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Whatcom County, Washington public records

In Whatcom County, deeds are recorded by the Whatcom County Auditor, Recording Division; property values come from the Whatcom County Assessor; court files are kept by the Whatcom County Superior Court Clerk.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Where to get each record
  2. Deeds and land records
  3. Property values, owners and tax bills
  4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
  5. Marriage records
  6. Divorce records
  7. Birth certificates
  8. Death certificates
  9. Probate records and wills
  10. Voter records
  11. Historical records
  12. Other records at the county
  13. Good to know about Whatcom County records
  14. Office addresses, phones and hours
  15. Questions people ask
  16. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  17. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsWhatcom County Auditor, Recording Division5Search deeds23Free search, fee for copies$1.00 per page4
Property values and ownersWhatcom County Assessor6Property search7—
Property tax billsWhatcom County Treasurer6Tax bill search8Free search—
Court casesWhatcom County Superior Court Clerk9Whatcom County Superior Court10
Whatcom County District Court10		Superior Court Clerk copies: electronic $0.25 per page; non-certified $0.50 per page; certified $5.00 first page / $1.00 each additional page; research may be charged $30 an hour; hearing audio CD $2511
Marriage recordsAuditor issues licenses: application fee $16212——
Divorce recordsDivorce case files: Superior Court Clerk11——
Birth certificatesWhatcom County Health and Community Services issues certified and non-certified Washington State birth certificates (births July 1, 1907 to present): $25.00 per copy13——
Death certificatesWhatcom County Health and Community Services issues Washington State death certificates (deaths 1989 to present): $25.00 per copy13——
Probate and willsProbate files are Superior Court records kept by the Clerk, who issues letters testamentary14——

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Whatcom County are recorded by the Whatcom County Auditor, Recording Division.5

Online search
recording.whatcomcounty.us2Free search, fee for copies
Cost
Free to view online (no fee stated); copies from the Auditor $1.00 per page3
Years online
1920-present images and index online; 1853-1997 on microfilm in the Auditor's public research area; parcel-number and legal-description indexing from January 1, 19972
Copy fee
$1.00 per page4
Certified copy fee
$3.00 first page, $1 each additional page (entire document must be purchased)4
Search fee
Assisted record search $8.00 per hour for records prior to 19804
How to order
By phone 360-778-5100 with a credit card (nominal card fee), or by mail to Attention: Recording, Whatcom County Auditor, 311 Grand Ave., Suite 103, Bellingham, WA 98225 with a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check payable to Whatcom County Auditor (no cash)4
Fraud alerts
Property Recording Alert Service (PRAS)2

How deeds work in Washington

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Whatcom County Assessor sets property values6; the Whatcom County Treasurer bills and collects the tax6.

Property search
property.spatialest.com/wa/whatcom (Property Portal)7
Tax bill search
property.whatcomcounty.us (Check Taxes Online / Real Property Search, Property/ACCESS; free); pay online via whatcomcounty.us/405/Pay-Online8
Parcel map (GIS)
experience.arcgis.com/… (Interactive Tax Parcel Viewer)7
Appealing a value
Appeal to the Whatcom County Board of Equalization by July 1 of the assessment year or within 30 days of the mailing of the change of value notice, whichever is later; contact the Assessor first to review the value (whatcomcounty.us/…)15

How property tax works in Washington

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Whatcom County Superior CourtFelonies, civil, divorce/family, probate, adoption, juvenileWhatcom County Superior Court Clerk (County Clerk)odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov/odyportal Odyssey Portal (statewide; Whatcom Superior Court listed)10
Whatcom County District CourtMisdemeanors, traffic, small claims, limited civilWhatcom County Superior Court Clerk (civil, family/divorce, probate)researchwa.tylerhost.net re:SearchWA (Whatcom County District Court listed)10
Municipal courts (Bellingham, Blaine, Lynden, Ferndale, Sumas, Everson-Nooksack)City misdemeanors and infractions— re:SearchWA (listed courts of limited jurisdiction include Bellingham Municipal Court)10
Fees
Superior Court Clerk copies: electronic $0.25 per page; non-certified $0.50 per page; certified $5.00 first page / $1.00 each additional page; research may be charged $30 an hour; hearing audio CD $2511

