King County, Washington • deed and recorded-land-record guide
King County Recorder: Search Deeds, Mortgages, Liens and Official Records
The King County Recorder’s Office records and preserves
deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances, liens, easements, plats, surveys,
condominium documents and other instruments affecting real property
in King County, Washington.
King County’s Recorder operates within the
Records and Licensing Services Division (RALS) of the
Department of Executive Services. It is not presented by the county as
a separately elected Recorder’s office.
Best beginner workflow:
if you know only the property address → open the King County Parcel
Viewer → save the parcel number → open Landmark Records Search →
search by the first 10 digits of the parcel number for newer records →
also search the owner/grantor/grantee name because parcel indexing
does not cover every historical record → open the document image →
save the recording number → buy a certified copy only when a lender,
court or government agency actually requires one.
Official office
King County Recorder’s Office
Parent division
Records and Licensing Services Division (RALS)
Office
201 S. Jackson Street, Suite 204, Seattle, WA 98104
Public counter hours
Weekdays, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Recording cutoff
3:30 p.m.
King County search coverage is layered:
Landmark provides searchable index information for records back to
1976, but most online document images begin August 1, 1991.
Parcel-ID searching is more limited and generally covers 1997-current.
For older records, name/date and Archives research are important.
Independent informational guide:
County-CAD.us is not King County, the Recorder’s Office, Assessor,
Treasury Operations, Washington Department of Revenue, King County
Archives or another government agency. Use the official government
destinations below for final searches, recordings, taxes and certified copies.
Start with your actual task
What Are You Trying to Do?
Fastest research sequence
Address → Parcel → Landmark → Document → Verify → Copy
1
Address
Start with location.
2
Parcel
Find tax parcel number.
3
Landmark
Search recorded records.
4
Document
Identify the right record.
5
Verify
Match parties/property.
6
Copy
Buy only if required.
Official King County resources
Which Website Should You Open?
LAND
Landmark Records Search
Search recorded King County documents and available images.
Open Landmark
GIS
King County Parcel Viewer
Find the parcel number from a street address.
Open Parcel Viewer
COPY
Recorded Document Copies
Certified, uncertified, mail, online and in-person copies.
Open Copy Instructions
REET
Real Estate Excise Tax
REET Affidavit, state calculator and exemption guidance.
Open King County REET
SAFE
Recording Activity Notification System
Free email alerts for names and/or tax parcel numbers.
Register for RANS
King County’s main land-record search
What Can You Search in Landmark?
King County’s Landmark system provides several different search paths.
Choosing the right one is more efficient than entering the same owner
name repeatedly.
Name
Grantor, grantee or another indexed party.
Document Type
Deed, deed of trust, reconveyance, lien, easement and more.
Book & Page
Useful when an older document gives a traditional reference.
Consideration
Search recorded consideration/selling-price criteria where indexed.
Parcel ID
Useful for approximately 1997-current recorded documents.
Recording Date
Narrow results around purchase, refinance or payoff.
Recording Number
Best choice when you already know the exact instrument identifier.
Legal Description
Useful for plats, subdivisions, surveys and difficult property research.
Torrens Number
Historical search field for formerly registered land.
Grantor vs grantee:
the grantor is generally the giving/transferring party;
the grantee is generally the receiving party.
Strongest search when parcel indexing is incomplete
How to Search King County Records by Owner Name
Open Landmark.
Select Name Search.
Enter surname first.
King County’s example uses the format
Doe, John.
Add a useful date range.
Purchase year, refinance date, payoff year or lien date can reduce
hundreds of irrelevant results.
Review grantor and grantee roles.
If looking for an acquisition deed, the current owner commonly
appears as grantee.
Open the likely record.
Compare the parcel, legal description and other parties.
Save the recording number.
Indexing standards changed over time. If one spelling or name format
returns nothing, simplify the query and try reasonable variations.
Address users should start outside the Recorder index
How to Find a King County Deed from a Street Address
Open King County Parcel Viewer.
