Snohomish County Recorder: Deeds & Records

Washington counties record real-property documents through the County Auditor. Snohomish County does not operate a separate elected Recorder of Deeds office.

The Auditor’s Recording Division maintains the official index and recorded images, processes recording submissions and provides document copies.

The county’s official Recorded Documents Search lets you locate deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, plats, surveys and marriage records.

You can preview unofficial recorded-document images and purchase copies when needed.

After opening: choose Search Recorded Documents, log in or create your free account, then select the search method.

Search a deed in six steps

1. Open the official search portal.

   Use the search button on the Snohomish County Recording website.

2. Sign in or register.

   Enter your email address and complete the free account process.

3. Choose a search category.

   Options include name, document type, recording number, recording date, parcel ID, book and page, and legal description.

4. Accept the search disclaimer.

   Read the notice about public records and the limits of the search results.

5. Enter the information and submit.

   Start with a name, parcel number or known recording reference.

6. Open the matching result.

   Review document details and the preview image before purchasing a copy.

Which search field should you use?

A property address may not be the easiest way to identify the correct recorded deed.

The Recorder’s search tool supports parcel IDs, names and recording references. If you only have an address, first identify the parcel.

1. Open the Snohomish County Assessor’s Parcel Viewer.

   Find the property using its street address or mapped location.

2. Confirm the parcel number.

   Check that the parcel and property location match your intended property.

3. Return to Recorded Documents Search.

   Use the first ten digits of the parcel ID as directed by the county search instructions.

4. Cross-check the recorded documents.

   Review names, dates, document types and legal descriptions before selecting the deed.

After opening: find the Parcel ID search tips, follow the Assessor’s Parcel Viewer link and return with the parcel’s first ten digits.

Parking and arrival tips

The county parking garage can be accessed from Oakes Avenue or Pacific Avenue.

The garage offers 30 minutes of free parking. Other options include a prepaid surface lot and limited street parking.

Take the garage elevator to the plaza level and follow signs for the Robert J. Drewel Building.

After opening: verify the current hours, garage directions and accessible transportation information before traveling.

Accessibility: Washington Relay is available at 711 or 800-833-6388. Language assistance can be requested.

The Recording Division accepts qualifying real-estate documents, but the document preparer is responsible for preparing them correctly.

Some conveyance documents must be reviewed by the Treasurer for Real Estate Excise Tax before recording.

First-page recording requirements

Washington’s document standards apply to deeds and other recorded instruments.

Requirements for all pages

Pages may not exceed 8½ × 14 inches. Text must be at least 8-point type and legible when scanned.

Use at least 1-inch margins on later pages. Do not attach staples, loose items or objects that could damage the scanner.

Non-government documents must not include Social Security numbers or certain other sensitive personal identifiers.

After opening: check the first-page margin, return-address placement, document title, abbreviated legal description and parcel-number rules before submission.

This is one of the most important steps for recording a property transfer in Snohomish County.

Many conveyance-type instruments, including deeds, easements and transfer-on-death deeds, require review by the Snohomish County Treasurer’s Office.

The Treasurer determines whether Real Estate Excise Tax, commonly called REET, applies.

After opening: confirm whether your deed, easement or other conveyance requires a Treasurer’s review or excise-tax clearance before recording.

Does a gift or family transfer require REET?

Not every ownership transfer is taxed in the same way.

Washington law provides REET exemptions for certain transactions, but the exemption must be supported by the required declaration or documentation.

A deed stating nominal consideration does not automatically make the transaction tax-exempt.

After opening: review the current state rates, location-based considerations, exemptions and required REET affidavits. Use the Treasurer for county processing.

Recording fees in Snohomish County are set under Washington law.

The county’s published recording schedule, effective July 27, 2025, lists the following amounts.

The standard fee is not a universal price for every real-estate document.

Different charges can apply to assignments, reconveyances, liens, maps, additional titles and references.

This example excludes extra document titles, recording references, nonstandard charges and real estate excise tax.

After opening: choose the exact document category, check additional-page charges and confirm any special fee before writing a check.

Snohomish County lets you preview unofficial copies online and purchase non-watermarked or certified documents.

Certified copies are useful when a lender, court, government office or other institution requires a formally certified recording.

Published copy fees

Order a copy online

1. Search the recorded documents.

   Sign in to your free search account and locate the correct instrument.

2. Review the preview.

   Check that the names, property details and recording date match.

3. Add the document to your cart.

   Choose an unofficial or certified copy.

4. Complete payment.

   The county lists Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and eCheck for online purchases.

Unofficial purchased copies can be downloaded and printed. The county says certified copies are mailed within five business days.

After opening: select the recorded document, review the preview, choose the copy type and complete checkout.

Request a copy by phone or mail

Call 425-388-3483 and ask the Recording Division to help locate a recorded instrument.

For mail requests, complete the county’s Recorded Document Copy Request Form and include payment.

The county accepts checks, money orders or cashier’s checks for mailed copy orders.

Mail handling fees vary with the number of pages. Check postage costs before sending your request.

After opening: check ordinary-copy, certification, map-copy and mailing charges before calculating your payment.

The online system contains most recorded documents dating from July 1976 onward.

Older deeds may be available on microfilm at the county’s Customer Service Center.

What to bring for historical research

Recording staff can help search older documents by phone, mail or during an in-person visit.

A search fee of $8 per hour may apply to older records or requests requiring significant staff time.

Recording by mail

The county accepts recordable documents by mail when they meet formatting and legal requirements.

Mail the document with the exact recording fee.

Accepted mailed payment methods include check, money order and cashier’s check payable to the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office.

If your document requires excise-tax review, complete that process before sending it for recording.

Electronic recording

Frequent submitters can use a county-qualified eRecording service.

The county lists CSC eRecording Solutions among its approved submitters. Vendor charges are separate from county recording fees.

Individual homeowners should confirm eligibility and the available submission method before attempting to upload documents through a third-party service.

After opening: review the exact mailing address, accepted payment options, qualified eRecording providers and Treasurer-review requirements.

Several Snohomish County departments maintain property-related information, but they answer different questions.

Current Recording Division contacts

The county’s staff directory lists Clifton Harty as Licensing & Recording Manager and Ashley Chilberg as Recording Supervisor.

For regular deed searches, copy orders and document submissions, start with the general Recording phone number rather than individual staff.

After opening: locate the Recording Division for staff contacts and management information. Use the general service line for routine requests.

Communities covered

The Recording Division maintains qualifying real-property documents throughout Snohomish County.

This includes properties in Everett, Marysville, Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mukilteo, Mill Creek, Monroe, Snohomish, Lake Stevens, Arlington, Bothell’s Snohomish County area and other county communities.

These county and state resources provide the recording procedures, search instructions, office details and fees used in this guide.