Washington Quitclaim Deed

Why People File a Quitclaim Deed in Island 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 Island County Auditor's Office

Island County is Puget Sound's Whidbey and Camano Islands, reached by ferry or bridge, with Coupeville's small-town courthouse serving both islands' recording needs. No matter where in the county the property is, recording goes through the Island 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 Island County, this is the office that will accept the deed. That includes:

Incorporated cities and towns: Oak Harbor (largest city, Whidbey Island), Langley (Whidbey Island), Coupeville (county seat, Whidbey Island).

Unincorporated communities: Clinton, Freeland, Greenbank, Bayview, Baby Island Heights, Juniper Beach, Keystone.

Camano (covering unincorporated Camano Island) is a Census-designated place, not an incorporated city.

Office Details

Address: 1 NE 7th Street, Room 105, Coupeville, WA 98239

Phone: (360) 679-7368

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Recording Fee: Set by state statute, not by Island 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 Island County Auditor's Office before filing.

Document Search: Online records search

Good to know before you go: Recording is handled at the Whidbey Island (Coupeville) office; the separate Camano Island office closes for lunch 1:00–1:30 p.m.

Official Website Get Directions

How to File a Document

  1. 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.
  2. Get It Notarized: Have the document signed before a Washington notary public or other authorized official. No notary nearby in Coupeville? Washington allows remote online notarization through a commissioned electronic-records notary — you can notarize your Island County deed online instead.
  3. 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.
  4. Record It: You can file in person at the Island County Auditor's Office, or by mail.
  5. 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.
  6. Keep Your Receipt: Your recorded document (or a certified copy) is your proof of filing.

Still Have Questions About Filing With the Island County Auditor's Office?

Ask below and get an instant answer on Washington quitclaim deeds.

Filing? Get a Deed the Island 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:

Download the form yourself $14.95 Have it prepared for you $39.95

Both are built to meet Washington's recording requirements, tailored to what the Island County Auditor's Office asks for.

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