Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk manages elections, voter registration, vital records, real estate recording, marriage licenses, fictitious business name filings, notary registrations, domestic partnership filings, and several other public record services. This article explains how the agency is organized, which division handles each request, how to choose an office or request method, what information to prepare, and which common mistakes can delay a filing or record order.
Agency Roles at a Glance
The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, commonly identified as the RR/CC, combines three major public-service functions within one county department. Although the services appear on the same Los Angeles County RR/CC website, each division handles a different category of transactions.
Registrar of Voters
The Registrar of Voters administers elections and voter services. Its responsibilities include voter registration, registration cancellation, conditional voter registration, Vote by Mail services, ballot drop boxes, Vote Centers, provisional voting, accessible voting, military and overseas voting, election worker programs, candidate information, campaign finance reporting, election maps, election publications, election results, and public observation.
Residents looking for election dates, registration tools, voting options, district information, candidate materials, ballot measures, or election results should begin with the Registrar of Voters services page. Election information can vary from one election to another, so users should select the specific election before relying on candidate deadlines, offices appearing on the ballot, measures, recount schedules, or other event-specific materials.
Recorder
The Recorder maintains vital records and recorded real estate documents. Recorder services include birth, death, and marriage record requests; property document recording; copies of recorded real estate documents; military discharge records; Uniform Commercial Code financing statement records; restrictive covenant modifications; subpoenas; and certain legal, audit, and tax collection functions.
The Recorder service directory separates requests for copies of existing records from requests to record a new property document. This distinction matters. Ordering a deed or lien that has already been recorded is a real estate records request, while submitting a deed, reconveyance, lien, affidavit, or other document for placement in the public record is a document recording transaction.
County Clerk
The County Clerk handles marriage licenses and ceremonies, fictitious business name statements, domestic partnerships, notary public oaths and bonds, notary searches, professional registrations, translation certification, notary authentication, exemplification, registry of public agencies searches, and environmental notice filings.
The County Clerk service directory should be used when the request concerns a new marriage license, business name filing, notary registration, professional registration, domestic partnership, authentication, or certification service. Copies of previously recorded birth, death, and marriage records are generally Recorder functions rather than County Clerk licensing transactions.
Choosing the Correct Service
Many delays begin when a request is sent to the wrong division. Before submitting an application, determine whether the transaction involves an election, an existing public record, a document that must be recorded, or a County Clerk filing.
Voter registration, Vote by Mail, Vote Centers, ballot information, candidate information, and election results belong to the Registrar of Voters.
Copies of birth, death, marriage, military discharge, UCC, or recorded real estate documents belong to the Recorder.
Deeds, liens, reconveyances, affidavits, homesteads, and other property documents being submitted for recording belong to Document Analysis and Recording.
Marriage licenses, ceremonies, fictitious business names, notary services, domestic partnerships, and professional registrations belong to the County Clerk.
Divorce record information is different from a county marriage record request. Users should select the agency’s divorce information section rather than ordering a marriage certificate as a substitute.
Users should also distinguish between applying for a marriage license and requesting a copy of a marriage record. A license application begins the process for a couple planning to marry. A marriage record request seeks a copy of a marriage record after the marriage certificate has been recorded.
Election and Voter Services
Registration and Voter Status
The Registrar of Voters provides tools to register, cancel a registration, check registration status, and obtain election-specific voter information. Registration records are used to send official voting information, including Vote Center locations and information about candidates and measures appearing on a ballot.
Commercial use of voter registration information is prohibited by law. Certain voter information may be provided for election, scholarly, journalistic, political, or governmental purposes as permitted by law. Driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers, and voter signatures cannot be released for those purposes. Certain voters facing life-threatening circumstances may qualify for confidential voter status through the applicable state program.
When reviewing a voter record, users should confirm that their name, residential address, and registration status are current. A registration record tied to an old address can affect the contests and local measures shown on the voter’s ballot.
Voting Methods and Accessibility
Available voting services include Vote by Mail, accessible Vote by Mail, ballot drop boxes, in-person voting, provisional voting, conditional voter registration, mobile Vote Centers, and voting assistance for military and overseas voters. The agency also provides an interactive sample ballot and information about ballot-marking devices, Vote Center accessibility, ballot security, and multilingual services.
Voter information and sample ballots are available in Chinese, English, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese under federal language-access requirements cited by the agency. Voters who need language or accessibility assistance should use the applicable election contact category instead of directing the question to the Recorder or County Clerk.
