Real Property in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County (including San Jose), the documents that transfer or secure title — deeds, deeds of trust, and transfer-on-death deeds — are recorded with the county.
In Santa Clara County, that’s the Clerk-Recorder’s Recording Division in San Jose. 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 Santa Clara County.
Recording property documents
County Recorder: Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder (Recording Division), 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134
Deeds and other real property documents for Santa Clara County are recorded with the Clerk-Recorder's Recording Division in San Jose. 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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- Where do I record a deed in Santa Clara County?
- Deeds for Santa Clara County are recorded with the Clerk-Recorder's Recording Division, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. 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 Santa Clara County?
- A California transfer-on-death deed is recorded with the county recorder where the property sits — for Santa Clara County, the Clerk-Recorder in San Jose.
- Is inherited Santa Clara County real estate handled in probate?
- Only if it isn't in a trust or held with right of survivorship. If probate is needed, Santa Clara County probate is handled at the Downtown Superior Court in San Jose — see probate in Santa Clara County.