Orange County, California mails owners a letter when certain papers are recorded on their property. It has done this for free since 2007, and nobody has to sign up1.
Searching for the Orange County recorder of deeds? In California, that's the Clerk-Recorder in Santa Ana. Florida, Indiana and North Carolina each have their own Orange County office, so check that you're on the California pages.
What is the letter from the Orange County Recorder of Deeds?
It's a Real Property Fraud Prevention Courtesy Notice. The Clerk-Recorder mails it to the property owner a few days after a deed or certain other papers are recorded on the home2,3.
The county's examples are grant deeds, quitclaim deeds, trustee's deeds and notices of default3. Before 2021, only grant deeds set off a letter2.
- Deed
- A signed paper that passes a home, or a share of it, to a new owner.
- Clerk-Recorder
- The county office that adds deeds and other property papers to the public record.
- Grant deed
- The usual deed for selling a home in California.
- Quitclaim deed
- A deed that hands over whatever share the signer owns, with no promises.
- Trustee's deed
- The deed recorded after a foreclosure sale.
- Notice of default
- The recorded paper that starts a foreclosure on a home loan.
Each letter says a paper was just recorded and includes a preview of its first page1. That copy is there "so homeowners can quickly confirm whether the transaction is legitimate," the county's May 2026 announcement says3.
The county runs the program with the District Attorney, and since 2020 the letters have pointed owners to the DA's fraud unit1,2.
- After the fact. It goes out once the paper is on the public record2.
- Mail only. No county page offers email, text or a second address.
- Maybe not loans. No county list names a deed of trust, the paper recorded for a new mortgage2,3.
- Address unknown. The county doesn't say which of the owner's addresses it uses2.
Missing from the state's list. The California Department of Real Estate's page of county alert programs named six counties on October 25, 2026, but not Orange4. For other places, see our state-by-state map of free county alerts.
A 2025 law may change the letter. SB 255 gives every county but Los Angeles until Jan. 1, 2027 to mail notices within 30 days of a new deed, quitclaim deed, mortgage or deed of trust5,16. Orange County had not said how it will apply the law when we checked.
What should you check on the first page?
Check what kind of paper it is, whose names are on it and who asked to record it. Then ask whether anyone on your side had a reason to file it.
- The paper's name, such as Grant Deed or Quitclaim Deed.
- The grantor and grantee. The grantor gives the property, and the grantee receives it.
- Who asked for the recording. The county asks papers recorded at the counter to name that party and a return address6.
- The document number. Since 1982 it's the recording year plus six digits, and you need it to order copies7.
A letter can also follow a paper you signed yourself, such as a sale, a gift to a relative or a move into a living trust.
What should you do when a notice arrives?
Compare the first page with what you know, look the paper up, and report it fast if nobody on your side signed it. The DA's unit takes complaints straight from the public8.
- Read the first page the day it arrives. Compare it with anything you, a co-owner or a relative signed lately.
- Ask who could have filed it. Check with co-owners, anyone holding your power of attorney and any lawyer handling your estate plan. For a notice of default, call your lender.
- Look it up. Search RecorderWorks, the free Grantor/Grantee index, by last name, a space and part of your first name9. It lists papers recorded since 1982 but shows no images7.
- See the whole document. View it free at a kiosk in Santa Ana, Anaheim or Laguna Hills, or order copies for $1 a page plus $1 to certify each one7,9,10. Bring the document number, because staff won't search for you7.
- Report a paper you didn't sign. Email the DA's Real Estate Fraud Unit or mail its report form with copies, keeping your originals11,14. Also call your city police or the Sheriff's Economic Crimes Detail at (714) 647-704012,13.
- Ask a lawyer about clearing your title, the legal ownership of your home. Under Civil Code 3412, a court can cancel a void paper that could seriously harm you if left on the record15. Our quiet title guide covers a related lawsuit.
On Sunday, October 25, 2026, the index ran through Friday, October 23, and the newest day might be incomplete9. If a fresh paper isn't listed, check again in a few days.
What has the Orange County DA prosecuted?
Forged quitclaim deeds, a fake grant deed and impostors who sold homes they didn't own, says the DA's report on its 2025-26 budget year8. Cases like these are uncommon: a 2025 Assembly committee analysis called real estate fraud "rare, but significant"16.
In 2025-26, the DA got 132 fraud referrals and filed 4 criminal cases
Orange County District Attorney's Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Unit, paid for partly by a $10 recording fee (up from $3 on May 1, 2025)
Show the numbers
| Referrals of suspected fraud | 132 |
|---|---|
| Referrals turned down | 102 |
| Investigations sent by police | 7 |
| Convictions | 6 |
| Criminal cases filed | 4 |
| Sent to other agencies | 3 |
| Referrals from the Clerk-Recorder | 1 |
Sources: Orange County District Attorney, Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Unit annual report, July 20268; Clerk-Recorder fee schedule17.
Of the 132 referrals, the DA turned down 102, and 1 came from the Clerk-Recorder's office8. The report also credits the Clerk-Recorder's online check-in system and office cameras with "crucial evidence" in more than one case8.
A mailed letter only helps if someone reads the owner's mail, so if you live elsewhere, ask the Clerk-Recorder where yours would go. In another case, buyers of a vacation rental grew suspicious after the signing and reached the real owners, who confirmed the sale was fake8. Our seller impersonation fraud guide shows how such fake sales are set up.