Election Results and Certification
Election Night totals are not final certified results. Ballot processing and verification continue during the official canvass. Ballots that may be processed after Election Day include timely returned Vote by Mail ballots received within seven days of Election Day, conditional voter registration ballots, provisional ballots, and ballots requiring additional review or verification.
Online totals are updated as ballots are processed. Heavy online traffic may slow the public results server, but server performance does not indicate the status of the tally system. Users comparing totals should identify the date and time of the update and distinguish preliminary results from certified results.
Vital Records Requests
The Recorder accepts requests for birth, death, and marriage records through the methods shown for each record type. Available methods may include online, in-person, and mail requests. The requester must select the correct record, provide identifying details, and determine whether an authorized or informational certified copy is appropriate.
Birth Record Copies
An authorized certified birth record may be needed for a driver’s license, passport, Social Security card, or another identity-related purpose. Only eligible individuals may receive an authorized certified copy. Eligible requesters include the registrant; a parent or legal guardian; a child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner; an authorized attorney; a person or agency acting under statutory or court authority; certain adoption agencies; and government or law enforcement representatives conducting official business.
The agency’s birth record eligibility page explains who may receive an authorized copy. A requester who is not eligible, or who does not want to submit the required notarized Certificate of Identity, may request an informational certified copy. Informational copies are marked to show that they are not valid documents for establishing identity.
Before ordering, verify the registrant’s full name, date of birth, and place of birth. Names should be entered as they appear on the original record. A request made under a later name may require additional attention when the record was created under a different name because of adoption or a legal name change.
Death Record Copies
Authorized certified death records may be used to obtain death benefits, claim insurance proceeds, notify Social Security, or complete other identity- and estate-related transactions. Eligible requesters include specified relatives, legal guardians, attorneys, law enforcement or government representatives conducting official business, persons or agencies acting under legal authority, and qualifying funeral directors or funeral establishment personnel acting within the scope of their employment.
The death certificate eligibility requirements distinguish authorized copies from informational certified copies. Informational copies carry a statement indicating that they cannot be used to establish identity.
Requesters should provide accurate identifying information for the deceased and avoid using incomplete family information as a substitute for record details. The type of certified copy should match the purpose for which the document will be submitted.
Marriage Record Copies
Los Angeles County maintains both public and confidential marriage records. The rules for obtaining a copy depend on which type of license was issued.
Public Marriage Records
An authorized certified copy of a public marriage record may be required to change a name on a driver’s license, passport, Social Security record, or another identity-related account. Eligible recipients include either party to the marriage, a parent or legal guardian of either party, specified relatives, an authorized attorney, a person or agency acting under legal authority, and government or law enforcement representatives conducting official business.
A person who is not eligible for an authorized copy may request an informational certified copy. The informational copy is marked to show that it is not valid for establishing identity.
Confidential Marriage Records
Copies of confidential marriage records may be obtained only by the parties to the marriage or through a court order. Informational certified copies are not issued for confidential marriage records. The marriage record access rules explain the differences between public and confidential records.
Before submitting a request, determine whether the marriage license was public or confidential. Selecting the wrong record type can result in an application that does not match the record or the requester’s eligibility.
Real Estate and Recording Services
Property Document Recording
Document Analysis and Recording handles documents being submitted for recording in the county’s real estate records. The agency provides sections covering recording requirements, fees, documentary transfer taxes, forms, affidavits of death of a joint tenant or trustee, homesteads, deeds, full reconveyances, liens, re-recording affidavits, 20-day preliminary notices, and restrictive covenant modifications.
A document submitted for recording should be treated differently from a request for advice about ownership, title, taxes, or the legal effect of the document. The RR/CC records documents that meet applicable recording requirements, but recording a document is not the same as receiving legal, financial, or tax advice.
Before presenting a document, confirm the document type, the names of the parties, the property information, the signatures, and any supporting forms required for that transaction. Users should review the official recording requirements and fee information associated with the specific document rather than assuming that all property filings follow the same process.
Existing Real Estate Records
The Recorder has maintained Los Angeles County real estate records since 1850. Requests for copies may be made through the methods identified by the agency, including in-person, mail, fax, and online options where available.
Online real estate record orders are processed within 20 working days from the date the request is received. Fees vary according to the type of recorded document, and a certified-copy fee applies to online requests made through the online provider identified by the Recorder.
When requesting a copy, distinguish the recorded document from the property itself. Useful search details may include the names shown on the document, the type of instrument, and recording information available to the requester. A street address alone may not identify every deed, lien, reconveyance, or other instrument associated with a property.
Other Recorder Records
The Recorder also provides request procedures for military discharge records and UCC financing statement records. Each record category has its own in-person, mail, fax, fee, and access information. Users should not send these requests to the vital records section merely because both functions are managed by the Recorder.
