King County WA Recorder Office: Address, Records Search, Copies, Recording & Fees
The King County Recorder’s Office records and preserves official documents for real estate deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, surveys, marriage records, REET-related conveyance paperwork and other recorded instruments in King County, Washington. The office is located at the King County Customer Service Center, 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 204, Seattle, WA 98104.
This guide explains exactly when to use the Recorder’s Office, how to search King County’s Landmark records database, when older records move to King County Archives, how to request certified copies, and which office to use when the issue is a court record, birth/death certificate, parcel map or property-tax bill.
What Does the King County Recorder Office Handle?
Use the King County Recorder’s Office when you need to search, record or order copies of recorded public documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, surveys, condominiums, marriage certificates, REET-related conveyance paperwork, DD214 military discharge recordings and other official land-record instruments.
Recorded Documents
The Recorder is the right office for deeds, mortgages, easements, liens, recorded surveys, plats, condominium records, restrictive covenant modification filings, marriage licensing and certified recorded-document copies.
Not Every Record Is Here
Birth and death certificates, Superior Court case files, divorce records, parcel maps, tax bills and statewide land-boundary records are handled by different King County or Washington State offices.
No Legal Document Drafting
Recorder staff can check legibility, formatting, indexing information and fee collection. They cannot choose a deed form, fill out documents, decide legal correctness or accept illegible documents.
King County Recorder Office Address, Hours and Contact
The public counter is inside the King County Customer Service Center in downtown Seattle. Plan around two different service windows: general in-person service hours and the earlier daily cutoff for recording.
King County Recorder’s Office
Street address:
201 S. Jackson St., Suite 204
Seattle, WA 98104
Location note: King County Customer Service Center, second floor, Pioneer Square neighborhood.
In-person hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, closed on King County holidays.
Recording cutoff: Recording ends at 3:30 p.m.
Phone: 206-477-6620 TTY: 711
Phone hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays.
Email: KCROCust@kingcounty.gov
Open Recorder Map ↗Are You in the Right King County Office?
“Records” can mean many different things in King County. Use this table before calling or visiting.
| Your Task | Correct Starting Office | Why It Matters | Practical Next Step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Find a deed, mortgage, lien, easement or recorded document | King County Recorder’s Office / Landmark Records Search | The Recorder indexes and provides copies of recorded instruments. | Search by name, parcel ID, recording number, document type, date or legal description. |
| Get a certified copy of a recorded document | King County Recorder’s Office | Certified copies carry a certification stamp/seal process; online images are not the same as certified copies. | Use the Records Search cart, phone, mail or in-person process. |
| Search documents recorded before August 1, 1991 | King County Archives | Older recorded documents are generally on microfilm and may not be available in the online Recorder search. | Contact Archives when Landmark does not show the older record. |
| Find parcel number, property value or property characteristics | King County Assessor / Parcel Viewer | The Recorder’s parcel search depends on parcel IDs, but parcel details come from assessor/GIS records. | Use Parcel Viewer first, then return to Landmark with the first 10 digits of the parcel number. |
| Pay property taxes or confirm tax-bill status | King County Treasury Operations | The Recorder does not collect annual property-tax bills. | Use Treasury for tax statements, payments, delinquency and receipts. |
| Find court, divorce or case records | King County Superior Court Clerk or relevant court | Court records are not the same as land-title recordings. | Use court record tools instead of the Recorder’s Landmark search. |
| Order birth or death certificates | King County Vital Statistics | Vital records are handled separately from recorded land documents. | Use Vital Statistics, not the Recorder counter. |
How to Search King County Recorded Documents Online
King County’s Landmark Records Search is the main online database for official recorded documents. It supports multiple search methods, but each method behaves differently. The right search depends on whether you know a name, parcel ID, recording number, date range or legal description.
Start With the Official Records Search Page
Open King County’s official online records search page, then select the Start Search button. Use the county page rather than a third-party paid search result because the county search is the official path for public recorded documents.
Search by Name When You Know Grantor or Grantee
For name searches, King County instructs users to enter the last name, a comma, and then the first name, such as Doe, John. For businesses, use the entity name and try fewer words if the first search is too narrow.
Search by Parcel ID for Property-Linked Documents
If you do not know the parcel ID, use the King County Assessor’s Parcel Viewer first. King County says parcel searching in Landmark uses the first ten digits and that parcel-ID searching pulls recorded documents from 1997 to current.
Search by Recording Number When You Have It
The recording number is usually the fastest way to locate a specific deed, lien, mortgage, easement, plat, marriage certificate or other instrument. If a title report, escrow packet or RANS email includes a recording number, search that number directly.
