California · Civil Code
CIV §1217: An unrecorded instrument is valid as between the parties thereto and those who have notice thereof.
What this law says, in plain English
An unrecorded instrument is legally valid between the parties who made it and anyone who knows about it, even though it was not officially recorded.
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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.