Washington Court Records
Washington court records cover cases filed in Superior Courts, District Courts, and Municipal Courts across all 39 counties. These records are public under state law and can be searched online or in person at the courthouse where the case was filed. The Washington Courts website provides a free statewide case search that updates daily. For certified copies or full case files, contact the County Clerk at the court that handled the case. This guide explains how to find court records in Washington, which agencies hold them, and what your options are for getting access.
Washington Court Records Overview
Where to Find Washington Court Records
Court records in Washington are held at several levels. For Superior Court cases, including felonies, civil suits over $100,000, family law, and probate, the County Clerk at each county's Superior Court is the official custodian. The County Clerk is an elected position set out in the Washington State Constitution and serves as the ex-officio clerk of the Superior Court under RCW Chapter 36.23. Each of the 39 counties has its own clerk who maintains case files and responds to records requests.
District Court records cover misdemeanors, civil cases under $100,000, traffic infractions, and small claims. These are kept by each county's District Court. Municipal Court records cover violations of city ordinances. Many cities run their own courts, though smaller ones often contract with the county. When looking for a specific case, knowing which court level handled it will point you to the right office.
Washington also maintains several statewide tools for searching court records. The Washington Courts Case Search portal at dw.courts.wa.gov gives free access to basic case information across all court levels. It is a good starting point for any search. The portal updates every 24 hours at 3:00 a.m. Name and case information on the portal is reference material, not the official record. Official records and copies must be obtained from the court where the case was filed.
The statewide court search covers municipal, district, superior, and appellate court records. You can search by party name or case number and filter results by court type and year filed. Results show party names, case status, hearing dates, and docket entries. Document images are not available for download from this portal. For actual copies of filed documents, you need to contact the specific court or clerk's office directly.
Note: For Superior Court cases including family law, felony criminal, and civil matters, contact the County Clerk at the courthouse in the county where the case was filed. The statewide search portal shows basic information but not full document images.
How to Search Washington Court Records Online
Washington offers several free and fee-based online tools for searching court records. The main free option is the Washington Courts Name and Case Search. This covers all court levels across the state. You can search by person name or case number. Results update daily and point you to the official court record for that case. The tool does not provide document downloads but is useful for confirming a case exists and identifying which court to contact for copies.
The Odyssey Portal is a web-based system used to view case records and public documents filed in Superior Courts and County Clerk offices. It covers 37 counties in Washington. Free registration is required to use the Smart Search feature. When searching by case number, omit the hyphen and enter four digits for best results. The portal shows party information, docket entries, and some filed documents. County Clerks are available through the portal for technical support questions.
JIS-Link is a fee-based subscription service authorized under RCW Chapter 2.68. It provides access to district, municipal, and superior court data. The cost is $0.145 per transaction with a minimum monthly charge of $13. JIS-Link is used by attorneys, process servers, and others who need frequent access to court data across multiple counties. It covers ACORDS appellate data, district and municipal court records, and superior court case information. Some courts using newer case management systems may have data accessible through the updated web version rather than the legacy system.
Types of Washington Court Records
Washington's court system has several tiers and each creates its own type of records. Superior Courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in each county. They handle felony criminal cases, civil matters over $100,000, family law including dissolution and custody, probate, guardianship, mental commitment, juvenile offender cases, and appeals from lower courts. The County Clerk maintains these records. Case files can be large and include pleadings, motions, orders, financial declarations, judgments, and all other filed documents.
District Courts have limited jurisdiction. They handle misdemeanor criminal cases, gross misdemeanors, traffic infractions, civil cases under $100,000, small claims up to $10,000, and protection orders. Each county has at least one District Court. Some larger counties have multiple locations. District Court records are kept by the District Court clerk. They are searchable through the statewide portal and through the Odyssey system for participating courts.
Municipal Courts handle city ordinance violations, misdemeanors, and traffic infractions within city limits. Some cities have their own Municipal Court. Others contract with the county under an interlocal agreement so that District Court handles their cases. The court varies by city. Most municipal court records can be searched through the statewide portal.
Common Washington court records include:
- Criminal case filings and conviction records
- Civil complaints, judgments, and court orders
- Family law cases including dissolution, custody, and support
- Probate and guardianship filings
- Juvenile offender and dependency records
- Small claims decisions
- Protection orders
Washington Court Records Laws
Public access to court records in Washington is governed by two main legal frameworks. The first is the Washington Public Records Act, codified at RCW Chapter 42.56. This law requires all public records held by state and local agencies to be available for inspection and copying unless a specific exemption applies. A public record includes any writing prepared, owned, used, or retained by a government agency. Court records are generally public but are governed more directly by court rules than the PRA.
General Rule 31 (GR 31) is the specific court rule governing access to court records in Washington. It establishes that court records are open to the public, with exceptions for sealed records, juvenile records, and certain sensitive filings. Under GR 31(e), courts must provide reasonable access to court records at no cost for viewing, though charges for reproduction are allowed. When a party seeks to seal records, the court must weigh privacy interests against the public's right of access. GR 31.1 governs access to administrative court records.
Certain types of court records have restricted access. Records involving juvenile dependency cases and adoption proceedings are typically sealed. Mental health commitment records may have access limits. Financial documents like detailed asset statements can be restricted. Social security numbers and account numbers must be redacted. A court can seal additional records when a party shows good cause, but this is uncommon. Most standard criminal and civil case files are open.
