A recorded document is any document that is officially recorded by the County Auditor or County Recorder. Documents recorded before 1970 were recorded by the King County Auditor. With the adoption of the 1969 Charter, the Auditor's Office was abolished, and its duties were transferred to the newly created Recorder's Office. The King County Recorder's Office is charged with recording documents such as real estate deeds, mortgages, plats, surveys, and register land (Torrens).

What recorded documents does the Archives have?

King County Archives holds the original recorded documents that were created prior to August 1991. These include property records such as deeds, short plats, and easements. They also include military discharge (DD-214) records. We hold microfilmed copies of those documents for public access.

How does the Archives make recorded documents available?

The Archives makes microfilmed copies of the records in our holdings available to the public, who may access the microfilm in person during open building hours. We also scan recorded documents from the microfilm by request for Archives patrons.

What recorded documents does the Recorder's Office hold?

The Recorder's Office holds the original recorded documents that were created from August 1, 1991 to the present. The Recorder's Office is required by Revised Code of WA Auditor's Fees RCW 36.18.010 to charge for both certified and uncertified copies of recorded documents.

How does the Recorder’s Office make documents available?

The Recorder's Office makes the documents in their holdings available through their online portal Landmark. They also make surveys, maps, and plats from 1853 to the present available on Landmark. You may order certified and uncertified copies directly through Landmark, and the Recorder's Office will fill your order. You may also print a free, watermarked version of any records on Landmark.

King County Archives will no longer charge a duplication fee for uncertified copies of recorded documents dated prior to August 1991 or not already scanned and available on Landmark.

We are still obligated by Washington State law to charge for certified copies of recorded documents. The Recorder’s Office is required by law to charge for uncertified and certified copies of recorded documents.

No fees for uncertified copies of recorded documents only applies to those documents recorded prior to August 1991 and documents not already scanned and available on Landmark such as plats, surveys, and other maps.

Patrons requesting uncertified copies of recorded documents that are not available on Landmark will experience reduced wait times for document delivery. You won’t have to wait for an invoice and payment processing before receiving your order.

Patrons who previously paid for uncertified copies may not request a refund for those copies. However, they will not be charged for subsequent orders of uncertified copies.

Why eliminate fees?

Since King County Archives is not legally required to charge fees for uncertified copies of recorded documents, we have taken this step to increase access to the records that we hold in trust for the people of King County.

What are the goals for this change?

The goals for this change include reduced wait times for document delivery, as well as equitable and increased patron access to public records.

How will you know if the goals are achieved?

King County Archives will track the impacts of this change by monitoring our response times to patron requests for copies, and we will solicit patron feedback about this new process. This process will also inform Archives initiatives for increased access to other types of public records.

Without fees, won’t people just ask for copies of all records held by the Archives?

There is a common misconception that removing fees will encourage people to request multiple copies of public records regardless of whether they need them. Most patrons know what specific records they want and would order them even if we charge fees. However, charging creates barriers for patrons who need access to the records but can’t afford to pay for them or are unable to visit the Archives in person.

King County Archives is committed to providing equitable access to public records, and we employ a variety of methods to do so. In addition to scanning materials on patron request, we also have a public lobby and research room that is open to the public so they may view records in person. We identify and digitize record groups to make available online, and we process archival records so that they’re easier for members of the public to search.

How will eliminating fees impact the Archives budget?

The fees collected by King County Archives for providing copies of recorded documents don’t come to the Archives, so we don’t directly benefit from them. Fees for copies of recorded documents are put into King County government’s general fund and represent a very small part of the budget. Fees are also not a reliable source of revenue.