Assessor-Clerk-Recorder
Find property assessments, parcel information and property tax exemptions. Find recorded documents, recording requirements and certified copies. Find marriage licensing and county clerk services. Find fictitious business name (FBN / DBA) filing and renewal instructions. Business licenses are a separate service.
Source checked October 14, 2026[2]Opens this office’s own website. CountyWiki does not process applications, take payments or provide personal records.
Contact details & office locations ↓Online services & information
These links were found on official source pages. Each service is handled by the office.
Official Merced County certificate information and application options. Follow the county’s instructions for the copy type and request method you need.
Before you start
- Information & documents · Birth certificates by mail
- If requesting a Certified Copy: You must be an authorized individual. Complete the Sworn Statement on the application and have it notarized. The Certificate of Acknowledgement must be completed by a Notary Public. If requesting a certified Informational Copy: You do not have to be an authorized individual. The Sworn Statement, Certificate of Acknowledgment, and notarization are not required. [7]
Official county instructions for obtaining a new marriage license. Online application entry alone does not issue a license or replace the required appearance; confirm the license type, documents and visit arrangements.
Before you start
- Appointments · Combined license issuance and county-provided civil ceremony
- Appointments are required. You may obtain a marriage license and have a civil ceremony at the same. Appointments are available Monday through Friday. [12]
- Languages · County-provided civil ceremonies
- Spanish language ceremonies are available upon request. [13]
File in person or by mail with an original wet signature. In-person filing does not require an appointment; the current page provides its own application and publication list.
Before you start
- Information & documents · Filing channels and signature
- File in person or by mail with an original wet-ink signature. [30]
- Appointments · In-person FBN filing
- An appointment is not required for this FBN counter service. [31]
- Deadlines · Initial filing — state deadline
- File within 40 days after starting business under the fictitious name. [14]
- Eligibility & access · Where to file — principal place of business
- File in the county of your principal California business location. If you have no California business location, file in Sacramento County. [15]
- Deadlines · New or changed filing — newspaper publication
- Start publication within 45 days after filing. Use a qualifying newspaper in the filing county, or an adjoining county if no qualifying newspaper exists there. [16]
- Information & documents · Newspaper notice — publication frequency
- Publish once a week for four successive weeks. [17]
- Deadlines · After publication — file the affidavit
- File the publication affidavit with the County Clerk within 45 days after publication is completed. Check whether your newspaper files it for you. [18]
- Deadlines · Expiration — earlier changes or abandonment can end the statement
- A statement generally lasts five years, but changes or abandonment can end it earlier. [19]
- Eligibility & access · No-change renewal — publication exception
- An unchanged renewal filed within 40 days after expiration does not need republication. Changes can require a new publication. [20]
- Information & documents · California principal business location
- Provide the street address and county of the principal business location. A registrant’s separate mailing-address rule does not remove this requirement. [21]
- Information & documents · Individual registrant — owner mailing address
- For an individual owner, provide the full name and business mailing address if different from the business address. Do not apply older blanket residence-address instructions. [22]
County directory of property-search, parcel-map and Assessor-inquiry resources. Choose the service you need; its property-information query is separate from property-tax payment.
Assessor property-information portal linked by the county.
County parcel-map search page; older HTTP map links are not silently upgraded.
County instructions for the grantor/grantee index from 1963 onward. Online access displays index information, not document images; older indexes and document viewing are available at the Merced office.
Before you start
- Availability · Online index versus document images
- The online service shows indexed information, not the document image. View documents on the office’s public kiosks. [40]
- Availability · Records before 1963
- Search official indexes from before 1963 in person at the Merced Clerk-Recorder office. [41]
- Appointments · Public document viewing — Merced office
- The county lists public viewing Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with no appointment required. Copy purchases have separate charges. [42]
County-linked index service; document images are not shown online.
Separate county instructions for recorded-document copies.
County requirements for presenting a new document for recording.
