Columbia County Auditor's Office
Why People File a Quitclaim Deed in Columbia County
Just Got Married
If marriage is the reason you're here, you're not alone — adding a spouse to the title is one of the simplest, most common uses of a quitclaim deed.
Going Through a Divorce
If your divorce settlement awarded you the property, a quitclaim deed is how you actually get your ex's name off the title.
Inherited Property
If you're sorting out property after losing a family member, a quitclaim deed is often the last step in getting the title updated to reflect the new owner.
Gifting to Family
Whether you're adding your child to the title or handing the property over outright, a quitclaim deed is the standard way families make that change here.
About the Columbia County Auditor's Office
Columbia County is one of Washington's smallest and most rural counties, its rolling Palouse wheatland centered on the historic town of Dayton. No matter where in the county the property is, recording goes through the Columbia County Auditor's Office — get the formatting right under Washington law the first time and skip the repeat visit.
Cities and Communities Served
Recording jurisdiction runs countywide, not by city limits — if the property sits anywhere within Columbia County, this is the office that will accept the deed. That includes:
Incorporated cities and towns: Dayton (county seat, only incorporated city), Starbuck.
Unincorporated communities: Covello, Huntsville, Jackson, Marengo, Turner.
An online self-service document search wasn't confirmed for Columbia County — the county references a third-party service (iDocMarket) for obtaining copies rather than a direct public search portal.
Office Details
Address: 115 E Main Street, Suite 3, Dayton, WA 99328
Phone: (509) 382-4541 | Fax: (509) 382-4830
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Recording Fee: Set by state statute, not by Columbia 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 Columbia County Auditor's Office before filing.
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 Dayton? Washington allows remote online notarization through a commissioned electronic-records notary — you can notarize your Columbia 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 Columbia 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 Columbia County Auditor's Office?
Ask below and get an instant answer on Washington quitclaim deeds.
Filing? Get a Deed the Columbia 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 Columbia County Auditor's Office asks for.
Disclosure: affiliate links to Standard Legal, our partner — no extra cost to you.
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