Imperial County Recorder: Search Deeds & Official Records
The Imperial County Recorder function is handled by the Imperial County Clerk-Recorder in El Centro. This is the office to use when you need a recorded deed, deed of trust, lien, release, map, lease affecting title or another document placed in Imperial County’s official public record.
If your immediate goal is to find a deed, start with the county’s RecorderWorks index—not a paid people-search or deed-copy website. Find the recording reference first, verify the parties and document type, and then request a plain or certified copy directly from the Clerk-Recorder when you actually need the document.
What are you trying to find?
Use the Imperial County Clerk-Recorder. This is the controlling office for recorded real-property documents.
Open RecorderWorksUse the Imperial County Assessor. The Assessor handles parcel identification, valuation and change-in-ownership assessment matters.
Open Assessor websiteUse the Imperial County Treasurer-Tax Collector. A deed search does not tell you whether current property taxes have been paid.
Open Tax Collector websiteHow to search Imperial County Recorder deeds online
Imperial County’s public RecorderWorks system is more useful than a simple owner-name search. It supports multiple index routes, including name, document number, book and page, recording date, document type, map, Assessor Parcel Number and legal description.
Open Imperial County RecorderWorks
Which RecorderWorks search should you use?
| You know | Search option | Best use | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner or former owner | Name | Deeds, deeds of trust, liens and releases indexed to a person or business | Use surname plus at least a partial first name when possible. |
| Recording number | Document Number | Finding one specific recorded instrument | Use the complete number, including the recording year when required by the portal. |
| Book and page | Book & Page | Older references copied from another deed, title report or legal file | Copy the book and page exactly from the source document. |
| Approximate transaction date | Recording Date | A purchase, refinance, release or lien recorded around a known time | Use a manageable date window rather than an unnecessarily broad range. |
| Kind of filing | Document Type | Grant deeds, quitclaim deeds, abstracts of judgment, releases, maps and other categories | Combine document type with a date range if the category is broad. |
| APN | Assessor Parcel Number | Connecting recorded documents to a known parcel identifier | Confirm the APN through the Assessor if you are working from an old tax bill. |
| Subdivision/legal description | Legal Description | Vacant land or property without an easy street-address search | Use legal-description elements exactly as they appear on a known document. |
How to get a copy of an Imperial County deed
Finding an index entry and obtaining an official copy are two separate tasks. The Clerk-Recorder issues plain and certified copies of official records recorded in Imperial County, including deeds, liens and maps.
Request a copy in person
- Search RecorderWorks before your visit and note the document number or book/page.
- Go to 940 W. Main Street, Suite 202, El Centro, CA 92243.
- Use the Clerk-Recorder’s in-office kiosk to complete the official-record copy request.
- Enter the document identifier accurately.
- Select the type of copy you need.
- Proceed to the service window and complete payment.
The Recorder Services page states that in-person official-record copy requests are completed the same day.
Request a copy by mail
- Search the official index.
- Write down the document number or book and page.
- Download the Clerk-Recorder’s official-record copy request form from the Recorder Services page.
- Complete your requester information and identify each document.
- Select plain or certified copy as needed.
- Confirm the current fee before preparing payment.
- Use a check or money order payable to Imperial County Clerk-Recorder when following the county’s mail instructions.
- Mail the request to the Clerk-Recorder at 940 W. Main Street, Suite 202, El Centro, CA 92243.
| Copy type | First page | Each additional page | When it is useful |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain official-record copy | $2.00 | $1.00 | Personal reference, research or situations that do not require county certification |
| Certified official-record copy | $2.50 | $1.00 | When a receiving agency, court, financial institution or other requester requires county certification |
| Map copy | $2.00 | $1.00 | Recorded maps identified by map/document reference |
Fees above reflect the fee schedule displayed on the Clerk-Recorder’s posted official-record copy request form. Confirm the current form and total before mailing payment because county fees can be amended.
How to look for liens in Imperial County Recorder records
RecorderWorks can help you identify recorded instruments associated with a person or property, but a casual online search is not the same thing as a professional title examination.
What if the deed was recorded before 1986?
RecorderWorks states that its online grantor/grantee property-document index begins on January 2, 1986. That does not mean earlier Imperial County deeds disappeared; it means you should not assume a modern name search covers the complete historical chain.
Use that recording reference when checking the available index tools or when contacting the Clerk-Recorder about retrieving the record.
Use the county’s archive or in-office index resources. Historical research can require older index books rather than the standard 1986-forward grantor/grantee search.
Recording a deed or change of title in Imperial County
A deed search is straightforward. Preparing a deed that changes ownership is different because the document can affect title, reassessment, documentary transfer tax and other legal or tax consequences.
Imperial County identifies deeds, affidavits of death and certain court orders among the common recordable documents used to change title. The Clerk-Recorder also clearly states that its staff cannot provide legal advice, choose the correct deed for you or tell you how to structure a title transfer.
Before presenting a title-transfer document for recording
Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR)
The Imperial County Assessor states that the transferee or buyer must file a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report with the Recorder when recording certain documents that change ownership. The PCOR provides transfer information to the Assessor and is not open for public inspection.
Documentary Transfer Tax
Many California real-property transfers are subject to documentary transfer tax. Imperial County publishes a list of common transfer-tax exemptions and states that when a transfer is exempt, the applicable statement and/or Revenue and Taxation Code authority should appear on the document presented for recording.
Do not select an exemption merely because no money changed hands. Transfers into trusts, transfers between spouses, gifts, court-ordered conveyances and other transactions can have specific statutory treatment. Use the county’s published instructions and obtain appropriate tax or legal advice when the transaction is not routine.
