Washington Quitclaim Deed Recording Requirements

Step-by-Step Guide to Recording Quitclaim Deeds

Washington's document-formatting rules are set by state law: RCW § 65.04.045

Margin and Format Requirements

To be accepted for recording, a deed presented to a Washington county auditor must meet these standards:

• Paper: no larger than 8.5 x 14 inches.
• Type size: at least 8-point type throughout.
• Margins: at least 3 inches at the top of the first page (for the title and the auditor's stamp/return-address block); at least 1 inch on the sides and bottom of the first page; at least 1 inch on all sides of every later page.
• Title placement: the document's title must appear immediately below the 3-inch top margin on the first page.
• Return address: required in the top-left corner of the first page.
• Legal description and parcel number: an abbreviated legal description (lot/block/plat, or section/township/range) and the property's assessor's parcel or account number must appear on the first page.
• Prohibited content: Social Security numbers, individual dates of birth, and maiden names identifying a person may not appear anywhere in the document.

A notary seal or signature that slightly crosses into a margin isn't by itself a reason for rejection.

Notarization

A Washington quitclaim deed must be signed and acknowledged before a notary public or other authorized official. Washington recognizes acknowledgments taken by notaries in other states (RCW 42.45.090), and also permits remote online notarization (RON) through a Washington-commissioned electronic-records notary (RCW 42.45.280) — the notary must be commissioned in Washington, but the signer can appear over approved audiovisual technology instead of in person. See our notary information page for details, or notarize a deed online directly through our online notary partner.

Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit

Washington law requires a completed Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit (REETA) to accompany every deed submitted for recording — a county auditor cannot accept a deed until the tax is paid and noted on the instrument, or, if none is due, until the treasurer has noted the exempt status (RCW 82.45.090, RCW 82.45.150). This applies even to transfers, like most gifts and family transfers, that owe no tax — the affidavit still has to be filed with the correct exemption code, and gift claims need an accompanying REET Supplemental Statement. Read our full guide to the Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit for exemption details and a link to the official form.

Real Estate Excise Tax

Unlike some states, Washington does charge a real estate excise tax (REET) on property transfers — a graduated percentage rate under RCW 82.45.060 that rises with the sale price, plus a local add-on most counties apply on top. Most quitclaim deed transfers don't actually owe this tax, though: gifts, inheritance, transfers between spouses or into a revocable living trust, and adding or removing a name on title for no consideration are common exemptions. The REETA above still has to be filed either way — see our excise tax affidavit guide for the exemption list, and check the Department of Revenue's REET page for the current rate schedule.

Recording Fee

Washington's document recording fee is set by state law, not by each county individually — it's a flat amount per page rather than a percentage of the property's value, made up of a small base fee plus several state surcharges stacked on top (RCW 36.18.010, RCW 36.22.250, RCW 36.22.185) that fund things like homeless housing assistance and the Covenant Homeownership Program. That total has changed more than once in the last couple of years, so don't rely on an old number — confirm the current amount with your county auditor before filing.