Burien Court Records

Burien court records are split between two courts. The King County District Court South Division handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, and civil matters filed within Burien city limits. Felonies, family law cases, and appeals go to King County Superior Court in Seattle. If you need to find a case, look up a charge, or get a copy of a court document from Burien, this page walks you through where to go, how to search online, and what to expect when you contact each court in person or by mail.

King County District Court South Division

Burien has a contract with King County District Court South Division to hear all municipal and district court cases for the city. That means you don't go to a separate Burien municipal court. All misdemeanor criminal cases, gross misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and civil matters under $100,000 are filed and heard at the South Division courthouse in Burien. Small claims cases up to $10,000 are also handled there.

The court is located at the Burien Courthouse at 601 SW 149th Street. Court hours run Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can reach the court by phone at 206-205-9200. If you need to request records, the clerk's office can process those in person or by mail. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each page after that.

The court conducts arraignments, pretrial hearings, bench trials, and jury trials for Burien cases. Public access terminals at the courthouse let you search for case information at no charge during business hours. Case records can also be requested by mail if you can't come in person. The court maintains records for all cases filed at this division.

The South Division handles the bulk of court activity for residents of Burien. If you received a traffic citation, were cited for a misdemeanor, or have a civil dispute worth less than $100,000, this is where your case lives. The same goes for small claims disputes between neighbors, landlords and tenants, or businesses.

King County Superior Court

For Burien residents involved in felony cases, family law matters, or cases on appeal from the district court, the King County Superior Court in Seattle is the right place. The Superior Court has general jurisdiction and handles the most serious cases. It's also where you go for dissolution of marriage, child custody, guardianship, probate, and large civil suits.

The King County Superior Court Clerk's office manages all records at that level. You can access case documents through the KC Script Portal, which provides online access to Superior Court case documents and audio files. Non-certified copies cost $0.25 per page through that portal. Certified copies run $5 for the first page and $1 per page after that. The Clerk's office does not process records requests by phone or email, so plan to use the portal or visit in person.

Public access terminals at the King County Courthouse allow free viewing of court records. The Superior Court also acts as a court of appeals for cases that come up from the district court level, so if someone appealed a ruling from the South Division in Burien, the record moves to Seattle.

Note: The King County Clerk's office does not give legal advice or help fill out forms. Staff can confirm case status and provide copies, but they won't tell you what to file or how to respond to a case.

How to Find Burien Court Records

There are a few ways to search for court records tied to Burien cases. The fastest starting point is the free statewide search tool at dw.courts.wa.gov. That tool covers municipal, district, and superior courts across Washington. You can search by name or case number. Results include basic case details, docket entries, and hearing dates. The system updates daily at 3:00 a.m., so results from the day before may not show up right away.

For Superior Court cases, the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov gives you a deeper look at case history and documents filed in court. This portal includes felony criminal cases, family law proceedings, civil suits, and other Superior Court matters. You can search by party name, case number, or other identifiers.

Older Burien-area records may also be available through the Washington State Digital Archives. That archive holds historical court documents from counties across the state. It's particularly useful if you're looking for a case from several decades ago that may not be in the online case search systems.

To make any search work, you'll need at least one party's name and an approximate filing year. Case numbers speed up the process. If you only have partial information, start with the statewide search and then contact the specific court for more detail.

Requesting Copies of Burien Court Records

Once you find a case online, you may need a physical copy or a certified copy of the record. The online tools show you case details, but they don't always let you download the full document. For that, you contact the court that holds the record.

For district court records at the South Division, go to or write the clerk's office at 601 SW 149th Street, Burien, WA 98166. Bring the case number if you have it. Staff can pull the file and provide copies while you're there. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Mail requests take longer, but the process is the same.

For Superior Court records, use the KC Script Portal or visit the King County Courthouse in Seattle. The Clerk's office at 516 Third Avenue handles records requests in person. Non-certified copies via the portal are $0.25 per page. Certified copies are $5 for the first page, then $1 per page.

Washington court records are governed by General Rule 31, which defines what is public and what can be restricted. Most criminal and civil case records are open to the public. Sealed records, juvenile records, and certain family law documents may require a court order to access.

Note: Court records are not subject to the Washington Public Records Act under RCW 42.56. They follow GR 31 instead, which has its own rules for access and fees.

Burien City Clerk and Police Records

Not all records you need are at the courthouse. The City of Burien has a City Clerk's office that handles public records, business licenses, and legal notices for the city itself. The City Clerk is located at 400 SW 152nd Street, Suite 300, Burien, WA 98166. Phone: (206) 241-4647. The city website at burienwa.gov has more details and links to King County court resources.

Police records work differently. If you need records from the Burien Police Department, those go through a separate request process. The police department is at 14905 6th Ave SW. Phone: (206) 296-3333. Incident reports, arrest records, and other law enforcement documents are handled by the police, not the courts. The City Clerk's office coordinates responses to public records requests under the Washington Public Records Act, which does apply to city government records unlike court records.

Municipal court records, though, stay with King County District Court South Division. The city clerk does not hold those. If you're looking for a traffic citation case or a misdemeanor filed in Burien, go to the district court, not city hall.

King County Court Records

Burien sits in King County, and all court filings go through the King County court system. The county handles district court, superior court, and all appeals. For full details on King County courts, fees, and record access options, visit the King County court records page.

View King County Court Records

Nearby Cities

These cities are close to Burien and also file cases through the King County court system.