Grant County Deed Records Lookup

Grant County deed records are maintained by the County Auditor's Office, which is responsible for recording real property documents such as deeds throughout the county. The Auditor's online document search index uses the Tyler Eagle Web system and allows you to search recorded land documents by document number, book and page, or party name. You can view and print document images through the online portal. For copies that need to be certified, contact the Auditor's office directly. Grant County also has a historical land records collection at the Washington State Digital Archives covering documents going back many decades.

Grant County Auditor Recording Division

The Grant County Auditor's Office is responsible for document recording, financial services including payroll and accounts payable, licensing for marriages, vehicles and vessels, voter registration and elections. The primary statutory responsibilities that involve deed records include recording of real property documents such as deeds. The Auditor's recording division, along with Licensing, Elections, and Accounting, is open to the public. The office is located in Ephrata, which is the county seat of Grant County.

The Grant County Auditor has a broad range of duties involving specific statutory functions and county financial administration. The Auditor examines and audits county financial records and prepares the preliminary county budget for the Board of County Commissioners. For title transfers involving vehicles and vessels, the office provides guidance for doing the process by mail to reduce in-person visits. Vehicle and vessel tabs can also be renewed through the mail or online at the Department of Licensing website. For deed recording questions, contact the recording division directly.

How to Search Grant County Deed Records Online

Grant County provides an online document search index through the Tyler Eagle Web system. The portal allows you to search on recorded documents, view indexed information, and print images. The system requires cookies to be enabled in your browser. You can search by document number, book and page, or party name. Images are available for many records, allowing you to review the full document content without visiting the office. The Eagle Web system is one of the most widely used recording platforms in Washington State.

For records that are in the system but need certified copies, contact the Auditor's office. To obtain records of documents recorded with the Auditor, you can research through Eagle Web but must contact the office for copies. This distinction is important: the online search lets you identify and view records, but certified copies for legal use require a request to the office.

The Grant County Public Records Office follows the requirements of RCW 42.56. The Public Records Officer's responsibility is to serve as the point of contact for members of the public requesting disclosure of public records and to oversee the agency's compliance with disclosure requirements. A public records request must identify specific records, as required by RCW 42.56.080. Grant County Resolution 23-103-CC provides additional guidance on request procedures and fees. Contact the Public Records Office for formal requests involving large volumes of documents or records not easily accessed through the online tools.

The Grant County Auditor's Office page outlines the office's recording responsibilities and links to the online document search, public records portal, and county services for property-related matters.

Grant County Recording Fees

Recording fees in Grant County are the same as in all Washington counties under the state fee schedule. The standard fee for recording a deed is $303.50 for the first page plus $1.00 for each additional page under RCW 36.18. A deed of trust costs $304.50 for the first page. The fee includes $9.00 for state and local historical preservation, $10.24 for local recording functions, and $184.26 for state and local affordable housing programs. Starting July 27, 2025, assignments or substitutions of previously recorded deeds of trust increased to $301.00 for the first page.

If a document does not meet the formatting requirements of RCW 65.04, it will be returned for correction. The non-standard emergency fee is $50 if a cover sheet must be used. Documents must have a three-inch top margin on the first page, one-inch margins on all other sides, minimum 8-point font, and must be free of stapled or taped attachments. The font and paper must be capable of producing a legible image when scanned.

For copy fees, contact the Grant County Auditor directly. Standard copies cost $1.00 per page in most counties, and certified copies are typically $3.00 for the first page and $1.00 for additional pages. Always confirm current rates before visiting or submitting documents, as the fee schedule can change with new state legislation.

Deed Records and Property Instruments in Grant County

Grant County deed records reflect the county's significant agricultural and residential property base in central Washington. The Auditor records all three Washington deed types: the statutory warranty deed under RCW 64.04.030, the bargain and sale deed under RCW 64.04.040, and the quitclaim deed under RCW 64.04.050. Warranty deeds are the most common in standard residential and commercial transactions. Quitclaim deeds appear frequently in family transfers, estate settlements, and title corrections.

Beyond deeds, Grant County records hold deeds of trust, full and partial reconveyances, mortgages, real estate contracts, easements, rights-of-way, liens of various types including mechanic's liens, judgment liens, and federal tax liens, lis pendens filings, releases, and plat maps and surveys. Water rights documentation is particularly important in Grant County given the agricultural character of the region. Water right certificates and related instruments may appear in the deed records and are critical to understanding the full value and use rights associated with agricultural parcels.

Any conveyance of real property in Grant County requires a real estate excise tax affidavit before the deed can be recorded. The affidavit states the sale price or basis for exemption. Standard home sales under $525,000 carry a combined excise tax rate of about 1.60%. Transfers by inheritance are exempt. Recording establishes legal priority under RCW 65.08.070, so recording promptly after closing is essential to protect the buyer's rights in any dispute.

The Grant County online document search uses the Tyler Eagle Web system, which allows searching by document number, book and page, or name to find recorded deed records throughout the county.

Historical Records and Digital Archives

The Washington State Digital Archives Grant County historical land records collection provides access to older property documents for the county. This collection is searchable online and includes indexes and images for historical land records transferred from the Grant County Auditor to the State Archives. The Digital Archives is maintained by the Washington Secretary of State's office and is free to search from any computer.

The Washington State Archives maintains multiple regional branches across the state, each holding records from their respective regions. The Central Regional Branch covers Grant County and can be reached at (509) 963-2136 or cebrancharchives@sos.wa.gov. For older records that may not be in the online Digital Archives system, the regional branch can advise on what is available and how to access it. Researchers working on complex title histories or genealogy connected to property ownership will find the Archives staff particularly helpful.

The Grant County Public Records page describes the county's approach to handling records requests. The county follows RCW 42.56 procedures and refers researchers to the Eagle Web system for deed records. For a broader picture of any Grant County property, the Public Records portal can direct you to the right office. The Assessor, Treasurer, and Planning departments also maintain information about properties that complements the Auditor's deed index.

The Washington State Digital Archives maintains a historical land records collection for Grant County, offering free online access to indexed and imaged property documents that predate or supplement the county's current online recording system.

Cities in Grant County

Grant County includes several cities in central Washington. All deed recordings for property in these cities go through the Grant County Auditor's office in Ephrata.

Other communities in Grant County include Ephrata (county seat), Quincy, Warden, Royal City, and Soap Lake. Deed records for all of these areas are filed with the Grant County Auditor.

Nearby Counties

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