Maple Valley Deed Records Search
Maple Valley deed records are filed with the King County Recorder's Office, the official recording authority for all property documents in the city. Maple Valley is in King County, southeast of Renton in the Tahoma area. All deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plats tied to Maple Valley properties are on file with the county recorder. The online search portal covers documents from August 1991 forward, and the King County Parcel Viewer lets you look up property details by address. For older Maple Valley deed records, the King County Archives and the Washington State Digital Archives hold historical materials.
Maple Valley Overview
King County Recorder's Office
All Maple Valley deed records are filed and maintained by the King County Recorder's Office at the King County Administration Building in Seattle. The recorder holds the official repository of recorded real property documents for the county, including deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances, liens, easements, and surveys. Under RCW 65.08.070, recording gives public notice of a property transfer and establishes priority in the event of competing ownership claims for the same Maple Valley parcel.
King County covers a large area including many cities in the south and southeast parts of the county where Maple Valley is located. Maple Valley incorporated in 1997, but property in the area had been recorded with King County for decades before incorporation. The recorder's office holds that entire history, providing a continuous ownership chain for every parcel within the current city limits and the surrounding unincorporated areas.
| Office | King County Recorder's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 500 Fourth Avenue, Room 311 Seattle, WA 98104 |
| Phone | (206) 296-1570 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | kingcounty.gov/en/dept/records-licensing/recorders-office |
Maple Valley City Hall is at 22035 SE Wax Rd, Ste 5, Maple Valley, WA 98038, phone 425-413-8800. The city handles its own permits and planning records, but deed records for all Maple Valley properties are exclusively at King County. Do not confuse the two offices when researching property ownership.
How to Access Maple Valley Deed Records
King County's online records search at recordsearch.kingcounty.gov is the main tool for searching Maple Valley deed records. Documents recorded since August 1, 1991 are in the system. Search by property owner name (grantor or grantee), parcel number, document type, or recording date. Document images are free to view and print from the portal. For certified copies with the official county seal, contact the recorder's office at (206) 296-1570 or visit in person.
The King County Parcel Viewer is a free mapping tool searchable by address or parcel number. For Maple Valley properties, you can enter the street address and pull up the parcel's legal description, assessed value, sale history, and direct links to recorded documents in the recording system. The Parcel Viewer also connects to the Assessor's property report and GIS layers showing parcel boundaries and zoning information.
King County Parcel Viewer links to Assessor's property reports, GIS information, property tax information, and recorded documents, providing a comprehensive property research starting point for any Maple Valley parcel. For records before 1991, the King County Archives in Seattle holds older deed records. The Washington State Digital Archives has additional historical land records including Real Property Record Cards with property photographs taken during the 1930s and 1940s.
The City of Maple Valley's official website at maplevalleywa.gov provides access to city services and permit records that supplement the deed records maintained by the King County Recorder's Office.
Deed Record Types for Maple Valley Properties
Maple Valley deed records include the standard Washington deed types that appear throughout King County. Each type carries a different level of title warranty, and the type used in a past transfer tells you something about how the transaction was structured and what protections the buyer received.
The Statutory Warranty Deed under RCW 64.04.030 is used in most standard Maple Valley home sales. The grantor warrants complete ownership, the right to sell, no undisclosed encumbrances, and will defend the title against any challenge from any point in the ownership history. This is the strongest protection available to a buyer. The Quitclaim Deed under RCW 64.04.050 transfers only what the grantor holds, with zero warranty. These appear in Maple Valley deed records for family transfers, estate planning, trust transactions, and corrective deeds.
Bargain and Sale Deeds under RCW 64.04.040 include limited warranties covering only the grantor's period of ownership. Lenders selling properties after foreclosure frequently use this deed type. Deeds of trust are also a common part of Maple Valley deed records. Washington uses deeds of trust to secure home loans, and a reconveyance is recorded when the loan is paid off, clearing the lien from the title. All of these instruments are publicly accessible through King County's recording system.
Recording Fees and Requirements in Maple Valley
Washington State sets recording fees under RCW Chapter 36.18 and RCW 36.22. The standard fee for recording a deed with King County is $303.50 for the first page plus $1.00 for each additional page. This amount applies to all Maple Valley deed recordings. The fee includes housing affordability and historical preservation components. Deeds of trust cost $304.50 for the first page due to an additional archive fee.
All deeds must meet formatting requirements under RCW 65.04. The first page needs a three-inch top margin and one-inch margins on all other sides. Text must be legible, at least 8-point font, with no marks in any margin area. Documents that fail to meet formatting standards may be returned or assessed a $50 emergency non-standard surcharge in addition to regular fees. A Real Estate Excise Tax affidavit is also required for taxable Maple Valley property transfers before recording can proceed.
The Washington State Real Estate Excise Tax applies to most property sales, with rates that vary depending on the sale price. For Maple Valley homes sold under $525,000, the combined state and local REET rate is typically 1.60%. Higher-value sales face progressively higher rates. Transfers by inheritance or bequest are generally exempt from REET and require only minimal recording fees for the related documents.
Note: King County standard recording fees follow the state schedule and are confirmed at the recorder's office at (206) 296-1570.Public Access to Maple Valley Deed Records
Maple Valley deed records are public under the Washington Public Records Act (RCW 42.56). Anyone can search and view recorded deed documents at no charge. No explanation is required for why you want access. The King County online portal provides free viewing of document images for records going back to 1991. In-person access to all records, including older materials, is available at the King County Recorder's office and at the King County Archives.
The City of Maple Valley also handles its own public records requests under RCW 42.56. The City Clerk responds to records requests for city-held documents, including the Maple Valley Municipal Code available through Code Publishing. City records cover permits, ordinances, planning files, and city contracts. These are distinct from deed records but can be useful when researching a specific Maple Valley property's development history alongside the deed records at the county.
King County Deed Records
Maple Valley is in King County, and the King County Recorder's Office holds all deed records for the city. For more about the county recording system and how to access property documents, visit the King County deed records page.
Nearby Cities
These neighboring cities are also in King County and file deed records with the same county recorder.