Larry Ward is the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder for Riverside County. He was elected to his second four-year term in June 2010. Mr. Ward has been with the office for over 30 years in a variety of appraisal, supervisory, and management positions, starting as an appraiser trainee in the Indio district office.

The A-C-R has a staff of over 400 located in offices throughout Riverside County. The Assessor is responsible for locating, identifying and valuing all taxable property in Riverside County. The Recorder is responsible for providing the public with constructive notice of private acts and creating and maintaining custody of permanent records for all documents filed and recorded in Riverside County. The County Clerk services range from issuing marriage licenses and performing marriage ceremonies to filing Fictitious Business Names. We proudly serve the citizens of Riverside County and our goal is excellent public service and good value for your tax dollar.

Mr. Ward is an alumnus of California State University San Bernardino, where he earned his B.A. in Administration of Justice. He is active in a number of professional and civic organizations, including the California Assessors Association, County Recorder’s Association of California, American Society of Public Administrators and Riverside Chamber of Commerce.

Our mission is to fulfill the legally and locally mandated functions of the Assessor, County Clerk, Recorder, and Records Management Program in an accurate, timely, professional and courteous manner and to ensure high quality service.

MANDATES

• ASSESSOR - To locate, inventory and value all taxable and exempt secured and unsecured property in Riverside County in accordance with the applicable constitutional, legislative and administrative provisions.
   
• COUNTY CLERK - To facilitate application and license for marriage and to perform marriage ceremonies, to file notary public oaths of office, fictitious business names and other items as mandated by law or ordinance.
   
• RECORDER - To record as mandated by law all recordable documents in connection with ownership and titling of properties and other negotiated items within the County of Riverside. To provide the recording, storage and certification of all documents of births, deaths, and marriages occurring within the County of Riverside and other public records and to maintain in permanence all records pertaining to same.
   
• RECORDS MANAGEMENT CENTER - To serve as the county's records manager by providing excellent in-house, contracted and advisory records management services in a cost-effective manner.

The Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder of Riverside County is committed to the principle that each and every customer should always:

• Be treated with courtesy and respect.
• Be treated fairly and equitably.
• Be provided prompt services and information.
• Be given personal and professional attention.
• Be provided an opportunity to have their suggestions and opinions heard and acted upon.
• Be fully and factually informed.
• Be referred to the appropriate department or individual in a friendly and courteous manner.
• Be informed as to how their property is being assessed and how to appeal their value.
• Expect to leave the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder's office feeling as though they were served in a competent and professional manner.

By law, the Assessor must locate all taxable property in the county, identify the owners, and describe the property.

The Assessor must determine a value for all taxable property and apply all legal exemptions and exclusions.

The Assessor must complete an assessment roll showing the assessed values for all property and maintain records of the above.

The Assessor does not set tax amounts or collect taxes.

• Files fictitious business name statements.
• Files statements of abandonment of use of fictitious business name.
• Files withdrawal from partnership operating under a fictitious business name.
• Issues public marriage licenses.
• Issues confidential marriage licenses.
• Performs civil marriage ceremonies (by appointment only).
• Provides certified copies of confidential marriage licenses (with proper identification).
• Registers notary public oaths and commissions.
• Authenticates notary public signatures.
• Registers process servers, unlawful detainer assistants, professional photocopiers, & legal document assistants.
• Receives negative declarations, notices of determination, and notices of exemption.
• Receives admitted surety insurer statements.
• Files surety insurer powers of attorney.
• Maintains roster of elected and appointed county officials.
• Files Grand Jury final reports.

The recorder's office is responsible for providing constructive notice of private acts and creating and maintaining custody of permanent records for all documents filed and recorded in Riverside County.

In addition to providing public access to information regarding land and land ownership, the recorder's office is also the local registrar of marriages and maintains copies of all certificates of marriage, births and deaths which occur in Riverside County.

The official records are open for public inspection (vital records may be viewed on a specific, as requested basis), and copies may be purchased, from any recorder's office location.

Documents to be recorded may be mailed to:
        Riverside County Recorder
        P.O. Box 751
        Riverside, CA 92502-0751

Or couriered to:
        Riverside County Recorder
        2724 Gateway Drive
        Riverside, CA 92507