Abstract of Judgment
A brief transcript of the essentials of a court judgment.
Acknowledgment
A formal declaration made before an authorized person, e.g., a notary public, by a person who has executed an instrument stating that the execution was his/her act. Authenticates the identity of the signor.
Acknowledgment of Satisfaction of Judgment
Document recorded to evidence that a recorded judgment has been satisfied.
Ad Valorem
Latin phrase meaning “in proportion to the value.” In California, the property tax is considered to be an ad valorem tax.
Adjusted Base Year Value
The property's base year value adjusted by an inflation factor, not to exceed two percent per year. Also known as 'factored base year value'.
Administrator
A person appointed by a probate court to settle the affairs of an individual dying without a will.
Administratrix
A woman administrator.
Affiant
A person who has made an affidavit.
Affidavit
A written statement or declaration sworn to or affirmed before some officer who has authority to administer an oath or affirmation. May alternately be signed under penalty of perjury stating that the contents are true and correct.
Agent
One who acts on behalf of another.
Aircraft
Also referred to as general aircraft. Any contrivance used or designed for the navigation of or for flight in the air which has been flown at least once. It is not a parachute or similar emergency safety device, rockets or missiles, or certificated aircraft or scheduled air taxis.
Annual Inflation Factor
A multiplier of the base year value of real property, compounded annually, which is based on a percentage change in the California Consumer Price Index for all items, as determined by the California Department of Industrial Relations. The annual inflation factor shall not exceed 1.02 and is set by the California State Board of Equalization and applies to real property statewide.
Apostille
An authentication of a notary used by countries who are parties to the Hague Convention.
Appeal
The formal request to have an assessment reviewed by the Assessment Appeals Board. The property owner submits a completed Application for Changed Assessment to the Clerk of the Board and the Clerk will notify the property owner when the hearing has been scheduled.
Appurtenance
Anything incidental to or belonging to land considered a party of the real property.
Appurtenant
Belonging to.
Assessed Value
The value of a property on the assessment roll used to calculate property tax at the basic rate of 1%.
Assessee
The person who owns, claims, possesses, or controls a property on the lien date (January 1).
Assessment Appeals Board
An Assessment Appeals Board (AAB) is an independent agency separate from the County Assessor’s Office whose primary function is to conduct impartial hearings on property assessment disputes between taxpayers and the County Assessor. In Marin County there are 2 Boards each made up of 3 members appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
Assessment Diagrams/Maps
Maps designating the boundaries of an assessment district.
Assessment Roll
The official list of all assessable property in the county. It identifies, at a minimum:
- The property (usually by assessor’s parcel number);
- The tax-rate area where the property is located;
- The name (if known) and mailing address of the assessee;
- The assessed value of the property, including separate assessed values for land, improvements, and personal property;
- Penalties (if any); and
- The amount (if any) of specified exemptions (e.g., Homeowners’, Church, Welfare, etc.).
Distinct assessment rolls include the locally-assessed secured and unsecured regular assessment rolls, the locally-assessed supplemental assessment roll, and the state-assessed roll (which is added to the locally-assessed secured roll).
Assessment Year
Assessment year means the period beginning with a lien date and ending immediately prior to the succeeding lien date: January 1 through December 31.
Assessor's Parcel Map
Maps produced by the Assessor. These maps, also called Assessor's Plat Maps or AP Maps, depict and identify land units within the Assessor's jurisdiction by Assessor's Parcel Number.
Assessor's Parcel Number
A book, page / block and parcel numbering system used by the Assessor's Office to identify property.
Assign
To transfer any or all of an interest.
Assignee
One to whom a transfer of interest is made as the assignee of a mortgage or contract.
Assignment of Deed of Trust
Recorded when a lender transfers his/her interest in a deed of trust (loan) to another party.
Assignor
One who makes an assignment as the assignor of a mortgage or contract.
Assumption of Deed of Trust/Mortgage
A formal agreement by buyer to assume terms of existing deed of trust or mortgage.
Attorney in Fact
One who holds a power of attorney from another allowing him to execute legal documents on behalf of another.
Audit
Means of collecting data relevant to the determination of taxability, situs, and value of property.