Consumer Scams

Consumers should be wary of solicitations requesting fees ranging from $100 - $500 for services that are offered at our office for a substantially lower cost or at no charge.

This page was updated on April 12, 2024.

Sonoma County residents have received documents stating Notice of Lien, 2024 Important Documentation Enclosed, Tax Investigation Sonoma County Public Lien Records, and Amount due immediately.

These are fraudulent requests for payment and the District Attorney has been alerted of this scam that can appear to come from Sonoma County.  

Do not respond with payment to this request. 

You may look up any recorded liens under your name (LAST FIRST) in our online index available any time of day using the Sonoma County Document Records Search. If you locate a lien that you have further questions on, please contact our office at 707-565-3800 with the document number and we will provide the contact number off the record to contact the liening agency directly. 

Sonoma County residents have received solicitations from a private company encouraging them to obtain a copy of their Property Assessment Profile, which includes a “complimentary” copy of the current Grant Deed, for $120.00. This data is available from our office for a nominal fee.

Property Profiles are available from the Assessor’s Office for $15.00.

Grant deeds are available from the Recorder’s Office for a nominal fee. To purchase the document online for $4.00 per document (plus a $2.00 transaction fee), look up your document on our Sonoma County Document Records Search. 

Sonoma County business owners have received solicitations from a private company encouraging them to renew their Fictitious Business Name Statements for a fee of $159.00. Business owners can deal directly with the County Clerk’s Office when filing.

Customers have two options when filing a Fictitious Business Name Statement. With either option, the cost of filing a Fictitious Business Name Statement is $55.00 for the first business name and the first owner name. Each additional name is $9.00. Forms are available in our office and online.

Read more about Fictitious Business Names »

Sonoma County residents have received solicitations from a private company encouraging them to obtain a certified copy of their property Grant Deed for a fee of $89.00.

Typically the Grant Deed is mailed to the new homeowner after the purchase is finalized. However, the public may request a certified copy for a nominal fee. 

Customers have the following options when requesting a copy of their Grant Deed:

Online: Look up your property using the Sonoma County Document Records Search. The cost of downloading an official record is $4.00 per document.  A certified copy can also be ordered for shipment.  The cost for a certified copy is the same as an In Person transaction.

Credit and debit cards are accepted, although a $2.00 convenience fee is charged per transaction

In Person: The cost of an official record is $5.00 per page - for a certified copy, the cost is an additional $4.00 per document.

Payment can be made by cash or check. Credit and debit cards are accepted, although a $2.50 convenience fee is charged with the usage of a card.

By Mail: Look up your property using the Sonoma County Document Records Search to find out how many pages in your deed. For an official record, enclose $5.00 for each page - for a certified copy, enclose an additional $4.00 per document.

Mail your request to:

Clerk-Recorder-Assessor 
Attn: Copy Desk      
585 Fiscal Drive Room 103 F
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Mail processing time is 2 - 3 weeks.