Sonoma County expands online access to recorded documents

The Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder’s Office says it has expanded its ability to provide members of the public with copies of key documents.

The improved access is expected to be faster and to save citizens time, money and frustration when trying to get copies of records, county officials said in a press announcement.

The Clerk-Recorder’s Office has implemented new technology allowing copies of many public documents back to 1980 to be purchased online. Recently, recorded documents available to purchase through the clerk’s online service have been expanded back to 1964, when the electronic index began. Members of the public can search and purchase the records at crarecords.sonomacounty.ca.gov/selfserviceweb.

The County Recorder’s Office is responsible for recording, preserving and making available to the public all recordable documents, such as deeds, liens, military discharge records, death certificates and reconveyances. The County Clerk files “fictitious business names,” notary public registrations, CEQA postings and other documents.

Previously, a customer would have needed to go into the office or mail in a request with the correct fees to purchase a copy of any of the records. Recorded documents go back to 1850, when California became a state.

All the recorded documents have been digitized and microfilmed for preservation purposes. The documents have always been available to view and purchase in the office. According to state law, the records can’t be viewed or read online, but may be purchased and then viewed.

Prior to 1964, the index was in bound books; future plans for the clerk’s office plans include projects to allow online access to those hand-written indexes.

The Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor Department is located at 585 Fiscal Drive, suite 103F in Santa Rosa and online at crarecords.sonomacounty.ca.gov/selfserviceweb.