General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Journal News gun permit map endangers officers, officials say [View all]slackmaster
(60,567 posts)In order to inspect a microfiche record, which would generally include property records and court proceedings earlier than about the mid 1990s, you have to go to the office in person. You present ID and fill out and sign and date a form before a clerk will physically get the fiche.
You are given access to a fiche reader that has copy capability. Charge is something like 5 cents per page.
You are on camera the whole time.
For newer property records, you can go on the county's Web site and search for document availability for free without identifying yourself. But if you want a copy, you have to make a payment, e.g. by credit card. Hard copies are mailed.
This applies to things like deeds, and also broader documents such as bond agreements and marriage licenses.
http://arcc.co.san-diego.ca.us/services/prop_assess_links.aspx
Here's Ernie, our Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk who is in charge of all of those records. His operation is run efficiently and effectively. I've always had good experiences dealing with them.
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ETA there are secondary (commercial) sources for all of that information, but because THEY have to pay the county for the data they charge their customers for it as well. And of course they keep records of what they sell.