Los Angeles County Property Records: Certified vs. Plain Copy Cost

Los Angeles County’s recorder schedule lists certified copies at $6 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. A plain copy is $5 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. Read the county fee page and use the recorder office for request instructions.

For a three-page document, a plain copy is $5 + ($3 × 2) = $11; certification is $6 + ($3 × 2) = $12. Certification costs $1 more in that example. Conformed copies returned at recording follow a different rule, so do not assume these request fees apply to every document.

Choose certification only when the recipient requires it. Ask whether search, mailing, or another service charge applies. Prices were checked September 8, 2026 and are not advice about which record a transaction needs.

Page count can matter more than certification. If the document contains a deed plus attached exhibits, ask for the page count of the complete recorded instrument. Omitting an exhibit may make the copy unusable even though it costs less. Tell the office whether the request is for the complete instrument or particular identified pages, and confirm that the receiving party accepts that scope.

Ask the lender, title company, HOA, or agency whether certification is required before ordering. The one-dollar difference in the three-page example matters only when the recipient needs an official copy. Confirm the document number and whether a search or mailing line is added.

For a document already identified by recording number, the copy choice is usually the only fee decision in this schedule. If the recipient only needs to read a deed or verify a legal description, the $11 plain three-page worksheet avoids paying the $1 certification premium. If the recipient must accept it as certified, order the $12 version and confirm delivery or search charges before submitting the request.