Whatcom County Auditor's Office
Why People File a Quitclaim Deed in Whatcom 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 Whatcom County Auditor's Office
Whatcom County is Washington's northwest corner against the Canadian border, with Bellingham anchoring a county that runs from Puget Sound islands to Mount Baker. Documents for the whole county are recorded through the Whatcom County Auditor's Office — a deed that's already formatted correctly under Washington law means one trip instead of two.
Cities and Communities Served
Recording jurisdiction runs countywide, not by city limits — if the property sits anywhere within Whatcom County, this is the office that will accept the deed. That includes:
Incorporated cities and towns: Bellingham (county seat, largest city), Ferndale, Blaine, Lynden, Everson, Sumas, Nooksack.
Unincorporated communities: Acme, Birch Bay, Custer, Deming, Geneva, Glacier, Kendall, Maple Falls, Point Roberts, Sudden Valley, Lummi Island.
The Lummi Indian Reservation (west of Bellingham) and the Nooksack Indian Reservation both lie within the county, governed by their respective tribal nations.
Office Details
Address: 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 103, Bellingham, WA 98225
Phone: (360) 778-5100 | Fax: (360) 778-5101
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Recording Fee: Set by state statute, not by Whatcom 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 Whatcom 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 Bellingham? Washington allows remote online notarization through a commissioned electronic-records notary — you can notarize your Whatcom 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 Whatcom 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 Whatcom County Auditor's Office?
Ask below and get an instant answer on Washington quitclaim deeds.
Filing? Get a Deed the Whatcom 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 Whatcom County Auditor's Office asks for.
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