Madera County Recorder: Search Deeds, Records & Copies
If you landed here because you need a deed, lien, deed of trust, reconveyance, recorded map, document number or certified property record, the Madera County Recorder is usually the correct office. The fastest route is to search the County’s official index first, identify the exact recorded document, and then request the actual copy if you need to read, print, certify or use it.
This guide explains that entire process, including what you can search online, why an address or APN does not work in the Recorder index, how to order copies, current 2026 recording and copy fees, recording requirements, transfer-tax issues, electronic recording, and which Madera County office handles a task when the Recorder does not.
Go directly to the Madera County record task you need
Start with your actual goal instead of searching multiple county departments unnecessarily.
What the Madera County Recorder actually records
The Recorder division records, indexes and permanently preserves land-transaction documents affecting property located in Madera County. The office also files maps and maintains the cross-reference indexes used to locate those records.
Grant deeds, quitclaim deeds and other recorded instruments affecting real-property ownership.
Deeds of trust, notices of default, reconveyances and qualifying financing statements.
Mechanics’ liens, tax liens, releases and other recordable lien-related instruments.
Subdivision maps, parcel maps, surveys and other maps accepted for recording or filing.
Leases, notices of completion, declarations of homestead and mining-claim records.
The Recorder also maintains qualifying Madera County birth, death and marriage records, although those follow separate ordering rules.
How to search Madera County deeds and official records online
Madera County provides an official Clerk-Recorder Online Index. The current index includes recorded land records such as deeds, deeds of trust, liens and releases as well as maps and certain Clerk filings. The County’s Online Index page also provides access to historical grantor/grantee materials.
Open the official Online Index →
Current records versus historical records
The County’s Online Index page identifies a Current Records Index for records from approximately 1980 forward and a Historical Records Index covering earlier grantor/grantee records dating back to 1893. Some explanatory text remaining on the County page still refers to the earlier digitization rollout, so use the links currently presented on the official Online Index page rather than relying on old third-party descriptions of availability.
Open Madera County’s official Online Index landing page →Can you search Madera County Recorder records by address or APN?
No—not in the Recorder’s official index. Madera County states that recorded documents are indexed by the names of principal parties and recording year, and that Recorder records cannot be searched by street address or Assessor’s Parcel Number.
That means someone who arrives with only “123 Main Street” may need to identify the parcel first, then determine a relevant party name before searching Recorder records.
- Open the official Madera County Assessor Parcel Search & Information page.
- Use the County-provided parcel information service to confirm the correct parcel and property characteristics.
- Record the APN or other parcel details for your file.
- If you know a current or prior owner’s name, use that name in the Recorder index.
- If the ownership name needed for a historical search is unclear, contact or visit the Recorder for search guidance about the index.
- Skip the Recorder.
- Open the official Madera County property-tax search.
- The Tax Collector allows searches using an assessment number, fee parcel number or street address.
- Use that system for bills, balances, payment status and payment—not for deed ownership research.
How to get a Madera County deed or official record copy
Once you have located the correct record in the index, obtaining the document is straightforward. The County provides a copy-request form and allows public inspection at the Recorder office.
Search Recorder index →
Open Recorder forms →
How to trace a Madera County chain of title using the Recorder index
The online index can be useful for basic deed-history research when you know at least one owner or transaction party. The goal is to follow ownership transfers from one recorded deed to the next rather than treating every record returned under a name as an ownership transfer.
Search variations that can uncover a missing link
Madera County Recorder fees: common recording and copy costs
Recording cost is not determined by page count alone. California recording surcharges, documentary transfer tax, indexing charges, PCOR issues and the type of instrument can materially change the total. Use the County’s current fee page or fee calculator before mailing a check.
