Mason County Deed Records Lookup

Mason County deed records are filed with the County Auditor in Shelton. The Recording Department handles all documents that affect real property within the county, including deeds, mortgages, easements, liens, and plats. Historical land records going back many decades are indexed in the Washington State Digital Archives. The Mason County Auditor's office also offers a Fraud Notify service that alerts property owners when a new document is recorded using their name or parcel number. Whether you're searching for a current deed or researching older land records, this page covers how to find deed records in Mason County.

Mason County Auditor Recording Department

The Mason County Auditor's Recording Department records all documents that affect real property and maintains them as part of the permanent public record. Once a deed or other instrument is recorded, it becomes an official record of Mason County. Documents need to be recorded in the county where the land is located. The purpose of recording is to give public notice of the subject matter of the document. This principle of constructive notice is established under RCW 65.08.070.

The Recording Department is located at 411 N. 5th St. in Shelton. You can contact the recording division at 360-427-9670 ext. 467. The office handles deed recordings, liens, easements, real estate contracts, deeds of trust, plats, surveys, and other instruments affecting property in Mason County. Veterans can also have their DD214 discharge papers recorded at no charge, a service provided by all Washington counties under RCW 73.04.030.

The Mason County Auditor's Recording Department page in Shelton covers the recording process, fee information, and how to access recorded deed documents for Mason County properties.

Online Access and Fraud Notify Service

The Mason County Auditor's office offers a free Fraud Notify service that helps property owners protect themselves against deed fraud. When any document recorded with the Mason County Auditor's office contains your name or parcel number, the service generates and sends an automated email alert. The email shows the details of the recorded document and includes a link to view the document in the county's Records Public Access system. This lets you quickly determine whether a recording is valid or if potential fraud has occurred. Sign up is free and open to all Mason County residents.

The Records Public Access system linked through Fraud Notify alerts also serves as a general tool for searching current recorded documents in Mason County. For broader historical research, the Mason County Land Records collection at the Washington State Digital Archives provides indexed and imaged records going back many decades. The Digital Archives is a free public resource maintained by the Washington Secretary of State's office and lets you search by grantor name, grantee name, or document type.

In-person access to deed records is available at the Auditor's office during business hours. Staff can assist with record lookups by name or file number and provide copies of recorded documents. The Assessor's office at the same county complex also has parcel records that link to deed information.

The Mason County official website connects you to the Auditor's Recording Department, Assessor's office, and other county services involved in property record research.

Mason County Deed Recording Fees

Mason County follows Washington State's recording fee schedule under RCW 36.18 and RCW 36.22. The standard fee for recording most documents is $303.50 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. Deeds of trust are $304.50 for the first page. Both fees include a housing affordability surcharge added by the state legislature in 2024. Documents that do not meet state formatting requirements may be subject to an emergency non-standard fee of $50 on top of the regular recording fee.

Copies of recorded documents are $1.00 per page for uncertified copies. Certified copies cost $3.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. Veterans recording their DD214 discharge papers pay no fee, and certified copies are also free for veterans under state law.

Note: Confirm current fees directly with the Mason County Auditor's Recording Division before submitting documents, as the legislature may update the schedule. Contact the office at 360-427-9670 ext. 467.

Types of Deed Records in Mason County

The Mason County Auditor's Recording Department records all instruments that affect real property within the county. Deeds are the most common type. Washington law recognizes three main 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. Each carries different warranty obligations. Statutory warranty deeds provide the strongest protection for buyers, warranting title against any prior claims. Bargain and sale deeds cover only the period of the grantor's ownership. Quitclaim deeds transfer whatever interest the grantor holds, with no warranties.

All deeds must include a valid legal description of the property, be signed by the grantor, and have the signature notarized under RCW 64.04.020. An address or parcel number is not sufficient as a legal description. The deed needs either a metes and bounds description or a lot, block, and plat reference. Beyond deeds, Mason County records easements, mortgages, deeds of trust, real estate contracts, liens, reconveyances, plats, surveys, and other documents affecting property rights.

The Washington State Digital Archives holds indexed Mason County land records, providing free online access to historical deed records and other recorded property instruments for Mason County.

Mason County Assessor and Related Resources

The Mason County Assessor's office maintains property value and ownership records that connect directly to the deed recording system. When a deed is recorded with the Auditor, the transfer information feeds into the Assessor's parcel database. If you know a property address or parcel number but not the owner names, the Assessor's records can help you identify the current owner and trace ownership history back through recorded deeds.

The Washington State Digital Archives provides a free online search platform for Mason County land records and other government document collections. The platform is maintained by the Washington Secretary of State and allows searches across multiple county collections. For Mason County specifically, records available through the Digital Archives cover a broad historical range. The platform is free to use and does not require an account for basic searches.

The Washington State Association of County Auditors provides professional standards and guidelines that the Mason County Auditor follows for recording procedures. The WSACA represents all 39 county auditors in Washington and works to ensure consistent recording practices statewide. Their standards cover document formatting, indexing, fee collection, and public access procedures.

Cities in Mason County

Mason County includes Shelton, Hoodsport, Union, Allyn, Grapeview, and other communities along Hood Canal and the Puget Sound. All deed records for properties in these areas are filed with the Mason County Auditor at 411 N. 5th St. in Shelton.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Mason County in western Washington.