Search the physical property address.
Select the correct parcel on the map.
Condominiums, adjacent parcels and large developments may require
extra care.
Save the tax parcel number.
Open the linked Assessor eReal Property report if needed.
This provides additional parcel context.
Open Landmark and choose Parcel Search.
Enter the first 10 digits of the Parcel ID.
King County instructs users to search using the first ten digits.
Review the results.
Repeat using owner/grantor/grantee names.
Parcel search generally covers only 1997-current.
Parcel search is not a complete title search.
King County Archives notes that parcel numbers were not consistently
used for recorded-document indexing until roughly the early 2000s.
Older deeds, easements and liens can therefore exist without appearing
in a parcel-only query.
Find the ownership instrument, not just a loan document
How to Find a King County Deed
Identify the parcel.
Use Parcel Viewer when you begin with an address.
Identify the current or prior owner.
Open Landmark Name Search.
Search the buyer/current owner as grantee.
Narrow around the purchase or acquisition date.
Look for deed-type instruments.
Common examples include statutory warranty deed, quitclaim deed
and other conveyance instruments.
Do not confuse a Deed of Trust with the ownership deed.
A deed of trust generally secures real-estate financing.
Verify the parcel/legal description.
Save the recording number.
Download or order the document.
A Recorder search can help reconstruct ownership history, but it is
not a guaranteed title examination. Use a Washington title company
or real-estate attorney for purchase, foreclosure, probate, easement,
lien-priority or disputed-title decisions.
Different search methods have different historical depth
King County Recorded-Document Coverage
Resource
Coverage
Practical meaning
Landmark Index
1976-present
Search modern recorded-document index information online.
Online Images
Most from Aug. 1, 1991-present
Open and print watermarked document images online.
Parcel-ID Search
Approximately 1997-present
Helpful shortcut, but not sufficient for older chain research.
General Recording Index
1853-1975
Research by grantor/grantee name and date through King County Archives.
Pre-Aug. 1991 Images
Archives
Request or research the actual document through King County Archives.
King County land records extend far beyond the online image database
How to Find Deeds Recorded Before 1991
King County Archives maintains historic recorded-property documents,
including deeds, easements, surveys and other records created before
August 1, 1991.
Start with the newest deed you can identify.
Save the grantor, grantee, date and recording reference.
Search Landmark as far back as it reaches.
For 1853-1975, use the General Recordings Index.
Archives organizes this older grantor/grantee index by name and date.
Follow each older owner backward.
Request the underlying image/document from Archives.
For old chain-of-title research, name and date are often more useful
than a modern parcel number because historical records were not
consistently indexed by today’s parcel identifiers.
Use the free image before buying a formal copy
King County Deed Copy & Certification Fees
$0
Watermarked Online Image
Available for many Landmark records.
$1
Uncertified Copy
Per legal-size-or-smaller recorded-document page.
$3
Certified First Page
First page of a certified recorded document.
$1
Certified Additional Page
Each additional page.
$1
Conformed Copy Label
Per instrument.
$3+
Large Map Copy
Separate map pricing applies.
Search Landmark first.
Open the document details and image.
Use the watermarked image for ordinary research.
Log in or create an account if you need a purchased copy.
Select “Add to Cart.”
Choose certified or uncertified.
Complete checkout.
Online uncertified copies are available to print after checkout.
King County currently says online certified copies are mailed within
approximately five business days because the official seal must be preserved.
Phone copy orders are accepted at
206-477-6620
from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. weekdays, excluding county holidays.
Paid Off Your Mortgage? Search for Full Reconveyance or Satisfaction
King County Archives specifically identifies
Full Reconveyance and
Satisfaction of Mortgage as common records showing
that a mortgage or deed of trust has been satisfied.
Find the original Deed of Trust or mortgage.
Save its recording number and date.
Search the borrower, lender and trustee names later in time.
Look for Full Reconveyance, Satisfaction of Mortgage or related release.
