Pierce County Auditor - Recording Requirements

You may purchase a blank document at a stationery store or possibly obtain one from a local title insurance company. The document to be recorded must be fully completed and signed by the grantor(s) in front of a notary. We do not have a notary available to the public in our office, nor can our staff provide legal advice.

Below are the requirements pursuant to RCWs 65.04.45 and 65.04.47, effective January 1, 1997.

First page of each document must have a 3 inch top margin and 1 inch side and bottom margins. All succeeding pages must have a 1 inch margin on all sides of each page.

Documents that must be recorded immediately and which do not meet margin and font size requirements may be recorded for an additional fee of $50.00 per RCW 65.04. The cover sheet which includes the non-standard recording request, must be completed and signed by the document preparer. This cover sheet must be attached to each non-complying document. Regular fees apply, PLUS the $50.00 additional fee, and will be due on each non-complying document. Non-standard documents are NOT EXEMPT from the requirement that they be fully legible.

The first page of each document must contain the following information:

1. Return address in upper left corner, within the top 3' margin

2. Document title

3. Name of grantor and grantee, with reference to page where additional names are located

4. Abbreviated legal description, with reference to page where complete legal is located.

Abbreviated legal for this purpose means either lot, block and subdivision name/number OR section/township/range and quarter/quarter section.

5. Reference number(s) if referencing a previously recorded document.

6. Assessor's tax parcel number on a line separate from other text, if the document contains a legal description.

Per House Bill 1385, effective 7/24/05:

When any instrument, except those generated by governmental agencies, is presented to a county auditor or recording officer for recording, the document may not contain the following information: (a) A social security number; (b) a date of birth identified with a particular person; or (c) the maiden name of a person's parent so as to be identified with a particular person.

If required indexing information does not appear on the first page of the document, a cover sheet must be completed listing all of the necessary information. Fee to record will increase by $1.00 if cover sheet is attached.

Page size may not exceed 8 1/2 by 14 inches.

Font size must be 8 point or larger and information on all pages must be legible and reproducible, including map pages.

Paper and ink must be of weight and color capable of producing a legible image.

No attachments are permitted (i.e. stapled/taped notary acknowledgement, legals, etc)

Documents exempt from format requirements that may be recorded with a completed cover sheet include:

Documents signed prior to 1/1/1997, military separation documents, documents executed outside the U.S., certified copies of documents, any death certificate, documents formatted to meet court requirements, and documents where the original signer is deceased or otherwise incapacitated.

Failure to meet the requirements of this statute will result in document(s) being returned without being recorded. Please call (253) 798-7440 + 0 if you have any questions or email edrury@co.pierce.wa.us.

You may access the complete text of RCW's on the internet at www.leg.wa.gov.

Phone: 253-798-7440 + 0
Address: 2401 S. 35th St. Room 200, Tacoma, WA 98409
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
Email: edrury@co.pierce.wa.us