Federal Way Deed Records

Federal Way deed records are maintained by the King County Recorder's Office in Seattle. When property in Federal Way is sold, refinanced, or otherwise transferred, the deed is recorded with the King County Auditor and becomes part of the permanent public record. You can search those records online going back to August 1991. This page explains how to find Federal Way deed records, what document types are available, and what you need to know about the King County recording system.

King County Recorder's Office for Federal Way

The King County Recorder's Office maintains all deed records for Federal Way. Washington law designates county auditors as the official custodians of recorded real estate documents. The Recorder's Office receives, indexes, stores, and provides public access to all real property instruments recorded for King County properties. Federal Way is one of the largest cities in King County by population, and the volume of property transactions there generates a significant number of recorded documents each year.

The office is located at 500 Fourth Avenue, Room 430, in the King County Administration Building in downtown Seattle. It handles deeds, deeds of trust, easements, liens, plats, surveys, marriage licenses, and other recorded documents for Federal Way and all other King County communities. The online records database provides free access to documents recorded since August 1, 1991. For older Federal Way property records, the King County Archives and the Puget Sound Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives hold pre-1991 materials.

Note: The King County Parcel Viewer allows you to search by Federal Way address or parcel number to pull up property details and link directly to the deed recording index for that parcel.

How to Search Federal Way Deed Records

King County's online recorded document search is the primary tool for Federal Way deed research. The system covers documents recorded since August 1, 1991. You can search by grantor name, grantee name, document type, recording date range, or document number. Results show index data with links to document images for most records. Most images can be viewed and printed at no charge. Certified copies require a formal request with payment.

The Federal Way City public records page explains how the city handles requests under the Washington Public Records Act, RCW 42.56. Many records are accessible through the city's Electronic Records Library. The city's records are divided by department: police records go to the Federal Way Police Department at 33325 8th Ave. S., Suite 101; court records go to Federal Way Municipal Court at the same address, Suite 102; and general city records go to the City Clerk's Department at 33325 8th Ave. S. All of those are city-level records, not deed records. Deed and property title documents are maintained by King County, not the city.

The Federal Way public records page manages requests for city documents through an online portal. Property deed records are held by the King County Recorder's Office.

To start a deed search for a Federal Way property, the King County Parcel Viewer is a good first step if you only know the address. Type in the address to get the parcel number and legal description, then jump to the deed index from the parcel detail page. This skips the step of searching by name and goes directly to the recorded documents tied to that specific parcel.

Types of Deed Records in Federal Way

The King County Recorder maintains many types of property documents for Federal Way. Three main deed types are used for property conveyances in Washington. The Statutory Warranty Deed under RCW 64.04.030 is standard in most Federal Way home sales. The seller makes full covenants guaranteeing clear title, freedom from encumbrances, and defense against future title claims. The Bargain and Sale Deed under RCW 64.04.040 limits warranties and is common in bank or foreclosure sales. The Quitclaim Deed under RCW 64.04.050 makes no title guarantees and is used for family transfers, divorce property settlement, and title corrections.

Beyond the three basic deed types, King County also records deeds of trust for Federal Way properties when real estate loans are made. A Full Reconveyance is recorded when the loan is paid off. Easements grant neighboring landowners or utility companies specific use rights that bind all future owners. Liens record debt claims against the property from contractors, courts, or government agencies. Plats and surveys establish legal parcel boundaries. All of these are indexed by grantor and grantee names and are searchable through the county's online system.

Note: All deeds in Washington must contain a legal description of the property, be signed by the grantor, and have the grantor's signature notarized under RCW 64.04.020. A street address alone is not a sufficient legal description for recording purposes.

Federal Way Recording Fees

Washington State recording fees apply uniformly to all counties under RCW Chapters 36.18 and 36.22. Recording a deed in King County costs $303.50 for the first page plus $1.00 per additional page. A deed of trust costs $304.50 for the first page. The fee includes a $183 housing affordability surcharge and a $100 Covenant Homeownership surcharge that fund statewide affordable housing programs.

Documents not meeting the formatting standards under RCW 65.04 may be returned or assessed a $50 non-standard surcharge when a cover sheet is used. First-page formatting requires a three-inch top margin, one-inch margins on other sides, and required index information including document title, party names, abbreviated legal description, and parcel number. Copy fees are $1.00 per page for standard copies and $3.00 for the first page of a certified copy.

Online Resources for Federal Way Property Records

The Federal Way city website provides links to public records, city departments, and contact information for King County offices handling deed and property records.

The King County online recorder portal is accessible from the King County website and provides free search and image access for most documents recorded since August 1991. The search interface allows name-based and document-number-based queries. Results link to document images that can be viewed and printed without charge. The system also provides access to real estate excise tax information, which records sale prices and can be useful when researching Federal Way property sales history.

The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov provides historical land records for King County including Federal Way. The collections include land records, plat and survey documents, and real property record cards with photographs from the 1930s and 1940s. For Federal Way properties with older ownership histories, the Digital Archives can complement the county's online system and fill in gaps for the period before the county's digital records begin in 1991.

Public Access to Federal Way Deed Records

Federal Way deed records are public under RCW Chapter 42.56. Anyone can search and copy recorded documents without providing a reason. King County must respond to records requests within five business days. Online access is free for most documents in the system. No identification is required to use the online search portal.

Walk-in access to the King County Recorder's Office in Seattle is available during business hours. Public computers allow on-site searching and viewing. Staff can help with the system and take requests for paper or certified copies. Mail-in requests are also processed. Include the document number, type of copy, and payment with mail requests. Social Security numbers are redacted from online images. Full copies are available in person for those with a legal need for the unredacted version.

King County Deed Records

Federal Way is in King County. All deed records for Federal Way properties are maintained by the King County Recorder's Office. The county page covers the full recording system, document types, and search tools available across King County.

View King County Deed Records

Nearby Cities

These cities near Federal Way also file deed records through county recording offices.