Open the actual document.
Confirm it references the original loan/security instrument.
King County notes that the lender is responsible for sending the
reconveyance and having it recorded. A zero loan balance by itself
is not the same thing as seeing the public release in Recorder records.
Research the release, not only the claim
How to Search King County Liens and Releases
Search the property owner by name.
Add the parcel ID for newer records.
Review lien-related document types.
Save the lien recording number and date.
Search later records.
Look for release, satisfaction, reconveyance or termination documents.
Compare the referenced recording number.
A Recorder search does not establish lien priority or guarantee that
every possible title issue has been found. Federal liens, litigation,
probate, bankruptcy and other matters can require additional searches.
Washington recording standards are strict
How to Record a Deed in King County
Determine the correct deed or legal document.
Recorder staff cannot choose the form for you.
Prepare the document under Washington recording standards.
Complete signatures and notarization.
Place required indexing information on the first page.
Include the parcel number when a legal description is required.
Complete the Washington Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit for a conveyance.
Determine whether the transaction is taxable or exempt.
Calculate the current recording charge.
Submit in person, by drop box, mail or approved eRecording route.
Save the final recording number.
The Recorder checks formatting, legibility, indexing information
and fees. It does not verify whether your deed is legally correct,
whether the transfer creates the ownership interest you intend,
or whether the transaction has adverse tax or estate consequences.
Cover sheet is not a shortcut around every defect
Washington State Recorder’s Cover Sheet
The official cover sheet asks for the information the Recorder needs
to index the document correctly.
Return address
Where the recorded document should be returned.
Document title(s)
Each transaction contained in the document.
Reference numbers
Important for assignments, releases and similar records.
Grantor(s)
Exactly as names appear on the document.
Grantee(s)
Exactly as names appear on the document.
Legal description
Abbreviated legal information.
Assessor parcel/account number
Property-tax parcel information.
Non-standard declaration
Used when requesting recording despite applicable format noncompliance.
Signing the non-standard declaration can add a
$50 recording fee. Do not sign that section or pay
the extra $50 when the document already satisfies the standard
margin/format rules.
Current King County Recorder fee schedule
How Much Does It Cost to Record a Document?
$304.50
Deed of Trust
Current first-page recording charge.
$301
Assignment / Successor Trustee
Applies to listed deed-of-trust assignment/trustee document categories.
$303.50
All Other Documents
Current general category for documents not separately listed.
$18
Government Liens / Death Certificate
Current listed category.
$1
Additional Page
Added to the listed document fee.
$50
Non-Standard Fee
Additional charge when allowed non-standard recording rules are used.
Multiple-title documents:
King County states that additional recording fees can apply for every
separate title/transaction contained in the same document.
Additional-page fees are not duplicated for each title.
Recording fees are statutory and can change. Check the live King County
Recorder page before preparing a check or submitting a time-sensitive deed.
Washington Real Estate Excise Tax
REET Must Be Handled Before the Conveyance Is Recorded
King County collects Washington
Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) on taxable real-property
transfers. The seller typically pays the tax, although the legal
responsibility depends on the transaction.
King County states that excise tax assessed on a conveyance must be
paid before the conveyance document—such as a warranty deed or real
estate contract—is recorded.
Determine whether the conveyance is taxable or exempt.
Download the current Washington REET Affidavit.
Use the current Washington Department of Revenue form.
Complete property, seller and buyer information.
Calculate the tax through Washington DOR when taxable.
Identify the legal exemption when non-taxable.
Have all required parties sign the affidavit.
Submit REET and deed together through the appropriate recording process.
$10
Non-Taxable Affidavit
Current King County excise-processing fee.
$5+
Taxable Affidavit
$5 processing fee plus applicable excise tax.
King County states that at least $10 in fee and/or tax is due.
Do not copy a REET tax figure from another Washington transaction;
the state tax structure and exemptions depend on the actual conveyance.
