official seal and is the version agencies accept. Use these steps to get one from the Clerk-Recorder.
- Identify the record you need, such as a certified birth, death, or marriage copy or a recorded document.
- For vital records, confirm you are an authorized person under state law and bring ID.
- Complete the request, in person at the counter or by mail with the official form.
- Pay the certified copy fee for the record type.
- Receive the certified copy with the official seal.
The customer must be present for counter transactions, and the office returns mail requests to the address you provide. A keepsake certificate is a decorative option for a marriage, while the certified copy is the official record. Pick the one that matches your need, and order an extra certified copy if you expect to use it in more than one place, since each agency usually wants its own.
Clerk-Recorder Contact
The Clerk-Recorder serves the public at its downtown Modesto office. The contact card has the address, phone, and hours.
Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder
1021 I Street, Suite 101
Modesto, CA 95354
(209) 525-5250
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
A Spanish-language line and a fax are also available for the office, listed on the official fee and contact pages. Plan to arrive before the counter closes at 4:00 p.m., and remember that documents left after that hour record the next business day.