Mariposa County Property Records

Property records for Mariposa County are kept by the Assessor-Recorder office at 4982 10th Street in Mariposa. This small county office serves the gateway to Yosemite National Park and surrounding areas. The office handles both property assessments and document recording from one central location. Recording hours are 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM Monday through Friday. Most requests can be handled the same day you visit. Staff can search old records and help you file new documents. Fees follow California state law with local additions. Mariposa County has a small population spread across a large rural area, so personal service is the norm. When you buy or sell property here, the deed must be recorded at this office to give legal notice of the ownership change under California law.

Mariposa County Assessor-Recorder Office

The Assessor-Recorder in Mariposa County combines two functions in one office. Located at 4982 10th Street, the office also uses P.O. Box 35 for mail. Phone 209-966-2332 if you have questions about recording or property values. Recording services are available from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM Monday through Friday. Arrive before the cutoff if you need same-day recording.

Staff can help you record deeds, liens, and trust documents. They can also answer questions about property assessments and tax values. The office serves the whole county from this one location in the town of Mariposa. Most people who visit come to search property records, file new documents, or ask about their tax assessments. Bring your deed or other documents to this office to get them recorded and indexed under California law.

For property tax payment questions, contact the Mariposa County Tax Collector. That office handles tax bills and payments. The Assessor sets property values. The Recorder handles document filing. Each function has its own staff in Mariposa County.

Recording Fees in Mariposa County

Recording a deed in Mariposa County costs about ninety to one hundred dollars depending on the document size. The base state fee is fifteen dollars for the first page. Each extra page adds four dollars. Senate Bill 2 adds seventy-five dollars per real estate transaction. This fee funds affordable housing programs across California. Some counties also add a fraud prevention fee and a monument preservation fee on top of these amounts.

Copy fees are much lower than recording fees. Plain copies cost a few dollars per page in most California counties. Certified copies cost more because the clerk stamps and signs each page. Certification proves the copy is a true image of the original on file. Banks and title companies often require certified copies rather than plain ones when they review property records in Mariposa County.

Check with the Assessor-Recorder office for the exact fee schedule. Fees can change when state law updates or the county adjusts local rates. Always verify the current cost before you mail payment or visit the office to record documents in Mariposa County.

Note: Bring a check or money order when you visit, as some counties do not accept credit cards for recording fees.

Property Documents in Mariposa County

Grant deeds are the most common way to transfer property in California. When you buy land or a home in Mariposa County, the seller signs a grant deed. That deed goes to the Assessor-Recorder for recording. Once recorded, it becomes part of the public record. Anyone can search the index to see who owns a piece of property. Recording gives legal notice to the world of the ownership change.

Trust deeds secure loans on real estate. You sign a trust deed when you borrow money to buy property. The lender holds the deed as security. If you pay off the loan, the lender files a reconveyance. That document removes the lien from your property title. Most home loans in Mariposa County use trust deeds instead of mortgages. Trust deeds allow faster foreclosure under California law if the borrower stops paying.

Liens show debts attached to property. A contractor who is not paid may file a mechanic lien. The IRS can file a federal tax lien for unpaid income taxes. The state can file a lien for unpaid fees or fines. All these liens are recorded at the Assessor-Recorder office. They attach to the property title. You must pay off or settle the lien before you can sell the property with clear title in Mariposa County.

Common property documents in Mariposa County include:

• Grant deeds and quitclaim deeds
• Deeds of trust and reconveyances
• Mechanic liens and tax liens
• Notices of default and trustee sale notices
• Property tax records and payment history
• Parcel maps and subdivision plats

Each document type serves a different purpose in the property records system. Deeds transfer ownership. Trust deeds secure debts. Liens show claims. All are kept on file at the Assessor-Recorder office in Mariposa County.

Property Taxes in Mariposa County

Property tax bills in Mariposa County are due in two installments each year. The first half is due by December 10. The second half is due by April 10. A ten percent penalty applies if you pay late. This penalty hits on the day after each due date. After April, an additional cost is added. These deadlines are set by California state law and apply to all counties.

Your tax bill is based on the assessed value of your property. Mariposa County uses the Proposition 13 rate of one percent as the base. Local bonds and special assessments may add to that rate. The total rate varies by location. Some areas have voter-approved bonds for schools or fire districts. You can see the exact rate on your annual tax bill.

If you do not pay by the April deadline, your account goes into default after June 30. Default adds more penalties and fees. The county may eventually sell the property at a tax auction to recover the unpaid taxes. Tax sales are public. Anyone can bid. To avoid this, pay your taxes on time each year. Contact the Mariposa County Tax Collector if you need help setting up a payment plan.

Assessment Appeals

You can appeal your property assessment if you think it is too high. The appeal window runs from July 2 to September 15 in most California counties. Some extend the deadline to November 30. File your appeal with the county assessment appeals board. This board is separate from the Assessor office. They hold hearings where you can present evidence that your property is worth less than the assessed value.

Bring data on recent sales of similar properties in Mariposa County. Photos and repair estimates can also help your case. The board will listen to both sides and make a decision. If they agree with you, they lower your assessment. That means a lower tax bill. If they side with the Assessor, the value stays the same. You can try again next year if you still think it is wrong.

The California State Board of Equalization provides guides on how to file an assessment appeal. Visit boe.ca.gov/proptaxes/faqs/assessappeals.htm for forms and tips. Most people do not need a lawyer for an appeal. You can represent yourself with the right documents and preparation.

California Property Record Laws

The California Public Records Act gives you the right to see most government files. Property records are public under this law. Anyone can ask to see deeds, liens, and tax records in Mariposa County. You do not need to be the property owner. You do not need to say why you want them. The county must provide access unless a specific rule blocks it. Most property records have no block. They are fully open.

Civil Code section 1213 requires recording to give legal notice. A recorded deed tells the world who owns the property. An unrecorded deed can still be valid between the buyer and seller, but it does not protect the buyer if someone else buys the same property and records their deed first. This is the race-notice rule under Civil Code section 1214. Recording is how you protect your ownership in Mariposa County.

Government Code section 27320 tells the Assessor-Recorder what to do when you bring in a document. The recorder stamps the date and time on it. This timestamp sets priority. If two people file similar claims on the same day, the one with the earlier time wins. The recorder also checks that the document meets format rules. It must fit on standard paper with proper margins. If it does not meet the rules, the recorder can reject it until you fix it.

Revenue and Taxation Code section 60 defines what counts as a change in ownership for tax purposes. A sale triggers reassessment in most cases. But some transfers do not cause reassessment. For example, a transfer between spouses or from parent to child may not change the assessed value. The rules are complex. Ask the Mariposa County Assessor if you are unsure how a transfer will affect your property taxes.

Nearby Counties

If you need property records from neighboring areas, check these counties:

• Madera County
• Merced County
• Tuolumne County