Free property-recording notification
How to Use King County RANS
King County’s
Recording Activity Notification System (RANS)
sends email when a new land-record document matches a registered
personal name, business name and/or tax parcel number.
RANS
Recording Activity Notification System
Free King County email alerts.
Register for RANS
Find the parcel number if you do not know it.
Use King County Parcel Viewer.
Open RANS registration.
Enter your personal or business name.
Add the parcel number.
Use only the first 10 digits, with no spaces, symbols or dashes.
Enter your email address.
Select “Send Confirmation Email.”
Activate the subscription from the email.
Register reasonable name variations separately.
King County allows monitoring of multiple parcels, but each parcel
must be registered separately.
RANS does not prevent fraud.
It is a notification service only. Common names can generate alerts
for unrelated people, and an alert should be verified by opening the
recorded document.
What If an Unexpected or Incorrect Document Was Recorded?
King County cannot simply remove or rewrite a recorded public document.
Open the document in Landmark.
Verify whether the record actually relates to your property.
Read the submitter’s return address on the first page.
Contact the submitter if the document was filed incorrectly.
Ask whether a corrective/subsequent recording is required.
If you suspect illegal activity, obtain legal advice or contact law enforcement.
Recorder staff check statutory recording standards, not the truth or
legal validity of every claim inside a submitted instrument.
Unique Washington corrective-title resource
Discriminatory Restrictive Covenant Modification
Washington law provides a process for addressing unlawful
discriminatory restrictions found in older property documents.
King County provides Restrictive Covenant Modification forms and
currently records qualifying modification documents
without a recording fee.
Identify the original offending document.
Save its recording number and date.
Collect the current owners’ names.
Collect full and abbreviated legal descriptions.
Save the tax parcel number.
Complete the King County / Washington modification form.
Do not sign it yet.
Sign before a licensed notary.
Submit the notarized document to the Recorder.
Recording a modification does not physically erase the historical
original from Archives. It creates the legal record addressing the
void and unenforceable provisions.
Important historical-system change
King County Torrens / Registered Land System Ended in 2023
Washington eliminated the Registered Land (Torrens) system effective
July 1, 2023.
King County issued a Certificate of Withdrawal for all remaining
King County registered land on July 3, 2023. The county identifies
that withdrawal recording as 20230703000026.
Old Torrens volumes 1-97
Held by King County Archives.
Volumes 98-104
Digitally stored with the Recorder’s Office.
King County eRecording
Frequent submitters can record electronically through a third-party
submitter or a King County Agent Account.
Prepare a legally complete document.
Confirm formatting and indexing requirements.
Complete REET materials when a conveyance is involved.
Use an approved third-party submitter or arrange a King County Agent Account.
Submit the package electronically.
Monitor rejection/acceptance and save the final recording number.
King County directs prospective eRecording users to contact the
Recorder’s Office for current account/provider procedures rather
than assuming an emailed PDF will be accepted as an eRecording.
Four Ways to Submit a Recording
In Person
Visit the King County Customer Service Center at 201 S. Jackson Street,
second floor.
Drop Box
Recorder documents can be deposited in the drop box outside the
Customer Service Center with payment.
By Mail
Mail the completed document with personal check, cashier’s check or
money order for the applicable recording charges.
eRecording
Available through approved electronic submission routes.
King County says mailed or drop-box recordings will usually become
viewable online within approximately 7-10 business days.
Surveys and plats use their own search logic
Searching Plats, Surveys and Condominium Records
Landmark provides a dedicated legal-search workflow for surveys,
plats and condominium records.
Open Landmark.
Select Legal Search.
Choose “Advanced Legal.”
Enter subdivision, plat, legal or survey criteria.
Open the recorded map/document.
A recorded plat or Assessor parcel map does not automatically replace
a current professional boundary survey when an exact property line,
encroachment, fence or construction issue is involved.
Property information is divided among several King County offices
Recorder vs Assessor vs Treasury vs Archives
Your task
Correct office
Best next step
Deed / mortgage / lien / reconveyance
Recorder
Use Landmark and Recorder copy services.