Note: Court records in Washington are governed by General Rule 31 and not the Public Records Act directly. Requests for court case records should go to the court of record, not the agency's general public records officer.
Washington State Digital Archives
The Washington State Digital Archives provides electronic access to select public court records from counties across the state. The Digital Archives works in partnership with county clerks to make civil, criminal, domestic, and probate records available online. Access to this system is a good option for older records and historical case research. Non-certified copies cost $0.25 per page plus a $1 service charge per document. Certified copies are $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page, also with a $1 service charge. After payment, certified copy orders are forwarded to the Clerk for preparation and mailing.
For best results in the Digital Archives, have the Superior Court case number ready before searching. Use the format like 12-2-000011-7. Not all records are available online. Statutorily confidential records, court-ordered sealed records, and restricted records are not included. The database holds millions of records from counties across the state. Some individual county collections go back decades and include civil, criminal, divorce, and probate files. Adoption, dependency, and mental competency case files are not available through this system.
Washington Criminal History Records
The Washington State Patrol maintains criminal history record information through the WATCH system. WATCH stands for Washington Access to Criminal History. You can search online at fortress.wa.gov/wsp/watch for $10 per search. Criminal history records are distinct from court records. They include arrest and conviction data from law enforcement agencies across the state. WATCH is the official source for Washington criminal history background checks.
Criminal history from the WSP covers statewide arrest and conviction data. It is not the same as a court record. Court records show filings, orders, and the full docket for a specific case. Criminal history shows an overview of arrests and dispositions. For court documents or case details, you still need to go through the court system or the statewide case search portal.
Federal Court Records in Washington
Federal court cases in Washington are filed in one of two federal districts. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington is based in Seattle and covers the western half of the state. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington is based in Spokane and covers the eastern counties. Federal cases include federal crimes, civil rights suits, bankruptcy, and cases involving federal law.
Federal court records are accessed through PACER, the Public Access to Court Electronic Records system. PACER gives access to more than 1 billion federal court documents. The fee is $0.08 per page. Anyone can register for PACER. Cases in the Washington federal districts are not searchable through the state's court portals. If the case involves a federal law or was filed in federal court, you need to use PACER.
Fees for Washington Court Records
Fees for copying court records vary by court and county. The most common fee structure for Superior Court records involves paper copies at $0.50 per page and electronic copies at $0.25 per page. Certified copies typically cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Certification includes the court seal and a deputy clerk's signature. Certified copies are often required when presenting records to other agencies like the Social Security Administration or for passport applications.
For the Digital Archives, non-certified copies are $0.25 per page with a $1 service fee per document. Certified copies from the Digital Archives cost $5 for the first page plus $1 per additional page, also with the $1 service charge. After payment, the certified order goes to the county clerk for preparation and mailing. Research assistance fees vary by county, with some charging $20 to $30 per hour for staff-assisted searches.
Online portal fees depend on the system used. The statewide case search at dw.courts.wa.gov is free. The Odyssey Portal is free for basic case viewing. JIS-Link charges $0.145 per transaction. WATCH criminal history searches cost $10. PACER for federal records charges $0.08 per page. Viewing records in person at a courthouse public access terminal is free.
Note: Fees vary by county and court. Always contact the specific court before requesting copies to confirm their current fee schedule and accepted payment methods.
Washington State Court Directory
The Washington State Court Directory is a free resource that lists contact information for every court in the state. It includes addresses, phone numbers, and fax numbers for all Superior Courts, District Courts, Municipal Courts, and County Clerk offices across all 39 counties. The directory also lists presiding judges and court administrators. It is maintained by the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts and is useful when you need to find the right office to contact for a specific county or city.
The Washington State Bar Association also publishes a comprehensive court directory in PDF format at wsba.org. It is organized by county and includes detailed contact information for all court levels. This is a good backup reference when specific court contact details are needed.
Legal Help in Washington
Several organizations provide free or low-cost legal help in Washington. Northwest Justice Project is the largest legal aid organization in the state. They serve low-income residents and handle a wide range of civil cases. Call (888) 201-1014 or visit nwjustice.org for information. Columbia Legal Services handles cases with statewide impact for low-income clients and communities.
The Washington State Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service at (206) 443-9722. You can also search for attorneys through their online directory at wsba.org. Self-help guides and legal forms are available at washingtonlawhelp.org. Official court forms for all case types are on the Washington Courts website. Many courthouses also have self-help centers where staff can point you to forms, though they cannot give legal advice.
Are Washington Court Records Public
Yes. Court records in Washington are public as a general rule. The right of access is established by General Rule 31 and supported by the Public Records Act at RCW Chapter 42.56. You do not need to be a party to the case to request records. You do not need to explain why you want them. Most case files at the County Clerk's office are open to anyone who asks.
Some records have limited access. Juvenile dependency case files are generally not open to the public. Adoption records are sealed by law. Records sealed by court order are not available. Documents with social security numbers, account numbers, or other personal identifiers may have those portions redacted. Records involving mental health proceedings may also be restricted. Most standard criminal, civil, and family law case files are open for public inspection and copying.
Browse Washington Court Records by County
Each of Washington's 39 counties has its own County Clerk at the Superior Court. Select a county below to find local court contact information, search options, and resources for court records in that area.
View All 39 Washington Counties
Washington Court Records by City
Residents of major cities file cases at the Superior Court in their county. Pick a city to find court contact details and records access information for that area.