Thurston County Auditor's Office
Why People File a Quitclaim Deed in Thurston County
Just Got Married
Adding your new spouse to the title after a wedding is one of the most common reasons people file here — it's a straightforward paperwork step, not a real estate transaction.
Going Through a Divorce
Divorce is one of the most common reasons people end up here — removing a former spouse from the title, once the settlement is final.
Inherited Property
Families dealing with an inherited property often end up here — a quitclaim deed can move title into an heir's name once the estate matters are settled.
Gifting to Family
Parents gifting property to their kids, or adding a family member to the title, typically use a quitclaim deed to make it official with the county.
About the Thurston County Auditor's Office
Thurston County is home to Olympia, the state capital, at the southern tip of Puget Sound, with fast-growing Lacey and Tumwater rounding out the urban core. Recording runs through the Thurston County Auditor's Office countywide — arrive with a deed already formatted to Washington's requirements, since a rejected filing just means a second trip.
Cities and Communities Served
Recording jurisdiction runs countywide, not by city limits — if the property sits anywhere within Thurston County, this is the office that will accept the deed. That includes:
Incorporated cities and towns: Olympia (county seat and state capital), Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, Rainier, Tenino, Bucoda.
Unincorporated communities: Grand Mound, Rochester, Littlerock, Belmore.
More than 145,000 county residents live in unincorporated areas, concentrated between Olympia and Lacey.
The Nisqually Indian Reservation and the Squaxin Island Reservation both touch the county, governed by their respective tribal nations, separate from ordinary county jurisdiction.
Office Details
Address: 3000 Pacific Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501
Phone: (360) 786-5405 | Fax: (360) 786-5223
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (opens 9:00 AM the first Wednesday of each month for staff training)
Recording Fee: Set by state statute, not by Thurston 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 Thurston County Auditor's Office before filing.
Document Search: Online records search
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 Olympia? Washington allows remote online notarization through a commissioned electronic-records notary — you can notarize your Thurston 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 Thurston 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 Thurston County Auditor's Office?
Ask below and get an instant answer on Washington quitclaim deeds.
Filing? Get a Deed the Thurston 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 Thurston County Auditor's Office asks for.
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