Snohomish County Recorder: Deeds, Recorded Documents, Copies & Everett Office Guide
If you searched for the Snohomish County Recorder, the correct local office is the Snohomish County Auditor’s Recording Division. This division records and maintains real property records for Snohomish County, Washington, including deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances, mortgages, contracts, liens, leases, plats and surveys.
Use this guide to search recorded documents, request deed copies, understand current copy and recording fee basics, prepare a document for recording, check when Treasurer excise-tax review is required, and find the Everett customer service center before you visit or mail a request.
What Does the Snohomish County Recorder Do?
The Snohomish County Auditor’s Recording Division is the office to use for recorded land records and property document recording. It maintains real property transactions, plats, surveys and recorded document copies. For deed copies, lien searches, survey records and document recording questions, start with Recording at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, First Floor, Everett, WA 98201.
Use Recording For
- Recorded deed and deed of trust searches.
- Recording deeds, liens, leases, mortgages and reconveyances.
- Recorded plats, surveys and land-corner records.
- Plain and certified copies of recorded documents.
Use the Assessor For
- Parcel number and property summary lookup.
- Owner, taxpayer and address-change questions.
- Assessed value and property tax exemption questions.
- Parcel viewer help when you only know a street address.
Use Treasurer / Court For
- Treasurer for REET review and property-tax payments.
- Excise Tax Counter for deed transfer excise questions.
- Superior Court for court case files and judgments.
- Attorney or title company for legal title advice.
How to Search Snohomish County Recorded Documents
Snohomish County lets users search recorded land records, plats, surveys and marriage certificates online. Most documents recorded since July 1976 are available online, while older records may require microfilm or staff assistance. Since March 2, 2026, the county requires a free account to access the online recorded document search system.
Create or Log In to the Free Search Account
Open the county’s recorded document search page and use the link to create a free account or log in with your email as the username. This is required before using the online search system.
Choose the Right Search Category
Snohomish County lists search categories such as Name, Document Type, Recording Number / ARN, Recording Date, Parcel ID, Book and Page, and Legal Description.
Search Names in the Right Format
For name searches, use the county’s recommended last-name, first-name style. Try name variations, maiden names, trust names, business names, initials and prior owner names if the first search does not find the deed or lien.
Use Parcel ID When You Only Know the Property
Parcel searching can help when the property address is your only clue. Snohomish County says parcel searches use the first ten digits of the parcel ID. If you do not know the parcel number, use the Assessor’s Parcel Viewer first.
Preview the Document Before Buying Copies
Online search lets users view document information and preview unofficial copies. After selecting a document, you can add it to the cart and choose certified or uncertified copies before checkout.
Use In-Person or Staff Search for Older Records
Documents recorded before 1976 are available on microfilm, and newer records can be searched from public computer terminals at the customer service center. Staff can also help with phone or mail search requests; an $8 per-hour search fee may apply when significant staff time is required or for pre-1976 records.
How to Get Snohomish County Deed Copies and Certified Copies
You can request a recorded deed copy from the Recording Division online, by phone, in person or by mail. Certified copies are mailed with the official seal and, according to the county’s search page, are mailed within five business days after online purchase.
Online Copy Request
Search the document, select the result, add it to your cart, choose certified or uncertified copies, and complete checkout. Payment methods listed for online copy purchase include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover or eCheck.
Mail or Phone Search Request
For mail requests, complete the Recorded Document Copy Request Form, include payment by check, money order or cashier’s check, and mail it to Snohomish County Auditor – Recording Division, 3000 Rockefeller Ave M/S 204, Everett, WA 98201.
How to Record a Deed or Property Document in Snohomish County
The Recording Division records eligible documents, but it does not prepare deeds or decide legal correctness. Before presenting or mailing a deed, confirm formatting, fees, return address, parcel/account number, REET affidavit rules and whether Treasurer review is required.
Confirm the Property Is in Snohomish County
Check the property address, legal description and assessor parcel/account number. Properties near county boundaries or with unusual mailing addresses can be misrouted if the county location is not verified first.
Use the Correct Legal Document
The county points users to outside form resources, but staff cannot determine the legal correctness, function or content of your document. Use a real estate attorney, escrow company or title company when deed language, ownership transfer or lien priority matters.
Prepare the First Page Correctly
The first page must include a top margin of at least 3 inches, 1-inch bottom and side margins, the return name and address in the top-left margin, clear document title, party names, abbreviated legal description, parcel/account number and related recording reference information where applicable.
Check All-Page Formatting
Pages may not exceed 8.5 inches wide by 14 inches high. Text must be at least 8-point type, all pages need 1-inch margins, documents must be legible for imaging, and non-government documents should not include sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers.
