If you have recently purchased a house or transferred your house into a trust, you may receive a "Recorded Deed Notice" asking for a service fee.  BEWARE!  This document did not come from any government agency, and you do not owe any money!  Instead, companies will monitor recorded documents with the county recorder--they are public record after all--and will mail out this notice, hoping you will send a service fee to obtain a copy of your deed and a "Property Assessment Profile."

One such company is Property Site, boasting an F rating from the Better Business Bureau.  Customer complaints detail that, after inadvertently paying Property Site--thinking this was a legitimate bill for recording documents--the customers never received what they were promised.  So what are they offering?  

Recorded Deed Notice

The notice states that the Property Assessment Profile "provides a wealth of information on the property" to confirm that information is correct, including a complimentary copy of the current Grant Deed.  The notice later states that public records are analyzed, meaning this service provides information already available to you.  Normally, your recorded grant deed will automatically be mailed to you directly from the county recorder.  If not, check with the title company or attorney that requested the recording.  Importantly, even if you do not have your original grant deed, the fact that Property Site or other companies are reaching out to you means your document made it into the public record--how else would they get your information?

Also, do not be spooked by the official looking notice, which seems intentionally deceptive.  To comply with California law, these notices have to state explicitly that “THIS PRODUCT OR SERVICE HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR ENDORSED BY ANY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY, AND THIS OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE BY AN AGENCY OF THE GOVERNMENT.”  Seeing that text indicates that this notice is ready for the shredder. 

Finally, even if these notices were not trying to look government-issued, they nonetheless prey on all California homeowners' fear of reassessment.  Specifically, these notices reference a "Property Assessment Profile," which triggers fears of a reassessment raising property taxes sky-high.  The notice even states that "mistakes can affect property taxes."  Although true, you do not need to pay a non-lawyer to get information that is already available to you.  Remember, correspondence from government agencies will state what agency they are from.  Additionally, when in doubt, call the county tax collector via the phone number on the county website to see if there are any issues.

You do not have to go it alone!  Attorneys at Finlay Law Group, APC are happy to assist you with your estate planning needs, including correctly funding your revocable trust.  Reach out today for a free consultation. 

Disclaimer: The above information is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. Please consult with counsel before taking any steps in reliance on any of the information contained herein.