Today, October 13, 2021, the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department achieved a milestone in electronic recording history by reaching 10 million electronically recorded documents. This accomplishment keeps the department as the nationwide industry leader and is a testament to the department’s commitment to bringing the residents of Orange County fast and efficient services.

Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen attributes much of the success to the vision of the late Gary Granville who was the Clerk-Recorder from 1994 to 2002. Under his leadership, Clerk-Recorder Nguyen was part of the team that implemented the first electronic recording system in the nation in 1997. While recording real property documents electronically is a common service today, Orange County changed the industry by implementing the first electronic recording delivery system in the nation.

WASHINGTON – The Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department has been recognized with a second 2021 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.

NACo recognized “COVID-19: Hitched with Virtual Wedding Services” in the award category of Information Technology. Dedicated to offering as many safe options as possible, Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen began offering virtual marriage services following Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order allowing marriage services through videoconference. The creative joining of the department’s existing technological resources and online services allowed it to construct a process that was operationally effective, cost effective, and simple. More importantly, this creative use of technology allowed high risk individuals, first responders, and many others who were unable to visit the department’s offices in-person to access essential government services.

WASHINGTON – The Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department has been recognized with an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.

NACo recognized “COVID-19: Hitched at Honda Center through Marriage Services”, in the award category of County Administration and Management. The Hitched at Honda Center program allowed the department to reimagine the marriage services process. Through thoughtful planning, training, and management, staff worked from inside ticket booths at Honda Center in Anaheim, California that had all the resources needed to be fully functional despite operating from a remote location. This allowed the department to continue rendering essential marriage services to its customers in a totally reimagined manner despite the pandemic.

After being forced to halt passport services due to pandemic closures, COVID-19 numbers drastically falling, and demand for travel increasing daily, Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen is pleased to announce the resumption of passport services at his department, signaling a steady return to normalcy. One year after halting services due to COVID-19, the department is excited to get passport services up and running again. In what is considered a milestone achievement, effective Monday, May 17, 2021, the department will be offering appointments only for new passports at the Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana and at its North County branch office in Anaheim. Again, only new passport applications will be accepted. No passport renewal services will be available. Service is by appointment only. No passport services available at Laguna Hills office.

To complete a passport application and to book an appointment, customers must visit OCRecorder.com. Appointments are filling up fast, so book yours now! Applicants must complete their application online and make an appointment prior to visiting the offices. The Old County Courthouse is located at 211 West Santa Ana Blvd. in downtown Santa Ana and offers appointments from 8 am to 4 pm. The North County branch office at 222 S. Harbor Blvd., Ste. 110 in Anaheim, inside the Wells Fargo Building and is offering appointments from 9 am to 4 pm. No walk-in service will be available at either location. For those looking to renew a passport, please visit the U.S. Department of State’s website at travel.state.gov/content/travel.html. 

Effective April 1, 2021, Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen is pleased to announce the following service updates to the department’s document recording and marriage services:

• Document recording services will resume at the department’s branch offices in Anaheim and Laguna Hills. Please note that document recording services open at 9:00 a.m., close from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch, and close at 4:00 p.m. at the department’s branch offices.
• Marriage services will be available to walk-in customers at the department’s branch offices in Anaheim, Laguna Hills and at the Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana. Services will be available from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the branch offices and from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana.

Customers MUST complete an online marriage application at OCRecorder.com prior to visiting any office location. An appointment is highly recommended and can also be made online. Passport services will not be available at any of the department’s locations until further notice. The department will be implementing social distancing guidelines and steps recommended by local and state health authorities at all locations.

Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen is excited to announce the resumption of walk-in service at the department’s office locations in Anaheim, Laguna Hills, and Santa Ana. Appointments will no longer be needed to obtain the department’s services, except for marriage services. Real property document recording services will only be available at the department’s County Service Center office location in Santa Ana. Passport services will not be available at any of the department’s locations until further notice. The department will continue to implement social distancing guidelines and steps recommended by local and state health authorities at all locations. 

Marriage services will be available by appointment only at the Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana and the department’s North and South County branch offices in Anaheim and Laguna Hills until further notice. Customers MUST complete an online marriage application and make an appointment at OCRecorder.com prior to visiting any office location.

Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen will offer virtual marriage services for the first time on what is considered the most romantic day of the year by many. Although Valentine’s Day lands on a Sunday this year, that is not stopping Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen from making it memorable for couples looking to tie the knot from the comfort and safety of their home. The department will offer virtual marriage appointments from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on a first come, first served basis, so schedule yours soon! Couples must purchase a marriage license and have a civil marriage ceremony performed during their appointment. For more information, please call the department’s information line at (714) 834-2500 or visit OCRecorder.com.

For those looking to tie the knot this coming year, here is great news for you! Effective Monday, January 4, 2021, Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen will be offering appointments for marriage services at his offices in Anaheim, Laguna Hills and at the Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana. Please note, no other services will be offered at these locations until further notice. Only marriage services will be available, with no walk-in service. Appointments will be available Monday through Friday (except holidays), from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the department’s Anaheim and Laguna Hills locations and from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana. To make an appointment, couples must complete an application and make an appointment online at the following link: https://www.ocrecorder.com/services/marriage-services.

For those needing to obtain important documents, get a birth, death, or marriage certificate, record real property documents, or file important documents, help is here! Beginning Monday, December 21, 2020, Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen will be offering appointments for services at the department’s office in Santa Ana located inside the County Service Center. The County Service Center is located at 601 N. Ross Street in Santa Ana. No walk-in service will be available until further notice. All other department locations will remain closed for over-the-counter service until further notice. To obtain services, customers must make an appointment prior to visiting the office. Appointments will be available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. For more detailed information, please visit OCRecorder.com or call the information line at (714) 834-2500.

In efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, effective Friday, December 11, 2020, the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department will be temporarily closing all over the counter service to the public until further notice. Most of the department’s services may be requested by mail.

“Unfortunately, the Governor’s stay at home order makes these closures necessary,” said Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen. “I want the public to know that we will be working hard to continue providing services by mail. We are here for you despite our doors being closed.”

The department will continue to provide marriage services at Honda Center in Anaheim by appointment only. Couples who have already booked a virtual marriage appointment, please be assured that your appointment is still being honored. For more information on obtaining marriage services or other services, please visit OCRecorder.com or call our information line at  (714) 834-2500. The department’s call center will be available to customers from 8:00 a.m. to   4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday except holidays.