Know the $50 Cover Sheet Rule
If the only unmet requirement is margin specifications, the county says the document may still be recorded without delay by including a signed cover sheet and paying an additional $50 fee. Other defects may require correction and resubmission.
Get Treasurer Excise Review Before Recording When Required
Certain conveyance-type documents, including deeds, easements and transfer on death deeds, must be reviewed by the Snohomish County Treasurer’s Office to determine whether real estate excise tax is due before Recording can record the document.
Complete the Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit
Washington law requires a Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit to be completed and signed before a deed is recorded to transfer ownership of real property. Snohomish County notes that the Treasurer’s Office compares the affidavit with the deed or contract and does not provide legal documents or legal advice.
Submit in Person, by Mail or Through eRecording
Mail documents with the exact recording fee to Snohomish County Recording, 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, M/S 204, Everett, WA 98201. In-person recording is at the Customer Service Center. Frequent customers may use county-qualified eRecording submitters such as CSC, eRecording Partners Network or Indecomm Global Services.
Snohomish County Recording Fees, Copy Fees and Search Fees
Recording fees are set by Washington law and vary by document type, title/reference count, page count and special document category. Use this section as a planning guide only, then verify the current fee schedule before mailing or presenting documents.
| Fee Item | Current Listed Amount / Rule | When It Matters | Practical Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard recorded document | $303.50, with $1.00 for each additional page or side, legal size or smaller. | Many ordinary recorded property documents unless a special exception applies. | Check whether your document has extra titles, transactions or reference numbers. |
| Deed of trust | $304.50, with $1.00 for each additional page or side. | Common mortgage/security instrument recording category. | Do not use the standard fee if the schedule lists a deed-of-trust exception. |
| Non-standard margin cover sheet | $50.00 emergency non-standard fee, added to normal recording fees. | Only when margin requirements are the unmet issue and a signed cover sheet is used. | Better option: fix the margins before recording when time allows. |
| DD-214 military separation record | No fee. | Veterans recording DD-214 records with Snohomish County Recording. | Contact Recording first because special privacy and disclosure rules may apply. |
| Unofficial recorded document copy | $1.00 per page. | Useful for personal review or informal property research. | Use certified copy only when the receiving party requires it. |
| Certified recorded document copy | $3.00 first page and $1.00 each additional page. | Often used for lenders, escrow, estate, legal or official submissions. | Confirm whether online certified copies are mailed and plan for delivery time. |
| Search fee | $8.00 per hour for pre-1976 documents or significant staff time; one-hour minimum on the fee schedule. | Useful when staff must help find older or difficult records. | Provide names, dates, parcel ID and document type to reduce search time. |
| Postage and handling for mailed copy orders | $1.00 for 1–10 pages, $2.00 for 11–30 pages, $3.00 for 31–50 pages, $4.00 for 51+ pages, and $3.50 for maps. | Applies when copies are mailed. | Ask for total pages before sending payment when the record size is unknown. |
Snohomish County Recording and Copy Fee Estimator
This tool is only for planning. It does not calculate REET, does not decide exemptions, and does not replace the official Snohomish County fee schedule or Recorder staff review.
Standard recording estimate uses $303.50 first page, $1 per additional page and $303.50 per extra title/reference. Deed-of-trust estimate uses $304.50 first page. Copy estimates use the listed recorded document copy fees. Always verify the current official schedule before paying.
Snohomish County Recorder Office in Everett WA
For “snohomish county recorder” searches, the main public location is the Snohomish County Recording customer service area in Everett.
Snohomish County Auditor – Recording Division
Office location:
3000 Rockefeller Avenue
Robert Drewel Building, First Floor
Everett, WA 98201
Mailing address:
Snohomish County Auditor – Recording Division
3000 Rockefeller Ave M/S 204
Everett, WA 98201
Phone: (425) 388-3483
Fax: (425) 388-3094
Email: recording@snoco.gov
Hours and Accessibility
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Transaction timing: The county asks users to allow 30 minutes to complete transactions before closing.
Accessible service: Washington Relay is available at 1-800-833-6388 or 7-1-1 for TTY/TDD. Language assistance is available upon request.
Best arrival tip: If your deed needs Treasurer excise review, check the Treasurer’s shorter Excise Tax Counter hours before visiting Recording.
Snohomish County Recorded Document Notification System
Snohomish County offers a free voluntary notification service that sends an email when a document containing your registered name or tax parcel number is recorded. This does not prevent fraud, but it can help you notice suspicious recordings faster.
How the Alert Works
If a document matches your registration settings, the county says you will receive an email titled Snohomish County Recorded Document Notification. The email includes the document type, recording date/time, recording number and directions to find the document in the online record search.