Marriage Licenses and Ceremonies
Application and Appointment Process
Couples planning to marry should review the agency’s marriage eligibility requirements before completing an application or reserving an appointment. The application process generates a confirmation number, which must be saved because it is needed to schedule an in-person appointment.
Appointments may be scheduled up to three weeks in advance. Applicants must bring valid photo identification to the appointment. The marriage license application page provides the application and appointment pathway.
An appointment for the purchase of a marriage license does not automatically serve as a ceremony appointment. After purchasing the license, the couple can schedule an available ceremony appointment according to the County Clerk’s process.
Express Marriage Ceremonies
Express marriage ceremonies are available by appointment at all seven RR/CC branch locations. After completing the marriage license application, couples may select an appointment for a marriage license and express ceremony.
Express ceremony appointments are scheduled for 45 minutes. Both applicants must present valid identification, and one witness must be present at the marriage license window for a public marriage license ceremony. Family members and friends who are not serving as the required witness must wait outside. When a couple does not have a witness, the RR/CC can provide one for a $20 fee. A confidential marriage license does not require a witness.
Couples should select the appointment type that matches the service they intend to complete. Booking only a license appointment when an express ceremony is desired may require a separate ceremony reservation.
Business and Professional Filings
Fictitious Business Names
A person doing business for profit under a fictitious name that does not include the person’s surname may be required to file a Fictitious Business Name Statement. The statement must be filed in the county where the principal place of business is located. It may also be filed in other counties after the requirements in the principal county have been met. Nonprofit corporations, organizations, and associations are not required to file a Fictitious Business Name Statement under the rules described by the RR/CC.
Registered business owners can complete a fictitious business name filing online, including proof of identity, signature, and payment. Online filing includes a $10.75 service fee, and the completed filing is delivered to the registrant by email.
For an in-person appointment, the applicant must first complete the Online Business Filing and Registration System. After receiving a confirmation number, the applicant may schedule an appointment up to three weeks in advance. The fictitious business name filing page explains who should file and identifies the available filing methods.
Mail filings are processed only at the Norwalk headquarters. A mail submission must include a completed Fictitious Business Name Statement and a notarized Affidavit of Identity. District offices do not process these mail requests.
Notary and Professional Registrations
County Clerk services include notary public oaths and bonds, notary journal surrender and search services, notary authentication, and exemplification. Professional registration categories include process servers, legal document assistants, unlawful detainer assistants, professional photocopiers, and corporation filings associated with certain registration types.
Applicants should select the exact registration category before preparing documents or payment. A notary oath and bond registration is different from requesting authentication of a notarized document, and both are different from searching for a surrendered notary journal.
Domestic Partnerships and Certifications
The County Clerk accepts domestic partnership filings and provides information concerning eligibility, amendments, terminations, and related documents. Some branch locations accept domestic partnership statements, while services can vary by office.
The office also provides translation certification, notary authentication, exemplification, certification services, public agency searches, and environmental notice filings. Because these transactions require different documents and fees, applicants should choose the specific service category rather than submitting a general request to the County Clerk.
Office Locations and Mail Routing
Main and Branch Services
The Norwalk headquarters provides the broadest range of RR/CC services, including vital records, marriage licenses and ceremonies, real estate records, document analysis and recording, fictitious business name filings, notary authentication and oaths, and election services.
Branch offices operate in Beverly Hills, East Los Angeles, Lancaster, the LAX/Courthouse area, Van Nuys, and Florence/Firestone. Available services differ by location. Some branches issue marriage licenses, conduct ceremonies only on designated days by appointment, provide same-day copies for specified years, record property documents, issue recent real estate record copies, accept domestic partnership statements, process notary services, or provide voter registration materials.
The RR/CC branch office directory identifies each location’s hours and services. Users should confirm that the chosen office handles the intended transaction before traveling. Ceremony schedules and appointment requirements vary among branches.
Branch listings state that birth copies from 1962 to the present may be issued the same day at certain offices, except records from 1972 through 1977. Certain offices also issue marriage and death copies from 1995 to the present on the same day. These service ranges should be checked against the selected office because not every location offers every record or filing service.
Mail Goes to Norwalk
Mail should be sent to the appropriate Norwalk mailing section rather than to a district office. The agency specifically instructs users not to mail requests to branch locations. Separate mailing destinations are used for birth, death, and marriage records; business filings and registration; document analysis and recording; election information; and real estate records.
Using the correct mailing section helps prevent a request from being routed between divisions. The envelope and application should identify the intended service, especially when the same department manages several unrelated record and filing categories.