| Item | Published amount | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| First standard recording page | $14 | Applies to a standard 8.5 × 11 inch first page before other applicable charges. |
| Each additional page | $3 | Charged for each additional page or fraction of a page. |
| Additional title in combined document | $14 | Separate instruments incorporated into one submission can generate an additional-title charge. |
| Building Homes & Jobs Act fee | $75, potentially up to $225 | Applies to qualifying documents unless a statutory exemption is properly cited. The rules are transaction-specific. |
| Documentary transfer tax | $0.55 per $500 / $1.10 per $1,000 | May apply to transfers based on consideration or value unless a valid exemption applies. |
| PCOR penalty | $20 | Published flat penalty when a qualifying change-of-ownership document is recorded without the required Preliminary Change of Ownership Report. |
| Official record copy | $3 first page + $1 each additional page | For copies of deeds, liens and other Recorder official records. |
| Certification | $2 per document | Added to the document copy fee. |
| 11 × 17 map copy | $2 per page | For qualifying Recorder map copies. |
| 18 × 24 map or digital map copy | $5 per page | Published fee for larger map prints or PDF/TIFF map images. |
How to record a document with the Madera County Recorder
A document is not recorded merely because it was mailed or handed to the office. Recorder staff first review it for recordability, required information, fees and applicable taxes. If it satisfies the statutory recording requirements, the document is recorded and added to the County’s permanent record system.
Pre-recording checklist
In-person recording
Bring the completed document and payment to:
Madera County Recorder200 W. 4th Street
Madera, CA 93637
Phone: (559) 675-7724
Documents are accepted for recording from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The Recorder page separately lists general business hours, but the 4:00 PM recording cutoff is the deadline that matters when presenting a document for recordation.
Recording by mail
Official recording requirements →
PCOR, APN and documentary transfer tax: three issues that commonly stop deed submissions
1. Assessor’s Parcel Number
Madera County requires the 9-digit Assessor’s Parcel Number on conveyance documents such as deeds. The APN can usually be found on the property tax statement. The County Assessor can also assist with parcel identification.
Use the official Madera County Assessor parcel-search page →2. Preliminary Change of Ownership Report
When a recorded document causes a change in ownership, a completed Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR) is generally submitted with the deed. Madera County’s current fee schedule lists a $20 penalty when a qualifying ownership-transfer document is recorded without the required PCOR.
3. Documentary transfer tax
Madera County collects documentary transfer tax on qualifying real-property transfers. The published County rate is $0.55 per $500 of value, equivalent to $1.10 per $1,000. A transfer-tax declaration must appear on applicable conveyance documents, and a valid statutory exemption must be stated when an exemption is claimed.
Example: if the taxable consideration is $400,000, the basic county documentary transfer-tax calculation at $1.10 per $1,000 would be $440 before considering whether the transaction has different taxable consideration, debt treatment, a city component or a valid exemption. Use the actual transaction facts and County instructions rather than treating this example as tax advice.
Review the County’s current transfer-tax and recording-fee information →Can you eRecord documents in Madera County?
Yes, Madera County accepts electronic recordings through the California Electronic Recording Network Authority process. However, this is not a general upload portal where any property owner simply attaches a deed and clicks “record.”
The County states that nongovernmental electronic submissions must be made through a CeRTNA-authorized agent and submitter. Its published list includes established e-recording providers. Local government entities are instructed to contact the Recorder directly about electronic recording.
Electronic documents are received by the County during the published 8:00 AM–4:00 PM electronic recording window.
Open Madera County’s official eRecording information →Received a Madera County property-recording notice you did not expect?
Madera County operates a property-recording courtesy notification program. The County explains that a notice can be generated when a grant deed, quitclaim deed or similar ownership-related document is recorded for property associated with the owner of record.
Receiving a notice does not automatically mean fraud occurred. A notice may follow an expected transaction such as transferring property, adding someone to title, moving property into a trust or refinancing.
