Property documents

Information about property documents at the King County Archives.

Deeds and land patents

What is a deed?

A deed is a document that transfers title of real estate. It contains an implied promise that the person transferring the property actually owns the title and that it is not encumbered in any way, except as described in the deed. In the United States, deeds are officially recorded at the county level. Some special types of deeds include:

Quit claim deeds

A quit claim deed transfers whatever ownership interest the transferring party has in a particular property. The deed makes no guarantees about anything that is being transferred.

Warranty deeds

A warranty deed contains express assurances about the legal validity of the title being transferred.

What is a patent (land patent)?

A patent is a type of deed by which the U.S. government, transfers public property to private individuals. When a person satisfies the obligation of a homestead claim, the federal government transfers the property's title to the individual using a patent. Like deeds, patents are filed with the county recording office where the land is located. Therefore, although homestead records are federal in origin, it is possible to research a completed homestead claim using patents.

Easements

Easements may exist in different forms: as a separately recorded document; for example, as text that's included in or attached to a deed; as a figure drawn on a recorded plat map because they serve different purposes (access, drainage, utilities, slope, etc.).

How do I find recording numbers?

Legal description of your property

This can be located on the King County Assessor's Office eReal Property site or on the online platform Parcel Viewer. The legal description may state if the property is subject to easement. If it does, the easement recording number(s) may also be stated.

Purchase deed

The deed should state, either on its face or as attachments, if the property was subject to any easements at the time of sale and list relevant recording numbers. Note that this list may not be current or complete.

If you don't have your deed, and you purchased your property in 1991 or later, you can search for an image of the deed through the King County Recorder's Office online portal Landmark. If you purchased your property between 1976 and 1991, you can search for information about your deed through the Recorder, but viewing the deed or obtaining a copy can only be done at King County Archives.

To trace deeds to a property before 1976, both the year of the transaction (as close as can be determined) and the names of at least one party; in other words, to create an ownership history. You must look for references to earlier easements that might be referenced in the deeds.

PUD or Condominium records

For residential or planned unit developments, and condominium developments which might have easements, try to locate recent deeds for unit sales within your development. You can find these on Landmark.

Search for Easements Online

Search Landmark by Name if you know the name of the property owner when the easement was recorded. You can also search by elements of the legal description by choosing the Legal icon. Only easements specifically recorded as a separate document will be returned when limiting a search to Easement in the Document Type field.

For land platted by a developer, some condominium developments, and planned unit developments, easements may be shown on the recorded maps for these types of subdivisions. Digitized recorded maps are available online on Landmark. To retrieve these documents:

Choose the Book and Page icon.
In the Book Type dropdown, select the Plat option.
If the plat is for a Condominium or Planned Unit Development, select that option in the Book Typedropdown instead of Plat.
Enter book (volume) and page number. These numbers are usually referenced on the deed.
Then click Submit.

The King County Road Services online Map Vault features a small number of easement maps, which are mostly drainage easements.

Excise tax affidavits (purchase price)

An excise tax affidavit is generally the only document that provides the purchase price for each real estate transaction.

Affidavits 1951 to 1952 and 1961 to 1991

King County Archives holds excise tax affidavits on microfilm that were recorded between between May 1951 and February 1952 as well as January 1, 1961 and July 31, 1991. Either the King County recording number of the deed or the year of the purchase are needed to locate affidavits from this period.

Affidavits prior to 1961

The Real Property Record Cards at Puget Sound Regional Archives in Bellevue infrequently include purchase prices for transactions between between 1937 and 1961.

For transactions between 1935 and 1960, it is usually possible to extrapolate the purchase price using the conveyance or excise tax stamps on the face of the deed.

Otherwise, it may be possible to use alternate documentation to establish an approximate purchase price for purchases before 1961. One option is to locate the initial mortgage on the property and use that figure. Another option would be to utilize an assessment value from a year around the time of the sale. Please contact a tax advisor for more in-depth assistance.

