Search King County Deed Records

King County deed records are filed and maintained by the King County Recorder's Office in Seattle. As the most populous county in Washington, King County has one of the largest and most active recording systems in the state. You can search deed records online through the Landmark Web portal, which covers documents from August 1991 to the present. Historical deeds from 1852 through 1991 are on microfilm at the King County Archives. Whether you're researching a chain of title, getting a certified copy of a recorded deed, or recording a new instrument, this page explains how the King County deed records system works.

King County Recorder's Office

The King County Recorder's Office is the official custodian of all recorded real property documents in the county. It records real estate deeds, mortgages, plats, surveys, easements, liens, bills of sale, and registered land. The office is part of the King County Records and Licensing Services division and serves Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Federal Way, Auburn, Kirkland, Redmond, and all other communities in the county.

Historical deed records from 1852 to 1991 are on microfilm at the King County Archives or through the Puget Sound Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives. Records from August 1, 1991 to the present are available online through the Recorder's records search system. The office also accepts recording by mail, by drop box, and through e-recording services for qualified submitters like title companies and attorneys.

The King County Recorder's Office is located in the King County Administration Building in downtown Seattle and serves as the official recording office for Washington's most populous county.

Searching King County Deed Records Online

The primary online tool for King County deed records is the Landmark Web records search portal. This system lets you search by party name, document type, recording date range, or document number. It covers documents recorded from August 1, 1991 to the present. The search is free to use. When you find a record, you can view the index information and in many cases the actual document image.

For property ownership research, the King County Parcel Viewer is another useful tool. It is searchable by address or parcel number and shows the property's legal description, appraised value, recent sales, square footage, and construction details. The Parcel Viewer links to the Assessor's property reports, GIS data, and tax information. This makes it a good starting point when you know an address but not a grantor name. You can reach it through the King County eReal Property dashboard.

For records prior to August 1991, visit the King County Archives at the King County Administration Building or contact the Puget Sound Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives. Microfilm records from 1852 forward are stored there and are available for review.

The Landmark Web portal is the main online system for searching King County deed records from 1991 to the present, allowing searches by name, document type, or date range.

King County Deed Recording Fees

King County recording fees follow Washington State law under RCW 36.18 and RCW 36.22. As of January 1, 2024, the standard recording fee is $303.50 for the first page of most documents and $1.00 for each additional page. The increase from the prior rate of $203.50 was required by state law (House Bill 1277) passed in 2021. The new fee includes a $100 Covenant Homeownership surcharge intended to fund affordable housing and homelessness prevention, generating roughly $146 million statewide per year.

Deeds of trust are recorded at $304.50 for the first page due to an additional archive fee. Non-standard documents with formatting issues incur a $50 emergency non-standard fee on top of the regular recording fee. For copies, the fee is $1.00 per page for uncertified copies and $3.00 for the first page of certified copies, with $1.00 per each additional page, as set under RCW 36.18.010. Viewing basic property information online is free. Obtaining specific document copies may cost more.

Some document types are exempt from the main housing surcharge and carry lower fees. Marriage licenses, birth certificates, death certificates, and military discharge papers are among the exempted categories. For a complete and current fee schedule, check with the Recorder's Office directly.

Types of King County Deed Records

King County records a wide variety of real property instruments. The three main deed types used in Washington are 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 provide the strongest title protection. Bargain and sale deeds, commonly used after foreclosure, carry limited warranties. Quitclaim deeds convey whatever interest the grantor holds, with no title guarantee. All deeds must include a proper legal description, be signed by the grantor, and have the grantor's signature notarized under RCW 64.04.020.

Beyond basic deeds, the Recorder's office handles deeds of trust, easements, mortgages, liens, plats, surveys, reconveyances, real estate excise tax affidavits, boundary line adjustments, lot line eliminations, and condominium declarations. Each of these categories generates its own recorded document that becomes part of the permanent public index. The Recorder's records search covers all these types in the Landmark Web system. Tracing an ownership chain for a King County property typically involves pulling several of these document types together.

The King County Property Viewer lets you look up a parcel by address or parcel number and find the legal description, recent sales, and links to recorded deed documents.

Real Estate Excise Tax and Deed Recording

Any conveyance of an interest in real property in King County is potentially subject to Washington's real estate excise tax (REET). Before a deed can be recorded, parties must prepare and sign a real estate excise tax affidavit stating the purchase price or grounds for exemption. This requirement applies to all transfers, not just sales. Gifts, estate transfers, and family conveyances may qualify for REET exemptions, but the affidavit must still be completed. The affidavit is submitted at the same time as the deed.

For typical home sales in King County, the combined REET rate on transactions under $525,000 is 1.60% (1.1% state plus 0.5% local). Higher-value properties face progressively higher rates under the graduated tax structure. Transfers of property by inheritance or bequest are exempt from REET and require only minimal recording fees. The Washington capital gains tax does not apply to real estate sales, so sellers of residential or investment property in King County do not owe the state capital gains tax on those transactions.

Note: REET applies based on the sale price, not the assessed value. Accurate reporting on the excise tax affidavit is required by law. Errors on the affidavit can delay recording and may result in penalties.

Cities in King County

King County covers Seattle and dozens of surrounding communities. All deed records for properties in these cities are filed with the King County Recorder's Office in Seattle.

Nearby Counties

These counties border King County. Deed records for properties in each are filed with their respective county auditors.