Fees
Fees are quoted only when a source document supports the amount and conditions.
| Service | Amount | Conditions & source |
|---|---|---|
| Certified birth certificate | $31.00per copy | Certified copy; follow the official instructions for the requested record type and eligibility. Additional ordering or delivery charges may apply.[4]Effective January 1, 2026 |
| Certified death certificate | $26.00per copy | Certified copy; follow the official instructions for the requested record type and eligibility. Additional ordering or delivery charges may apply.[5]Effective January 1, 2026 |
| Certified marriage certificate | $19.00per copy | Certified copy; follow the official instructions for the requested record type and eligibility. Additional ordering or delivery charges may apply.[6]Effective January 1, 2026 |
| Civil marriage ceremony | $40.00per ceremony | Separate from the marriage license and certified-copy fees; confirm any conditions and the current total.[10] |
| Witness supplied by County Clerk | $10.00per witness | Separate from the marriage license and certified-copy fees; confirm any conditions and the current total.[11] |
| FBN — Initial statement — first business and registrant | $35.00per filing | Current page provides in-person/mail wet-signature routes. Effective date is not stated.[26] |
| FBN — Additional business name or registrant | $7.00per additional name | Additional business or registrant names. Effective date is not stated.[27] |
| FBN — Card payment surcharge | $2.50per card payment | Additional charge when paying by card; not part of the base filing fee. Effective date is not stated.[28] |
These are individual fee items, not a quote for your total. Other charges or exemptions may apply; confirm the total with the office.
Forms & documents
Official forms and document pages for this office’s services.
Sources & last checked13 source pages · 44 citations
Sources were checked by an AI-assisted research process. A checked website does not mean every service or fee on it has been reviewed.
- [1] County property-tax officials directory (opens in a new tab)
California State Board of Equalization · Merced row — assessor telephone column
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
24. Merced Matt H. May 209-385-7631 Lisa Cardella-Presto 209-385-7511 Mark Henrickson 209-385-7366 Karen Adams 209-385-7307 Gaines
- [2] Merced County — Vital Records (Birth, Death & Marriage Certificate) | Merced County, CA - Official Website (opens in a new tab)
Merced County government · Current official county record office heading, department navigation and service context. Existing assessor/election roles retain their earlier identity evidence in the frozen old row.
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
Schedule Clerk-Recorder's Office Matt H. May Assessor-Clerk-Recorder 2222 "M" Street Merced, CA 95340 Phone: (209) 385-7627 Contact the County Merced County 2222 M Street Merced, CA 95340
- [3] Merced County — Vital Records (Birth, Death & Marriage Certificate) | Merced County, CA - Official Website (opens in a new tab)
Merced County government · Official county certificate service heading and published application/copy information. This is an information destination; no unverified online-transaction promise.
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
lerk-Recorder Clerk-Recorder County Recorder Vital Records (Birth, Death & Marriage Certificate) Vital Records (Birth, Death & Marriage Certificate) The Merced County Recorder’s Office maintains vital records for Births, Deaths, and Marriages in Merced County. The following documents are available from our office: Birth certificates from approximately 1870
- [4] Merced County — Vital Records (Birth, Death & Marriage Certificate) | Merced County, CA - Official Website (opens in a new tab)
Merced County government · Named birth certificate fee; this is a record copy, not a marriage license.
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
1st 2026, the state of California will be increasing the price of their birth, death and marriage certificates by $2.00. Effective January 1st, 2026, Merced County's new fees are: Birth Certificate - $31.00 Death Certificate - $26.00 Marriage Certificate - $19.00 Birth Certificate Death Certificate Marriage Certificate Birth Certificate You can obtain a birth certificate for anyone born within the County of Merced from app
- [5] Merced County — Vital Records (Birth, Death & Marriage Certificate) | Merced County, CA - Official Website (opens in a new tab)
Merced County government · Named death certificate fee; this is a record copy, not a marriage license.
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
fornia will be increasing the price of their birth, death and marriage certificates by $2.00. Effective January 1st, 2026, Merced County's new fees are: Birth Certificate - $31.00 Death Certificate - $26.00 Marriage Certificate - $19.00 Birth Certificate Death Certificate Marriage Certificate Birth Certificate You can obtain a birth certificate for anyone born within the County of Merced from approximately 1870 to present.
- [6] Merced County — Vital Records (Birth, Death & Marriage Certificate) | Merced County, CA - Official Website (opens in a new tab)
Merced County government · Named marriage certificate fee; this is a record copy, not a marriage license.
