Skagit County Deed Records

Skagit County deed records are maintained by the County Auditor in Mount Vernon. The Auditor's recording division is the custodian of all recorded property documents in the county, including deeds, deeds of trust, liens, plat maps, and surveys. You can search Skagit County deed records online through the Auditor's public records system, visit the Mount Vernon office in person, or submit a mail request for copies. This page covers the recording process, fees, document types, and online tools available for finding Skagit County deed records.

Skagit County Auditor Recording Division

Under RCW 65.04.140, county auditors in Washington are the official custodians of recorded documents. The Skagit County Auditor's recording division, led by Auditor Sandra Perkins, records all instruments that affect real property in the county. These include deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, reconveyances, liens, easements, plat maps, surveys, and boundary line adjustments. Each document recorded in Skagit County becomes a permanent part of the public record. It cannot be undone by returning the document or by the parties agreeing to remove it.

The Auditor's recording staff are responsible only for checking that a document meets state requirements before accepting it. That means verifying the fee is correct, the document title is present, indexing information is complete, the document is legible, and it meets format standards. Staff are prohibited from giving legal advice and are not responsible for the accuracy or legal adequacy of documents. If you submit a deed that doesn't meet the requirements, it will be returned without being recorded.

Documents recorded prior to 1973 have been converted from film to digital images and are searchable through the county's online system. This is a useful feature for historical deed research in Skagit County. Payment for recording in Skagit County is accepted in the form of cash or check only. No credit card option is noted, so contact the office to confirm current payment methods before you visit.

How to Search Skagit County Deed Records

Skagit County deed records are searchable online through the Auditor's public records system. You can search by party name, document type, recording date range, or document number. The online index covers both recent and older records, including documents that predate 1973 and were converted from film to digital. This makes Skagit County's online system useful for historical deed research as well as current records.

The Skagit County Auditor Recording Division page provides access to the online document search, fee information, and recording guidelines for properties throughout Skagit County.

In-person searches are available at the Auditor's office at 700 S. Second Street, Room 201, in Mount Vernon. Bring the names of the parties and a date range. Public computers are available, and staff can assist with more complex searches. If you need certified copies, request them while you are at the office or submit a mail request with payment included.

Skagit County property records constitute the official documentation that records ownership, transfers, and encumbrances of real property within the county. These records create what is legally called the "chain of title" for each parcel. Title companies and attorneys rely on this chain to verify ownership before any real estate transaction closes. A break in the chain or an unrecorded deed can create title defects that take time and money to resolve.

The recording and maintenance of property records is governed by RCW 65.08.070, which gives priority to the first recorded instrument when two parties claim rights to the same property. This is why recording a deed promptly after a sale is so critical. An unrecorded deed may be valid between the parties, but it can be defeated by a later recorded instrument from someone who had no knowledge of the earlier transaction.

Skagit County Recording Fees

Recording fees in Skagit County are set by the Washington State Legislature and are the same across all 39 counties. Statutory fees are collected for recording under RCW Chapter 36.18.010. The standard fee to record 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 due to an archive surcharge. These fees include a $183 housing affordability surcharge and a $100 Covenant Homeownership surcharge that fund programs across Washington.

A fee increase for assignments, appointments, resignations, and substitutions of deeds of trust took effect July 27, 2025. These documents now cost $301.00 for the first page. Previously, many of these instruments were recorded for much less. If you handle lender documents in Skagit County, confirm current rates before submitting.

Nonstandard documents using a cover sheet because they fail to meet format requirements incur an additional $50 fee. Standard format requirements include a 3-inch top margin on the first page, at least 1-inch margins on all other sides, minimum 8-point font, and a legible document free of attached items. The document must also include required index fields on the first page: document title, grantor and grantee names, legal description, and assessor's parcel number where applicable.

Plain copies of recorded documents cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies are $3.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. Military discharge documents are recorded at no cost. Skagit County accepts cash or check for recording fees. Contact the office to confirm current payment options.

Types of Property Documents in Skagit County

The Skagit County Auditor records all types of instruments that affect real property. Deeds transfer ownership. Washington has three main deed forms. A statutory warranty deed under RCW 64.04.030 gives buyers the most protection. The grantor warrants title, promises no undisclosed encumbrances, and will defend against future claims. Bargain and sale deeds under RCW 64.04.040 limit warranties to the period the grantor owned the property. Quitclaim deeds under RCW 64.04.050 carry no warranty at all and are used for gifts, corrections, and resolving title disputes.

Deeds of trust secure loans against property in Washington. When a mortgage loan is paid off, the lender records a deed of reconveyance or a satisfaction to release the lien. Easements, CC&Rs, and other encumbrances running with the land must also be recorded to bind future owners who buy without direct knowledge of those restrictions. Liens for unpaid debts, including mechanics liens and tax liens, are recorded here and affect the seller's ability to transfer clear title.

Plat maps, short plats, subdivisions, and surveys recorded in Skagit County establish the legal descriptions of individual parcels. These are stored and maintained by the recording division. Boundary line adjustments that modify existing property lines also come through the Auditor's office. Any instrument creating or modifying an interest in real property needs to be in the official record to protect the holder's rights against the public and against future claimants.

Online Access to Skagit County Records

The Skagit County official website provides access to county services including the Auditor's recording division. The Auditor's online document search lets you look up recorded deeds and other instruments by name or document type. Because records prior to 1973 have been digitized and added to the searchable system, Skagit County's online access is more historically complete than many smaller counties.

The Skagit County official website provides links to recording services, property records, online document search, and contact information for the Auditor's recording division in Mount Vernon.

The Washington State Digital Archives also holds historical land records from Skagit County. For complex historical title research or records that are difficult to locate through the county's system, the Digital Archives offers an additional searchable collection. The Northwest Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives can assist with older records as well.

Washington's Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 ensures that property records held by county auditors are accessible to the public. No statement of purpose is needed to request records. Agencies must respond within five business days. Most routine copy requests at the Skagit County Auditor's office are processed faster than that timeline. Online access to the index is immediate and free.

Cities in Skagit County

Skagit County includes several communities. All deed records for properties in the county are recorded with the Skagit County Auditor in Mount Vernon.

Other communities in Skagit County include Burlington, Anacortes, Sedro-Woolley, Burlington, and La Conner. Deed records for all of these areas are filed with the Skagit County Auditor regardless of city boundaries.

Nearby Counties

Skagit County borders several counties in northwest Washington. If you are looking for deed records for property near a county line, confirm the correct county first.