Find Court Records in Lakewood
Lakewood court records come from three main sources: Lakewood Municipal Court, Pierce County District Court, and Pierce County Superior Court. The Municipal Court handles misdemeanors and infractions within Lakewood city limits and also covers cases from Steilacoom and DuPont. If you need to search a Lakewood case, get a copy of a court document, or find out who handles a particular type of matter, this page walks through each court and how to access their records. You can start with the Washington Courts statewide search at dw.courts.wa.gov to locate a case quickly.
Lakewood Overview
Lakewood Municipal Court Records
Lakewood Municipal Court is a court of limited jurisdiction located at 6000 Main St SW, Lakewood, WA 98499. Phone is (253) 512-2258 and fax is (253) 512-2267. Email is CityCourt@cityoflakewood.us. The court handles misdemeanors, infractions, parking violations, and photo enforcement cases within Lakewood, Steilacoom, and DuPont. It does not handle small claims, civil lawsuits, or name changes. Those matters go to Pierce County District Court.
Counter hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to noon. Phone hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4:00 p.m., and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to noon. Most hearings are held in person. If you arrive more than 30 minutes late to a hearing, it will not go forward. The court also streams some hearings on its YouTube channel at Lakewood WA Muni Court.
The image below links to the Lakewood Municipal Court page at cityoflakewood.us. It shows the court's contact details, hours, and types of cases the court handles.
Video hearings are available for Monday traffic calendars, in-custody hearings at Nisqually Tribal Jail and Pierce County Jail, and a limited criminal calendar once a month. Zoom meeting ID is 627 145 1418 with password 162810. Only scheduled individuals are admitted. Keep your camera off and microphone muted until your case is called.
| Court | Lakewood Municipal Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 6000 Main St SW, Lakewood, WA 98499 |
| Phone | (253) 512-2258 |
| CityCourt@cityoflakewood.us |
Lakewood Municipal Court Records Requests
The Lakewood Municipal Court Records page explains two categories of records. Court case records relate to in-court proceedings: case files, dockets, and calendars. These are governed by Court Rule GR 31 and can be requested through the Request Portal linked from the records page. Administrative court records relate to court management and supervision. These fall under GR 31.1 and require a separate administrative records request form.
Requests can be submitted in person, by mail, by fax to (253) 512-2267, or by email to citycourt@cityoflakewood.us. Allow 5 to 10 business days for processing. Copy fees are $0.50 per page and $20 per electronic recording. To make a request, you need to provide either the name and date of birth of a party, the name and driver's license number, or the case or citation number. Police reports are a separate matter and must be obtained from South Sound 911, not from the Municipal Court.
Note: Attorneys filing documents should email .pdf files to citycourt@cityoflakewood.us or fax to 253-512-2267. Allow four working days for processing. Electronic filings must comply with LMCLR GR1.9.
Pierce County Courts Serving Lakewood
Not all cases stay in Lakewood Municipal Court. Small claims, civil cases, and name changes go to Pierce County District Court, located at 930 Tacoma Ave. S., Room 239, Tacoma, WA 98402. Phone is (253) 798-7487. The District Court handles civil cases under $100,000 and some misdemeanor matters not handled by Lakewood Municipal Court. Public access terminals are available at the courthouse.
Felony criminal cases, divorce, child support, and probate all go to Pierce County Superior Court at 930 Tacoma Ave. S., Room 110, Tacoma, WA 98402. Phone is (253) 798-7455. The Superior Court handles civil cases over $100,000 and all family law matters. If you were charged with a felony in Lakewood, your case is at Pierce County Superior Court, not Lakewood Municipal Court.
For both Pierce County courts, case records can be requested in person, by mail, or online through Pierce County's public access tools. The same statewide search at dw.courts.wa.gov covers Pierce County District Court and Superior Court cases along with Lakewood Municipal Court cases. All three are in the search index.
How to Search Lakewood Court Records
Use the Washington Courts Name and Case Search at dw.courts.wa.gov to look up Lakewood court records for free. The tool covers Lakewood Municipal Court, Pierce County District Court, and Pierce County Superior Court. Search by name or case number. Results include case summaries, docket entries, and hearing schedules. The database refreshes every day at 3:00 a.m. This is the best starting point for most searches.
If you find a case and need official copies, you must contact the court that has it. For Lakewood Municipal Court cases, use the Request Portal at cityoflakewood.us or email citycourt@cityoflakewood.us. For Pierce County cases, go to Pierce County's public records request page or visit the courthouse in Tacoma.
Keep in mind the statewide search provides reference information only. It is not the official court record. Sealed cases and confidential matters will not appear. If you need records on a case that was sealed, contact the clerk's office directly. They can tell you whether a record exists and what is needed to access it.
Pierce County Court Records
Lakewood is in Pierce County. Felonies, family law cases, and civil matters above $100,000 all go through Pierce County courts in Tacoma. For full details on Pierce County Superior Court, District Court, and how to request records, see the Pierce County court records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Lakewood also have court records pages. Pierce County courts in Tacoma serve many of these communities as well.