Deeds of trust and mortgages

Deed of Trust

A deed of trust is not the same thing as a deed and is actually similar to a mortgage, a security instrument whereby real property is given as security for a debt. However, in a deed of trust there are three parties to the instrument: the borrower, the trustee, and the lender (or beneficiary). In such a transaction, the borrower transfers the legal title for the property to the trustee who holds the property in trust as security for the payment of the debt to the lender or beneficiary. If the borrower pays the debt as agreed, the deed of trust becomes void. If, however, he defaults in the payment of the debt, the trustee may sell the property at a public sale, under the terms of the deed of trust. In most jurisdictions where the deed of trust is in force, the borrower is subject to having his property sold without benefit of legal proceedings. Many states, including Washington, treats the deed of trust like a mortgage.

Mortgage

A lien or claim against real property given by the buyer to the lender as security for money borrowed. Washington State treats the similar deed of trust like a mortgage.

Record of Marginal Satisfaction

A marginal satisfaction is an older way of noting that a mortgage has been satisfied. It occurred when the holder of a mortgage physically went to the recording office and entered a satisfaction on the face (literally in the margin) of the recorded mortgage, which was attested by the recording clerk.

Boundary or lot line adjustments

Boundary line adjustments are granted by local government authorities such as the King County Permitting Division (for unincorporated King County only) and municipalities, such as Seattle City Planning.

These issuing authorities give each boundary line adjustment a unique numerical identifier. If the adjustment is recorded, the King County Recorder’s Office assigns it a recording number.

Search by Recording Number

The easiest way to find a recorded boundary or lot line adjustment document is by the Instrument (Recording) number. Using the recording number, you can search for boundary line adjustments (1976-present) on the Recorder's Office online portal Landmark. For boundary line adjustments dated prior to 1976, you can use the recording number to search the microfilmed documents (1853-1975) at King County Archives.

Search Without a Recording Number

You will not always be able to locate the recording number for a boundary / lot line adjustment document. If you can't, there are additional ways to search, but they are more time-consuming and less accurate.

Search by Boundary / Lot Line Adjustment Number

You can sometimes locate a boundary / lot line adjustment that was recorded after 1976 by searching the adjustment number in online portal Landmark. However, you must enter the number the same way that the Recorder’s Office staff entered it into the database.

On Landmark, choose the Legal icon.
In the Legal field, type the adjustment number as you know it. Example: Sub. 05-007. Make sure the dropdown selection is Starts with.
In the Document Category dropdown, select Map.
Then click Submit.

If the adjustment number you entered didn't bring up any search results, try entering the number a different way. Leave off the leading zeros or remove punctuation such as periods or dashes.

Recorded documents were not organized by adjustment number, so you can't search for a boundary line or lot line adjustment document on microfilm (pre-1976).

Search by Keyword

Another way to search for an boundary / lot line adjustment is by keyword, then refining your search by date range.

On Landmark, choose the Legal icon.
In the Legal field, type the words boundary line. Make sure the dropdown selection is Starts with.
Type the date range that you think the adjustment was recorded into the Begin Date and End Date fields.
Then click Submit.
You can organize the search results list by clicking on the column headings. That will sort them by the specific heading.
Try sorting by document type, record date, or legal description.

Search by Name

One more way to search for a boundary / lot line adjustment is by the name of one of the parties associated with the adjustment, preferably connected with a date. To search by name and date in Landmark:

Choose the Name icon.
Enter the name of one of the parties in the Name field: format as last name, then first name. Example: Smith, Jo.
Type the date range that you think the adjustment was recorded into the Begin Date and End Date fields.
You can also refine your search by selecting Map in the Document Category dropdown. Remember that refining your search may limit your search results too much.
Then click Submit.
You can organize the search results list by clicking on the column headings. That will sort them by the specific heading.
Try sorting by document type, record date, or legal description.

Unrecorded Boundary and Lot Line Adjustments

Not all line adjustments are recorded. The King County Permitting Division maintains a substantial number of unrecorded line adjustments dating from 1981 and later.

Condominium or homeowner association records

The most effective way to find a complete list of all recorded documents related to a condominium, homeowner association, or planned unit development is to search online at the King County Recorder’s Office online portal Landmark for a recorded deed of a recent sale of one of the units in your development. A deed often lists the recording numbers (although not the title or subject) of the documents that govern your development. The easiest way to retrieve recorded documents is by the recording number.

What is a condominium?

A common interest development comprising one or more multiple-unit buildings. Each unit owner has sole title to the interior of his or her individual unit while all owners together share common title to the common areas. Condominiums are created and regulated under Washington State law.