Preparing a Request
Identify the Transaction
Begin by describing the exact result needed. “Marriage document” could refer to a new marriage license, a ceremony appointment, a public marriage record copy, a confidential marriage record copy, or divorce record information. “Property record” could refer to recording a new document or obtaining a copy of an existing recorded instrument.
Selecting the precise transaction determines the proper division, application, eligibility rule, office, mailing address, fee schedule, and appointment type.
Gather Record Details
For vital records, prepare the names appearing on the record, the type of event, the date, and other identifying information requested by the application. Determine whether an authorized or informational certified copy is needed and whether a notarized Certificate of Identity applies.
For real estate records, identify the type of recorded document and any available recording details. For election questions, prepare the voter’s current registration information and identify the specific election. For business filings, prepare the proposed business name, registrant information, principal place of business, identity documentation, and confirmation number generated by the online system.
Confirm Office Capabilities
Office hours and service menus are not identical across all RR/CC locations. A branch that issues marriage licenses may conduct ceremonies only on certain days. A location that accepts vital record requests may issue same-day copies only for specified years. Some locations record property documents and provide recent real estate record copies, while others focus on marriage or voter registration services.
Appointments are required for ceremonies and for certain application pathways. Applicants should retain every confirmation number generated during an online application because the number may be required to reserve an appointment or locate available dates.
Common Filing Mistakes
Sending a Recorder request to the Registrar of Voters or directing an election question to the County Clerk.
Requesting a marriage record when the intended transaction is a marriage license or ceremony appointment.
Failing to distinguish a public marriage record from a confidential marriage record.
Ordering an informational certified copy when an authorized copy is required for an identity-related transaction.
Claiming eligibility for an authorized vital record without reviewing the permitted requester categories.
Mailing a request to a district office instead of the correct Norwalk mailing section.
Arriving at a branch that does not provide the requested service.
Assuming every branch performs marriage ceremonies every business day.
Discarding the confirmation number created during an online marriage license or business filing application.
Submitting a fictitious business name filing by mail without the completed statement and notarized Affidavit of Identity.
Treating preliminary election totals as final certified results.
Confusing a request for an existing recorded real estate document with the recording of a new property document.
Relevant Departments and Offices
Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650
Registrar of Voters: (800) 815-2666
Recorder/County Clerk: (800) 201-8999
Birth, Death and Marriage Records Section
P.O. Box 489, Norwalk, CA 90651-0489
(800) 201-8999, Option 1
Business Filings and Registration
P.O. Box 1208, Norwalk, CA 90650-1208
(800) 201-8999, Option 4
Document Analysis and Recording Section
P.O. Box 1250, Norwalk, CA 90651-1250
(800) 201-8999, Option 2
Election Information Section
12400 Imperial Highway, Room 2013, Norwalk, CA 90650
(800) 815-2666
Real Estate Records
P.O. Box 1130, Norwalk, CA 90651-1130
(800) 201-8999, Option 3
Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk FAQs
How do I choose the correct record request?
Use the official Recorder services page to select birth, death, marriage, real estate, military discharge, or UCC records. Before submitting a request, confirm that the event or property record belongs to Los Angeles County and enter names, dates, and other identifying details exactly as they appeared when the record was created. Authorized certified copies of vital records may require proof that you are legally permitted to receive them. Applicants who are not eligible for an authorized copy may be able to obtain an informational certified copy, which cannot be used to establish identity.
Can every branch office handle the same transaction?
No. Services vary by location. Some offices issue recent birth, death, and marriage copies, while others also accept property documents, fictitious business name filings, notary oaths, domestic partnership filings, or marriage ceremony appointments. Review the branch office locations and available services before visiting. Mail requests should be sent to the designated Norwalk mailing section rather than to a district office.
What should couples complete before a marriage appointment?
Couples should review eligibility requirements and complete the online marriage license application before scheduling an appointment. Save the confirmation number because it is needed to book an available date and time. Both applicants should bring valid photo identification. A marriage license appointment does not automatically include a ceremony; ceremony arrangements may require a separate appointment. The marriage license application page explains the current appointment process and express ceremony requirements.
How can a business file a fictitious name?
A for-profit business generally files when operating under a name that does not include the owner’s surname. The statement must be filed in the county where the principal place of business is located. Registered owners may complete the process online, including identity verification, signature, and payment. For an in-person filing, complete the online application first and retain the confirmation number. Mail filings require the completed statement and a notarized Affidavit of Identity and are processed only through the Norwalk headquarters. Review the official fictitious business name filing requirements before submitting documents.