Bellevue Court Records
Bellevue court records are split between two King County courts depending on the case type. Misdemeanor crimes, traffic infractions, and smaller civil matters are handled by King County District Court East Division, located right in Bellevue at 1309 114th Avenue SE. Felony cases, family law matters, and large civil suits go to King County Superior Court in Seattle. You can search Bellevue court records online for free at dw.courts.wa.gov, the statewide Washington Courts portal. For certified copies or full case files, you contact the specific court that holds the record.
Bellevue Overview
Bellevue Court Records: District vs. Superior
Knowing which court holds your record saves time. For most Bellevue residents, the court they need is the King County District Court East Division, located right in Bellevue. This court handles city ordinance violations under an interlocal agreement, which means all Bellevue municipal court functions are run through King County rather than a separate city court. If your case involves a traffic ticket, a misdemeanor charge, a gross misdemeanor, or a civil dispute under $100,000, this is your court.
For felony criminal cases, family law (such as divorce and child custody), civil matters over $100,000, probate, and guardianship, the filing goes to King County Superior Court. That courthouse is at 516 Third Avenue in Seattle. Bellevue residents may need to travel there for Superior Court matters, but the online portal works for searching both courts from wherever you are.
| District Court | King County District Court - East Division |
|---|---|
| Address | 1309 114th Avenue SE, Suite 100 Bellevue, WA 98004 |
| Phone | (206) 205-9200 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Superior Court | King County Superior Court, 516 Third Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 |
The Bellevue courthouse is in the city's downtown core. Public transit connects the area well. Free public access terminals are available at the courthouse for anyone who wants to search case records during business hours at no cost.
Search Bellevue Court Records Online
The free Washington Courts case search portal at dw.courts.wa.gov lets you look up Bellevue court records by name or case number. It covers all court levels, including King County District Court East Division and King County Superior Court. Results show party names, case type, filing date, docket entries, and current status. The portal updates daily around 3:00 a.m., so filings from the previous day may not appear until the next morning.
For Superior Court cases, you also have access to the Odyssey Portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov. The Odyssey Portal covers 37 counties across Washington and lets you view case documents filed in Superior Courts. It is a web-based tool that requires you to search by case number or party name. Documents are not downloadable directly, but the portal shows case details you can then use to make a formal records request from the clerk.
Note that the Bellevue city public records portal at bellevuewa.gov is for city administrative records, not court case records. If you submit a court records request to the city clerk by mistake, they will refer you to King County District Court. The two systems are separate.
King County District Court Records for Bellevue
District Court records for Bellevue cases include arraignment records, pretrial documents, trial transcripts, and judgments for misdemeanor and traffic matters. These records are maintained by King County District Court. You can view them in person at the East Division courthouse in Bellevue or request copies by mail.
Non-certified copies cost around $0.25 per page if you access them through the portal, or $0.50 when the clerk produces them. Certified copies are $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. If you need staff to do research for a records request, King County Superior Court charges $30 per hour for that service. The Clerk's Office does not take records requests by phone or email for Superior Court matters, so you need to visit, mail a form, or use the online portal.
Small claims cases up to $10,000 are also heard at the East Division Bellevue courthouse. These proceedings are part of the public record in the same way as other District Court matters, and you can search them through the statewide portal.
Note: The clerk cannot process records requests or accept payment over the phone. Plan to visit or use the online systems.
King County Superior Court Records
Bellevue felony cases, family law filings, probate records, and civil suits over $100,000 are all in the King County Superior Court system. The Superior Court Clerk's Office at 516 Third Avenue in Seattle maintains these records, some going as far back as 1854. Public access terminals are available there for free viewing during business hours.
The KC Script Portal is the online option for Superior Court case documents and audio recordings. You can view, download, or request documents through the portal. Registered users can access documents; some content requires identity verification to view sealed or confidential materials. Finished downloads stay accessible for 14 calendar days. The King County records access page has details on the portal and how to use it.
The Washington State Digital Archives is another option for older Bellevue-related Superior Court records. The Digital Archives holds civil, criminal, domestic, and probate records in partnership with county clerks across Washington. Non-certified copies there run $0.25 per page with a $1 service charge per document. Certified copies are $5 for the first page plus $1 per additional page, also with a $1 service charge. Orders placed through the Digital Archives are forwarded to the Clerk for preparation and mailing.
Legal Framework for Record Access
Washington court records are governed by General Rule 31, which says court records are presumptively open to the public. The rule has narrow exceptions for sealed records, juvenile matters, and certain sensitive filings. Courts must allow free viewing of records and can only charge for actual reproduction costs. GR 31 covers all court levels, including District Court and Superior Court records for Bellevue cases.
City administrative records in Bellevue are subject to RCW 42.56, the Washington Public Records Act. Under that statute, the city must respond to public records requests within 5 business days. They can provide the record, acknowledge the request with a timeline, or deny it with a reason. Court records are different and go through GR 31, not the Public Records Act.
If you need records from federal cases, such as matters heard in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, those are not in the state system. Federal court records are available through PACER at $0.08 per page. Federal and state court records are entirely separate.
King County Court Records
Bellevue is part of King County, and all court filings go through the King County court system. From District Court cases in Bellevue to Superior Court matters in Seattle, King County manages the full range. Visit the county page for more about courts, clerks, and how to access records across the county.
Nearby Cities
These cities are close to Bellevue and also fall under King County's court system.