Washington Quitclaim Deed

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

Mason County wraps around the southern reaches of Hood Canal, with Shelton's timber-mill history as its only incorporated city and two tribal nations along its shoreline. No matter where in the county the property is, recording goes through the Mason 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 Mason County, this is the office that will accept the deed. That includes:

Incorporated cities and towns: Shelton (county seat, only incorporated city).

Unincorporated communities: Belfair, Allyn, Grapeview, Union, Hoodsport, Tahuya, Kamilche, Matlock, Potlatch, Lilliwaup, Harstine Island, Lake Cushman.

The Squaxin Island Reservation (Squaxin Island Tribe, Kamilche area) and the Skokomish Reservation (Skokomish Tribe, near Union/Hoodsport) both lie within Mason County, governed by their respective tribal nations.

Office Details

Address: 411 N 5th St, Shelton, WA 98584

Phone: (360) 427-9670, ext. 467  |  Fax: (360) 427-1753

Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

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

Document Search: Online records search

Good to know before you go: Veterans can record a DD214 at no charge.

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

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

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

Disclosure: affiliate links to Standard Legal, our partner — no extra cost to you.

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