Washington property deeds

Deeds Washington recognizes

Washington does not recognize lady bird deeds, so recording one here may not do what you want.

How a deed has to be signed in Washington

Washington requires the grantor's signature to be acknowledged before a notary public. No witnesses are required.

Washington document formatting rules

A safe layout for Washington is 8.5 × 11 inch paper with a 3-inch clear space at the top of the first page for the county auditor's stamp, 1-inch margins elsewhere, and no type smaller than 8 point. That is the profile Deedly formats every Washington document to. Writing into the recorder's stamp area is the most common formatting rejection there is.

• 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.

Washington transfer tax and recording fees

Washington 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). Customarily paid by the grantor. The seller owes the tax by law (RCW 82.45.080), and unpaid tax is a lien on the property. In San Juan County part of the local rate is a conservation-area tax that the buyer owes (RCW 82.46.070(1)(a)). A REET affidavit must be filed with every deed that transfers ownership now, including exempt gifts. Claim an exemption on the affidavit by its rule: WAC 458-61A-201 for a gift, 458-61A-202 for a deed that keeps a life estate for the grantor (or for an inheritance or a community property agreement), 458-61A-203 between spouses or domestic partners, 458-61A-211 for a revocable trust. The county treasurer (in King County, the Recorder's Office) processes the affidavit and marks the deed paid or exempt before it can be recorded (RCW 82.45.090). A transfer-on-death deed and its revocation take no affidavit and owe no REET (WAC 458-61A-303(3)(j)-(k)).

Common exemptions: gifts where the grantee pays nothing and takes over none of the grantor's mortgage payments, transfers between spouses or registered domestic partners that create or separate community property or carry out a divorce settlement, transfers to or from a revocable trust, and inheritance and community property agreements.

Recording fees run $303.50 for the first page and $1 per additional page. Washington sets recording fees by state statute (RCW 36.18.010): $303.50 for the first page and $1 for each additional page in every county (as of July 27, 2025), mostly state surcharges.

See how Washington's transfer tax and recording fee compare with other states.

How to hold title in Washington

• Sole ownership. One person owns everything.
• Tenancy in common. Separate, divisible shares with no survivorship. A deceased owner's share goes to their heirs.
• Joint tenancy with right of survivorship. Equal shares; the survivor takes the whole property automatically.
• Community property. Property acquired during marriage belongs to both spouses equally.

Where to record a deed in Washington

Deeds are recorded with the County Auditor (in King County, the Recorder's Office) in the county where the property is located. Washington has 39 counties. Many offices accept e-recording, but usually only from approved submitters such as title companies, attorneys, and lenders.

King · Pierce · Snohomish · Spokane · Clark · Thurston · Kitsap · Yakima · Whatcom · Benton. all Washington recording offices

Why deeds get rejected in Washington

• Washington's first page must show the document title, the grantor and grantee names, an abbreviated legal description, the assessor's parcel number, and any reference numbers (RCW § 65.04.045(1)). If any element is missing, you must attach a Washington recorder's cover sheet, which adds a $1 page fee (RCW § 65.04.047); without one the document is returned. Documents that miss the margin rules can be recorded only with a signed non-standard request and an extra $50.
• A Real Estate Excise Tax affidavit must be filed with every deed that transfers ownership now, including a $0 family gift (not a transfer-on-death deed or its revocation). The county treasurer (in King County, the Recorder's Office) processes the affidavit and marks the deed paid or exempt before it can be recorded.
• Washington sets recording fees by state statute: $303.50 for the first page and $1 for each additional page in every county (as of July 27, 2025), mostly state surcharges.
• Washington is a community property state. Both spouses (or registered domestic partners) must sign and acknowledge a deed that conveys community real property or the home either of you lives in, even if it is one spouse's separate property (RCW §§ 26.16.030(3), 6.13.060). A transfer-on-death deed is different: one spouse may sign it alone, but it then passes only that spouse's share of community property (RCW 64.80.100(4)).
• Washington recognizes transfer-on-death deeds under RCW ch. 64.80.