Washington
Washington Property Records: How to Find Out Who Owns a Property (2026)
Washington's 39 counties record land documents through the County Auditor, whom RCW 36.22.010(1) makes the recorder of deeds, except King County, where a separate Recorder's Office handles recording, a charter-county variation RCW 65.04.015(1) expressly contemplates.
Information last verified on 2026-07-16. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.
How Property Records Work in Washington
Washington assigns land-records recording to the County Auditor in 38 of its 39 counties. RCW 36.22.010(1) makes the county auditor "recorder of deeds and other instruments in writing which by law are to be filed and recorded in and for the county," covering deeds, mortgages, plats, liens, and similar documents. Chapter 65.04 RCW, which governs the mechanics of recording, does not itself create the office; it defines the "recording officer" as "the county auditor, or in charter counties the county official charged with the responsibility for recording instruments in the county records" (RCW 65.04.015(1)). King County breaks from that pattern: it is a charter county, and its land-records recording is handled by a separate King County Recorder's Office, precisely the variation RCW 65.04.015(1) writes into the recording chapter. That office performs the identical legal function under a different name.
Outside King County, the term "County Auditor" covers a broader range of duties than land recording alone, including elections administration in many counties, which sometimes confuses first-time searchers who expect a dedicated "recorder" title. Anyone searching Washington property records should first confirm which county the property sits in, then look for that county's Auditor's office (or, in King County only, the Recorder's Office) rather than assuming a uniform office name statewide.
How to Find Out Who Owns a Property in Washington
Most Washington counties make this easier than many states, since a majority publish both a free index and free scanned document images online, not merely a name index. King County's Landmark Web search returns unofficial images of documents recorded since 1976 at no cost; certified or official copies require payment. Whatcom County's Digital Research Room provides free index and image access to documents recorded from 1960 to the present, searchable by grantor or grantee name, Auditor file number, or, for documents after 1997, parcel number. Coverage and depth vary by county, so check your specific county Auditor's or Recorder's website first.
For a faster answer focused on current ownership rather than the underlying recorded document, the county assessor's site is usually the quickest free tool. King County's Assessor eReal Property lookup and its companion Parcel Viewer map let you search by address or parcel number and return the owner of record along with assessed value. The Washington Department of Revenue maintains a directory linking to all 39 county assessor and treasurer sites if you're working in a different county. There is no single statewide document search; the Washington State Digital Archives hosts older, historical scanned land records contributed by participating counties, useful for research into a property's past, but it is not a live current-recording index. A certified copy of a recorded deed costs $3.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page, a fee RCW 36.18.010(2) fixes statewide rather than leaving to each county. See the Property Records by State hub for how this compares to other states.
Why Washington Uses "County Auditor," Except in King County
Washington is one of a small number of states that names its statutory recording office "County Auditor" rather than "Recorder" or "Register of Deeds." RCW 36.22.010(1) has used this terminology consistently, and the underlying legal duty is identical to what a Recorder of Deeds does in most other states: receiving, indexing, and preserving land instruments. The naming becomes a real trap only in King County, the state's most populous county, where recording is handled by the Recorder's Office instead, the charter-county option RCW 65.04.015(1) allows. A reader searching for "King County Auditor property records" may come up empty and should instead look for the King County Recorder's Office.
Deed Scam Mailers and Property Fraud Protection
Washington homeowners are targeted by the same nationwide deed-solicitation mailer scam seen elsewhere: companies mail official-looking offers to sell a "certified copy of your deed" or a property profile for $80 to $95 or more, styled to resemble a government notice and often including a response deadline. An actual certified copy costs $3.00 for the first page and $1.00 per additional page under RCW 36.18.010(2), directly from the county Auditor or Recorder, and most homeowners already received their original deed at closing. Report these mailers to the Washington State Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division and to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.
For the more serious problem of deed fraud, forged documents recorded to fraudulently transfer or borrow against a property, several Washington counties run free notification services. King County's Recorder's Office operates the Recording Activity Notification System (RANS), which emails an alert with the document type, recording date, and recording number whenever a document matching a registered name is recorded; King County's own materials are explicit that RANS is notification-only and does not itself block or prevent a fraudulent recording. Snohomish County runs an equivalent Recorded Document Notification System. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) issued a public service announcement in June 2026 warning that criminals increasingly use identity information from public records and data brokers to impersonate property owners nationwide, which makes registering for one of these county notification services worth doing if your county offers it.
