University Place Court Records
University Place court records are handled through Pierce County. The City of University Place has partnered with Pierce County District Court to provide municipal court services, so there is no separate University Place Municipal Court. Pierce County District Court hears misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, infractions, and parking violations occurring within University Place city limits. Felony cases, family law, and major civil matters go to Pierce County Superior Court in Tacoma. This page explains how to search University Place court records and how to request documents from the courts that serve this city.
University Place Overview
University Place Court Services
The City of University Place has partnered with Pierce County to provide municipal court and public defender services. You can read about this arrangement on the University Place Court Services page at cityofup.com. Pierce County District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction that hears criminal misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors, infractions, and parking and photo infraction violations that occur within the city.
Prosecution services for University Place are contracted with Attorney Krista Swain. Her contact is kswain@cityofup.com and phone is 253.927.3913. Paralegal services are provided by Nancy Shattuck at nshattuck@yahoo.com, 206.946.8277. Notices of Appearance in District Court matters may be sent electronically to UPProsecutor@cityofup.com.
Pierce County District Court also offers a Resource Center dedicated to providing access to social services and programs for justice-involved individuals. The Resource Center connects people to supportive services in a timely and coordinated way.
Pierce County District Court Records
Pierce County District Court handles the court record filings for University Place. To request case records, you can email PCDCRecords@piercecountywa.gov or mail a written request to Pierce County District Court, Attn: Public Records Officer, 930 Tacoma Ave S, Rm 239, Tacoma WA 98402. Phone is (253) 798-7487 and fax is (253) 798-6310.
Your request should include the full name, date of birth, case number if you have it, and the date of the incident. Public access to District Court records is governed by General Rule 31. The court will communicate fees before releasing any records. Online payment for court fines is available at www.pcdistrictcourtpay.com or by phone at (253) 590-4452.
The Washington State Courts Name and Case Search at courts.wa.gov is useful for locating University Place cases across all court types. Results update every 24 hours at 3:00 a.m. You can search by person name, case number, or use advanced search filters. Search results are reference material pointing to the official record; copies of documents must be ordered from the court clerk.
Note: District Court records are separate from Superior Court records. If you are looking for a felony case or family law matter, those are maintained by Pierce County Superior Court.
Court Date Lookups
The Find My Court Date tool at dw.courts.wa.gov lets you search district and municipal court proceedings scheduled in University Place and surrounding areas. You can search by case number or by the name of a party.
Search results include the case number, participant name and type, case type, and the appearance time and location. This is useful for defendants, attorneys, and family members who need to confirm hearing dates and courtroom assignments. Users should verify information directly with the court, as schedules can change.
Pierce County Superior Court
Pierce County Superior Court handles felony criminal cases, civil matters over $100,000, family law, probate, juvenile, and appeals for University Place residents. The courthouse is located at 930 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma, WA 98402. Phone is 253-798-7455.
Superior Court records can be searched online through LINX at linxonline.co.pierce.wa.us. Each judicial department has specific procedures for remote appearances. Many require written requests 5 to 7 days in advance. The County-City Building houses the Superior Court Clerk on floor 1 and Superior Court administration on floor 3.
For a statewide search that covers Pierce County courts, use dw.courts.wa.gov or the Odyssey Portal. Both tools search across Washington's district, municipal, and superior courts and are updated daily.
Record Access Rules in University Place
Washington's public records law under RCW 42.56 gives the public the right to access government records, including court documents. Court records specifically are governed by General Rule 31 (GR 31), which outlines what court records are public and what may be restricted. These rules apply to Pierce County District Court and Superior Court cases involving University Place residents.
Not all records are open to the public. Sealed records, juvenile case files, and certain mental health or dependency matters are restricted by court order or by statute. If you need to access sealed or confidential records, you must make an in-person request and provide identity verification. The court does not process requests for those record types by email or phone alone.
For older court cases or historical records, the Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov may have what you need. The digital archives hold older Superior Court case files and historical records not available through the standard online portals. Non-certified copies from the archives are available at low cost. Certified copies must come directly from the Clerk's Office at Pierce County Superior Court.
Pierce County Court Records
University Place is in Pierce County. All court cases for University Place residents flow through the Pierce County court system, from District Court for misdemeanors to Superior Court for felonies and family law. Visit the Pierce County court records page for more details on online search tools, record request procedures, and court locations.
Nearby Cities
These cities near University Place also have court records pages. Each is served by courts within Pierce County.