The Joint Lobby (located on the 2nd Floor, Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street) is open for walk-in services Monday - Thursday, 9 AM - 4 PM. No appointments required.
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Responsibilities of Auditors
Washington defines county auditors and their deputies as the “Custodians of Records” making them responsible for maintaining the public records of the county, including real estate documents, liens, plats, military discharges, and marriage records. The recording department also issues marriage licenses and process server licenses. The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) outlines the requirements of legal documents that must be recorded. RCW 65 and RCW 36 define the minimum amount of information that must be present on recorded documents and the fees associated with such recordings.
The county auditor and their deputy auditors are not practicing attorneys in their roles as recording officers. They are prohibited from giving or offering legal advice, including the completion of forms.
The responsibility for preparing a document for recording is that of the preparer. It is not the responsibility of the county auditor or deputy auditors to verify that the document has been properly drafted. The auditor’s office only verifies the following information:
- Document is legible
- Document is formatted correctly
- Indexing information is complete
- Correct fees are collected
Click here for additional information on recording requirements and fees.
Free public access to recorded documents is available online or in office at the public computers. Copies of documents can be obtained through our office for a fee.
Documents NOT recorded with the county auditor:
- 1908-1926: Vital Records at 360-236-4300
- 1927-Present: Health Department 564-397-8000
- 1908-10 years prior to today’s date: Vital Records at 360-236-4300
- The past 10 years: Health Department 564-397-8000
Court Records, including divorce decrees
- Clark County Clerk’s Office 564-397-2292