What the law allows. Knowingly recording a forged paper is a felony under Penal Code 115, and after a conviction the court can declare it void from the start20. SB 1307, signed in September 2026, lets a person in diversion, a program that can end with charges dropped, agree to void it too21.
Who do you contact in Orange County?
For a paper you didn't sign, contact the DA's Real Estate Fraud Unit and the police. For copies or questions about the letter, call the Clerk-Recorder.
| Who | Contact them to | How to reach them |
|---|---|---|
| OC Clerk-Recorder | Ask about a letter or a record | (714) 834-2500, weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Clerk-Recorder document examiners | Ask recording questions (staff can't give legal advice) | (714) 834-2887 |
| DA's Real Estate Fraud Unit | Report a deed or other paper you didn't sign | REFraud@ocdistrictattorney.gov or PO Box 808, Santa Ana, CA 92702 |
| Sheriff's Economic Crimes Detail | File a police report (or call your city police) | (714) 647-7040 |
| Treasurer-Tax Collector | Ask about a tax bill that never came | (714) 834-3411 |
| Adult Protective Services | Report financial abuse of an older or dependent adult | 800-451-5155 |
| Community Legal Aid SoCal | Get legal help if your income is low | 714-571-5200 |
| Public Law Center | Get free legal help if your income is low | (714) 541-1010 |
Sources: OC Clerk-Recorder3,6,13, District Attorney11, Assessor12, Treasurer-Tax Collector22, Community Legal Aid SoCal23 and Public Law Center24, read October 25, 2026.
The county's flyer lists a different DA email, REFraud@ocdapa.org, while the DA's own July 2026 form uses the one above1,11. The DA's main office is at 300 North Flower Street in Santa Ana, (714) 834-360014. The Clerk-Recorder asks for an online service application before in-person visits, except to record property documents25.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a copy of the deed to my house in Orange County?
Find the document number in RecorderWorks, then get a copy at a kiosk in Santa Ana, Anaheim or Laguna Hills. By mail, send the number, $1 a page plus $1 to certify, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to 601 N. Ross St., Santa Ana, CA 92701.
How can I report fraud in Orange County?
For real estate fraud, email the District Attorney's Real Estate Fraud Unit at REFraud@ocdistrictattorney.gov or mail its report form. Also report it to your city police or the Sheriff's Economic Crimes Detail at (714) 647-7040.
How can I get a property fraud alert in California?
It depends on the county. Orange County mails its courtesy notice automatically, so there is nothing to sign up for. SB 255 requires every county except Los Angeles, which has its own program, to run a mailed one by Jan. 1, 2027.
What is an OC clerk-recorder?
It's the elected official and the department that record property papers and keep birth, death and marriage records for Orange County, California. Hugh Nguyen has led it since 2013, with offices in Santa Ana, Anaheim and Laguna Hills.
Check your own record today
The county index is free. Search your name and note any document number you don't recognize.
Open the county's RecorderWorks indexBrowse free county programs by statePhone numbers, email addresses and links on this page were checked on the county's and the DA's own pages on October 25, 2026.
Sources
- Real Estate Fraud Prevention flyer (courtesy notice) (PDF), Orange County Clerk-Recorder, June 2025
- Clerk-Recorder to Continue Mailing Real Property Fraud Prevention Courtesy Notices to Protect Real Property Owners (PDF), Orange County Clerk-Recorder, October 22, 2021
- Courtesy Notices Continue to Support Orange County Clerk-Recorder's Efforts to Prevent Property Fraud, Orange County Clerk-Recorder, May 14, 2026
- County Recorder Property Owner Alert Program, California Department of Real Estate, checked October 25, 2026
- SB 255 (Seyarto), Chapter 351, Statutes of 2025, California Legislature, approved October 6, 2025
- Property Documents / Document Recording Services, Orange County Clerk-Recorder, checked October 25, 2026
- Obtaining Official Record Copies, Orange County Clerk-Recorder, checked October 25, 2026
- Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Unit Annual Report, FY 2025-26 (Attachment A), Orange County District Attorney, July 15, 2026
- RecorderWorks Grantor/Grantee Search, Orange County Clerk-Recorder, checked October 25, 2026
- How do I request a copy of my deed?, Orange County Clerk-Recorder help center, checked October 25, 2026
- Real Estate Fraud Report Form (PDF), Orange County District Attorney, updated July 15, 2026
- Real Estate Fraud Alert, Orange County Assessor, checked October 25, 2026
- Real Estate Fraud Alert, Orange County Clerk-Recorder, checked October 25, 2026
- Report Fraud, Orange County District Attorney, checked October 25, 2026
- Civil Code section 3412, California Legislature, enacted 1872, checked October 25, 2026
- Assembly Committee on Local Government analysis of SB 255 (PDF), California State Assembly, hearing of June 18, 2025
- Fee Schedule (PDF), Orange County Clerk-Recorder, effective January 1, 2026
- Man Pleads Guilty in Orange County Home Fraud Scheme, City News Service via MyNewsLA, July 7, 2026
- Man Involved In $2M Home Theft Scheme In OC Pleads Guilty, City News Service via Patch, July 28, 2023
- Penal Code section 115, California Legislature, checked October 25, 2026
- SB 1307 (Jones), Chapter 695, Statutes of 2026, California Legislature, approved September 27, 2026
- Property Tax Frequently Used Numbers, Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector, checked October 25, 2026
- Community Legal Aid SoCal, checked October 25, 2026
- Public Law Center, checked October 25, 2026
- Hours & Locations, Orange County Clerk-Recorder, checked October 25, 2026