Real Property in Alameda County
By Find Local Law Editorial Team · Last reviewed: May 24, 2026
Researched and drafted with AI assistance and verified against primary sources (statutes, Judicial Council forms, and official court websites). This is general information, not legal advice.
If you own, are buying, or are selling real estate in Alameda County (including Oakland), the documents that transfer or secure title — deeds, deeds of trust, and transfer-on-death deeds — are recorded with the county.
In Alameda County, that’s the Clerk-Recorder in Oakland. Recording puts the transfer on the public record, and a deed should always be recorded in the county where the property is located.
Start with how to hold title (which decides whether the property avoids probate), selling a home, and selling inherited or probate property. If the property is part of an estate, see probate in Alameda County.
Recording property documents
County Recorder: Alameda County Clerk-Recorder, 1106 Madison Street, Oakland, CA 94607
Deeds and other real property documents for Alameda County are recorded with the Clerk-Recorder's Oakland office (a Tri-Valley office in Dublin also records). Always record a deed in the county where the property is located. Verify current hours, fees, and e-recording or appointment options on the office's official site before filing.
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Start your free intakeFrequently asked questions
- Where do I record a deed in Alameda County?
- Deeds for Alameda County are recorded with the Clerk-Recorder, 1106 Madison Street, Oakland, CA 94607 (a Dublin office also records). Record the deed in the county where the property is located, and confirm current hours and fees on the office's official site.
- Where are transfer-on-death deeds recorded in Alameda County?
- A California transfer-on-death deed is recorded with the county recorder where the property sits — for Alameda County, the Clerk-Recorder in Oakland.
- Is inherited Alameda County real estate handled in probate?
- Only if it isn't in a trust or held with right of survivorship. If probate is needed, Alameda County probate documents are filed at the Berkeley Courthouse — see probate in Alameda County.