Adams County Recorder Information

Land records in Adams County are recorded by the County Auditor. The office is held by Heidi Hunt.

Public access to search and view all documents is available at the public computers in the Auditor's office. Documents recorded prior to June 3, 1996 have a ten digit recording number along with volume and page number; documents recorded after June 3, 1996 are 7 digits and do not have a volume and page number. Birth and death records from 1890-1907 were recorded in Spokane County.

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: RCW Chapter 36.22 County auditor · Auditor | Adams County, WA · Recording | Adams County, WA

These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.

Added at recording

Other charges

Fee schedule effective July 27, 2025.

StatewideCertified copies: first page 8.5 x 14 inches or less, $3; each additional page, $1. Multiple transactions in one instrument: each title or transaction requiring separate indexing is charged the first-page fee; additional page fees are collected only once. Plats: 50 cents per lot (cemetery plats 25 cents per lot), plus $1 for each acknowledgment, dedication, and description, minimum $25 per plat. Searching records: $8 per hour. A cover sheet is charged as an additional page.

Exceptions to the first page fee: Employment Security liens and releases $15.00; federal liens and releases $16.00; assignment of deed of trust, substitution of trustee and appointment of successor trustee, and resignation and appointment of successor trustee $301.00; wage liens and releases, water-sewer district liens and releases, birth/death certificates, marriage dissolution decree, and state, county and city liens and releases $18.00; name change orders issued by district court $203.50; each additional page $1.00. Plats (24 x 36) first page $423.50, surveys (18 x 24) first page $408.50, short plats (18 x 24) first page $423.50, each additional page $5.00; 1 original and 3 copies required for plats, surveys and short plats. Land corner record and DD 214: no fee. Map copy first page $5.00, each additional page $3.00.

Transfer tax

Real estate excise tax (state). 1.1 percent of the portion of the selling price that is less than or equal to five hundred thousand dollars; 1.28 percent of the portion greater than five hundred thousand dollars and equal to or less than one million five hundred thousand dollars; 2.75 percent of the portion greater than one million five hundred thousand dollars and equal to or less than three million dollars; three percent of the portion greater than three million dollars. Timberland or agricultural land: 1.28 percent of the selling price. Thresholds are adjusted every fourth year by the Department of Revenue. The tax is collected when the document is recorded. (statewide, RCW 82.45.060)

StatewideThe Department of Revenue publishes adjusted selling price thresholds for the state graduated rates: through December 31, 2026, $525,000 or less at 1.10%, $525,000.01 - $1,525,000 at 1.28%, $1,525,000.01 - $3,025,000 at 2.75%, $3,025,000.01 or more at 3%; for sales beginning January 1, 2027, $551,000, $1,551,000, and $3,051,000. REET is due and payable to the county treasurer in the county where the property is located. A $5.00 state technology fee is applied to the total due for every transfer, and an additional $5.00 affidavit processing fee is applied if an exemption is claimed. Counties and cities may add a local real estate excise tax under chapter 82.46 RCW, including a rate not exceeding 0.25 percent of the selling price (RCW 82.46.010(2)) and, in lieu of the tax in RCW 82.14.030(2), an additional rate not exceeding 0.5 percent (RCW 82.46.010(3)).

The Adams County Treasurer states that in addition to the amount collected for the state, 0.25% of the property sale price is charged that stays local. Excise tax is due 30 days from the date of the sale and is collected by the Treasurer's Office; the Treasurer accepts only completed affidavits that are legal in size (8.5" x 14").

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: RCW Chapter 36.22 County auditor · RCW 36.18.010 Auditor's fees · RCW 65.04.048 Additional fee for certain documents not meeting requirements · RCW 82.45.060 Tax on sale of property · Real estate excise tax | Washington Department of Revenue · Adams County Auditor Recording & Filing Fee Schedule Effective July 27, 2025 · Real Estate Excise Tax | Adams County, WA

Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.

StatewideAn instrument may be recorded if a minor portion of a notary seal, incidental writing, or minor portion of a signature extends beyond the margins. First page: one-inch margin on the bottom and sides.

StatewideThe first page must show, immediately below the three-inch top margin, the title or titles of the instrument; reference numbers of documents assigned or released; the names of the grantor(s) and grantee(s); and an abbreviated legal description (lot, block, plat, or section, township, range, and quarter/quarter section), each with a page reference where additional information appears. No attachments, except firmly attached bar code or address labels, may be affixed to the pages. Instruments, except those generated by governmental agencies, may not contain a social security number, a date of birth identified with a particular person, or the maiden name of a person's parent so as to be identified with a particular person. Documents that do not meet legibility requirements must not be recorded as a nonstandard recording; an emergency nonstandard recording requires a cover sheet and a signed statement.

Forms filed along with a transfer

• Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit Statewide Washington Department of Revenue (filed with the county treasurer)
  Generally, whenever there is a transfer of ownership or title to real property by conveyance, deed, grant, assignment, quitclaim, or any other document that results in a transfer

Submitting documents

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: Real estate excise tax | Washington Department of Revenue · RCW 65.04.045 Recorded instruments—Requirements · RCW 65.04.047 Recorded instruments—Cover sheet · Recording | Adams County, WA