If recording in person, bring the original document or a certified copy of an original document to the Recorder's Office, 555 County Center, First Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063during business hours.  If your document meets all of the requirements and you pay the proper fees, your document will be recorded while you wait.  We recommend that you try to avoid recording during our busiest times (8:00 - 10:00 every day and all day on the last business day of the month).  We will keep the document for processing as an image of the document is kept in the Recorder's Office permanent record historical collection where it becomes part of the public record.  We will mail the original back to the name and address shown on the upper left corner of the first page.  The original recorded documents will be returned to you in approximately four to six weeks.

If submitting documents by mail, please include a check or money order for the amount of the appropiate recording fee. Checks should be made payable to:  San Mateo County Recorder.  Mail the document and payment to the Recorder's Office, 555 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063-1665.  When your document is examined, it will be either accepted or rejected for recordation.  If it is rejected, your document (and payment) will be sent back unrecorded with an explanation of why it was rejected.  Accepted documents will be processed as described above. 

If you would like a conformed copy (proof of recording) sent back to you please include an exact copy of your document with a stamped self-addressed envelope.

To find the fee for your filing or copying, click on this link to go to the Recorder's Fee Schedule.

Before recording a document, use these linked pages for important information.

Basic Document Requirements
Guidelines for Preparing Standard Form Documents
Possible Reasons Why Your Documents Are Returned

Please see our list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for additional information.