Use Legal Search for Plats, Surveys and Condos
For surveys, plats and condominiums, King County points users to Legal search and Advanced Legal. You may need subdivision name, section/township/range, quarter section, book/page details or a title report.
Open the Result and Read the Document Details
Click the document line item to view the document details and image when available. Watch the document type, recording date, recording number, grantor, grantee, parcel ID, legal description and image availability.
Why a King County Recorder Search May Show No Result
A no-result search does not always mean the document was never recorded. King County warns that search results depend on indexing standards used when the document was recorded, and those standards changed over time.
Try These Search Adjustments
- Search the surname only, then narrow by date or document type.
- Use last-name-first format for people: Last, First.
- Try a former owner, spouse, trustee, business entity or grantor/grantee name.
- Remove punctuation, middle initials, suffixes and extra spaces.
- Search by recording number if your title report provides one.
- Use the first ten digits of the parcel number for parcel-based searches.
- For older records, check King County Archives.
Do Not Assume These Things
- Do not assume a parcel-address search is the same as a recorded-document search.
- Do not assume every pre-1991 image is online.
- Do not treat an unofficial online image as a certified copy.
- Do not assume a recorded document proves it was legally prepared correctly.
- Do not use Recorder records for tenant, credit, employment or insurance screening.
How to Request King County Recorded Document Copies
King County offers online, phone, mail and in-person copy request options. The best path depends on whether you need a quick unofficial copy, a certified copy with official certification, or an older document that is not available through the Recorder’s online system.
Online Copy Request
Use Landmark to locate the document, create or log in to an account, open the document image, add it to the shopping cart, choose certified or uncertified copy, and check out by card.
Important: Uncertified copies may be immediately available to download or print; certified copies are mailed to preserve the official seal.
Mail Copy Request
Complete the recorded document copy request form, include exact payment by check, money order or cashier’s check payable to King County Recorder, and mail it to the Recorder’s Office.
Mailing address:
King County Recorder’s Office
201 S. Jackson St., Ste. 204
Seattle, WA 98104
In-Person Copy Request
Visit the Customer Service Center on the second floor at 201 S. Jackson St. Bring identifying information for the document, such as recording number, party names, document type and year recorded.
Phone ordering: 206-477-6620 during phone hours.
| Copy Type | Current King County Fee | Best Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified recorded document, legal size or smaller | $3 first page + $1 each additional page | Official filing, title, legal or agency use where certification is required. | Certified copies are mailed when ordered online to preserve the official seal. |
| Uncertified recorded document, legal size or smaller | $1 per page | Personal reference, preliminary research, title review or non-official use. | Online unofficial images are not the same as certified copies. |
| Non-recorded uncertified document | $0.15 per page | General public-record copies that are not recorded instruments. | Verify that the Recorder is the correct office before ordering. |
| Search request | $8 per hour | When staff search assistance is needed. | You can reduce cost by providing names, years, document type and recording number. |
| UCC-11R searches | $10 | Specific UCC search requests. | Confirm details with Recorder staff before mailing payment. |
Copy Fee Estimator
Educational estimate only. Always confirm the current official fee and whether map-size, certification, search or special handling charges apply.
How to Record a Document With the King County Recorder
King County accepts documents at the public counter, through the drop box, by mail and by e-recording. The office records documents that meet state-law formatting, legibility, indexing and fee requirements; it does not create the legal document for you.
In Person
Bring the original document, any required cover sheet, REET affidavit if the document transfers real estate, exact payment and return address to the Customer Service Center.
Drop Box
Documents can be deposited in the Recorder’s Office drop box outside the Customer Service Center building. Include check or money order payment and contact/return information.
By Mail
Mail the document with personal check, cashier’s check or money order for the processing fees. Do not mail cash.
E-Recording
Frequent submitters may use third-party submitters or a King County Agent Account. Contact the Recorder directly if you want to use e-recording.
| Document / Filing Type | Current King County Recording Fee Listed | Important Local Note |
|---|---|---|
| Deed of Trust | $304.50 + $1 each additional page | Additional transaction/title fees may apply if one document contains multiple titles. |
| Assignment of Deed of Trust / Successor Trustee filings | $301 + $1 each additional page | Confirm the exact title and indexing requirements before submission. |
| Death Certificate / Government Liens | $18 + $1 each additional page | Document category matters; do not guess the fee if unsure. |
| Orders Changing Name | $203.50 | Usually begins with the court process; recording is a separate step. |
| DD214 military discharge recording | No fee | King County says veterans can record Form DD214 for free; beware paid commercial offers. |
| All other documents | $303.50 + $1 each additional page | Use the official fee page because document title and transaction count affect fees. |
Special King County Recording Situations to Know
Some King County recordings need extra steps because the Recorder is collecting state-mandated taxes, handling map-size records, or recording a document that changes how a historic restriction appears in the chain of title.