Building Homes and Jobs Act / SB2 surcharge
California Government Code section 27388.1 can impose an additional recording fee on qualifying real-estate instruments. Imperial County publishes an SB2 cover sheet that identifies statutory exemptions, including certain documents connected with a transfer subject to documentary transfer tax and qualifying owner-occupier residential transfers.
Use the Recorder’s current cover sheet and current fee schedule rather than assuming a prior transaction was charged the same way.
Recorder vs. Assessor vs. Tax Collector vs. Superior Court
| Your task | Correct office | What that office controls | Official resource |
|---|---|---|---|
| Find or copy a deed | Clerk-Recorder | Recorded deeds and official land documents | RecorderWorks |
| Find APN or assessed value | Assessor | Assessment roll, parcel identification and valuation | Assessor |
| Change ownership assessment information | Assessor | PCOR/COS processing, reassessment and exclusions | Real Property |
| Pay property taxes | Treasurer-Tax Collector | Tax bills, payments and delinquent secured taxes | Property taxes |
| Find civil or criminal court case records | Imperial County Superior Court | Court case files and proceedings | Superior Court |
Imperial County Clerk-Recorder address, hours and phone numbers
El Centro, CA 92243 County Administration Center
Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Why you cannot find the Imperial County deed you expected
Switch to owner name, APN or a recording identifier. Use the Assessor first if you need to turn an address into a parcel number.
Search maiden names, prior surnames, trust names, business entities and partial first names where appropriate.
The standard RecorderWorks grantor/grantee index begins in 1986. Older deeds can require historical indexes or archive research.
The Recorder does not maintain ordinary civil or criminal court case files. Use Superior Court for those records.
Continue forward through later deeds and relevant recordings. One historical deed does not prove current title.
Add a partial first name, restrict the recording dates or use a document type. Broad surname-only searches are inefficient.
What a Recorder search can—and cannot—prove
| Question | Recorder search can help? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Was a deed recorded? | Yes | Search the index and verify the recording information. |
| Can I obtain an official copy? | Yes | Use the document number/book-page to request a plain or certified copy. |
| Are there recorded lien-related documents? | Yes | Search names and relevant document categories, including later releases. |
| Is a lien legally enforceable today? | Not by itself | Review the complete record and obtain professional advice when necessary. |
| Does the parcel map establish a surveyed boundary? | Not by itself | Use recorded maps, deeds and a licensed surveyor when boundary accuracy is legally important. |
| Is title clear enough to purchase the property? | Not by itself | Use appropriate title examination and transaction professionals. |
Imperial County Recorder FAQs
How do I search Imperial County deed records?
Open the official RecorderWorks portal and search by owner name, document number, book/page, recording date, document type, APN or legal description. Open the matching document entry and save the document number before requesting a copy.
Can I search Imperial County records by owner name?
Yes. Use the RecorderWorks name search. The portal recommends using the last name plus at least part of the first name where possible. Business names can also be searched.
How far back does the online Imperial County Recorder index go?
The public RecorderWorks grantor/grantee index states that property-document indexes are available from January 2, 1986 forward. Older records may require archive or in-office index research.
Can the Clerk-Recorder search for my deed for me?
The county states that Clerk-Recorder staff does not conduct research or searches of the official-record indexes for requesters. Search the online index or available office indexes first, then provide the document number or book/page for a copy request.
How much is a certified deed copy in Imperial County?
The county’s posted official-record request form lists $2.50 for the first page of a certified copy and $1.00 for each additional page. Verify the current fee schedule before mailing payment because fees can change.
Do I need a certified copy of my deed?
Not always. A plain copy may be enough for personal research or reference. Use a certified copy when the organization receiving the deed specifically requires an official county-certified copy.
What is the PCOR when recording a deed?
The Preliminary Change of Ownership Report provides transfer information to the Imperial County Assessor. Imperial County states that it must accompany certain change-of-ownership recordings and that a $20 additional fee may apply when the completed PCOR is not filed when required.
Can I use the Recorder to find my property value?
The Recorder is not the best source for assessed value. Use the Imperial County Assessor for APNs, property assessment information and change-in-ownership assessment questions.
Where do I check whether Imperial County property taxes are paid?
Use the Imperial County Treasurer-Tax Collector. The Recorder maintains recorded instruments but does not administer current secured property-tax billing or payments.
Where is the Imperial County Recorder office?
The Imperial County Clerk-Recorder is located at 940 W. Main Street, Suite 202, El Centro, CA 92243. The county lists regular business hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays.
Imperial County Recorder links worth saving
Search the county’s grantor/grantee and other recording indexes.
RecorderWorksCopy procedures, recording forms, transfer guidance and Recorder information.
Recorder ServicesParcel identification, assessed values, PCOR guidance and property-transfer assessment questions.
AssessorCurrent county and state forms, including change-in-ownership materials.
Assessor FormsProperty-tax bills, payments, delinquent taxes and tax-collection questions.
Tax CollectorCivil and criminal court case records that are not maintained as ordinary Recorder files.
Imperial County Superior CourtThe shortest path to an Imperial County deed or official record
If you came here because you need an Imperial County deed, do not start by paying a third-party document service. Open RecorderWorks, search the owner or other identifier, verify the correct recording, and save the document number. From there, request a plain or certified copy directly from the Imperial County Clerk-Recorder.
If the issue is really an APN, assessed value, tax bill or court case, move to the county office that controls that information instead of trying to force every property question through the Recorder. That simple distinction usually saves the most time.