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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to the Recorder's Office?
The Hall of Records is located on the northwest corner
of the intersection of Truxtun and Chester Avenues in downtown Bakersfield.
From Highway 99, go east on California Avenue.
Turn north on Chester Avenue and go one block to Truxtun Avenue.
From Highway 58, go north on Chester Avenue to Truxtun Avenue.
Do you supply blank forms for recording documents?
No. Most forms are available at stationery or office supply stores.
Do I need an attorney to record a document?
No, although we strongly recommend that you seek legal advice before recording any document affecting title to property.
How can I find out if liens are filed against me?
You may come into our office
and do an official record search under your name
and find all the documents recorded in which you were a grantor or grantee.
Also search under any other names,
forms of your name or business names that the liens could be recorded under.
You may view the documents to determine
which are liens and which are releases of liens.
I had a lien against me and I paid it off,
but a release doesn’t show up in your records.
Can’t you fix your records?
Our records only reflect documents
that other entities have submitted for recordation.
If you paid off a lien and no release has been recorded,
you must contact the authority
or person who placed the lien against you to get them to correct their records
and follow the process for recording a release with this office.
There are errors on my credit report involving liens that should not be there.
Can you take it off my credit report?
We do not report to credit agencies,
nor can we intervene on the behalf of an individual disputing their credit profile.
Documents recorded in our office are public record
and are available for search by any interested parties,
including credit-reporting agencies.
You may dispute errors in your credit record
with the credit bureau that is reporting them.
Contact the bureau involved to initiate the dispute process.
The phone numbers for the three largest bureaus are:
Experian (800) 392-1122, Equifax (800) 685-1111, and Trans Union (800) 851-2674.
I just bought a new house and
I’m being solicited about new home items.
Someone told me these solicitors got my name, address,
and phone number
from you.
How can I stop you from giving that information out?
Most home purchases involve recording deeds with this office.
These deeds become public records.
Anyone may view the information on these deeds.
Some companies are in business to take information
from certain kinds of documents and
regularly come into this office for that purpose.
Deeds often have the owner’s address as the mailing address,
and anything on the document is public information that we can’t legally restrict. Most deeds do not have phone numbers, and we do not maintain files of addresses and phone numbers, so phone solicitors are likely getting your phone number from another source not known to us.
I want to see everything affecting my property.
Can I see my property file?
We do not maintain property files.
We deal with recorded documents and
everything is maintained by document number and
grantor-grantee name.
You can usually trace ownership history by viewing deeds in an official record search.
There is no specific county agency that would have all types of records (deeds, easements, etc.) in one file per property.
Title companies can be used to search this type of information, if appropriate.
What if a birth, death or marriage was in another county?
Can I still get the certificate from your office?
No, we only have records for events that occurred in Kern County.
For marriages, you must contact the county in which the license was issued.
Call the County Recorder in the county in which the event occurred to find out how you can get your record.
In most cases, you have options that do not require a visit.
If you have difficulty locating a phone number for another Recorder, you may call us or go to the “Links” tab from our home page.
I am adopted.
How can I get a copy of my original birth certificate?
You first need to obtain a court order to release the record.
Then send your request with a certified copy of the court order and $12 to:
Office of State Registrar
304 S street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Do you provide marriage licenses?
No. The Kern County Clerk issues marriage licenses.
You may call that office at (661) 868-3588.
Will I ever be able to transact any Recorder’s business over the Internet?
We are investigating options for allowing selected capabilities over the Internet.
If you have any recommendations,
you may e-mail your comments to us at kcrecorder@co.kern.ca.us.
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