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
he price of their birth, death and marriage certificates by $2.00. Effective January 1st, 2026, Merced County's new fees are: Birth Certificate - $31.00 Death Certificate - $26.00 Marriage Certificate - $19.00 Birth Certificate Death Certificate Marriage Certificate Birth Certificate You can obtain a birth certificate for anyone born within the County of Merced from approximately 1870 to present. If the registrant was born in
- [7] Merced County — Vital Records (Birth, Death & Marriage Certificate) | Merced County, CA - Official Website (opens in a new tab)
Merced County government · Specific county service instruction; copy type, channel and exceptions retained.
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
If requesting a Certified Copy: You must be an authorized individual. Complete the Sworn Statement on the application and have it notarized. The Certificate of Acknowledgement must be completed by a Notary Public. If requesting a certified Informational Copy: You do not have to be an authorized individual. The Sworn Statement, Certificate of Acknowledgment, and notarization are not required.
- [8] Merced marriage services — ceremonies (opens in a new tab)
Merced County — Clerk marriage services · Official marriage licensing information — You may obtain a marriage license and have a civil ceremony at the same
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
You may obtain a marriage license and have a civil ceremony at the same
- [9] Merced marriage services — ceremonies (opens in a new tab)
Merced County — Clerk marriage services · Marriage service contact — License and civil ceremony appointments — phone
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
(209) 385-7627
- [10] Merced marriage services — ceremonies (opens in a new tab)
Merced County — Clerk marriage services · Official marriage licensing information — $40.00 - Civil Ceremony
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
$40.00 - Civil Ceremony
- [11] Merced marriage services — ceremonies (opens in a new tab)
Merced County — Clerk marriage services · Official marriage licensing information — $10.00 - Witness provided by the County Clerk
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
$10.00 - Witness provided by the County Clerk
- [12] Merced marriage services — ceremonies (opens in a new tab)
Merced County — Clerk marriage services · Official marriage licensing information — Appointments are required. You may obtain a marriage license and have a civil ceremony at the same.
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
Appointments are required. You may obtain a marriage license and have a civil ceremony at the same. Appointments are available Monday through Friday.
- [13] Merced marriage services — ceremonies (opens in a new tab)
Merced County — Clerk marriage services · Official marriage licensing information — Spanish language ceremonies are available upon request.
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
Spanish language ceremonies are available upon request.
- [14] Business and Professions Code 17910 — fictitious business names (opens in a new tab)
California Legislature · BPC §17910(a)
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
File a fictitious business name statement in accordance with this chapter not later than 40 days from the time the registrant commences to transact such business.
- [15] Business and Professions Code 17915 — fictitious business names (opens in a new tab)
California Legislature · BPC §17915
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
A fictitious business name statement shall be filed with the clerk of the county in which the registrant has his or her principal place of business in this state or, if the registrant has no place of business in this state, with the Clerk of Sacramento County.
- [16] Business and Professions Code 17917 — fictitious business names (opens in a new tab)
California Legislature · BPC §17917(a)
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Within 45 days after a fictitious business name statement has been filed pursuant to this chapter, the registrant shall cause a statement in the form prescribed by subdivision (a) of Section 17913 to be published pursuant to Section 6064 of the Government Code in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the fictitious business name statement was filed or, if there is no such newspaper in that county, in a newspaper of general circulation in an adjoining county.
- [17] California — FBN publication-frequency (opens in a new tab)
California Legislature · Government Code §6064
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Publication of notice pursuant to this section shall be once a week for four successive weeks.
- [18] Business and Professions Code 17917 — fictitious business names (opens in a new tab)
California Legislature · BPC §17917(d)
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
An affidavit showing the publication of the statement shall be filed with the county clerk where the fictitious business name statement was filed within 45 days after the completion of the publication.
- [19] Business and Professions Code 17920 — fictitious business names (opens in a new tab)
California Legislature · BPC §17920(a)
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Unless the statement expires earlier under subdivision (b) or (c), a fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk.
- [20] Business and Professions Code 17917 — fictitious business names (opens in a new tab)
California Legislature · BPC §17917(c)
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
If a refiling is required because the prior statement has expired, the refiling need not be published unless there has been a change in the information required in the expired statement, provided the refiling is filed within 40 days of the date the statement expired.