Not a Substitute for a Professional Title Search
A free Auditor's index search or an assessor's ownership lookup is a useful starting point, but it is not equivalent to a professional title search. An estimated quarter of residential real estate transactions surface a title issue that a dedicated search catches before closing, and a licensed title company reviews court records, liens, judgments, and tax records together, beyond what a county recording index alone shows. Anyone purchasing property or closing a real estate transaction in Washington should work with a licensed title company or real estate attorney rather than relying solely on a DIY search.
For how other states organize this process, see the Property Records by State hub.
Disclaimer
This article provides general legal and public-records information about how property ownership records work in Washington. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and is not a substitute for a licensed title company's title search before a real estate purchase or closing. Recording procedures and online access are set locally by each county and can change, though the certified-copy fee is set by state statute. Information in this article was last verified on 2026-07-16. Consult a Washington-licensed attorney or a licensed title company for advice about a specific property or transaction.
Last updated: 2026-07-16. Figures and program details reflect their in-force version as of 2026-07-16.
More Washington Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Washington use 'Recorder of Deeds' or 'County Auditor'?
Mostly County Auditor. RCW 36.22.010(1) makes the County Auditor the statutory recorder of deeds in 38 of Washington's 39 counties. King County is the exception, using a separate Recorder's Office, which RCW 65.04.015(1) permits in charter counties.
Can I search Washington property records online for free?
In most counties, yes, including document images, not just an index. King County's Landmark Web covers documents since 1976, and Whatcom County's Digital Research Room covers 1960 to present, both free.
How do I find out who currently owns a property in Washington?
Start with the county assessor's site, such as King County's eReal Property lookup or Parcel Viewer, for a free ownership and valuation search by address or parcel number.
Is there a statewide Washington property records search?
No single unified statewide document search exists. The Washington State Digital Archives hosts historical records from participating counties, but recording itself is handled county by county.
How much does a certified copy of a Washington deed cost?
$3.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. RCW 36.18.010(2) sets that fee statewide, so it does not vary from county to county.
Does Washington have a property fraud alert service?
Some counties do. King County's Recording Activity Notification System (RANS) and Snohomish County's Recorded Document Notification System both email free alerts when a document is recorded against a registered name, though neither blocks a fraudulent filing on its own.
Why does King County call its recording office something different?
King County is a charter county. RCW 65.04.015(1) provides that in charter counties the recording officer is the county official charged with recording instruments, which in King County is the Recorder's Office rather than an Auditor.
Updates
Corrected the statutory citations for Washington's recording office: the County Auditor is designated recorder of deeds by RCW 36.22.010(1) rather than chapter 65.04, King County's Recorder's Office is the charter-county variation allowed by RCW 65.04.015(1), and the $3.00 first-page certified-copy fee is set statewide by RCW 36.18.010(2) rather than county by county.
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Revised Code of Washington
§ 65.04.140Auditor as custodian of records.In force
The county auditor in his or her capacity of recorder of deeds is sole custodian of all books in which are recorded deeds, mortgages, judgments, liens, incumbrances, and other instruments of writing, indexes thereto, maps, charts, town plats, survey and other books and papers constituting the records and files in said office of recorder of deeds, and all such records and files are, and shall be, matters of public information, free of charge to any and all persons demanding to inspect or to examine the same, or to search the same for titles of property. It is said recorder's duty to arrange in suitable places the indexes of said books of record, and when practicable, the record books themselves, to the end that the same may be accessible to the public and convenient for said public inspection, examination, and search, and not interfere with the said auditor's personal control and responsibility for the same, or prevent him or her from promptly furnishing the said records and files of his or her said office to persons demanding any information from the same.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-07 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at app.leg.wa.gov
§ 65.04.015Definitions.In force
The definitions set forth in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Recording officer" means the county auditor, or in charter counties the county official charged with the responsibility for recording instruments in the county records. (2) "File," "filed," or "filing" means the act of delivering or transmitting electronically an instrument to the auditor or recording officer for recording into the official public records. (3) "Record," "recorded," or "recording" means the process, such as electronic, mechanical, optical, magnetic, or microfilm storage used by the auditor or recording officer after filing to incorporate the instrument into the public records. (4) "Recording number" means a unique number that identifies the storage location (book or volume and page, reel and frame, instrument number, auditor or recording officer file number, receiving number, electronic retrieval code, or other specific place) of each instrument in the public records accessible in the same recording office where the instrument containing the reference to the location is found.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at app.leg.wa.gov
