Recording a deed in Spokane County, Washington
Everything you need to get a deed on file in Spokane County. The office that records it, the formatting it checks, what it costs, and the three ways to submit.
- Recording office
- County Auditor (in King County, the Recorder's Office)
- Witnesses
- Notary only
- Transfer tax
- 1.1% to 3% of the selling price
- First-page margin
- 3″ top
- Recording fee
- $303.50 first page
- E-recording
- Approved submitters
Recording a deed in Spokane County
Deeds affecting property in Spokane County, Washington are recorded with the County Auditor. Recording is what puts the world on notice of your ownership and fixes the priority date. An unrecorded deed can still transfer title between the parties, but it leaves you exposed to anyone who records first.
The recording rules the office applies come from RCW §§ 65.04.045–.047 (format) and 65.08.070 (effect of recording). Deeds themselves are governed by RCW § 64.04.010.
What to bring
- The original signed and notarized deed. Recorders do not record photocopies handed over the counter.
- A completed notarial acknowledgment, with the date, the place where you signed, and the commission expiry all filled in.
- Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit (Form 84 0001A), which Washington requires alongside the deed.
- Payment for the recording fee, $303.50 for the first page and $1 per additional page. Many offices do not take personal checks.
Formatting
- Washington requires a 3-inch top margin on the first page, 1-inch side and bottom margins, and 1 inch at the top of subsequent pages (RCW § 65.04.045).
- Page one must show the return address at the top left, the document title immediately below the 3-inch margin, then the grantors and grantees, an abbreviated legal description, the assessor's property tax parcel number set apart from other text, and the reference numbers of any documents assigned or released (RCW § 65.04.045(1)). Deedly prints these as an index block under the title.
- Deedly's layout, which suits this office: 8.5 × 11 inch paper, a 3-inch clear space at the top of page one for the recording stamp, 1-inch margins on the other edges, and type no smaller than 8 point. Deedly formats every document this way automatically.
- A legal description. A street address alone is not enough.
- A 'when recorded, return to' block so the stamped original comes back to you.
How to file
- In personTake the original to the County Auditor in Spokane. This is the fastest route. You usually walk out with the recording information the same day.
- By mailSend the original with a check or money order for the fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow one to three weeks for the stamped original to come back.
- E-recordingTitle companies, attorneys, and other approved submitters file electronically through services such as Simplifile, CSC, or ePN. Some offices accept filings from the public through those services; check the office's website. If you prepared the deed yourself, in person or by mail is usually simpler.
Confirm the address before you post anything
Offices move and hours change. Search for "Spokane County Washington County Auditor" and use the official county website, not a directory listing, which is often years out of date.
Formatted to Washington requirements, with Spokane County filing instructions included.
Common questions
With the County Auditor, located in Spokane. Deeds are always recorded in the county where the property sits, not where the owner lives.
$303.50 for the first page and $1 per additional page. Washington also charges real estate excise tax (reet) at 1.1% to 3% of the selling price (state rate, graduated on each portion of the price: through December 31, 2026, 1.1% up to $525,000, 1.28% to $1,525,000, 2.75% to $3,025,000 and 3% above; for sales from January 1, 2027, 1.1% up to $551,000, 1.28% to $1,551,000, 2.75% to $3,051,000 and 3% above; agricultural land and timberland 1.28% flat), plus a local REET, usually 0.25% or 0.5% depending on the city or county (2.0% in San Juan County), though whether a gift or family transfer is exempt depends on this state's exemptions. Confirm current fees with the office before you mail anything; they change.
Usually only through an approved e-recording submitter, such as a title company or attorney, using a service like Simplifile, CSC, or ePN. Some offices accept filings from the public through those services; check the office's website. Otherwise, record in person or by mail.
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Deedly is not a law firm
Its software and documents are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. We provide self-help software and state-specific deed forms; you make your own decisions about your property. Using Deedly does not create an attorney-client relationship, and nothing here is legal advice. If your situation is complex or contested, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.