Whitman County Auditor's Office
Why People File a Quitclaim Deed in Whitman 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 Whitman County Auditor's Office
Whitman County is the heart of the Palouse, its rolling wheat hills built around Pullman and Washington State University, with Colfax as the county seat. The Whitman County Auditor's Office processes recordings for the entire county — showing up with a deed that already satisfies Washington's formatting requirements saves everyone the back-and-forth.
Cities and Communities Served
Recording jurisdiction runs countywide, not by city limits — if the property sits anywhere within Whitman County, this is the office that will accept the deed. That includes:
Incorporated cities and towns: Pullman (largest city), Colfax (county seat), Palouse, Tekoa, Albion, Colton, Endicott, Farmington, Garfield, La Crosse, Lamont, Malden, Oakesdale, Rosalia, St. John, Uniontown.
Unincorporated communities: Belmont, Dusty, Ewan, Hay, Hooper, Johnson, Thornton.
Office Details
Address: 400 North Main Street, Suite 245, Colfax, WA 99111
Phone: (509) 397-6270
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 4:15 PM (recording and marriage licensing cut off at 3:30 PM)
Recording Fee: Set by state statute, not by Whitman 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 Whitman 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 Colfax? Washington allows remote online notarization through a commissioned electronic-records notary — you can notarize your Whitman 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 Whitman 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 Whitman County Auditor's Office?
Ask below and get an instant answer on Washington quitclaim deeds.
Filing? Get a Deed the Whitman 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 Whitman County Auditor's Office asks for.
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