Formatting Requirements

Effective January 1, 1997 all documents submitted for recording in Washington State must conform to standards set by RCW 36.18 and 65.04.  A cover sheet is required for documents in which the first page does not contain the necessary index fields or the three-inch top margin.  All pages must conform to formatting requirements for margins, page size, color legibility, seals and attachments.  A cover sheet will not relieve you of the responsibility of meeting the formatting requirements for all subsequent pages.

The FIRST PAGE of the document or the cover sheet MUST include the following information:

Title, Reference number, Grantor, Grantee, Legal Description (or Abbreviated Legal), Assessor's 11 digit parcel number (available at (360) 875-9301)

First page must also include a three-inch top margin and one-inch bottom and side margins. (Nothing is to appear within the 1" Margins) Exception:  Notary Stamp/Seal

Second and additional pages must include a one-inch top, bottom and side margins

Return address must appear on the first page, top left corner.  (It can be within the three-inch top margin)

Page size must be no smaller than the standard size of   8 1/2 by 11" and no larger than 8 1/2 by 14"

Font size must be at least 8 point

Documents and seals must be legible and capable of being imaged.  

NOTE:  Documents which were signed prior to January 1, 1997, may be recorded without formatting, but a cover sheet will be required.

Documents that must be recorded immediately and which do not meet margin and font size requirements (non-standard), may be recorded for an additional fee of $50.00. 

Documents which do not meet legibility requirements, will NOT be recorded as a non-standard recording.