Sec Form 5 Filing - CASPERSEN CURT A @ FIRST AMERICAN CORP - 2004-12-31

FORM 5 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0287 Expires: November 30, 2011 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person CASPERSEN CURT A 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol FIRST AMERICAN CORP [ (FAF)] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Executive Vice President (Last) (First) (Middle) 1 FIRST AMERICAN WAY 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 12/31/2004 (Street) SANTA ANA, CA92707 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 15,270.03 D Common Stock 3,067.54 I By 401(k) Plan Trust ( 1 ) Common Stock 357.806 I By ESOP Trust ( 2 ) Common Stock 884.9 I By Spouse Common Stock 625 I By Spouse in Trust for Daughter ( 3 ) Common Stock 650 I By Spouse in Trust for Son

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Employee Director Stock (right to buy) $ 23.583 04/23/1999( 4 ) 04/23/2008 Common Stock 22,500 22,500 D Employee Stock Option (right to buy) $ 5.694 04/24/1997( 5 ) 04/24/2006 Common Stock 10,000 10,000 D Employee Stock Option (right to buy) $ 10.75 02/24/2001( 6 ) 02/24/2010 Common Stock 20,000 20,000 D Employee Stock Option (right to buy) $ 16.5 07/23/2003( 7 ) 07/23/2012 Common Stock 10,000 10,000 D Employee Stock Option (right to buy) $ 21.89 03/12/2004( 8 ) 03/12/2013 Common Stock 12,500 12,500 D Employee Stock Option (right to buy) $ 24.67 04/01/2004( 9 ) 04/01/2013 Common Stock 12,500 12,500 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other CASPERSEN CURT A 1 FIRST AMERICAN WAY SANTA ANA, CA92707 Executive Vice President Signatures By: Kathleen M. Collins, Attorney In Fact for 02/08/2005 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Amount shown consists of shares contributed by issuer as company match, shares purchased for my account and shares acquired through automatic reinvestment of dividends paid as reported in most recent account statement in transactions exempt under rules 16a-3(f)(1)(i)(B) and 16b-3(c). ( 2 )Amount shown consists of shares allocated to my account in previous years and shares acquired through automatic reinvestment of dividends paid on such previously allocated shares, as reported in most recent account statement. ( 3 )Shares held by spouse as trustee of irrevocable trust for the benefit of my daughter. ( 4 )The option vests in five equal annual increments commencing 4/23/99, the first anniversary of the grant. ( 5 )The option vests in five equal annual increments commencing 4/24/97, the first anniversary of the grant. ( 6 )The option vests in five equal annual increments commencing 2/24/01, the first anniversary of the grant. ( 7 )The option vests in five equal annual increments commencing 7/23/03, the first anniversary of the grant. ( 8 )The option vests in five equal annual increments commencing 3/12/04, the first anniversary of the grant. ( 9 )The option vests in five equal annual increments commencing 4/01/04, the first anniversary of the grant.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.