Washington Quitclaim Deed

Why People File a Quitclaim Deed in Lewis County

Just Got Married

Just got married and want your spouse's name on the title? A quitclaim deed is the standard way to add them — no sale, no mortgage payoff, just an updated deed on file with the county.

Going Through a Divorce

Going through a divorce and need an ex's name off the title? A quitclaim deed handles that cleanly, once your settlement or court order says who keeps the property.

Inherited Property

Inherited property from a family member? Depending on how the estate was handled, a quitclaim deed may be how ownership formally moves into your name.

Gifting to Family

Adding an adult child to the title, or gifting property to family outright? A quitclaim deed is the usual way to make that transfer official.

About the Lewis County Auditor's Office

Lewis County is I-5 corridor country between Seattle and Portland, where Centralia and Chehalis's twin-city core gives way to timber towns climbing toward Mount Rainier and White Pass. Documents for the whole county are recorded through the Lewis County Auditor's Office — a deed that's already formatted correctly under Washington law means one trip instead of two.

Cities and Communities Served

Recording jurisdiction runs countywide, not by city limits — if the property sits anywhere within Lewis County, this is the office that will accept the deed. That includes:

Incorporated cities and towns: Centralia (largest city), Chehalis (county seat), Morton, Mossyrock, Napavine, Pe Ell, Toledo, Vader, Winlock.

Unincorporated communities: Onalaska, Packwood, Randle, Salkum, Glenoma, Doty.

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe (whose reservation is in Clark County) owns large forest trust holdings extending into Lewis County — working timberland, not a populated reservation community.

Office Details

Address: 351 NW North St, Chehalis, WA 98532

Phone: (360) 748-9121

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

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

Document Search: Online records search

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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 Chehalis? Washington allows remote online notarization through a commissioned electronic-records notary — you can notarize your Lewis 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 Lewis 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 Lewis County Auditor's Office?

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Filing? Get a Deed the Lewis 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 Lewis County Auditor's Office asks for.

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