San Juan County Auditor's Office
Why People File a Quitclaim Deed in San Juan County
Just Got Married
Newly married and updating who's on the title? That's exactly what a quitclaim deed is built for — a quick way to add your spouse's name to the property you already own.
Going Through a Divorce
Untangling ownership after a divorce usually comes down to one deed — this one — once you and your ex have settled who keeps the property.
Inherited Property
Inheriting a house doesn't automatically update the title — a quitclaim deed is usually how that final step gets handled.
Gifting to Family
Gifting a home to your kids or another family member? A quitclaim deed is how that gets recorded — no sale required.
About the San Juan County Auditor's Office
San Juan County is the San Juan Islands themselves — reached only by ferry or boat — with Friday Harbor serving as the county seat for the whole archipelago. The San Juan County Auditor's Office is where deeds get recorded regardless of which part of the county the property sits in — formatting it to Washington's rules beforehand avoids a wasted return visit.
Cities and Communities Served
Recording jurisdiction runs countywide, not by city limits — if the property sits anywhere within San Juan County, this is the office that will accept the deed. That includes:
Incorporated cities and towns: Friday Harbor (county seat, only incorporated town).
Unincorporated communities: Eastsound, Orcas, Deer Harbor, Olga, Lopez Village, Roche Harbor, Shaw Island.
San Juan County is an island archipelago with no bridge to the mainland — reaching Friday Harbor to file in person means taking a Washington State Ferry from Anacortes (serving San Juan, Orcas, Lopez, and Shaw Islands) or arriving by private boat or small aircraft. Factor that into your timeline if you're not mailing or e-recording.
No distinct branded online document-search platform was confirmed for San Juan County.
Office Details
Address: 350 Court St, 1st Floor, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Phone: (360) 378-2161 | Fax: (360) 378-6256
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Recording Fee: Set by state statute, not by San Juan 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 San Juan 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 Friday Harbor? Washington allows remote online notarization through a commissioned electronic-records notary — you can notarize your San Juan 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 San Juan 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 San Juan County Auditor's Office?
Ask below and get an instant answer on Washington quitclaim deeds.
Filing? Get a Deed the San Juan 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 San Juan County Auditor's Office asks for.
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