Official index →
Madera County Recorder vs Assessor vs Tax Collector: who handles what?
| Your task | Correct office | Best starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Find a deed, lien or deed of trust | Madera County Recorder | Official Recorder Online Index |
| Order a recorded deed copy | Madera County Recorder | Recorder forms and copy request |
| Find parcel characteristics or assessed value | Madera County Assessor | Parcel Search & Information |
| View or pay property taxes | Madera County Treasurer-Tax Collector | View or Pay Property Taxes |
| Search by street address for a tax bill | Treasurer-Tax Collector | Tax search supports address, assessment number and fee parcel searches. |
| Obtain divorce records | Madera Superior Court | The County Recorder specifically states that divorce records are not maintained by the Clerk-Recorder. |
| Building permits, blueprints, zoning or code violations | Relevant County land-use/building department | These records are not held by the County Clerk-Recorder. |
Madera County Recorder address, phone and practical visit information
County Recorder
Madera County Recorder200 W. 4th Street
Madera, CA 93637
Recorder: (559) 675-7724
Email: RecorderInfo@maderacounty.com
Fax: (559) 675-7870
Recording submissions:
Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM, excluding holidays.
Before you drive to the office
- Search the online index first if you are looking for a deed or lien.
- Write down the document number or book/page.
- Know whether you need a plain or certified copy.
- If recording, calculate the full fee rather than only the first-page charge.
- Check the County holiday schedule when visiting near a state or federal holiday.
- For late-afternoon non-recording services, call first because published service-hour descriptions vary by service.
Madera County Recorder FAQ
Where is the Madera County Recorder office?
The Madera County Recorder is located at 200 W. 4th Street, Madera, CA 93637. The Recorder telephone number published by Madera County is (559) 675-7724.
Can I search Madera County deeds online for free?
Yes. The County provides a free online index that can be used to locate recorded deeds and other official records. Start at the official Madera County Clerk-Recorder Online Index. You generally pay only when you request a document copy or another paid Recorder service.
Why can’t I see the full deed online?
The County’s public website explains that its online service is an index used to locate recorded documents. Recorded-document images are not displayed through the public internet system. You can inspect public recorded documents at the Recorder office or purchase copies.
Can I search Recorder records using a street address or APN?
No. Madera County says Recorder records are indexed by principal party name and recording year and cannot be searched by address or APN. If you begin with only an address, first use the Assessor parcel search or the County tax system to identify the parcel, then return to the Recorder once you have a relevant party name.
How much does a copy of a Madera County deed cost?
The published official-record copy fee is $3 for the first page and $1 for each additional page of the same document. Certification costs an additional $2 per document. Always check the current County fee page before ordering because fees can change.
What time does the Madera County Recorder stop accepting documents?
The Recorder accepts documents for recording from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Arriving before 4:00 PM is especially important when you need a document recorded that day.
Can I mail a deed to the Madera County Recorder?
Yes. Recording submissions may be mailed to Madera County Recorder, 200 W. 4th Street, Madera, CA 93637. Review the official recording requirements and exact fees first. The County states that recorded originals are normally returned to the first-page return address after processing.
Can I electronically record a deed directly myself?
Madera County accepts electronic recording, but nongovernmental submissions must go through a CeRTNA-authorized agent or submitter. The County does not describe its eRecording system as a general self-service deed-upload portal for occasional individual users.
Does the Recorder handle property tax payments?
No. The Recorder maintains recorded instruments. Property tax bills and payments are handled by the Madera County Treasurer-Tax Collector.
Can the Recorder tell me which deed form I need?
No. Recorder personnel are prohibited from practicing law. They can explain procedural recording requirements but cannot decide which legal document you should use, draft it for you or advise you about the legal consequences of a property transfer.
The fastest way to handle a Madera County Recorder task
For most users, the process is simpler than it first appears: use the official Madera County Recorder index to identify the exact deed or official record, save the document number or book/page reference, and request the document from the Recorder if you need to see or certify it.
If your search starts with only a street address or APN, do not repeatedly enter it into the Recorder index—the County says that search method is not supported. Identify the parcel through the Assessor or tax system first, then return to the Recorder with the party name you need. If you are recording a new deed or other instrument, review the County’s requirements, exact fees, APN, PCOR and documentary transfer-tax treatment before submitting it.
Keeping those offices and tasks separate prevents the most common mistakes: using a tax website to look for a deed, expecting a Recorder index to work like an address-based property database, paying for an unnecessary third-party search, or mailing a document with incomplete recording fees.