What You Need to Register
Enter your name, email address and tax parcel number. If you do not know the parcel number, use the Snohomish County Assessor property summary search by house number and street name before registering.
Recorder vs Assessor vs Treasurer vs Court in Snohomish County
Snohomish property tasks often involve more than one county office. Use this table before calling or mailing documents.
| Task | Best Office / Tool | Why | What to Prepare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search deeds, liens, mortgages, reconveyances, plats or surveys. | Auditor – Recording Division | Recording maintains the official recorded document record. | Name, document type, ARN/recording number, date, parcel ID, book/page or legal description. |
| Record a deed, deed of trust, easement, transfer-on-death deed or lien. | Auditor – Recording Division | Washington law records eligible instruments through the County Auditor. | Original signed document, formatting compliance, parcel/account number, fees and return address. |
| Determine whether excise tax is due before recording a deed. | Snohomish County Treasurer – Excise Tax Counter | Conveyance-type documents may require Treasurer review before Recording can record them. | Deed or contract, completed REET affidavit, supporting documentation and payment method. |
| Find parcel number, owner display, taxpayer address or assessed value. | Snohomish County Assessor | The Assessor maintains property assessment and parcel information. | Street address, parcel number, owner name or property summary search result. |
| Pay property taxes or ask about tax statements. | Snohomish County Treasurer | The Treasurer handles property tax payments and tax statement questions. | Parcel number, tax statement, payment receipt or taxpayer information. |
| Find civil, probate, family or criminal court records. | Snohomish County Superior Court / court record system | Court case records are separate from recorded property documents. | Case number, party name, case type and filing year. |
Official Snohomish County Recorder Links and What to Do After Opening Them
Use these official county resources before paying a third-party site, mailing a deed package, ordering certified copies or assuming a document is missing.
Snohomish County Recording Main Page
Official Recording Division page for services, document recording, recorded document search, marriage recording and contact details.
- Read the notice about free account access for recorded document search.
- Choose Document Recording to record a deed or Search Recorded Documents to locate a record.
- Check the FAQ for certified copy, deed copy and ownership-change guidance.
- Use the contact block if your document type or fee is unclear.
Search Recorded Documents
Official county guide for online search, in-person search, phone search, mail search and copy purchase options.
- Create or log in to the free account.
- Select a search category such as name, document type, ARN, recording date, parcel ID, book/page or legal description.
- Preview the document and confirm it is the right record.
- Add it to the cart and choose certified or uncertified copies if needed.
Record a Document
Official guide for submitting a document for recording, including mail, in-person and eRecording options.
- Review formatting requirements before signing or mailing.
- Open the fee schedule and confirm exact payment.
- Check whether Treasurer excise review is required before Recording can accept the document.
- Choose mail, in-person recording or a qualified eRecording submitter.
Document Format Requirements
Official first-page, margin, title, party-name, parcel/account number, legal-description and legibility requirements.
- Check the 3-inch top margin requirement for the first page.
- Add return name and address in the top-left margin.
- Confirm title, parties, abbreviated legal description and parcel/account number.
- Avoid Social Security numbers and other restricted personal information in non-government documents.
Recording Fee Schedule PDF
Official fee schedule for recording, maps, surveys, search, copy, certification, postage and related charges.
- Find the document type that matches your instrument.
- Count pages, sides, extra titles, transactions and reference numbers.
- Add non-standard cover-sheet fees only if needed.
- Verify the total before mailing payment.
Recorded Document Copy Fees
Official copy-fee page for unofficial copies, certified copies, search fees, map copies and postage/handling.
- Choose unofficial or certified copy.
- Count the pages or ask staff to confirm the page count.
- Add search fee if staff time or pre-1976 records are involved.
- Add postage and handling for mailed copy orders.
Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit
Official Treasurer page explaining REET affidavit submission, legal-document limits, payment notes and Excise Tax Counter hours.
- Read the affidavit and document submission section.
- Download REET affidavit forms from Washington DOR where linked.
- Prepare at least the required copies and supporting documentation.
- Check Excise Tax Counter hours before visiting.
Recorded Document Notification System
Free voluntary alert system for documents recorded with your name or parcel number.
- Find your tax parcel number through the Assessor property search if needed.
- Register your name, email and parcel number.
- Confirm the verification email within the required process.
- Create extra profiles for name variations tied to your property.
Common Snohomish County Recorder Mistakes
Mistakes That Waste Time
- Searching for a separate “County Recorder” instead of the Auditor’s Recording Division.
- Trying to search online without creating the required free account.
