The Release of Mechanic’s Lien is the document a lien claimant signs to release a mechanic’s lien that was recorded against California real property, stating that the claim has been fully paid and satisfied. The San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk publishes it on its forms page, under the Recorder, alongside many San Bernardino County property tax forms from the Assessor. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the official PDF is published by the agency at arc.sbcounty.gov.
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What is Release of Mechanic’s Lien – San Bernardino County, CA?
The Release of Mechanic’s Lien is a recordable document in which the claimant of a mechanic’s lien declares that the lien, previously recorded against described real property in California, is released because the claim under it has been fully paid and satisfied.
The form identifies the lien by who claimed it, against whom, the real property it covers (city, county and State of California), the date of the lien and the details of its recording: the day it was recorded in the office of the County Recorder and its Instrument No. The claimant then dates and signs the release and prints their name. A notary public acknowledgment block follows the signature; the form states that the notary verifies only the identity of the person who signed, not the truthfulness, accuracy or validity of the document.
The top of the page is set up for recording: a block for “Recording requested by and when recorded mail document to” (name, street address, city, state and ZIP code), boxes for Title Order No., Escrow No. and APN, and a space reserved for the Recorder’s use only.
The San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk lists this form under the Recorder. Its forms list also carries the separate Mechanic’s Lien form, the document that creates the claim this release ends. The release is not a tax form and has no connection to the Assessor’s property tax claims on the same list.
Who needs to file Release of Mechanic’s Lien – San Bernardino County, CA?
The claimant of a recorded mechanic’s lien uses this form once the claim under the lien has been fully paid and satisfied. The form is signed by the claimant and carries the claimant’s typed or printed name, so the person or business named as claimant on the recorded lien is the one who executes the release.
Others who may handle the paperwork:
- A person who receives the recorded release by mail can be listed in the “when recorded mail document to” block, which may be the owner, a title company or an escrow officer; the form has boxes for a Title Order No. and Escrow No. for that purpose.
- A notary public or other officer completes the acknowledgment certificate after the claimant signs.
Do not use this form to claim a lien; the agency lists a separate Mechanic’s Lien form for that. The form does not describe who may sign for a claimant that is a business or for someone else. It carries a note that, if you have questions about which document form is appropriate for your transaction, you may want to consult an attorney.
When to file Release of Mechanic’s Lien – San Bernardino County, CA
Use the release when the claim under a recorded mechanic’s lien has been fully paid and satisfied; that statement is the form’s own wording and the triggering event. No separate deadline is printed on the form.
You need the details of the original recorded lien at hand before you start: the lien’s date, the date it was recorded in the County Recorder’s office, its Instrument No., the claimant, the party it was claimed against and the description of the real property. The release is signed and dated by the claimant, and the notary’s acknowledgment must be completed by the notary when the claimant signs before them, so plan the signing appointment before you finish the form.
Processing times are not stated on the form or on the agency’s forms page.
How to fill out Release of Mechanic’s Lien – San Bernardino County, CA
Complete the return-to block
Under “Recording requested by and when recorded mail document to,” enter the name, street address, and city, state and ZIP code where the recorded document should be mailed.
Add title, escrow and APN numbers
Enter the Title Order No., Escrow No. and APN in their boxes. Leave the area marked “Space above this line for Recorder’s use only” blank.
Identify the claimant and the owner
In “The Mechanics Lien claimed by,” enter the claimant’s name. In “against,” enter the name of the party the lien was claimed against.
Describe the real property
Enter the City and County, and the description of the real property the lien covers; the form already names the State of California.
Enter the lien and recording details
Enter the date of the lien (day and month, year 20__), the date it was recorded (day, month, year), the county of the County Recorder’s office and the Instrument No. shown on the recorded lien.
Date the release
Enter the date on the “Dated” line above the claimant’s signature line.
Sign and print the claimant’s name
The claimant signs on the line marked Signature of Claimant and writes their name on Typed or Printed Name of Claimant.
Arrange the notary acknowledgment
Take the signed form to a notary public or other officer, who completes State, County, date, the officer’s name and title, and the name of the person signing, then signs and seals it.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that the lien details match the recorded lien and that the return-to block is complete. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and take it to be recorded as described under How to submit.
How to submit Release of Mechanic’s Lien – San Bernardino County, CA
The form is a recording document, and its “when recorded mail document to” block names where the recorded original will be returned. It does not print a mailing address, portal or appointment rule of its own.
- Recording: the form is recorded with the County Recorder. The San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk lists it under the Recorder on its forms page, https://arc.sbcounty.gov/forms-fees/.
- Return of the recorded document: complete the block at the top (name, street address, city, state and ZIP code) so the recorded document can be mailed to you or your representative.
- Fees and cover sheet: the agency’s forms page also lists a Fee Schedule (Recorder-County Clerk) and a Document Cover Sheet. Check with the Recorder’s office whether a fee or a cover sheet applies to your recording; this page does not give amounts.
Leave the space above the line marked for the Recorder’s use only blank. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the agency’s channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving out the Instrument No. or the recording date of the original lien, which the release uses to identify the lien it releases.
- Writing the County Recorder’s county in the recording line incorrectly or leaving it blank; the release names the office where the lien was recorded.
- Signing the release without completing the claimant’s typed or printed name beneath the signature.
- Filling in the notary acknowledgment yourself; the notary or other officer completes the date, name, title and signature and applies the seal.
- Expecting the notary acknowledgment to confirm that the release is accurate; the form states it verifies only the identity of the signer.
- Omitting the return-to block, so the recorded document has no mailing destination.
- Writing in the space reserved for the Recorder’s use only.
- Using the release for a lien whose claim is not fully paid and satisfied; the form states the claim has been fully paid and satisfied.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Release of Mechanic’s Lien?
It is a recordable document in which the claimant of a mechanic’s lien states that the lien, recorded against described California real property, is released because the claim under it has been fully paid and satisfied. It identifies the lien by claimant, property, lien date and Instrument No.
Who signs the Release of Mechanic’s Lien?
The claimant signs, on the line marked Signature of Claimant, and prints their name below. A notary public or other officer then completes the acknowledgment certificate printed on the form after the claimant signs.
Does the Release of Mechanic’s Lien need to be notarized?
The form includes a notary acknowledgment block to be completed by a notary public or other officer. The block states that the officer verifies only the identity of the person who signed, not the truthfulness, accuracy or validity of the document.
Where is the Release of Mechanic’s Lien recorded in San Bernardino County?
It is recorded in the office of the County Recorder. The San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk lists the form under the Recorder at arc.sbcounty.gov/forms-fees/; the form itself prints no separate mailing address, so confirm recording steps with that office.
Is this a property tax form?
No. It releases a mechanic’s lien claim and is listed under the Recorder. The agency’s property tax claims and exemptions are listed under the Assessor, and the separate Mechanic’s Lien form is the one used to claim a lien.
What information do I need from the original lien?
You need the claimant’s and owner’s names, the real property description with city and county, the lien date, the date it was recorded with the County Recorder and the Instrument No. The form asks for each of them.
Is there a fee to record the release?
The agency’s forms page lists a Fee Schedule (Recorder-County Clerk), so check it or ask the Recorder’s office what applies to your recording. The form itself does not state an amount, and this page does not give one.
Can I fill out the Release of Mechanic’s Lien online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of the County and does not record the document; recording follows the Recorder’s channels.
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