Stanislaus County Property Search
According to California State law, official documents confirming the ownership and rights of a real property or plot of land can be called a property record. Property records are also called deeds to land and are only considered legally valid when written. They contain the details and signatures of both the grantor and the grantee.
When the sale or transfer of a property concludes, its records are updated to reflect the new form of ownership, whether sole ownership or joint tenancy. A Stanislaus property search may help retrieve this information if the property is located within county limits. It is also useful for resolving disputes arising during the conveyance, sale, or transfer of a property’s ownership, as well as disputes about boundary lines, outstanding lien, mortgage, and property shares.
In Stanislaus County, California, the County Clerk-Recorder’s Office and the County Assessor’s Office are the custodians of records pertaining to real property in the county. The Clerk-Recorder maintains records of transactions, while the assessor maintains property assessment records. Thus, requests for property records and related Stanislaus County Public Records may go to either or both offices, depending on the type of record the inquirer seeks.
Are Stanislaus County Property Records Public?
Public records in California are documents maintained by state or local agencies that contain information about the public's business. Information on real properties (a property deed) is considered a public record, and according to the California Public Records Act, the public is entitled to inspect or copy these records upon request.
Although access to public information is a fundamental right to citizens, the law prohibits access to personally-identifying information as well as sensitive information like a person’s social security number. Some other situations where certain property information is excluded from public view include:
- Business Property Statements
- Change in Ownership Statements
- Exclusion Forms
- Homeowners' Exemption Claims
- Preliminary Change in Ownership Reports
- Property Appraisal Records
- Property Building Records (excluding property characteristics)
- Property Sales Data collected by the Assessor
- Property records requested from homeowners by the Assessors
What Do Stanislaus County Property Records Contain?
The typical property records in Stanislaus County are outlined below.
- Deeds: It includes information on the property, including its description, the name of its grantor (seller), and the name of its grantee (buyer).
- Liens: It is a document that shows a creditor’s legal claim to a property, which the grantee will now be responsible for paying if there are outstanding liens. Examples of voluntary liens are mortgages, while involuntary liens include tax liens.
- Plat maps: This document contains a land's exact sizes and boundaries.
- Mortgage information includes the mortgage information of the property’s current owner.
Where to Perform a Stanislaus County Property Lookup
To perform a property lookup in Stanislaus County, a person can use a variety of online and offline sources.
- Online sources: Stanislaus County Assessor's Office Public Inquiry Service, Stanislaus County recorder’s website, or third-party platforms.
- Offline: Visiting or mailing the Stanislaus County Assessor's Office or Stanislaus County Recorder.
How to Perform a Property Owner Lookup in Stanislaus County
Stanislaus County Assessor’s Office: A person can visit the assessor’s office in person or use their online public inquiry service tool to view or obtain physical copies of assessed property records. The assessed property record contains information about the property description and its owner. Inquirers need to provide the property's address and may also need to pay fees to print a certified copy of a property record.
Stanislaus Clerk Recorder’s Office: The Clerk-Recorder maintains records of property transactions, which contain information that legally establishes property ownership. A person can obtain property ownership information from the Assessor’s office by using their online service to order a record, mail-in services, or visit their office in person and use a self-service station to inspect a record and obtain ownership information.
Third-Party Websites: Several third-party websites are available online to provide property records, including sales records, for free or for a fee. It is important to keep in mind that these records may not be up to date. The County Assessor’s Office maintains the most up-to-date information on properties.
How to Find Stanislaus County Property Records Online
Stanislaus County Assessor's Office Public Inquiry Service: This online tool maintained by the Stanislaus County Assessor's Office gives members access to assessed rolls in the County. The steps for using this service are as follows:
- Go to the Stanislaus County Assessor's Office website.
- Navigate to the Public Inquiry Service
- Accept the disclaimer
- Enter your Assessor Parcel Number (APN) in the correct format (this can be found on your tax bill).
- Search and view results.
Stanislaus County Clerk Recorder’s online services: This option is suitable for ordering property records, which can be picked up in person or delivered to the inquirer. To use the online service, inquirers need essential information, such as the property’s address, the owner's name, etc. The steps for using the service are as follows:
- Visit the Stanislaus County website
- Navigate to the Clerk Recorder’s page and select online services
- Enter relevant search parameters into the search box and find the desired record
- Order the document and pay
- Pick up your document in person or have it delivered after paying a processing fee of $7.
Third-party platforms: Some third-party platforms offer the public the ability to search their databases for free or a fee. Users can find records, including public property records, property appraisal records, records of unclaimed property, and property ownership information. It is important to know that property information obtained from third-party sites may not be as up-to-date as the County assessor’s records.
How to Find Property Owner by Address for Free
The Stanislaus County Assessor’s Office offers several free options for finding a property owner by address on its data subscriptions page. These free options include:
- Visiting the Assessor’s Office: Self-service computer stations are available from Monday to Friday for members of the public to find assessed property information for free. Assessed property information may include the property owner’s information.
- Stanislaus County’s Assessor Public Inquiry Service: Individuals can use this tool to find basic assessed property information, including the property owner if they have information such as the property’s parcel number or characteristics
- ParcelQuest Lite: It is an authorized provider of assessment information, which may include information on the property owner. They offer both paid and free property information services.
- Mapbooks: Mapbooks are provided to the public by the assessor’s office for free download or printing.
- Some third-party sites may also offer free property owner information search of their database, but the records obtained from these sources may not be current.
Stanislaus County Property Tax Lookup
Individuals in Stanislaus County can obtain tax information from the Tax Collector's Office or the Assessor's Office.
- Tax Collectors Office: Citizens in the County can obtain property tax information by contacting the Stanislaus County Tax Collector’s Office, which is responsible for collecting property tax. The information can be obtained in person at their office or online through the Stanislaus County Tax Collector’s website.
- Assessor’s Office: The Assessor’s Office keeps the county's property tax assessment roll and allows individuals to look up tax information on its website.
Some situations where a person may need to conduct a property tax look up include:
- To determine the tax liability of the property owner
- To accurately assess the value of the property
- For research by real estate investors, attorneys, agents, developers, etc
- For due diligence before buying a property
- To appeal a property tax assessment.
How to Find Stanislaus County Property Appraiser
Individuals can find property appraisers in Stanislaus County by contacting the Stanislaus County Assessor’s office, searching through online directories, contacting their real estate agent, or checking professional organizations such as the Appraisal Institute.
Some services offered by appraisers in Stanislaus County include:
- Real property appraisals (residential properties, Commercial properties, lands and estates)
- Divorce Appraisal
- Insurance Appraisal.
Stanislaus County Property Assessor
Some of the services offered by the Stanislaus County Property Assessor include the following:
- Preparation of the County’s annual assessment roll
- Property Valuation
- Maintenance of the County's Property parcel maps
- Dissemination of property information to the public
- Granting tax relief and exemptions to eligible homeowners.
The contact information of the Stanislaus Property Assessor is provided below.
1010 10th Street
Suite 2400
Modesto, CA 95354
Phone: (209) 525-6461
