§ 1214 Recording Priority For Property

Civil Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law says that if you sell land or a long-term lease and don't record it, someone else who buys the same land later and records their deed first can take ownership away from you.

Key Takeaways

•Record your deed quickly if you want to keep ownership safe.
•If you don't record, a later buyer who files first can win the property.
•The law only protects people who act in good faith and pay for the property.

Example

Alice sells her house to Bob but doesn't file the paperwork. Later, Charlie buys the same house, pays for it, and files his deed before anyone else does. Charlie can now claim he owns the house, and Alice can't stop him.

Because Charlie recorded his deed first, the law protects him over Alice, even though Alice was the first to agree to sell.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 1214 Recording Priority For Property

Every conveyance of real property or an estate for years therein, other than a lease for a term not exceeding one year, is void as against any subsequent purchaser or mortgagee of the same property, or any part thereof, in good faith and for a valuable consideration, whose conveyance is first duly recorded, and as against any judgment affecting the title, unless the conveyance shall have been duly recorded prior to the record of notice of action. (Amended by Stats. 1989, Ch. 698, Sec. 2.)

Last verified: January 9, 2026

Key Terms

conveyance real property estate for years subsequent purchaser mortgagee good faith valuable consideration duly recorded judgment affecting the title

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Civil Code. Section 1214.

§ 1214 Recording Priority For Property

Civil Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

§ 1214 Recording Priority For Property

This law says that if you sell land or a long-term lease and don't record it, someone else who buys the same land later and records their deed first can take ownership away from you.

Key Takeaways

•Record your deed quickly if you want to keep ownership safe.
•If you don't record, a later buyer who files first can win the property.
•The law only protects people who act in good faith and pay for the property.

Example

Because Charlie recorded his deed first, the law protects him over Alice, even though Alice was the first to agree to sell.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 1214 Recording Priority For Property

Last verified: January 9, 2026

Key Terms

conveyance real property estate for years subsequent purchaser mortgagee good faith valuable consideration duly recorded judgment affecting the title

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Civil Code. Section 1214.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References