Washington Quitclaim Deed

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

Pacific County occupies Washington's southwest coastal corner, the Long Beach Peninsula and Willapa Bay's oyster-farming waters, with South Bend as its county seat. The Pacific County Auditor's Office handles document recording for the entire county — come in with a deed that already meets Washington's formatting requirements, since getting it right the first time saves a trip back.

Cities and Communities Served

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

Incorporated cities and towns: Long Beach (tourism hub), South Bend (county seat), Ilwaco, Raymond.

Unincorporated communities: Ocean Park, Seaview, Chinook, Naselle, Bay Center, Tokeland.

The Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation is centered at Tokeland, an unincorporated community of roughly 400 people, governed by the Shoalwater Bay Tribe rather than ordinary county jurisdiction.

Office Details

Address: 300 Memorial Dr, South Bend, WA 98586

Phone: (360) 875-9318  |  Fax: (360) 875-9333

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

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

Document Search: Online records search

Good to know before you go: This county has two Auditor offices — the main one in South Bend, and a second in Long Beach that's closed Fridays. Electronic recording isn't available for documents that need an Excise Tax Affidavit, which covers most deeds, so plan on an in-person or mailed submission.

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

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

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

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