Question 1

How do I secure a real-estate contract in San Joaquin?

Accepted Answer

Record a memorandum of contract in the San Joaquin real-property records. It puts the public on notice of your equitable interest so the seller can’t cleanly sell to someone else. Notarized online, recorded with the county, and returned to you.

Question 2

Does San Joaquin allow electronic recording of a memorandum?

Accepted Answer

San Joaquin supports electronic recording (via Simplifile), so a compliant memorandum can be on record quickly.

Question 3

What does it cost to record a memorandum in San Joaquin?

Accepted Answer

One flat price that includes the county fee ($14.00 (increasing to $16.00 effective July 1, 2025 per county notice); check current fee schedule PDF for confirmation first / $3.00 per additional page add'l (+Real Estate Fraud fee $8.00 per title; SB2/AB1466 fees may apply per document type)), your online notary session, and tracking to a recording number.

Memorandum filing isn't available in California yet