Tumwater Court Records
Tumwater court records are handled by multiple courts depending on the type of case. The Tumwater Municipal Court (Violations Bureau) handles infractions within city limits. Misdemeanors, civil cases, and small claims cases for Tumwater are handled by Thurston County District Court in Olympia. Felony cases, family law matters, and major civil disputes go to Thurston County Superior Court. If you need to search Tumwater court records or request documents, this page covers where to look and who to contact for each type of case in Tumwater, Washington.
Tumwater Overview
Tumwater Municipal Court
Tumwater Municipal Court operates as a Violations Bureau and is located at Tumwater City Hall, 555 Israel Road SW, Tumwater, WA 98501. Phone is 360-754-4190 and fax is 360-754-4138. The court hears cases involving traffic infractions, parking violations, and other non-criminal civil violations occurring within Tumwater city limits. Municipal courts in Washington are courts of limited jurisdiction, meaning they only hear certain types of cases.
For misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, civil matters under $100,000, and small claims, cases go to Thurston County District Court in Olympia. Thurston County District Court is approximately 3 miles from Tumwater. For felonies, family law matters, and civil disputes over the jurisdictional limit, those go to Thurston County Superior Court in Olympia.
The Washington State Courts Name and Case Search is a good starting point for finding Tumwater court records. Results are updated every 24 hours at 3:00 a.m. You can search by person name, case number, or use advanced filters. Search results point to the official court record maintained by the court of record. Copies of case documents must be ordered directly from the appropriate court clerk.
Thurston County District Court
Thurston County District Court serves Tumwater residents for misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic infractions, civil cases up to $100,000, and small claims. The court is located at Building 3, 2000 Lakeridge Dr. SW, Olympia, WA 98502. Phone is 360-786-5450 and email is TCDC@co.thurston.wa.us. In-person, phone, and LiveChat services are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Open court records can be searched at weblink.co.thurston.wa.us/DCCASES/. You need the case number and the Law Enforcement Agency to use this tool. The court also provides text message reminders for upcoming court dates. Many services, including responding to tickets, requesting deferrals, filing for mitigation, and submitting public records requests, can be handled without coming to court in person.
Protection orders, anti-harassment orders, and name change petitions can be filed online. Remote appearances via Zoom are available for most hearings. Virtual Civil Motion Hearings are held Fridays at 1:30 p.m. To schedule one, email the Civil Department or call 360-754-4102. District Court hearings can also be viewed online through the court's YouTube channel.
Note: The District Court cannot provide records for Superior Court or Juvenile Court matters. Those must be requested from the appropriate court directly.
District Court Record Requests
To request case records from Thurston County District Court, complete the court records request form. You can submit it by email to DCpublicrecords@co.thurston.wa.us or by mail to Public Records Officer, Thurston County District Court, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Building 3, Olympia, WA 98502-6045.
Certified copies cost $5 per document. Regular copies cost $0.15 per page. Your request should include the case number, party names, and the specific documents you need. The Public Records Officer will respond within five business days. Records can be mailed, emailed, or picked up in person after payment. Administrative records requests are handled separately under GR 31.1.
Thurston County Superior Court
Thurston County Superior Court handles felony criminal cases, civil cases over $100,000, family law, probate, and appeals for Tumwater residents. The court is located at 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Building 2, Olympia, WA 98502. Phone is 360-786-5560. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Case searches for Thurston County Superior Court can be done through the Odyssey Portal. You can search criminal, civil, and family law cases by title or case number. Public case and hearing information is free. Associated public documents cannot be viewed over the internet, but they can be viewed using Odyssey Portal kiosks at the Clerk's Office. The portal requires free registration for basic searches.
Thurston County was the first county in Washington State to put all family and juvenile operations in one facility separate from other Superior Court operations. The Family and Juvenile Court is located in Tumwater. The main campus in Olympia handles criminal and civil cases. The court operates a Drug Court and a Family Recovery Court for eligible participants.
Copy fees at Superior Court are $0.50 per page for the first two pages and $0.25 for additional pages. Certified copies add $5.00 to the base copy cost. The Thurston County Law Library provides public legal resources for residents who need help researching their cases.
Thurston County Clerk Online Documents
The Thurston County Clerk provides an online document service at co.thurston.wa.us/clerk/getdocs.html. A new service called Clerk Documents launched in March 2025 and allows users to purchase certified copies of court documents from home, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can search by case number and receive non-confidential, non-sealed documents within minutes of purchase. The system reduces wait times at the counter and is especially helpful for people who live outside the area. Contact the Clerk's Office at tcclerk@co.thurston.wa.us or call (360) 786-5430. For Superior Court transcripts and audio recordings, contact Kathy Beehler at kathy.beehler@co.thurston.wa.us or county_clerk@co.thurston.wa.us.
Thurston County Court Records
Tumwater is located in Thurston County. All felony cases, family law matters, and civil filings above the District Court limit go through Thurston County Superior Court in Olympia. For more details on Thurston County courts, online search tools, and records requests, visit the Thurston County court records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Tumwater also have court records pages. Each is served by courts within Thurston County or neighboring counties.