[WSBAPT] Issues with King County Recording

Fri Jan 13 10:21:40 PST 2023

Thank you, Brent, for taking the laboring oar to compile illustrative examples for the Directive and Executive’s office!

My worst one lately-

Sending a Deed via US Mail the same day as it was signed in November, only to get it sent back 5 weeks later asking for penalties and interest on the Excise tax paid because “it has been more than 30 days since the Deed was signed” when it was the KC Recorder who simply did not process the Deed/REETA timely within the 30 days!!  “Please call our office to ensure the proper amount of excise tax and penalties are paid since the Deed is over 30 days.”  No phone # given to make such call.

The good thing was that they actually sent back my original mailing envelope in the return envelope I had included so the KC Recorder “received” stamp on my Deed packet was only 5 days after the Deed was signed, so because they let it sit on someone’s desk for another 26+ days, they allege my client is on the hook for penalties and interest in the excise tax due.

Absolutely Ridiculous.  Over 50 phone calls to the website general Recorder’s # in the subsequent 2 weeks went unanswered.  My assistant just did her work at her computer hitting redial to no avail.

We called Dept of Revenue Excise Tax Team for advice on KC’s error and ended up signing a new Deed and sending that up 2 weeks ago.  Still waiting for the recording fee and excise tax checks to clear the bank.  This was an Estate where one heir was bought out her share by others, so we did a quick TEDRA Agreement voiding the prior November Executor’s Deed and signing a new one.

Fingers crossed!!  I don’t record a lot of Deeds so I have not looked into Simplifile much, but it may just be time (if only to get rejections back faster- ha ha!)

Happy Friday!
Alexis
___________________________
Alexis R. Singletary
Attorney at Law
Singletary Law Office, PLLC
(253) 833-8855
www.SingletaryLawOffice.com<http://www.singletarylawoffice.com/>

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From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com> On Behalf Of Jade Coppieters
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2023 12:41 PM
To: WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com>; Brent at Williams-RuthLaw.com
Subject: Re: [WSBAPT] Issues with King County Recording

  *   When relying on WAC 458-61A-201 (Gifts), the clerks demand that the WAC number on the REETA include (A)(1), (A)(2), (B)(1), (B)(2), (B)(3), or (B)(4), which are selections to be made on the REETA Supplemental Statement, but not at all related to the WAC section. Additionally, this “requirement” is nowhere in the instructions or on the website.
  *   Clerk insisted that WAC 458-61A-210 (Irrevocable Trusts) was inapplicable because the name of the irrevocable trust did not include the name of the grantor. (Repeated explanations that the trust’s name was irrelevant and self-settled trusts do not exist in Washington were futile.) Had to instead rely on the Gift WAC exemption.
  *   Refused to process a deed with 50% from an Estate and 50% from the surviving spouse, all going to the same grantee. Any deeds with multiple grantors are better processed as separate deeds (with separate filing fees), or risk being rejected over and over again.
  *   Rejection for name on REETA not matching description on deed exactly, despite not having sufficient room on the REETA.
  *   Rejection for writing “See Attached Exhibit A” for legal description box on REETA instead of filling in as much of the legal description as possible with “See Attached Exhibit A” at the end.

J. M. Coppieters, Esq.
Phone: 206-236-1500
Fax: 206-905-5912

From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com> <wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com>> On Behalf Of Brent Williams-Ruth
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2023 11:18 AM
To: WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <WSBAPT at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:WSBAPT at lists.wsbarppt.com>>; WSBA Real Property Listserv <wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com>>
Subject: [WSBAPT] Issues with King County Recording

Apologies for the duplicate post from RP and PT sides but I am looking for feedback as it relates to property transfers in King County.

Many of us have had interesting encounters with the King County Recorders office.  Most recently, I was transferring four pieces of property and three of the four were accepted and recorded and the fourth rejected. The Deed and REETAs were identical for everything except the parcel number, property value and legal description. Grantor, Grantee, reason for transfer - all the same.

Reason for rejection - the Grantor in Box 1 did not match the Deed exactly.

So it was ok for 3 of them but #4 - that was just unacceptable.  If you have had a recent story (that you have not shared with me) regarding frustrations with the Recorder's office, please share. I am compiling these to be share with the the Director and Executive's office.

Thank you!
Brent

Brent Williams-Ruth (pronouns: he/him)
Attorney-At-Law

Law Offices of Brent Williams-Ruth, a division of BWR Consulting, PLLC

Physical Address: 500 S 336th Street, Suite 214; Federal Way, WA 98003

**EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY** All mail sent through the USPS should be sent to the following address: PO BOX 3319; Federal Way, WA 98063

Office/Scheduling Phone: (253) 285-7751

Direct: (253) 285-7453

e-mail<mailto:Brent at Williams-RuthLaw.com> / website<http://www.williams-ruthlaw.com/> / facebook<http://www.facebook.com/bwrlaw> /
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