Real Estate Excise Tax
King County collects REET on sales of real estate because state law requires it. Excise taxes on a conveyance must be paid before recording documents such as a warranty deed or real estate contract.
A Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit must be completed and signed by all parties involved in a real-property conveyance.
Surveys, Plats and Condos
Recorded plats, short plats, condominiums, planned unit developments and many surveys can be viewed or printed at the Recorder’s Office or King County Archives. Online map searching may require Legal or Advanced Legal search.
Restrictive Covenants
Washington law allows property owners to address unlawful discriminatory restrictive covenants. King County provides individual and non-individual restrictive covenant modification forms and says there is no charge to record the modification document.
King County RANS: Free Recording Alerts for Names and Parcels
The Recording Activity Notification System, or RANS, is a free King County email notification service. It sends an email when a land-record document matching a registered name or parcel number is recorded. It is useful for awareness, but King County clearly states that RANS does not prevent fraud.
Find Your Parcel Number First
Use King County Assessor Parcel Viewer if you want to monitor a property by parcel. RANS instructions say to enter only the first ten digits of the parcel number, with no symbols, spaces or dashes.
Register Names and Parcel Numbers
King County recommends creating profiles for variations of your name and other names associated with the property. Business owners can also monitor a business name.
Confirm the Registration Email
After submitting registration information, watch for a confirmation email from King County and use the activation link. Check spam or junk mail if the confirmation does not arrive.
Use the Recording Number if You Receive an Alert
A RANS alert may include document type, date/time recorded, recording number and directions to find the document. Search the recording number in Landmark to review the recorded image when available.
Official King County Recorder Links and What to Do After Opening Them
Use these official links to complete the task. Each micro-guide explains what to click or verify after the page opens.
King County Recorder’s Office Home
Main office page for services, address, staff limitations, RANS, marriage licensing, recording and copy requests.
- Confirm the address, phone hours, public counter hours and recording cutoff.
- Use the service tiles for marriage licensing, record a document, request a copy or online records search.
- Read the notice explaining what staff can and cannot do.
- Use official pages rather than paid lookup ads for basic recorded-document searches.
Online Records Search — Landmark
Official database for King County recorded documents and document images when available.
- Click START SEARCH.
- Select the search type: Name, Parcel, Recording Number, Document Type, Date, Legal or Torrens.
- For name search, use last name, comma, first name format when applicable.
- Open the document line item to view details and image availability.
- If no result appears, adjust spelling, date range, document type or try Archives for older records.
Request Copies of Recorded Documents
Official instructions for certified and uncertified copies by online order, phone, mail or in person.
- Search the online records first to confirm the document is recorded in King County.
- Choose whether you need a certified or uncertified copy.
- For online orders, log in, add the document to the cart and check out.
- For mail orders, complete the copy request form and include exact payment.
- Remember that certified copies ordered online are mailed to preserve the official seal.
Record a Document
Official recording methods, document recording fees, formatting standards, DD214 note and document-preparer responsibility.
- Choose in person, drop box, mail or e-recording.
- Review the current fee table for your document title.
- Download the cover sheet or formatting guidance if your document needs it.
- Confirm REET requirements before recording a deed or conveyance document.
- Contact Recorder staff if you need help confirming formatting or fee collection, not legal drafting.
Forms and Document Library
Official source for marriage forms, copy request forms, REET links, cover sheet, formatting requirements, legibility requirements and restrictive covenant forms.
- Use the category that matches your task: marriage, recording or other forms.
- Open the Washington State Recorder’s Cover Sheet if your document needs a cover page.
- Open formatting and legibility requirements before mailing or visiting.
- Use the Recorded Document Copy Request Form for mailed copy requests.
Recording Activity Notification System Instructions
Official RANS sign-up instructions for recording alerts by name and parcel number.
- Find the parcel number in Parcel Viewer if monitoring a property.
- Enter only the first ten parcel digits with no spaces, symbols or dashes.
- Register name variations that may appear on recorded documents.
- Activate the confirmation email before relying on alerts.
- Remember that RANS does not prevent fraud.
Real Estate Excise Tax — King County
Official King County REET page for conveyance-related tax collection, affidavits and Washington DOR REET resources.
- Use this before recording a deed, warranty deed, real estate contract or conveyance.
- Confirm whether a taxable or non-taxable REET affidavit is needed.
- Use Washington DOR forms and calculator links provided by King County.
- Pay REET before recording conveyance documents when required.
Restrictive Covenants
Official guidance and forms for modifying unlawful discriminatory restrictive covenants in King County land records.
- Read the explanation of discriminatory covenants and Washington law.
