Free links to official Washington state and county government records — courts, criminal histories, vital records, property, voter, business, and licenses across all 39 counties.
How to Search Washington Recorded Documents (Start Here)
Recorded documents in Washington — deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other land records — are filed with the County Auditor in each county.
What this page covers: Washington recorded document searches — deeds, mortgages, assignments, liens, plats, and other instruments filed in the public land records. What it does not cover: Property valuations or tax data (those are on the Property Records page).
Where to start: Go to the County Auditor in the county where the property is located. Many county county auditors offer online document search by grantor/grantee name, book/page, or instrument number.
Common mistake: Recorded documents show what was filed — they do not confirm current ownership or lien status without a full title search. A deed in the index does not mean it is the most recent transfer.
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Washington recorded documents URL verified against the official state publisher at www.dol.wa.gov on the review date. 6 primary .gov sources cited below.
Washington Recorded Documents — Key Facts (2026)
Deeds, mortgages, UCC filings, liens, military discharges in Washington — what gets recorded and where in 2026.
County
Where deeds live
Permanent record
SoS
Where UCC live
Secretary of State
Article 9
UCC governs
Secured transactions
Public
Most recorded docs
With redaction
Federal
DD-214 / IRS liens
National-level
Common recorded document types — typical volume
Deeds
100
Mortgages
95
Liens (property)
70
UCC (business)
55
Powers of attorney
25
Military DD-214
10
Unit: relative volume (deeds=100).
What Changed in 2026 — Washington Recorded Documents
2026
Washington recorded documents portal active
The official Washington portal at www.dol.wa.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for recorded documents in 2026.
For 2026, Washington continues to publish recorded documents information through state-authorized portals; check www.dol.wa.gov for current fees and processing times.
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Washington's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.
Washington County Recorder / Register of Deeds. Permanent record.
2
Type 2 — UCC (business collateral)
Most filed with Washington Secretary of State. Some real-estate UCCs are county.
3
Type 3 — Liens (tax, mechanic's, judgment)
Property liens at the county. IRS federal tax liens may file at county OR state.
4
Type 4 — Personal documents (POA, military DD-214)
Often optional county recording in Washington for safekeeping. Originals at federal NPRC.
5
Type 5 — Maps & subdivisions
Washington county recorder; some at state mapping office.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Washington Recorded Documents
MYTH"E-recording is a public search tool."
FACTE-recording is the submission pipe for title companies and lenders. The public searches the index — the two systems just meet at the recorder's desk.
MYTH"Recording a deed is what makes it valid."
FACTRecording gives the world notice — it doesn't make the deed good or bad. An unrecorded deed can still bind the people who signed it.
MYTH"Everything about a property is recorded."
FACTOnly what someone chose to file. Unrecorded agreements, family handshakes, and old paper deeds exist everywhere — the index shows filings, not the whole story.
MYTH"If the index shows it, the image is free."
FACTPlenty of counties show the index for free and charge per page for the document image. Budget for the image, not the search.
MYTH"UCC filings are at the county."
FACTMost UCC financing statements are filed with the Secretary of State, not the county recorder. Searching only the county misses them.
The County presents the information on this web site as a service to the public. We have tried to ensure that the information contained in this electronic search system is accurate. County makes no warranty or guarantee concerning the accuracy or reliability of the content at this site or at ...
The land-records trail for Clallam County runs through here: recorded deeds, liens, and related filings. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
With its great natural beauty, the area known today as Clark County, Washington, always has attracted people and settlements. Framed by the scenic Cascade Range to the east and majestic Columbia River to the south and west, the area was both a gathering place for native tribes and the site of the first non-native settlement in the Pacific Northwest.
This office maintains the official recorded-document index for Columbia County. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
Public Records Requests are handled for the County by Gray Blair. Public Records Requests for the Sheriff’s Office are handled by Joy Gibson. ... This does not include court records. GovQA Online Public Records Request Portal - Provides citizens 24/7 access to submit public records requests and track their progress by creating an account
This office maintains the official recorded-document index for Island County. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
Oct 7, 2025 | Community InformationOn Tuesday, October 7, 2025, the TDOT Construction Office in Newport released information regarding an upcoming road closure on SR113 in Jefferson County near White Pine. Please refer to the information below for further details.
This office maintains the official recorded-document index for Kitsap County. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official recorded document office.
All three of the name fields have two different types of searching: Basic and Advanced. 'Basic' searches will search for a name in the order you entered it. You will need to enter it Last Name first. For example, if you enter: The system will return documents belonging to Benjamin Franklin ...
The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Department resides within the Public Works department of Mason County. The GIS Department creates and maintains geographic data for the support of Mason County Public Works, other county departments, and the public.
Recorded documents for Pierce County — deeds, mortgages, liens, and releases — are indexed through this office. Confirm details with the official recorded document office before relying on them.
Licenses may be obtained in any county in Washington, and can only be used in the State of Washington. Applicants do not have to be residents of the State of Washington to obtain a marriage license. No extensions of time or refunds of money are made once the license is issued. Waiting Period There is a three-day waiting period from the day the license is purchased until it can be used. If you will be in San Juan ...
This office maintains the official recorded-document index for Skagit County. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
This office maintains the official recorded-document index for Access Skagit County. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
The land-records trail for Snohomish County runs through here: recorded deeds, liens, and related filings. Confirm details with the official recorded document office before relying on them.
Document Number Book/PageSeparate multiple values with a space. Separate ranges with a colon. '1 3 5' will search for 1, 3, or 5 while '1:5' will search for 1 through 5. (Don't include the quotes.) Recording Date Start Date End Date Grantor Last, First Search Type Exact Match Advanced Grantee ...
Auditor's File # Book/PageSeparate multiple values with a space. Separate ranges with a colon. '1 3 5' will search for 1, 3, or 5 while '1:5' will search for 1 through 5. (Don't include the quotes.) Recording Date (MM/DD/YYYY) Start End Grantor/Party 1 Last, First Search Type Exact Match Advanced ...
39 Washington counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Which Washington counties publish deed and recording indexes online
27 of Washington's 39 counties run their own online source for deed and recording indexes, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above — click a county for its full records page.
In Washington, deeds, mortgages, liens, and other real-property documents are recorded at the county level by the county Recorder (or Clerk-Recorder). The Official Washington Recorded Documents at www.dol.wa.gov handles statewide filings such as UCC-1 financing statements and corporate documents.
Where do I file a UCC-1 financing statement in Washington?▼
UCC-1 financing statements covering personal property and business collateral are filed centrally with the Official Washington Recorded Documents at www.dol.wa.gov. Fixture filings on real estate are an exception — those go to the county where the property is located.
Are Washington recorded documents available online?▼
Most Washington countys publish a free online index of recorded documents (by name, document type, or date). Image access (the actual deed image) is often available either free or for a small per-page fee. Statewide UCC and corporate filings are searchable through the Official Washington Recorded Documents at www.dol.wa.gov.
How do I obtain a certified copy of a Washington recorded deed?▼
Certified copies of deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents are issued by the county Recorder where the document was originally recorded. Fees and ID requirements vary; see your specific county page below. The Official Washington Recorded Documents (www.dol.wa.gov) handles certified copies of statewide filings such as UCCs and articles of incorporation.
What's the difference between a deed and a title in Washington?▼
A deed is the recorded instrument that conveys ownership; the title is the legal concept of ownership itself. Deeds in Washington are recorded with the county Recorder; title insurance and title searches are private-sector services that examine the chain of recorded deeds. The Official Washington Recorded Documents at www.dol.wa.gov publishes the statewide rules.
