Kings County Recorder and Deed Transfer Guide for Home Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Details come from the Kings County Clerk/Recorder and Assessor; sources are listed at the end.

When you sell a house in Kings County, the deed to the buyer is recorded by the Kings County Clerk/Recorder in Hanford, and the county collects documentary transfer tax at the time of recording. The county’s document examiners check every document against a list of recording requirements and will not record one that misses them.

A deed that is missing the parcel number or the street address, for example, will not be recorded at all. Escrow normally handles the filing, but the rules below are worth knowing if you or a family member prepared the deed.

Kings County Recorder at a glance

How much is the transfer tax in Kings County?

State law requires the county to collect documentary transfer tax when it records a document that transfers real property.

The county’s FAQ says the tax applies when the value or consideration is more than $100, and it is calculated on the value minus any liens or encumbrances that stay on the property, at $0.55 for each $500 or fraction of $500.

On a $350,000 sale where the buyer takes the property free of the seller’s loan, the tax is $385. Contracts usually say which side pays.

What does the Kings County Recorder require on a deed?

The county’s document guidelines list the following. Examiners are not allowed to give legal advice or help prepare documents, so any problem has to be fixed by you or your attorney.

• Parcel number and address. Under Kings County Code section 22-73, a valid Assessor’s Parcel Number and the commonly known street address of the property must appear on the face of the first page of every document pertaining to real property.
• Tax statement address. A document that transfers title must show the mailing address for the tax statement.
• Paper and ink. Black or blue ink on white paper, with all pages 8.5 by 11 inches. Pages over 8.5 by 14 inches are not accepted.
• Margins and space. The top 2.5 inches of the first page is reserved. The left 3.5 inches is for the requester’s name and return address, and the right 5 inches is for the recorder’s label. Side margins must be at least half an inch.
• Type size. At least 10-point type on the first page.
• Title. The document title must appear on the first page, right below the reserved space.
• Signatures and names. Original signatures, unless the document is an unaltered certified copy. The names of the people to be indexed must be printed or typed near each signature and match throughout.

Reporting a death and recording an affidavit of death

If the owner has died, two county steps often come up.

The Assessor says that a death is a change in ownership, and you can report it by filling out a Preliminary Change in Ownership Report and sending it to the Assessor’s Office with a copy of the death certificate.

The county warns that failing to report a death may lead to penalties. Separately, an affidavit of death, including an affidavit of death of a joint tenant, is a notarized document that title companies and attorneys often require.

It is recorded at the Clerk/Recorder together with a certified copy of the death certificate. The recording guidelines also list the revocable transfer on death deed, which passes a house to a named beneficiary without a probate hearing.

The change in ownership statement

State law requires a change-in-ownership statement with every sale and transfer, filed when the deed is recorded. If it is left out, the county charges $20 and the Assessor sends a follow-up request. The statement is confidential and used only for appraisal. Parent-to-child and spouse transfers can be excluded from reappraisal in some cases, and the county directs people to its Proposition 19 page for those rules.

How to sell a house in Kings County when the title needs work

A sale closes only when the recorded chain of deeds is clean. If title is in the name of someone who has died, the seller must show authority, such as a court order or a trustee’s certification, before a deed can be recorded. A cash sale can close faster than a loan-backed sale on a house like this, since there is no lender underwriting to wait on.

1. Get the vesting deed and parcel number. The parcel number is on your tax bill.
2. Check for liens. Loans, tax liens and judgment liens are paid at closing.
3. Decide who pays the transfer tax. Put it in the contract.
4. Let escrow record the deed with the ownership statement and tax declaration.

See how we buy houses in Kings County, or read our Kings County property tax guide and the California transfer tax report.

Have a Kings County house with a title problem? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

Kings County Recorder FAQ

How much is the transfer tax in Kings County?

It is $0.55 per $500 or fraction of value on transfers over $100, calculated on the value minus existing liens.

Where do I record a deed in Kings County?

At the Kings County Clerk/Recorder, 1400 West Lacey Blvd., Hanford, CA 93230. Recording hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Does Kings County require a parcel number on a deed?

Yes. The parcel number and the street address must appear on the face of the first page, or the document will not be recorded.

How do I report the death of a property owner in Kings County?

Send a Preliminary Change in Ownership Report and a copy of the death certificate to the Assessor’s Office. The county says failure to report may result in penalties.

Sources

• Kings County: Recording Guidelines and Forms
• Kings County: FAQ List

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fees and rules can change; confirm them with the Kings County Clerk/Recorder.