- Gather the original recording number, recording date, owner names, legal description and tax parcel number.
- Download the correct individual or non-individual modification form.
- Do not sign until you are with a licensed notary if the form requires notarization.
- Submit the completed notarized document to the Recorder for recording.
Mistakes to Avoid With King County Recorder Records
High-Risk Mistakes
- Using the Recorder when you actually need the Assessor, Treasury, Vital Statistics or Superior Court Clerk.
- Waiting until after 3:30 p.m. to record a document in person.
- Mailing cash with a recording or copy request.
- Assuming the Recorder can draft, correct or validate legal content.
- Expecting a pre-1991 record to appear in the same online search as recent records.
- Using an unofficial image when a certified copy is required.
- Ignoring REET before recording a real-estate conveyance.
Better Local Workflow
- Start with the specific task: search, copy, record, marriage, REET, RANS or covenant modification.
- Use Landmark search before ordering a copy.
- Save the recording number and document type.
- Use Parcel Viewer only to obtain the parcel number, then return to Landmark.
- Use Archives when the document is older or not available online.
- Confirm the current fee before mailing payment.
- Keep receipts, certified-copy tracking and recording confirmations.
What Should You Do Next?
| If Your Situation Is… | Do This First | Then Check |
|---|---|---|
| You need a deed, mortgage, lien or easement record. | Open Landmark and search by name, recording number or parcel ID. | Whether the result is an unofficial image or whether you need a certified copy. |
| You need the property parcel number. | Use King County Assessor Parcel Viewer by address. | Use the first ten parcel digits in Landmark when searching parcel-linked recordings. |
| You need a certified recorded-document copy. | Confirm the document exists in Landmark or with the Recorder. | Order online, by phone, by mail or in person and include a mailing address. |
| You need to record a deed or conveyance. | Confirm formatting, cover sheet, signatures, notary needs and REET affidavit. | Recording fee, additional page fee and any required excise-tax payment. |
| You received a RANS alert. | Use the recording number in Landmark to review the document. | Contact the submitter, legal counsel or law enforcement if it appears suspicious. |
| Your document is before August 1, 1991. | Search Landmark if appropriate, but be ready to contact King County Archives. | Whether the document is on microfilm or available through Archives ordering. |
King County Recorder Office FAQs
Where is the King County Recorder’s Office located?
The King County Recorder’s Office is located at 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 204, Seattle, WA 98104, inside the King County Customer Service Center on the second floor in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood.
What are the King County Recorder’s Office hours?
In-person service hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, closed on King County holidays. Recording ends at 3:30 p.m. Phone hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays.
How do I search King County recorded documents online?
Use King County’s official Online Records Search page and click Start Search to open Landmark. You can search by name, document type, book and page, consideration, parcel ID, recording date, recording number, legal description or Torrens number.
How should I search by name in Landmark?
King County instructs users to enter last name, then a comma, then first name for individual name searches, such as Doe, John. For difficult searches, try surname only, alternate spellings, business names, former owners or a wider date range.
Are all King County recorded documents available online?
No. Most documents recorded on or after August 1, 1991 are available online. Documents recorded before August 1, 1991 are generally on microfilm and may be available only from King County Archives.
How much is a certified copy of a King County recorded document?
King County lists certified recorded documents, legal size or smaller, at $3 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Uncertified recorded documents, legal size or smaller, are listed at $1 per page.
Can I record a deed by mail in King County?
Yes. King County allows recording by mail. Send the document with a personal check, cashier’s check or money order for the processing fees to the King County Recorder’s Office. Do not send cash through the mail.
Does the King County Recorder prepare deed forms?
No. Recorder staff can review legibility, formatting, indexing information and fee collection, but they cannot choose document templates, fill out documents, determine legal correctness or accept illegible documents.
What is King County RANS?
RANS is the Recording Activity Notification System. It is a free King County email alert service that notifies subscribers when a land-record document matching a registered name or parcel number is recorded. It does not prevent fraud.
Which office handles King County court, birth, death, parcel and tax records?
Use the Superior Court Clerk for many court and divorce records, King County Vital Statistics for birth and death records, the King County Assessor and Parcel Viewer for parcel details, and Treasury Operations for property-tax billing and payments.
Independent Educational Guide
County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent informational resource. It is not affiliated with King County Government, the King County Recorder’s Office, King County Records and Licensing Services, King County Archives, the King County Assessor, King County Treasury Operations, Washington Department of Revenue or any court.
Recording acceptance, indexing, copy certification, fees, REET treatment, public-record access, legal effect and document validity are determined by official agencies and applicable Washington law. This page is not legal, title, tax or financial advice.
Public records should not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or other regulated consumer-reporting purposes. This website is not a Consumer Reporting Agency.