Washington Quitclaim Deed

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

Snohomish County runs from Everett's port and Boeing plant on Puget Sound up into Cascade foothill towns, one of the fastest-growing counties in the region. No matter where in the county the property is, recording goes through the Snohomish 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 Snohomish County, this is the office that will accept the deed. That includes:

Incorporated cities and towns: Everett (county seat, largest city), Marysville, Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mukilteo, Lake Stevens, Mill Creek, Monroe, Arlington, Mountlake Terrace, Snohomish, Stanwood, Bothell, Brier, Gold Bar, Granite Falls, Woodway, Sultan, Darrington, Index.

Unincorporated communities: Florence, Galena, Hazel, Reiter, Silverton, Trafton.

Bothell is split between Snohomish and King counties.

The Tulalip Indian Reservation lies within county boundaries and operates as a separate tribal government, not an ordinary incorporated place under county civil jurisdiction.

Office Details

Address: 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Robert Drewel Building, 1st Floor, Everett, WA 98201

Phone: (425) 388-3483  |  Fax: (425) 388-3094

Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (arrive at least 30 minutes before closing for transactions)

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

Document Search: Online records search

Good to know before you go: In person, payment is by check, money order, or card only — no cash. Veterans can record a DD214 at no charge.

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

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

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

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

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