8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                              --------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                               -------------------

       Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) March 23, 2004
                                                        ------------------------

                         THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION
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             (Exact Name of the Registrant as Specified in Charter)

California                           0-3658                           95-1068610
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(State or Other Jurisdiction        (Commission                    (IRS Employer
of Incorporation)                    File Number)            Identification No.)

1 First American Way, Santa Ana, California                           92707-5913
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                              (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (714) 800-3000
                                                   -----------------------------

                                 Not Applicable.
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          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)


Item 7.    Exhibits.


Exhibit No.                  Description
- -----------                  -----------

99.1                         Press Release.


Item 9.          Regulation FD Disclosure.

     On March 23, 2004, The First American Corporation issued a press release
announcing that its board of directors has approved the redemption of First
American's 4.50% Senior Convertible Debentures Due 2008, and that First American
plans to redeem such debentures on April 15, 2004. The full text of the press
release issued in connection with the announcement is attached hereto as Exhibit
99.1.

     The information in this current report and in the exhibit hereto is deemed
to be "furnished" pursuant to Item 9 of Form 8-K and shall not be deemed to be
"filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act, and is
not incorporated by reference into any filings with the SEC unless it shall be
explicitly so incorporated in such filings.



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                    THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION



Date: March 23, 2004                By: /s/ Thomas A. Klemens
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:   Thomas A. Klemens
                                      Title:  Senior Executive Vice President
                                              and Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


Contact:
Thomas A. Klemens
Sr. Executive Vice President &                       News For Immediate Release
Chief Financial Officer
(714) 800-4401



               FIRST AMERICAN ANNOUNCES REDEMPTION OF 4.50 PERCENT
                     SENIOR CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES DUE 2008

SANTA ANA, Calif., March 23, 2004 - The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF),
the nation's largest data provider, today announced that its board of directors
has approved the redemption of the entire outstanding principal amount of its
4.50 percent senior convertible debentures due 2008. First American will redeem
the debentures on April 15, 2004.

     The redemption price of 102.25 percent of the principal amount of the
debentures, with interest accrued to the redemption date, will be payable on
April 15, 2004. On and after April 15, 2004, interest will cease to accrue on
the debentures.

     The outstanding face value of these debentures is $210 million. The
debentures are convertible into common shares of First American at $28. Holders
may convert debentures on or prior to April 13, 2004. Because the shares to be
issued upon conversion have been reflected in First American's fully diluted
earnings-per-share calculation since issuance of the debentures, any conversion
will not have a dilutive effect on First American's fully diluted earnings per
share.

     The First American Corporation is a Fortune 500 company that traces its
history to 1889. As the nation's largest data provider, the company supplies
businesses and consumers with information resources in connection with the major
economic events of people's lives, such as getting a job; renting an apartment;
buying a car, house, boat or airplane; securing a mortgage; opening or buying a
business; and planning for retirement. The First American Family of Companies,
many of which command leading market share positions in their respective
industries, operate within seven primary business segments including: Title
Insurance and Services, Specialty Insurance, Trust and Other Services, Mortgage
Information, Property Information, Credit Information and Screening Information.
With revenues of $6.21 billion in 2003, First American has nearly 30,000
employees in approximately 1,800 offices throughout the United States and
abroad. More information about the company and an archive of its press releases
can be found at www.firstam.com.

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