Washington Quitclaim Deed: Step-by-Step Guide (with Free Form Generator)

A Washington quitclaim deed transfers whatever interest the grantor has in real property to another party without warranting the quality of that interest. It's the right tool for transfers between family members, into or out of a trust or LLC, after a divorce, or to clear minor title defects. This guide walks through Washington's state-specific requirements - witnesses, transfer tax, recording office, and the practical gotchas - and gives you a free interactive form builder at the bottom.

The biggest Washington-specific thing to know

Washington's Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) is one of the highest in the country: 1.1% on the first $525k, 1.28% on $525k-$1.525M, 2.75% on $1.525M-$3.025M, and 3.0% above $3.025M (statewide rates as of 2023; cities and counties add local REET on top). Family transfers without consideration are exempt but require a REET Affidavit (Form REET-1) with the proper exemption code.

Washington requirements at a glance

Subscribing witnesses	None required
Notarization	Required (notary acknowledgment block on the deed)
Transfer / documentary tax	Real Estate Excise Tax (REET): progressive 1.1%-3% on sale; quitclaim gifts may qualify for exemption
Recording office	County Auditor (or Recorder) in the county where the property is located
Recording fee	$303 (varies sharply by county - $40-$303)
Top margin (page 1)	3 inches
Required forms	REET Affidavit required for every transfer (even gifts).
Notarization method	Remote Online Notarization (RON) available, or in-person

Witnesses + notarization

Washington permits Remote Online Notarization (RON), so the entire signing + notarization can happen via video from anywhere - no need to leave your home.

Transfer / documentary tax

The REET Affidavit must be filed with every deed - the Department of Revenue uses it to verify exemption claims and audit transfers. Inflating exemption claims or undervaluing consideration is treated seriously and can trigger penalties + interest.

Recording

Once the deed is signed and notarized, you take it (along with any required forms and the recording fee) to the County Auditor (or Recorder) in the county where the property is located. The clerk stamps it with a recording number and date and adds it to the public record. From that moment, the world is on notice that title has transferred. Expect to pay roughly $303 (varies sharply by county - $40-$303).

Common mistakes

Street address instead of legal description. Use the legal description verbatim from your existing recorded deed (lot/block/subdivision or metes-and-bounds). Street address alone is not sufficient.
Insufficient top margin. Washington requires 3 inches on page 1. Browser default print settings cause rejection.
Forgetting the transfer tax declaration. Even when fully exempt, most states require the deed to cite the exemption code or be accompanied by a transfer tax declaration form.
Not updating the county assessor / appraiser. Recording transfers legal title but tax records may need a separate notification to update ownership for property tax purposes.

When NOT to use a Washington quitclaim

You're selling to a stranger. A quitclaim gives the buyer no chain-of-title protection. Use a warranty deed (or in some states, a special warranty / grant deed) for arm's-length sales. See our comparison.
There's an existing mortgage with a due-on-sale clause. Most modern mortgages let the lender call the loan when title transfers. Talk to the lender first.
Title is contested or there's a dispute among co-owners. A quitclaim doesn't resolve disputes - it can paper over them and create future problems. Resolve the underlying dispute first.
You're not sure you actually own the interest you're conveying. A quitclaim transfers "whatever you have" - if that's nothing, the grantee gets nothing.

Two ways to do this

Have us handle the whole thing

$199 flat. We draft the Washington-compliant deed, arrange a video notary or in-person mobile notary, file with your county recorder, and email you the recorded copy. Typically 24-72 hours end-to-end.

Start with ClosingDesk

Or use the free generator below

Fill in the fields and download a Washington-compliant quitclaim deed PDF. You handle the notary and county recording yourself. Free, no email required.

Use the free generator ↓

For estate planning purposes, consider whether a Washington Transfer on Death Deed is a better fit than an outright transfer.

Free Washington Quitclaim Deed generator

Fill in the fields below and we'll generate a Washington-compliant quitclaim deed PDF you can print, sign in front of a notary, and take to the County Auditor (or Recorder) for recording. Free, no email required.

This guide and the generated form are general information about Washington deed law, not legal advice. ClosingDesk is a workflow automation service, not a law firm. Washington-specific issues can have material legal and tax consequences if mishandled. If your situation has any complexity (existing mortgage, contested ownership, divorce in progress, tax planning concerns, parent-child transfers in states with reassessment rules), consult a licensed Washington real estate attorney before transferring title.