Fill & Sign
A Washington deed is a legal document used to record the transfer of a property title from a grantor to a grantee. An important function of a deed is to establish the party liable for claims against the title, communicated through various covenants or the lack thereof.
A general warranty deed provides a full guarantee of the grantor’s ownership and the title’s condition, meaning the grantee will not be liable for encumbrances of any kind. A special warranty deed is similar, except its guarantee is limited to the grantor’s period of ownership. Quit claim deeds are generally only used in particular cases, such as gift transfers or divorce settlements, as they do not convey any guarantee or warranty.
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Types (5)
Bargain and Sale Deed – Conveys real estate with a warranty that the title has not been encumbered during the grantor’s ownership and the grantor has not already conveyed the title to another party.
Download: PDF, Word (.docx), OpenDocument
Deed of Trust – Used to designate a trustee to hold a property title purchased with a loan; the title will be returned to the debtor once they repay their loan.
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Quit Claim Deed – A deed in which the grantor relinquishes title ownership and provides no warranties to the grantee.
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Transfer on Death Deed – Transfers title to a beneficiary following the death of the grantor.
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Warranty Deed – Used to establish the grantor as the legal owner of the property and provide a full warranty against title encumbrances.
Download: PDF, Word (.docx), OpenDocument
Laws & Requirements
- Statutes: Chapter 64.04 – Conveyances
- Formatting: § 64.32.120, § 65.04.045, § 65.04.048
- Signing Requirements (§ 64.03.020): Notary Public
- Where to Record (§ 65.08.070): County Recorder’s Office (Court Directory)
- Recording Fees (King County Recorder’s Office):
- Deeds in General – $203.50 for the first page + $1 for each additional page
- Deeds of Trust – $204.50 for the first page + $1 for each additional page
- Forms:
- Cover Sheet (§ 65.04.047): Required when the first page of a deed does not include the information outlined in § 65.04.045. Certain counties may require a specific cover sheet provided by their office to be used (see Pierce County).
- Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit (Form 84-0001a): The completed form and payment must be submitted to the County Treasurer’s or Recorder’s Office within one (1) month of the date of sale (§ 82.45.060 and § 458-61A-100).
- Property Disclosure Statement (§ 64.06.020 & § 64.06.030): Unless waived by the buyer, the seller must provide this disclosure outlining the property’s condition within five (5) business days of a purchase agreement being executed.