- [21] Business and Professions Code 17913 — fictitious business names (opens in a new tab)
California Legislature · BPC §17913(b)(2)
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
If the registrant has a place of business in this state, insert the street address, and county, of the registrant’s principal place of business in this state.
- [22] Business and Professions Code 17913 — fictitious business names (opens in a new tab)
California Legislature · BPC §17913(b)(3)
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
If the registrant is an individual, insert the registrant’s full name and business mailing address if it differs from the business address.
- [23] Merced — FBN current (opens in a new tab)
Merced County — business name filing · Fictitious business name — Fictitious Business Name
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Fictitious Business Name
- [24] Merced — FBN current (opens in a new tab)
Merced County — business name filing · FBN contact — FBN in-person filing counter — address
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
2222 "M" Street, Main Floor Merced, CA 95340
- [25] Merced — FBN current (opens in a new tab)
Merced County — business name filing · FBN contact — FBN in-person filing counter — hours
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- [26] Merced — FBN current (opens in a new tab)
Merced County — business name filing · FBN fee — FBN — Initial statement — first business and registrant
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
$35.00 for the first business name and registrant
- [27] Merced — FBN current (opens in a new tab)
Merced County — business name filing · FBN fee — FBN — Additional business name or registrant
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
$7.00 for each additional business name or registrant
- [28] Merced — FBN current (opens in a new tab)
Merced County — business name filing · FBN fee — FBN — Card payment surcharge
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
An additional $2.50 surcharge is applicable for card payments.
- [29] Merced — FBN current (opens in a new tab)
Merced County — business name filing · FBN official resource — FBN original or renewal statement
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
FBN Statement Application (Original or Renewal)
- [30] Merced — FBN current (opens in a new tab)
Merced County — business name filing · FBN requirement — Filing channels and signature
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
An FBN Statement can only be filed in-person or by mail because an original, wet-ink signature is required.
- [31] Merced — FBN current (opens in a new tab)
Merced County — business name filing · FBN requirement — In-person FBN filing
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
No Appointment Required
- [32] Merced assessor — property records and provider resources (opens in a new tab)
Merced County · Official department homepage — Assessor | Merced County, CA - Official Website
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Assessors Spotlights
- [33] Merced — property query (opens in a new tab)
Merced County official service / referred provider · County property lookup — Parcel information — official query and map links
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Assessor Inquiry Search
- [34] Merced — property query (opens in a new tab)
Merced County official service / referred provider · County property lookup — Open the Assessor inquiry search
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Assessor Inquiry Search
- [35] Merced — property query (opens in a new tab)
Merced County official service / referred provider · County property lookup — Parcel-map search information
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Parcel Maps
- [36] Merced — property records (opens in a new tab)
Merced County official service / referred provider · County Recorder — Search legal records — online index and office viewing
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Official Records recorded since 1963.
- [37] Merced — property records (opens in a new tab)
Merced County official service / referred provider · County Recorder — Open RecorderWorks official-record index
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Search RecorderWorks Online
- [38] Merced — property records (opens in a new tab)
Merced County official service / referred provider · County Recorder — Purchase recorded legal records — county instructions
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Purchase Legal Records
- [39] Merced — property records (opens in a new tab)
Merced County official service / referred provider · County Recorder — General document-recording requirements
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
General Recording Requirements
- [40] Merced — property records (opens in a new tab)
Merced County official service / referred provider · County Recorder — Online index versus document images
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
You will only be able to view the indexed information of the document, and not the document itself.
- [41] Merced — property records (opens in a new tab)
Merced County official service / referred provider · County Recorder — Records before 1963
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Official Indexes pertaining to records recorded prior to 1963 must be searched in person within our Merced County Clerk-Recorder’s Office.
- [42] Merced — property records (opens in a new tab)
Merced County official service / referred provider · County Recorder — Public document viewing — Merced office
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM No Appointment Required
- [43] Merced — property records (opens in a new tab)
Merced County official service / referred provider · County Recorder — Recorded-document public viewing
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
2222 M Street, Main Floor Merced, CA 95340
- [44] Merced — property records (opens in a new tab)
Merced County official service / referred provider · County Recorder — Recorded-document public viewing
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM