Walla Walla Deed Records Lookup
Walla Walla deed records are filed with the Walla Walla County Auditor's Recording Division, which serves as the official custodian of all real property documents in the county. Walla Walla is the county seat, so the recording office is located right in the city. This page explains how to search deed records for Walla Walla properties, what the county auditor records and indexes, what the city clerk manages separately, and where to find historical land records that go back further than the county's online system.
Walla Walla Overview
Walla Walla County Auditor Recording Division
The Walla Walla County Auditor's Recording Division records and indexes all real property documents for properties located in Walla Walla County. Every deed, deed of trust, easement, lien, plat, and related document must be submitted here to be part of the permanent public record. The act of recording gives legal notice to the world of the ownership change or encumbrance. The Auditor indexes each document by grantor and grantee name and by document type, making searches straightforward.
The recording office handles a wide variety of document types. Standard deeds of course, but also deeds of trust used to secure loans, reconveyances when those loans are paid off, easements, mechanic's liens, judgment liens, lis pendens, plat maps, and more. Walla Walla is the county seat, so the recording office serves both the city and the broader county. Recording fees are set by state statute under RCW 36.18.010, and certified copies are available at $6.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page.
| Office | Walla Walla County Auditor - Recording Division |
|---|---|
| Address | 500 West Main St., PO Box 1856 Walla Walla, WA 99362 |
| Phone | 509-524-2549 (Recording/Vault) |
| Website | wwcowa.gov/auditor/recording |
| Certified Copies | $6.00 first page, $1.00 each additional |
Walla Walla City Clerk Office
The Walla Walla City Clerk's Office provides preservation and access to city public records and research assistance. City Clerk Lisa Neissl is located at 15 N 3rd Avenue, Walla Walla WA 99362, and can be reached at 509.527.4424. The office maintains access to agendas, meeting minutes, the Walla Walla Municipal Code, and public records access systems.
The City Clerk handles medical claims management for the LEOFF 1 group, manages paid covered parking permit applications, and coordinates access to city government records. This is the right contact for city-generated documents. Deed records, however, are a county matter. The City Clerk does not maintain property ownership history or recorded real estate documents. For those, you need the Walla Walla County Auditor's Recording Division described above. The city and county are located near each other, so it is easy to visit both offices if you need different types of records for the same property.
How to Search Walla Walla Deed Records
The Walla Walla County Auditor provides an online property document search that is available at no charge. You can search by party name or document type to find deed records tied to Walla Walla properties. The online index covers records from 1986 to the present. Most documents include viewable images right in the online system, so you can review a deed without visiting the office or paying for copies.
Walk-in access is also available at the Recording Division during business hours. Public terminals let you search and view documents on-site. If you need certified copies for a title search, estate matter, or legal filing, staff can pull and certify copies. Copies cost $6.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. Mail-in requests are accepted; include the document number, return address, and payment. Staff at the vault phone line (509-524-2549) can also answer questions about specific documents or help you find what you need before making the trip.
The Washington State Archives holds historical government records that can supplement county deed records research for older Walla Walla properties and land transactions predating the county's online index.
Historical Walla Walla Deed Records and Digital Archives
The Washington State Digital Archives maintains a dedicated collection of Walla Walla County land records with indexes and images from 1986 to the present. Over 200,000 records are available in this collection. Document types include deeds, deeds of trust, easements, mortgages, liens, lis pendens, and more than 100 additional categories. Many records include images, so you can view the actual document without visiting the county office.
The Digital Archives is a free resource run by the Washington Secretary of State's office. Searches are name-based, similar to the county's own index. If the county's online system does not have what you need, or if you want a second source to cross-reference a search, the Digital Archives is a strong backup. The two systems complement each other well for anyone doing a detailed ownership history on a Walla Walla property.
The Washington Association of County Auditors sets recording standards and supports county auditors statewide, ensuring consistent practices across Walla Walla County and all other Washington counties.
Note: Washington's Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) guarantees open access to recorded deed documents. Anyone can search and view these records. The Auditor cannot require you to state a reason for looking at a recorded document.
Deed Types in Walla Walla
Property in Walla Walla can be transferred using several types of deeds. Each type offers different protections to the buyer. Knowing which type was used in a prior transaction gives useful context about the strength of the title history.
The Statutory Warranty Deed under RCW 64.04.030 is the most protective and commonly used in standard arm's-length sales. The seller guarantees clear title and agrees to defend the buyer against future claims. The Bargain and Sale Deed under RCW 64.04.040 covers only the period of the seller's ownership and is often seen in bank foreclosure sales. The Quitclaim Deed under RCW 64.04.050 conveys whatever interest the grantor holds with no title warranties at all. Quitclaim deeds come up often in family transfers, divorce settlements, and trust conveyances. All three types must be recorded with the Walla Walla County Auditor to be effective against third parties.
Real estate excise tax affidavits must accompany every deed at the time of recording. These documents state the sale price or claim an exemption. They are part of the public record and can help trace the sale history of a Walla Walla property when deed records alone do not show consideration amounts.
Walla Walla County Deed Records
Walla Walla city is the county seat of Walla Walla County, and all deed records for properties in the city are filed at the county recording office. The county page provides more detail on the recording office, search tools, and resources available across the full Walla Walla County system.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Walla Walla and file deed records through their respective county recording offices.