Parcel number / property characteristics
Assessor / Parcel Viewer
Search address or parcel and open eReal Property.
Property-tax bill / payment
King County Treasury Operations
Check current tax account and payment information.
Pre-1991 recorded image
King County Archives
Search/request historical recorded documents.
Court / divorce record
Superior Court Clerk
Use court records, not Recorder land records.
Guaranteed title conclusion
Title company / attorney
Obtain professional title examination.
Before Calling the Recorder
Collect as much of this information as possible first:
- recording/instrument number;
- tax parcel number;
- property address;
- grantor and grantee names;
- approximate recording year;
- document type;
- book/page reference if applicable;
- legal description or subdivision name;
- whether you need a search, uncertified copy, certified copy or recording help.
King County-specific research shortcuts
Local Tips That Prevent Failed Searches
Address first? Use Parcel Viewer.
Landmark is much easier after you have the parcel number.
Parcel search uses the first 10 digits.
Do not paste extra parcel formatting into Landmark.
Parcel search only reaches about 1997-current.
Search names for earlier deed history.
Name format uses a comma.
King County’s example is Doe, John.
Search less, not more, when nothing appears.
Older indexing standards may not match modern spelling or parcel data.
Use free Landmark images first.
Pay for an official copy only when required.
Pre-August-1991 image? Use Archives.
Do not assume the deed is missing.
Paid mortgage? Search Full Reconveyance.
The ownership deed itself normally does not change because the loan was paid.
Use both name and parcel in RANS.
This improves the usefulness of future recording alerts.
Keep a 3-inch first-page top margin.
Avoid a preventable non-standard-recording issue.
Don’t forget REET.
A conveyance can be rejected/delayed when excise requirements are incomplete.
Multiple titles can multiply fees.
One PDF containing several legally distinct transactions is not necessarily one fee.
Torrens is historical now.
The Registered Land system ended July 1, 2023.
Recorder cannot delete an unwanted document.
Corrections usually require action by the submitter or a subsequent legal recording.
King County Property Record Checklist for Buyers and Owners
Correct parcel
Verify through Parcel Viewer.
Latest deed
Confirm grantor, grantee and legal description.
Deeds of trust
Identify current and historical secured financing.
Reconveyances
Check whether earlier deeds of trust were released.
Liens and releases
Follow both original and later records.
Easements
Open referenced documents rather than relying on a short index description.
Plats / surveys
Review subdivision and legal-map documents where relevant.
Older chain
Use Archives when Landmark images no longer reach far enough back.
Recording alerts
Register RANS after purchase.
Professional title work
Obtain a title examination for high-stakes legal conclusions.
County-CAD.us Research Standards
Sources & Methodology
Learn how official county and state government sources are reviewed.
Read Methodology
Independent Website Disclaimer
County-CAD.us is not affiliated with King County or Washington State.
Read Disclaimer
Primary official sources
Official Sources Used for This King County Recorder Guide
King County Recorder’s Office
Verified office role, address, contact information and service routing.
Open Recorder’s Office
Online Records Search
Verified Landmark search fields, parcel-search instructions,
copy ordering and modern search coverage.
Open Search Instructions
King County Archives Recorded Documents
Verified historical indexes, pre-1991 documents, reconveyance
terminology and older deed research.
Open Archives Guide
Recorded Document Copies
Verified certified/uncertified copy fees, online checkout,
mail and phone procedures.
Open Copy Guide
Record a Document
Verified current recording fees, submission methods, recording
cutoff and eRecording availability.
Open Recording Guide
Washington Formatting Requirements
Verified page size, margins, font size, first-page fields and
cover-sheet requirements.
Open Official PDF
Washington Recorder Cover Sheet
Verified cover-sheet fields and non-standard-recording declaration.
Open Cover Sheet PDF
King County REET
Verified affidavit requirement, payment timing and excise-processing fees.
