Pierce County Recording Department

Upgrades to Recording System

We've upgraded our recording system and our online search tools. We ask that you please be patient with us through this transition. You may experience longer processing times.

All recorded documents are logged in our index. The index lists the type of document recorded and the parties affected by the recording. The index on our website contains data from 1984 to present. Documents recorded prior to 1984 must be searched in our office.

Hours and directions to the office.

Please note the following cut-off times for recording:
- 4:00 for Recording of all types of mylar maps. 3:30 for Excise Work submitted by Title Companies
- 4:00 for Non-Excise Work submitted by Title Companies
- Document recordings may be walked to the window by the general public until we close at 4:30.

Birth Certificates, Death Certificates, and other Vital Statistics are obtained through the Tacoma - Pierce County Health Department. Visit their website to obtain additional information or call Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm at (253)798-6418 or (253)798-6413 evening and weekends for recorded information.

Search Online

Some images of the documents recorded are available. And, some are not. Documents that contain or may contain sensitive information, such as social security number, mother's maiden name, drivers license number, etc., are not available on our website. The available images date back to 1984. All images, with the exception of some military discharge papers (DD214) are available to copy in our office.

Recording Information and Images Available:

All deeds
Bills of sale
Assignments
Contracts
Mortgage documents
Leases
Maps
Title eliminations
Foreclosure documents
Covenants
Maintenance agreements
Easements
Appointment of trustees
Substitution of trustees

Search For A Document

Recording Information and Images Unavailable:

All marriage records
Liens
Satisfaction of Liens
UCC documents
Judgments
Satisfactions of judgment
Powers of attorney
Death certificates
Name change documents
Military discharge papers (DD214)

Recording a Document

Documents of conveyance, such as deeds, contracts, etc. must be cleared for excise tax within the Recording Department. A real estate excise tax affidavit must be fully completed for each conveyance document being recorded.

If any information is needed pertaining to property taxes or assessments, please call the Pierce County Assessor's Office at (253) 798-6111.

Document and Cover Sheet Requirements

Refer to the recording fee schedule for prices.

Payment system is currently unavailable.

Request by Mail

You may also request a copy of a document via mail. Please provide the recording number, names on the document and recording date, as our index is designed to search using only those criteria. Our index does not include searching by parcel number or address. Please check our fee schedule for copy rates.

DD214's (Military Discharge Papers)

Public or Private? Click here for more information.

DD214's recorded June 13, 2002 or later are automatically exempt from public inspection per RCW 42.56.440. There is no fee to record this document. Our department can also provide up to three certified copies of the discharge for no fee.

There is no fee for recording a 'Request for Exemption from Public Disclosure of Discharge Papers'.

Pierce County Auditor's Office
Recording Department | (253)798-7440
2401 S 35th St, Room 200, Tacoma, WA 98409