Criminal records and background checks

Summary
Felony cases: Superior Court Clerk (Odyssey Portal); misdemeanors: District Court or municipal courts (re:SearchWA); court records are not subject to the Public Records Act but are open except as restricted11

How Washington courts keep their files

Marriage records

Auditor issues licenses: application fee $162; 3-day waiting period; license valid 60 days; one certified copy of the recorded certificate included; additional copies from the Auditor12

Washington marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Divorce case files: Superior Court Clerk; certified copies only from the Clerk's Office ($5.00 first page, $1.00 each additional)11

Washington divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Whatcom County Health and Community Services issues certified and non-certified Washington State birth certificates (births July 1, 1907 to present): $25.00 per copy; qualified applicants only, with valid ID and proof of relationship; order online (Permitium), in person at 509 Girard Street, or by mail (check or money order only)13

Ordering a Washington birth certificate

Death certificates

Whatcom County Health and Community Services issues Washington State death certificates (deaths 1989 to present): $25.00 per copy; certified copies only to qualified applicants; online (Permitium), in person or by mail13

Ordering a Washington death certificate

Probate records and wills

Probate files are Superior Court records kept by the Clerk, who issues letters testamentary; documents by request (cases 2005-present via Washington State Archives Digital Archives; pre-2005 by email or phone)14

Finding a will or probate case in Washington

Voter records

Auditor's Elections Division, 311 Grand Avenue Suite 103; voter information via votewa.gov16

Historical records

Pre-statehood (1889 and earlier) land records are largely federal; Washington State Library list linked by the Auditor. Superior Court documents 2005-present are served through the Washington State Archives Digital Archives2

Other records at the county

Military discharges (DD-214)

What the office says
Veteran service records recorded with the Auditor are not online and are available only to the veteran or next of kin2

Good to know about Whatcom County records

  • Whatcom County Superior Court documents for cases from 2005 to the present are requested through the Washington State Archives Digital Archives; older cases by email/phone or on microfilm at the Clerk's office.11
  • Recorded document images are online from 1920; the Auditor's microfilm covers 1853-1997.2
  • Online recorded documents have Social Security Numbers redacted.2
  • Property owners can strike racially restrictive covenants from title documents at no cost by recording a Restrictive Covenant Modification.2
  • The Treasurer collects a local gas tax for Point Roberts and offers a toll-free line for Point Roberts residents.17

Office addresses, phones and hours

Whatcom County Auditor, Recording Division

Address
311 Grand Avenue, Suite 103, Bellingham, WA 982252
Mail
Attention: Recording, Whatcom County Auditor, 311 Grand Ave., Suite 103, Bellingham, WA 982254
Phone
360-778-5100; fax 360-778-51012
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm2

Whatcom County Auditor (recording, marriage licenses, elections, vehicle licensing)

Address
Suite 103, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, WA 982255
Phone
360-778-5100; fax 360-778-51015
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm5

Whatcom County Assessor

Address
311 Grand Ave Suite 106, Bellingham, WA 982257
Phone
360-778-5050; fax 360-778-50517
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.7

Whatcom County Treasurer

Address
311 Grand Ave, Suite 104, Bellingham, WA 9822517
Mail
Payments: PO Box 34873, Seattle, WA 98124-1873; other mail: PO Box 5268, Bellingham, WA 98227-526817
Phone
360-778-5160; Point Roberts toll-free 800-676-675717
Hours
8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, M-F17

Whatcom County Superior Court Clerk (County Clerk)

Address
311 Grand Ave, Ste 301, Bellingham, WA 98225-40389
Phone
360-778-5560; document requests 360-778-56189
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.14

