Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Re: name change on deed

Government Code section 27334 and Civil Code section 1096 seem to assume that an owner of real property will not make any change in the public record after marriage or a name change for any other reason; instead, that when the property is next encumbered or sold, that the instruments will show, and the recorder will index them by, both the former and current names of the grantor or encumbrancer.

There are two possibilities which might work, if you are quite intent that the record should reflect your married name: (1) quitclaim it to yourself; or (2) call the county recorder in the county where each property is situated and ask whether there is a local simplified procedure available in that county.

I've done a quick check in codes that might contain a quickie procedure via filing a form, and I thought there was one, but checking the Family, Civil, Government and Probate Codes, I find nothing of state-wide applicability.