Glossary of Common Recorder Terminology
ABSTRACT OF JUDGMENT Document evidencing a monetary court judgment awarded to a defendant by a plaintiff.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SATISFACTION OF JUDGMENT Recorded to evidence that a recorded abstract of judgment has been satisfied.
ASSIGNMENT OF DEED OF TRUST Recorded when a lender transfers his/her interest in a deed of trust (loan) to another party.
DEED A document which conveys an interest in real property from a grantor to a grantee.
DEED OF TRUST Similar to a mortgage, the instrument that secures a loan using real property as collateral. A deed of trust involves three parties: the borrower, the lender, and a trustee. The trustee is often a title company or another independent third party who holds the title to the property while the borrower makes payments to the lender.
FIXTURE FILING, FINANCING STATEMENT Recorded to secure a loan, using personal property or fixtures as collateral.
GRANTEE The party to who interest in real property is granted.
GRANTOR The party granting interest in real property.
LIS PENDENS Evidences the fact that a lawsuit is pending concerning real property.
NOTICE OF COMPLETION Recorded to evidence that any work of improvement has actually been completed.
NOTICE OF DEFAULT Recorded to evidence the borrower has not met his/her obligations as outlined in the original deed of trust. In the foreclosure process, the notice of default is often the first recorded document. It may be followed (although not immediately) by a recorded NOTICE OF A TRUSTEE’S SALE and eventually, a TRUSTEES DEED.
POWER OF ATTORNEY A document that gives someone the legal right to act on another’s behalf.
REAL PROPERTY Land and anything permanently attached to it, including houses, buildings and trees.
RECONVEYANCE Evidences a trustee relinquishing his/her full or partial interest in real property. Signifies a deed of trust has been paid off or satisfied.
RELEASE OF MECHANIC’S LIEN Recorded to release a claimant’s interest against a property owner, which was originally recorded as a mechanic’s lien.
RELEASE OF TAX LIEN Recorded to release a government agency’s interest after the taxpayer has satisfied his/her obligation to that agency.
SUBSTITUTION OF TRUSTEE Appoints a new trustee in place of the original trustee named on a recorded deed of trust. Often is recorded concurrently with a RECONVEYANCE.
TAX LIEN May be recorded by the Internal Revenue Service, the State of California or a county tax collector to create a lien against a taxpayer for non-payment of various taxes.