Open REET Guide
Recording Activity Notification System
Verified free alerts, registration workflow, parcel-number format
and limitations.
Open RANS FAQs
Registered Land / Torrens
Verified July 2023 termination of King County’s registered-land system.
Open Torrens Guide
King County Parcel Viewer
Verified address-to-parcel workflow and links to Assessor property reports.
Open Parcel Viewer
Editorial verification: August 15, 2026.
Recording charges, statutory surcharges, REET forms, office hours,
Landmark coverage and government procedures can change. Verify the
final transaction on King County and Washington State official
websites before recording, paying or relying on a document for a
legal or financial decision.
10 King County Recorder questions
King County Recorder FAQs
1. How do I search King County deeds online?
Open King County’s Landmark Records Search. Search by owner or other
party name, recording number, parcel ID, recording date, document type,
book/page or legal description. For a name search, King County uses
surname first followed by a comma and first name, such as Doe, John.
Open the likely document and verify the parcel, legal description,
parties and date before relying on it.
2. How do I find a King County deed if I only know the address?
Start with King County Parcel Viewer. Search the property address,
select the correct parcel and save the parcel number. In Landmark,
enter the first ten digits in Parcel Search. Because parcel searching
generally covers only 1997-current and older records were not always
indexed consistently by parcel number, also search the owner’s name
and approximate acquisition date.
3. How far back do King County recorded documents go online?
King County Archives states that Landmark’s recorded-document index
covers 1976 to the present. Images of most documents are available
online beginning August 1, 1991. Parcel-number searching generally
covers 1997-current. The General Recordings Index for 1853-1975 is
available through King County Archives.
4. How much does a King County deed copy cost?
An uncertified recorded document currently costs $1 per page.
A certified legal-size-or-smaller recorded document costs $3 for
the first page and $1 for each additional page. Landmark also provides
free watermarked images of many records for research. Certified online
orders are mailed so the county can preserve the official certification seal.
5. How much does it cost to record a deed in King County?
King County currently lists $303.50 for the first page of the general
“all other documents” category, with $1 for each additional page.
A Deed of Trust currently costs $304.50 for the first page. Other
document types can have different charges, and additional transaction
titles within one document can trigger additional recording fees.
Check the current Recorder fee page immediately before filing.
6. What are the first-page formatting requirements for King County recording?
Washington’s standard recording format generally requires a first-page
top margin of three inches, one-inch side and bottom margins, pages
no larger than 8.5 by 14 inches, readable text of at least 8-point,
return-address information and required first-page indexing fields
such as document title, grantor, grantee, legal description and parcel
number when applicable. A Recorder cover sheet can be required when
the standard first page is incomplete.
7. What should I search after paying off my King County mortgage?
Search later King County Recorder records for a Full Reconveyance,
Satisfaction of Mortgage or another release associated with the
original Deed of Trust or mortgage. King County Archives states that
these records commonly show that mortgage interests were satisfied,
and that the lender is responsible for sending and recording the
reconveyance.
8. What is King County RANS?
RANS is King County’s free Recording Activity Notification System.
It sends email when a newly recorded land-record document matches
a personal name, business name or parcel number you registered.
Parcel numbers should be entered using the first ten digits with no
spaces, symbols or dashes. RANS is a notification tool and does not
prevent or prove fraud.
9. Does a King County deed require a Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit?
A Washington Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit is required for covered
real-property conveyances and must be signed by the required parties.
King County collects applicable REET before the conveyance is recorded.
The current county processing fee is $5 plus excise tax for taxable
affidavits and $10 for non-taxable affidavits, with a minimum $10
in fee and/or tax due.
10. Where is the King County Recorder’s Office?
The King County Recorder’s Office is at 201 S. Jackson Street,
Suite 204, Seattle, WA 98104, inside the King County Customer Service
Center. In-person service is currently available weekdays from
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but recording ends at 3:30 p.m.
The Recorder phone number is 206-477-6620 and phone service hours
are 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. weekdays.