Research Your Own Property, Free of Charge.
Confluence Land Surveying believes that Public Records should be free to the public. While public agencies may charge a fee to cover the costs of printing or duplicating and processing records, in California, public records are generally accessible to the public under the California Public Records Act (CPRA). Link to CPRA. Confluence Land Surveying provides access to several portals which provide free digital copies of recorded maps, or links to county websites. Feel free to do your own research using the links provided below. However, be aware that Confluence Land Surveying only absorbs the liability of clients under contract. Surveyors absorb the liability of their clients by ensuring that the monuments found are the same as those reported on the maps. If you want to be sure that you are interpreting the map correctly, a field survey will need to be performed and a map will (most likely) be needed to show the results of that field survey.
MAP RESEARCH
The following two links are map archives that are provided free to the public. Research instructions are given whenever possible, but it is still a work in progress. Map books are not necessarily up to date nor complete.
DOCUMENT (DEED) RESEARCH
Unfortunately, the only truly free of charge way to receive documents like a grant deed is to go into the county recorder offices. Usually these offices will have an area where you can do some research. You can also try document services such as DataTree, which (once an account has been created) charge by the document.
ABSTRACTOR SERVICES
Land Surveyors are tasked with tracking down and comprehending both maps and legal documents. As a result, we make decent abstractors. Should you need our help, we charge by the document and by time spent researching. We can deliver to you a digital copy of grant deeds and maps showing your property. Once under contract we frequently provide survey services consultations to help you understand what the map says and how you can resolve any issues.