- Using only a street address instead of finding the parcel ID first.
- Mailing a deed without exact recording fees.
- Skipping Treasurer excise review for conveyance-type documents.
- Missing the Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit for ownership-transfer deeds.
- Using non-compliant margins and forgetting the signed cover sheet option.
- Expecting Recording staff to prepare or legally approve a deed form.
Better Snohomish Workflow
- Use the official Recording page first.
- Create the free recorded document search account.
- Search by name, ARN, date, parcel ID, book/page or legal description.
- Use the Assessor parcel viewer when the address is your only clue.
- Check document format before signing.
- Verify REET and Treasurer review before recording a transfer.
- Save the recording number after recording.
- Register for free recorded document notifications.
What Should You Do Next?
| Your Situation | Best Next Step | Use This Office / Resource |
|---|---|---|
| You need to find a deed, lien, reconveyance or mortgage record. | Create or log in to the free recorded document search account and search by name, ARN, date, parcel ID or legal description. | Snohomish County Search Recorded Documents |
| You only know the property address. | Use the Assessor’s parcel search first to find the parcel number, then search recorded documents. | Snohomish County Assessor + Recording Division |
| You want a certified deed copy. | Locate the document online or by staff search, choose certified copy, verify page count and pay the correct fee. | Recording Division copy service |
| You want to record a deed or transfer-on-death deed. | Check formatting, prepare REET affidavit, confirm Treasurer excise review and verify recording fees before presenting the document. | Recording Division + Treasurer Excise Tax Counter |
| You need to change owner/taxpayer mailing information. | Use Assessor or Treasurer address-change resources rather than the recorder search page alone. | Assessor / Treasurer |
| You are worried about deed fraud or suspicious recordings. | Register for the free recorded document notification system using your name and tax parcel number. | Recorded Document Notification System |
Snohomish County Recorder FAQs
Is there a Snohomish County Recorder office?
The office people often call the Snohomish County Recorder is officially the Snohomish County Auditor’s Recording Division. It records and maintains real property records, plats, surveys and other recorded documents for Snohomish County, Washington.
Where is the Snohomish County Recording Division located?
The public office is at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Robert Drewel Building, First Floor, Everett, WA 98201. The mailing address for recording and copy requests is Snohomish County Auditor – Recording Division, 3000 Rockefeller Ave M/S 204, Everett, WA 98201.
What phone number should I call for Snohomish County recorded documents?
Call the Recording Division at (425) 388-3483 for recorded document, copy, marriage recording or recording assistance. The office email listed by the county is recording@snoco.gov.
Can I search Snohomish County deeds online?
Yes. Snohomish County provides online recorded document search for recorded land records, plats, surveys and marriage certificates. Most documents recorded since July 1976 are available online, and since March 2, 2026 a free account is required to access the search system.
What search categories are available for Snohomish County recorded documents?
The county lists search categories including name, document type, recording number or ARN, recording date, parcel ID, book and page, and legal description. For name searches, use last name, first name format when possible.
How do I get a copy of my Snohomish County deed?
Search the recorded document system, select the deed, and purchase certified or uncertified copies online. You may also request a search and copies by phone, in person or by mail using the Recorded Document Copy Request Form and the correct payment.
How much does a Snohomish County recorded document copy cost?
The county lists unofficial recorded document copies at $1.00 per page. Certified recorded document copies are listed at $3.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. Search and postage fees may apply depending on the request.
What is the standard Snohomish County recording fee?
The fee schedule effective July 27, 2025 lists a standard recorded document fee of $303.50, plus $1.00 for each additional page or side, legal size or smaller. Specific document types, extra titles, references, maps and special situations can change the final total.
Does a Snohomish County deed need a Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit?
Washington law requires a Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit to be completed and signed before a deed is recorded to transfer ownership of real property. Certain conveyance-type documents must be reviewed by the Snohomish County Treasurer’s Office before Recording can record them.
Can Snohomish County Recording staff help me fill out a deed?
No. Recording staff are not real estate law experts and are prohibited from determining the legal correctness, function or content of your document. Consult a real estate attorney or title insurance company before recording when ownership or legal effect matters.
Independent Educational Guide
County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent informational resource. It is not affiliated with Snohomish County, the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office, the Snohomish County Recording Division, the Snohomish County Assessor, the Snohomish County Treasurer, Washington Department of Revenue or any court.
Recording acceptance, document availability, search access, copy fees, recording fees, REET review, excise-tax treatment, processing times, privacy restrictions and legal sufficiency are determined by the responsible official office or a qualified legal/title professional. Always verify current requirements directly with Snohomish County before recording, mailing or purchasing documents.
Public recorder and property 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.