Search Seattle Deed Records

Seattle deed records are maintained by the King County Recorder's Office, not the City of Seattle. When property in Seattle is sold, refinanced, or transferred, the deed is filed at King County and becomes a permanent public record. You can search those records online using the county's free portal, visit the office in person, or request copies by mail. This page covers how to find Seattle deed records, what types of documents are recorded, fraud protection tools, and where to go for copies.

King County Recorder's Office for Seattle

The King County Recorder's Office is the official custodian of all real property documents for Seattle. This is an important distinction. The City of Seattle does not record deeds. When a Seattle property is sold, the deed goes to the King County Recorder, not to city hall. The Recorder's Office indexes and stores every deed, deed of trust, easement, lien, plat, and survey. These records are permanent and open to the public.

The office sits inside the King County Administration Building in downtown Seattle. It handles a very large volume of transactions because Seattle is by far the most active real estate market in the county. Staff can assist with document searches, copy orders, and certified requests. The online portal covers documents from August 1991 forward, which encompasses the modern history of most Seattle properties. For records older than 1991, you would turn to the King County Archives or the Puget Sound Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives.

Note: The office is accessible via King County Metro and is a short walk from the downtown Seattle light rail corridor. Paid parking is available in nearby garages.

Seattle City Records vs. Deed Records

The City of Seattle maintains its own public records that are separate from deed records. The Seattle Public Records Request Center handles requests for city-generated documents. Those records include City Council minutes, ordinances, permits, department files, and other materials related to city government. The city aims to make obtaining public records as easy as possible. Within five business days, records officers will make records available, acknowledge the request, or explain why a denial applies. You can contact the Customer Service Bureau at (206) 684-2489 for help with city-level records.

The Seattle Public Records Request Center handles city-generated documents, ordinances, and permit records. Deed records are maintained separately at the King County Recorder's Office.

The Seattle City Clerk manages the Seattle Municipal Archives, which contains historical city records. The City Clerk's office provides support for City Council, manages official city records, and accepts public records requests for legislative department materials. If you need Seattle permits, zoning decisions, or council actions related to a property, start with the City Clerk at seattle.gov/cityclerk. But for deed records showing who owns a parcel and the history of transfers, the King County Recorder is your source.

Searching Seattle Deed Records Online

King County provides free public access to its recorded document index. The online system covers documents recorded since August 1, 1991. You can search by grantor name, grantee name, document type, recording date, or document number. For most post-1991 documents, you can view images on screen at no charge. Certified copies must be ordered from the Recorder's Office directly.

To run a search, you need at least a party name or parcel number. Entering the last name of the grantor or grantee along with an approximate recording year usually narrows things down quickly. Results show the document type, recording date, and document number. The index also links to viewable images for most modern records. For Seattle, the volume of recorded documents is high, so having a specific name or date range helps avoid very broad result sets. If you are doing title research on an older property, the county may refer you to the microfilm collections at the Puget Sound Regional Archives.

The King County recording activity portal also hosts the free RANS service, which sends email alerts to Seattle property owners when documents are recorded under their name.

Types of Deed Records Filed in Seattle

Washington law recognizes several deed types, each used in different circumstances. The type of deed on file for a Seattle property tells you what promises the seller made at the time of transfer.

The Statutory Warranty Deed under RCW 64.04.030 is the standard deed in typical Seattle home sales. It carries full covenants. The seller guarantees they hold clear title and will defend the buyer against any claims arising from before the sale. The Bargain and Sale Deed under RCW 64.04.040 offers narrower protection. It covers only the seller's period of ownership. Banks and REO sales often use this form. The Quitclaim Deed under RCW 64.04.050 makes no guarantees at all. It passes along whatever interest the grantor holds. This form is common for adding or removing a spouse, family transfers, and resolving title disputes.

Other documents recorded alongside or in connection with deeds include deeds of trust, which are the lender's security interest in the property. Reconveyances are filed when that loan is paid in full. Easements appear when utilities or neighbors have a right to use part of the land. Liens are filed when a contractor, creditor, or court has a claim against the property. All of these are searchable through the King County online system.

Seattle Property Fraud Protection

King County offers a free Recording Activity Notification System known as RANS. Seattle property owners can sign up to receive email alerts whenever a document is recorded under their name or tied to their property. This service is a direct response to deed fraud and home title theft. Criminals sometimes forge deeds to transfer ownership of a home without the real owner knowing. RANS gives you early warning so you can act quickly.

Sign up at kingcounty.gov/recorder/recording-activity. The service is free. Once you register, the system flags any document recorded with your name and sends you an email notice. This does not stop the recording, but it gets you the information right away. If you see something that looks wrong, you can contact the Recorder's Office, your title company, or an attorney to start an investigation. For a city with Seattle's property values and transaction volume, this is a smart and simple step for any homeowner to take.

Note: RANS works on the name you register, so make sure you use the exact name that appears on your deed. Multiple name variations may require separate registrations.

Recording and Copy Fees in King County

Washington recording fees are set by statute under RCW Chapters 36.18 and 36.22. Recording a deed in King County costs $303.50 for the first page plus $1.00 for each additional page. A deed of trust costs $304.50 for the first page. These fees include a $183 housing affordability surcharge and a $100 Covenant Homeownership surcharge. Both fund statewide programs. If a document does not meet the formatting standards set out in RCW 65.04, a $50 non-standard surcharge applies in addition to the base fee.

Copy fees run $1.00 per page for standard copies and $3.00 for the first page of a certified copy, with $1.00 for each page after that. Real estate excise tax is also collected at time of recording. The excise tax affidavit must accompany every deed and must show the sale price or a valid exemption reason. Washington law requires this before the Recorder will accept a deed for recording.

King County Deed Records

Seattle is the county seat of King County. All deed records for Seattle properties are maintained at the King County Recorder's Office. The county page has full detail on the recording office, online search tools, fees, and other resources across the King County system.

View King County Deed Records

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Seattle and also file deed records through their respective county recorders.