Chelan County Auditor's Office
Why People File a Quitclaim Deed in Chelan County
Just Got Married
Newly married and updating who's on the title? That's exactly what a quitclaim deed is built for — a quick way to add your spouse's name to the property you already own.
Going Through a Divorce
Untangling ownership after a divorce usually comes down to one deed — this one — once you and your ex have settled who keeps the property.
Inherited Property
Inheriting a house doesn't automatically update the title — a quitclaim deed is usually how that final step gets handled.
Gifting to Family
Gifting a home to your kids or another family member? A quitclaim deed is how that gets recorded — no sale required.
About the Chelan County Auditor's Office
Chelan County runs from the orchard country around Wenatchee up into the Cascades around Lake Chelan and Leavenworth's alpine-village tourism economy. The Chelan County Auditor's Office is where deeds get recorded regardless of which part of the county the property sits in — formatting it to Washington's rules beforehand avoids a wasted return visit.
Cities and Communities Served
Recording jurisdiction runs countywide, not by city limits — if the property sits anywhere within Chelan County, this is the office that will accept the deed. That includes:
Incorporated cities and towns: Wenatchee (county seat, largest city), Cashmere, Chelan, Entiat, Leavenworth.
Unincorporated communities: Ardenvoir, Dryden, Holden Village, Lucerne, Malaga, Monitor, Peshastin, Plain, Stehekin, West Wenatchee.
Scattered Colville Indian Reservation trust-land parcels exist near/northwest of the city of Chelan — smaller, non-contiguous parcels, distinct from the main reservation block in Ferry and Okanogan counties.
Office Details
Address: 350 Orondo Ave, 2nd Floor, Wenatchee, WA 98801
Phone: (509) 667-6815 | Fax: (509) 667-6825
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Recording Fee: Set by state statute, not by Chelan County individually — a flat amount per page rather than a percentage of the property's value, stacking the base recording fee with several state surcharges (RCW 36.18.010, RCW 36.22.250, RCW 36.22.185). This total has changed more than once in recent years, so confirm the current amount with the Chelan County Auditor's Office before filing.
Document Search: Online records search
How to File a Document
- Prepare Your Document: Make sure your deed meets Washington's formatting and content requirements before you file — RCW 65.04.045 sets specific margin, first-page, and legal-description rules.
- Get It Notarized: Have the document signed before a Washington notary public or other authorized official. No notary nearby in Wenatchee? Washington allows remote online notarization through a commissioned electronic-records notary — you can notarize your Chelan County deed online instead.
- Complete a Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit: Washington law requires a completed Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit (REETA) to accompany every deed submitted for recording — even a $0-consideration gift between family members still needs the affidavit filed with an exemption code.
- Record It: You can file in person at the Chelan County Auditor's Office, or by mail.
- Pay the Recording Fee: A flat amount per page rather than a percentage of the property's value, set by state law — check with the county for the current figure.
- Keep Your Receipt: Your recorded document (or a certified copy) is your proof of filing.
Still Have Questions About Filing With the Chelan County Auditor's Office?
Ask below and get an instant answer on Washington quitclaim deeds.
Filing? Get a Deed the Chelan County Auditor's Office Will Accept
FREE generic forms are the most common reason Washington deeds get rejected — usually over formatting, the legal description, or notary acknowledgment.
Two ways to avoid that:
Both are built to meet Washington's recording requirements, tailored to what the Chelan County Auditor's Office asks for.
Disclosure: affiliate links to Standard Legal, our partner — no extra cost to you.
You are not on the official Chelan County government website. WashingtonQuitclaimDeed.com is a privately owned website and is not affiliated with any government agency.