Whatcom County Superior Court Clerk (civil, family/divorce, probate)

Address
Superior Court Clerk: 311 Grand Ave, Ste 301; District Court: 311 Grand Ave, Ste 401, Bellingham9
Phone
Superior Court Clerk 360-778-5560; District Court 360-778-54009
Hours
Clerk: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.14

Whatcom County Superior Court Clerk (probate files; clerk issues letters testamentary)

Address
311 Grand Ave, Ste 301, Bellingham, WA 98225-40389
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.14

Whatcom County Health and Community Services

Address
509 Girard Street, Bellingham, WA 9822519
Phone
360-778-6000; fax 360-778-600119
Hours
Monday-Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm; Friday 8:30am-3:30pm; closed legal holidays19

Whatcom County Auditor, Elections Division

Address
311 Grand Avenue, Suite 103, Bellingham, WA 9822520
Phone
360-778-5102; fax 360-778-510120
Hours
M-F, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.20

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Whatcom County?

The Whatcom County Auditor, Recording Division keeps deed records. To order copies: By phone 360-778-5100 with a credit card (nominal card fee), or by mail to Attention: Recording, Whatcom County Auditor, 311 Grand Ave., Suite 103, Bellingham, WA 98225 with a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check payable to Whatcom County Auditor (no cash). Plain copies: $1.00 per page. Certified copies: $3.00 first page, $1 each additional page (entire document must be purchased).54

Can I search Whatcom County land records online for free?

Yes, searching is free; copies cost extra. Free to view online (no fee stated); copies from the Auditor $1.00 per page. The official search: recording.whatcomcounty.us32

Where do I get a divorce decree in Whatcom County?

Divorce case files: Superior Court Clerk; certified copies only from the Clerk's Office ($5.00 first page, $1.00 each additional).11

How do I look up who owns a property in Whatcom County?

Use the property search of the Whatcom County Assessor: property.spatialest.com/wa/whatcom7

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Whatcom County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties in Washington with a full guide: Benton County, Clark County, Cowlitz County, Franklin County, Grant County, Island County, King County, Kitsap County, Lewis County, Pierce County, Skagit County, Snohomish County, Spokane County, Thurston County, Yakima County. Every county in the state: Washington county list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026
  2. Recording (Auditor)Whatcom Countychecked November 4, 2026
  3. RecordingWhatcom County Auditorchecked November 6, 2026
  4. Obtaining Copies of Recorded DocumentsWhatcom Countychecked November 4, 2026
  5. AuditorWhatcom Countychecked November 4, 2026
  6. County assessor and treasurer websitesWashington State Department of Revenuechecked November 4, 2026
  7. AssessorWhatcom Countychecked November 4, 2026
  8. TreasurerWhatcom County Treasurerchecked November 6, 2026
  9. Washington State Court Directory: Whatcom CountyWashington State Administrative Office of the Courtschecked November 4, 2026
  10. Washington Courts Case Records Search (home)Washington State Administrative Office of the Courtschecked November 4, 2026
  11. Document Requests (Superior Court Clerk)Whatcom Countychecked November 4, 2026
  12. Marriage License InfoWhatcom Countychecked November 4, 2026
  13. Order a Birth or Death CertificateWhatcom County Health and Community Serviceschecked November 6, 2026
  14. Superior Court ClerkWhatcom Countychecked November 4, 2026
  15. Appealing Property ValueWhatcom County Assessorchecked November 6, 2026
  16. ElectionsWhatcom Countychecked November 4, 2026
  17. TreasurerWhatcom Countychecked November 4, 2026
  18. Marriage or divorce record (list of auditors by county)Washington State Department of Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  19. Health and Community Services (redirect from /360/Health-Department)Whatcom Countychecked November 6, 2026
  20. County Elections Offices in Washington StateWashington Secretary of Statechecked November 4, 2026
  21. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026