Cited in 2 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2002
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Ago (Washington Attorney General Reports 2002)“…sibility for recording instruments in the county records." RCW 65.04.015 . In this opinion, references to "coun…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 36.18.010Auditor's fees.In forcecited in 3 of our articles
Except as otherwise ordered by the court pursuant to RCW 4.24.130, county auditors or recording officers shall collect the following fees for their official services: (1) For recording instruments, for the first page eight and one-half by 14 inches or less, $5; for each additional page eight and one-half by 14 inches or less, $1. The fee for recording multiple transactions contained in one instrument will be calculated for each transaction requiring separate indexing as required under RCW 65.04.050 as follows: The fee for each title or transaction is the same fee as the first page of any additional recorded document; the fee for additional pages is the same fee as for any additional pages for any recorded document; the fee for the additional pages may be collected only once and may not be collected for each title or transaction; (2) For preparing and certifying copies, for the first page eight and one-half by 14 inches or less, $3; for each additional page eight and one-half by 14 inches or less, $1; (3) For preparing noncertified copies, for each page eight and one-half by 14 inches or less, $1; (4) For administering an oath or taking an affidavit, with or without seal,…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at app.leg.wa.gov
Cited in 1 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2018
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State Of Washington v. LA Investors, LLC (Court of Appeals of Washington 2018, 410 P.3d 1183)“…te for LRO’s mailers in Washington was “two to three 3 RCW 36.18.010(2) & (3) (for certified copies, $3.00 f…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Washington Name Change Laws: How to Legally Change Your Name, Washington Marriage License Requirements 2026: Fees and 3-Day Wait
§ 36.22.010Duties of auditor.In force
The county auditor: (1) Shall be recorder of deeds and other instruments in writing which by law are to be filed and recorded in and for the county for which he or she is elected; (2) Shall keep an account current with the county treasurer, charge all money received as shown by receipts issued and credit all disbursements paid out according to the record of settlement of the treasurer with the legislative authority; (3) Shall make out and transmit to the state auditor a statement of the state fund account with the county in accordance with standards developed by the state auditor. The statement must be available to the public; (4) Shall make available a complete exhibit of the prior-year finances of the county including, but not limited to, a statement of financial condition and financial operation in accordance with standards developed by the state auditor. This exhibit shall be made available after the financial records are closed for the prior year; (5) Shall make out a register of all warrants legally authorized and directed to be issued by the legislative body at any regular or special meeting. The auditor shall make the data available to the county treasurer.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at app.leg.wa.gov
Cited in 3 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2024
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Smith v. Board of Walla Walla County Commissioners (Court of Appeals of Washington 1987, 48 Wash. App. 303)“…e are not statutory duties of the auditor. See RCW 36.22.010 (duties of the auditor). That the budge…”
- Building Industry Association Of Wa, V. State Of Washington (Court of Appeals of Washington 2024)“…ded in and for the county for which he or she is elected.” RCW 36.22.010(1). To that end, chapter 36.22 RCW req…”
- Ago (Washington Attorney General Reports 1996)“…ed in and for the county for which he [or she] is elected." RCW 36.22.010 (1). The basic recording duty is set fo…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
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Sources and References
- Revised Code of Washington 65.04 (Recording, County Auditor)(app.leg.wa.gov).gov
- King County Recorder's Office, Records Search(kingcounty.gov).gov
- King County Recorder's Office, Recording Activity Notification System (Fraud Alert)(recordsearch.kingcounty.gov).gov
- King County Assessor, Parcel Viewer(gismaps.kingcounty.gov).gov
- Pierce County, Recording, Excise, and Map Fees(piercecountywa.gov).gov
- Whatcom County, Recording(whatcomcounty.us).gov
- Snohomish County, Recorded Document Notification System(snohomishcountywa.gov).gov
- Washington State Digital Archives, historical land records collection(digitalarchives.wa.gov).gov
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, Public Service Announcement I-061626-PSA, Protect Your Property from Illegal Sales Through Parcel Owner Impersonation(ic3.gov).gov
- Minnesota Attorney General, Real Estate Deed Solicitation consumer publication(ag.state.mn.us).gov
- RCW 36.22.010(1), Duties of county auditor (recorder of deeds and other instruments in writing)(app.leg.wa.gov)
- RCW 65.04.015(1), Definitions (recording officer; charter counties)(app.leg.wa.gov)
- RCW 36.18.010(2), County auditor fees for preparing and certifying copies(app.leg.wa.gov)