How Do I Get Copies of My House Paperwork to Start Renovations in California?

Attorney Answer

You likely do not need your cousin's paperwork at all, since ownership records for real estate in California are public and available directly from the government. If the house is truly recorded in your name, you can get official proof yourself without depending on anyone else.

Here is where to start:.

Order a certified copy of the recorded deed from the County Recorder's office in the county where the property is located. This is a public record, and as the owner, you can request it in person, by mail, or often online for a small fee. * Check the County Assessor's website for the property. Most California counties let you look up the current assessed owner of record for free, which is a fast way to confirm the name on file before you order anything. * Consider a preliminary title report from a title company if you want a full picture of who is on title, whether there are any liens, and whether anything needs to be cleared up before you invest money in renovations. Title companies do this routinely and can often turn it around quickly. * Contact your city or county building department about permit requirements. Most renovation permits require proof of ownership, so having your certified deed copy or title report ready will let you move forward with permitting without delay.

If it turns out the recorder's records show your cousin, another relative, or an unclear chain of ownership rather than clearly showing you, that is a different and more involved problem. In that case, a formal quiet title action, under California's quiet title statute (Code of Civil Procedure section 760.010 and following), may be needed to establish your ownership clearly, and that is worth discussing with a real estate attorney before you spend money on renovations.

Before you start any work:

1. Pull the recorder and assessor records first, since this costs little to nothing and may fully resolve your question. 2. Do not begin construction based only on your belief about ownership. Confirm it in writing first. 3. If anything looks unclear or contested, talk to a real estate attorney before applying for permits.

This is general legal information, not legal advice. A California real estate attorney can review the actual recorded documents for your property and confirm exactly what you need before you renovate.