As used by the King County Recorder's Office, the word "condominium" refers specifically to the condominium's survey plan and map (sometimes called the condominium plat). The survey plan and map show the site plan with the placement of the building(s) upon it. They also show the boundaries of each unit and of the common areas.

What is a planned unit development (PUD)?

A planned community of separate single family residences in which there are common elements owned and maintained by a corporation whose board of directors is elected by the residential owners. The planned unit development is formed under a special agreement with local government authorities. This agreement is required because of the need for zoning variances or other special accommodation from the local government.

Records at the King County Archives

Condominium records 1964 to July 31, 1991
Planned unit development records 1981 to July 31, 1991

How to search for specific document types

Condominium site plan and survey (condominium plats)

You can search for condo plats on Landmark.

Choose the Document icon.
In the Document Type field, click the Select button.
Checkmark Condominium, then click Select.
If you are looking for condominium plats between 1964 and 1975, change the year in the Begin Date field (it defaults to 1976).
Then click Submit.

The condominium was usually indexed under the name of the developer or the development company, with the condominium name appearing in the legal description. Online images are present back to 1964, the year after Washington State legislation established condominiums as a form of property ownership.

Condominium declarations (conditions, covenants and restrictions [CCRs]

Because this text record is originally part of the initial establishing documents for a condominium, the Recorder’s Office usually has filed it along with the condominium site plan and survey. You can search for condo declarations on Landmark.

Choose the Document icon.
In the Document Type field, click the Select button.
Checkmark Declaration of Condo, then click Select.
Then click Submit.

Like the site plan and survey, the first declaration was probably filed under the name of the developer or the development company, but checking the condominium name as well is a good idea. If you do not find the original declaration here, try searching Landmark by Name.

On the Landmark homepage, choose the Name icon.
Enter the condominium name in the Name field.
Don't specify a book or document types, or it might limit the search results too much.
Then click Submit.

Condominium amended declarations

Amendments to the original declarations may be found one of two ways on Landmark.

Choose the Document icon.
In the Document Type field, click the Select button.
Checkmark Amended Declaration of Condo, then click Select.
Then click Submit.

If you can't find the declaration amendment this way, try searching Landmark by the development name.

On the Landmark homepage, choose the Name icon.
Enter the condominium name in the Name field.
Don't specify a book or document types, or it might limit the search results too much.
Then click Submit.

Homeowners' associations (non-condominium) or planned unit development documents

To locate text documents for HOAs or PUDs on Landmark, search under the association name rather than document type as association records may be filed in different ways.

On the Landmark homepage, choose the Name icon.
Enter the HOA or PUD name in the Name field.
Then click Submit.

Planned unit development site plans and surveys

Search for PUD plans and surveys on Landmark.

Choose the Document icon.
In the Document Typefield, click the Select button.
Checkmark Planned Unit Development, then click Select.
Then click Submit.

Bylaws

Bylaws are not required to be recorded, although they frequently are. To search for bylaws on Landmark:

Choose the Legal icon.
In the Legal field, type the term bylaws. Make sure the dropdown selection is Starts with.
Then click Submit.

Condominium declarations (see above) may also contain language about association procedures that would otherwise be found in bylaws.

Plat covenants

Old plat covenants may appear in connection with (non-condominium) plat maps, usually dating from the first half of the 20th century. These covenants were established by the developer when a plat was laid out. Many have since been determined to be unlawful and unenforceable.

Covenants that were recorded before 1976 are searchable on microfilm by the name of the developer and the year the document was recorded.

Covenants that were recorded between 1976 and July 31, 1991, are indexed on Landmark, so you can find the Instrument (Recording) number. To view the actual document, you may visit the Archives and search the microfilm by recording number.

Sometimes covenants are listed on the plat map. All recorded plats are available to view on Landmark. If you know the name of the developer:

On the Landmark homepage, choose the Name icon.
Enter the developer name in the Name field.
In the Document Type field, click the Select button.
Checkmark Plat, then click Select.
Then click Submit.

If you know the plat map volume (book) and page number:

On the Landmark homepage, choose the Book and Page icon.
In the Book Type dropdown, select Plat.
Enter book (volume) and page number. These numbers are usually referenced on the deed.
Then Click Submit.