Benton County Deed Records Search

Benton County deed records are maintained by the County Auditor's Office, which has two locations serving the county. The Kennewick Annex is the main recording office for the Tri-Cities area. You can search Benton County deed records online through the EagleWeb system, which provides access to documents recorded from January 1972 to the present. The Auditor indexes all filings by grantor and grantee name, document type, and date. For older records or certified copies, you can visit either the Kennewick or Prosser location in person, or submit a written request by mail.

Benton County Auditor Recording Division

The Benton County Auditor serves as the official custodian of recorded documents for the county. The Recording Division handles all real property recordings including deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, liens, easements, and other instruments that affect real property in Benton County. County Auditor Brenda Chilton oversees the office, which operates two public locations for convenience. The Kennewick Annex serves the large Tri-Cities population, while the Prosser Courthouse handles filings in the western part of the county.

All recorded documents become part of the public record and are indexed in the Auditor's system. The office accepts cash, checks, and credit cards, though credit card transactions may carry a convenience fee. For recording questions, you can email auditor@co.benton.wa.us or call the Kennewick office directly. Staff will review documents for proper formatting before recording, but they cannot give legal advice about how to prepare instruments.

How to Search Benton County Deed Records Online

Benton County offers free online access to recorded documents through the EagleWeb system. This portal covers records from January 1972 to the present and is updated regularly. You can search by grantor name, grantee name, document type, and date range. For many records, document images are available for viewing online. Copies you print from the EagleWeb site are considered unofficial. For official certified copies, you need to contact the Auditor's office.

The EagleWeb system is accessible through the county's recording page. The index is a work in progress, and not all older records may be fully indexed. For records that are not in the online system or that predate 1972, the Washington State Digital Archives is a useful backup resource. The Digital Archives holds Benton County land records going back to 1969 in one collection and recorded agreements and contracts going back to 1981 in another. Both collections are searchable by grantor and grantee name.

The Benton County EagleWeb system provides free online access to recorded documents from 1972 forward, searchable by name, document type, and date range.

When searching, enter the last name first for best results. The system is case-insensitive in most searches. If you cannot locate a record by name, try searching by the legal description or parcel number if you have it. The Benton County Assessor's office, reachable through the county website, can help you identify parcel numbers tied to specific addresses.

Benton County Recording Fees

Recording fees in Benton County are set by state law. As of January 2024, the standard fee for recording a deed is $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 cover several components including the base recording fee, a state and local historical preservation surcharge, and housing affordability surcharges established under amendments to RCW 36.18 and RCW 36.22.

If a document does not meet the standard formatting requirements and a cover sheet must be used, there is an additional $50 emergency non-standard fee. This fee applies on top of all other recording costs, so it pays to ensure your documents are properly formatted before submission. The first page must have a three-inch top margin, one-inch margins on all other sides, document title, grantor and grantee names, abbreviated legal description, and assessor parcel number.

Copies of recorded documents from the Auditor's office cost $1.00 per page for uncertified copies. Certified copies are $3.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page per document. The Benton County Auditor accepts cash, check, and credit card payments. Convenience fees may apply to credit card transactions.

The Benton County Auditor's Office operates two locations to serve the county's growing population, with the Kennewick Annex handling the bulk of Tri-Cities area deed recordings.

Recorded Documents in Benton County

The Benton County Auditor records a broad range of property-related documents. Common deed types include statutory warranty deeds, bargain and sale deeds, and quitclaim deeds. Washington recognizes all three under RCW 64.04. A statutory warranty deed gives the buyer the strongest protections, including a covenant that the grantor holds good title and will defend against other claims. A quitclaim deed transfers whatever interest the grantor has, with no title warranty. Banks frequently use bargain and sale deeds when selling properties acquired through foreclosure.

The Benton County Digital Archives collection at the Washington State Archives shows the wide range of document types indexed there: addendum, adjustment, amended covenants, amended deed of trust, amendment, assignment, covenants, deed, deed of trust, easement, federal tax lien, forfeiture, full reconveyance, homestead declaration, judgment, land corner, lease, lien, lis pendens, mobile home documents, modification, mortgage, notice of trustee sale, open space, real estate contract, reconveyance, release, right of way, security agreement, subordination, substitution of trustee, transfer on death deed, trustee sale, trustee's deed, and water rights. This list reflects the full scope of recorded activity tracked by the county.

A separate Benton County Agreements and Contracts collection at the Digital Archives holds over 50,000 records going back to 1981, including community property agreements, contracts, and seller's assignments. These records fill in gaps between deed transfers and are important for complete title research.

The Benton County land records collection at the Washington State Digital Archives covers recorded documents from 1969 forward and is searchable by grantor, grantee, and document type.

Digital Archives and Online Resources

Beyond the EagleWeb system, the Washington State Digital Archives is an important resource for Benton County deed research. The Archives is the first state-level digital archive in the country and maintains collections from county offices across Washington. Benton County's land records collection at the Archives covers 1969 to the present and includes indexes with images for most documents. The search is free and can be done from any computer without visiting a government office.

Benton County also has records dating back to its formation in 1905. The county was established from parts of Yakima and Klickitat counties and is named after Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri. The county seat is Prosser, but the Kennewick Annex serves most of the population. For questions about records predating the online systems, the Washington State Archives Central Regional Branch at (509) 963-2136 can assist with locating older documents.

Washington's Public Records Act gives every person the right to inspect and copy public records. No reason is needed. Agencies must respond within five business days. Deed records are public and are not subject to the privacy exemptions that apply to some other record types. Any person can walk into the Benton County Auditor's office and request to see any recorded deed on file.

Cities in Benton County

Benton County includes several cities in the Tri-Cities region of southeastern Washington. All deed recordings for property in these cities go through the Benton County Auditor's office.

Other communities in Benton County include Prosser (county seat), West Richland, Benton City, and Finley. Deed records for all of these areas are filed with the Benton County Auditor.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Benton County. Each has its own recording office for deed and property documents.