County guides
Recording a trust deed, county by county.
A living trust only owns your house once a trust transfer deed is recorded with your county. Every county does that slightly differently — different counters, different fees, different turnaround. These guides are the local recipe, written to be useful whether or not you ever use Mantle.
Putting Your House in a Living Trust in Alameda County
Alameda County deed recording fees, Oakland and Berkeley transfer-tax rules, probate costs on a typical local home, and how to transfer your house into a living trust.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Putting Your House in a Living Trust in Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County deed recording fees, PCOR rules, probate costs on a typical local home, and how to transfer your house into a living trust — step by step.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Putting Your House in a Living Trust in Fresno County
Fresno County deed recording fees, why a trust transfer pays the higher first-page rate, PCOR rules, probate costs on a typical local home, and how to transfer your house into a living trust — step by step.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Putting Your House in a Living Trust in Kern County
Kern County deed recording fees, the 2 p.m. recording cutoff, the exemption wording the county insists on, probate costs on a typical local home, and how to transfer your house into a living trust — step by step.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Putting Your House in a Living Trust in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County deed recording fees, Measure ULA and city transfer tax rules, PCOR requirements, probate costs on a typical LA home, and how to transfer your house into a living trust — step by step.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Putting Your House in a Living Trust in Orange County
Orange County deed recording fees, the survey monument fee that catches trust transfers, PCOR rules, probate costs on a typical local home, and how to transfer your house into a living trust — step by step.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Putting Your House in a Living Trust in Riverside County
Riverside County deed recording fees, the six counters that accept deeds, PCOR rules, Prop 13 treatment, probate costs on a typical local home, and how to transfer your house into a living trust — step by step.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Putting Your House in a Living Trust in Sacramento County
Sacramento County deed recording fees, the 3 p.m. same-day recording cutoff, PCOR rules, Prop 13 treatment, probate costs on a typical local home, and how to transfer your house into a living trust — step by step.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Putting Your House in a Living Trust in San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County deed recording fees, payment rules that catch people at the counter, PCOR requirements, probate costs on a typical local home, and how to transfer your house into a living trust — step by step.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Putting Your House in a Living Trust in San Diego County
San Diego County deed recording fees, PCOR rules, Prop 13 treatment, probate costs on a typical local home, and how to transfer your house into a living trust — step by step.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Putting Your House in a Living Trust in San Francisco
San Francisco deed recording fees, the transfer tax affidavit and the proof the Recorder demands for a trust exemption, PCOR rules, probate costs on a typical SF home, and how to transfer your house into a living trust — step by step.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Putting Your House in a Living Trust in San Joaquin County
San Joaquin County deed recording fees — including the $16 first page and the grant-deed fraud-fee gap — plus the Stockton counter's 4 p.m. cutoff, probate costs on a typical local home, and how to transfer your house into a living trust.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Putting Your House in a Living Trust in San Mateo County
San Mateo County deed recording fees, the survey monument fee a street-address legal description triggers, PCOR rules, probate costs on a typical Peninsula home, and how to transfer your house into a living trust — step by step.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Putting Your House in a Living Trust in Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County deed recording fees, San Jose transfer-tax rules, probate costs on a typical local home, and how to transfer your house into a living trust — step by step.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Putting Your House in a Living Trust in Sonoma County
Sonoma County deed recording fees — how a $91 first page becomes $14, the county's unusual $2 AB1466 charge, and the Wednesday counter close — plus probate costs on a typical Santa Rosa home and how to transfer your house into a living trust.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Putting Your House in a Living Trust in Stanislaus County
Stanislaus County deed recording fees — a $14 first page, the state's cheapest fraud fee, and an SB2 exemption line you cannot afford to leave off — plus probate costs on a typical Modesto-area home and how to transfer your house into a living trust.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Putting Your House in a Living Trust in Ventura County
Ventura County deed recording fees, the two counters and their different hours, PCOR rules, probate costs on a typical local home, and how to transfer your house into a living trust — step by step.
Last reviewed: August 2026
More California counties are on the way. Mantle is not a law firm and these guides are general information, not legal advice.