Adams County Court Records
Adams County court records are filed and maintained by the County Clerk at the Superior Court in Ritzville. You can search case information through the statewide Washington Courts portal or visit the courthouse in person to look up filings and get copies of documents. Adams County Superior Court handles the full range of case types including civil, criminal, domestic, probate, and juvenile matters. The county also operates two District Court locations, one in Ritzville and one in Othello, each handling misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic infractions, and civil matters. This page covers how to search and access Adams County court records across all court levels.
Adams County Overview
Adams County Superior Court Clerk
The Adams County Clerk is an elected official who serves as ex-officio Clerk of Superior Court under the Washington State Constitution. The clerk is both the administrative and financial officer of the Superior Court. Her office protects the integrity and accuracy of all court records filed in Adams County. Susie Kirkendall currently holds the position and can be reached at 509-659-3257.
Case types filed through the clerk's office include adoptions and paternity matters, civil cases, domestic and family law filings, felony criminal cases, juvenile dependency, juvenile offender matters, mental commitment proceedings, and probate. The clerk also collects statutory fees and fines, maintains a trust account, and disburses funds as ordered by the court. Staff must be present at all court sessions to keep an independent record of each hearing. Those minutes are available to the public under RCW Chapter 36.23, which governs the duties of county clerks across Washington.
The clerk's office also serves a quasi-judicial function. It issues documents such as attachments, garnishments, letters testamentary, orders of sale, restitution orders, warrants of arrest, and writs of execution. If you need a certified copy of a court order or want to confirm a case status, the clerk's office is the right place to start.
| Office | Adams County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address |
210 W Broadway Avenue Ritzville, WA 99169 Mailing: PO Box 187, Ritzville, WA 99169-0187 |
| Phone | 509-659-3257 |
| County Clerk | Susie Kirkendall |
| Website | co.adams.wa.us/170/County-Clerk |
The Adams County Clerk's Office at the courthouse in Ritzville provides information on current and historical case filings, along with the official search resources shown below.
The clerk's page lists all case types handled by the office and provides the contact details you need to reach staff directly for records requests or filing questions.
Note: Adams County Superior Court also maintains a juvenile court location at 425 E Main Street, Suite 100, Othello, WA 99344, phone 509-488-5646.
Search Adams County Court Records
There are a few ways to search court records in Adams County. The statewide Washington Courts Case Search is the fastest free option. It pulls from superior, district, and municipal courts across all 39 counties. Results update every 24 hours at 3:00 a.m. You can search by person name or case number. The site shows party names, case types, docket entries, and hearing information. Keep in mind that this portal provides reference material only. The official court record stays with Adams County Superior Court, and document copies must be ordered through the clerk.
For a more targeted search, use the Washington Courts Name and Case Search. It lets you filter by court type, year filed, and case status. This is helpful when you know the approximate time frame a case was filed but don't have the case number. If you need to search across multiple case types at once, the statewide portal handles that well. For Adams County specifically, searches connect to the JIS-Link system managed by the Administrative Office of the Courts under RCW Chapter 2.68.
In-person searches are also an option. Go to the courthouse at 210 W Broadway Avenue in Ritzville during regular business hours. Bring the full name of one party and, if you have it, the approximate year the case was filed. Staff can look up cases by name or case number. Certified copies require payment. Non-certified copies are less expensive. The clerk's office handles requests at the window during open hours.
Tip: The statewide case search tool does not provide document downloads. To get actual copies of court documents, contact the Adams County Superior Court Clerk directly.
Adams County District Court
Adams County has two District Court locations. The Ritzville location handles cases for the county seat area. The Othello location serves the eastern part of the county. Both handle misdemeanor criminal cases, gross misdemeanors, civil matters up to $100,000, small claims, and traffic infractions. District Court records in Washington are governed by General Rule 31, which sets the standard for public access to court records.
District Court records can be searched through the same Washington Courts Case Search portal used for superior court records. For copies, you need to contact the specific district court location where the case was filed. Each location handles its own records requests and fee collection. Cases from the Othello area should be directed to the Othello location.
| Ritzville Location | 210 W Broadway Avenue, Ritzville, WA 99169 Phone: 509-659-1002 |
|---|---|
| Othello Location | 425 E Main Street, Suite 400, Othello, WA 99344 Phone: 509-488-3935 |
| Jurisdiction | Misdemeanors, civil cases to $100,000, small claims, traffic |
Historical Adams County Court Records
The Washington State Digital Archives provides electronic access to historical court records from counties across Washington. For Adams County, the Digital Archives holds naturalization records from 1903 to 1956, maintained by the Eastern Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives. These historical records include declarations of intention, petitions for naturalization, and oaths of allegiance. Researchers working on family history or legal studies can view and order these records online.
Non-certified copies from the Digital Archives cost $0.25 per page with a $1 service charge per document. Certified copies are $5 for the first page and $1 each additional page, plus a $1 Digital Archives service charge. After you pay online, certified copy orders go to the clerk's office for preparation and mailing. Having your Superior Court case number before you search the archives will get you much better results. Use the format like 12-2-000011-7.
These historical naturalization records were filmed and indexed by the Washington State Archives Eastern Regional Branch, which serves as the primary archival repository for Eastern Washington counties including Adams. Contact the branch at (509) 235-7508 or eabrancharchives@sos.wa.gov for more information.
Note: For current Adams County court records that are not in the Digital Archives, contact the clerk's office in Ritzville directly.
Public Access to Court Records
Court records in Washington are public under General Rule 31 (GR 31), which establishes the right to access court records with limited exceptions. Sealed records, records involving juveniles in certain cases, and confidential filings may not be available. For most case types, including civil, criminal, domestic, and probate, the public has the right to inspect and copy records. The Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 governs access to government records more broadly, though court records follow GR 31 rather than the PRA.
You can view records for free at the courthouse during business hours. Copies cost money. The standard rate for non-certified copies is typically $0.25 to $0.50 per page depending on how you request them. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Research time fees may apply if you need staff to do extended searches. Bring your request in writing if you know the case number or names of the parties.
The Odyssey Portal provides online access to court records and documents from counties using the Odyssey case management system. Check whether Adams County is included in the portal's coverage before trying to use it for case lookups. The portal covers 37 counties in Washington.
Note: Court records are not subject to the Public Records Act in the same way government agency records are; access is governed by General Rule 31 and court policy.
Legal Help in Adams County
If you need legal help with a court matter in Adams County, a few resources are available. Northwest Justice Project provides free civil legal aid to low-income residents across Washington, including Adams County. Call their statewide intake line at (888) 201-1014 or visit nwjustice.org for eligibility and services. Washington Law Help at washingtonlawhelp.org has self-help guides and court forms for many case types. Official court forms for Washington are also available at the Washington Courts website.
The Washington State Bar Association runs a statewide lawyer referral service at (206) 443-9722. Their directory at wsba.org helps you find attorneys by location and practice area. The WSBA also publishes a full Washington State Court Directory with contact information for every court in the state, including Adams County.
Cities in Adams County
Adams County communities include Ritzville, Othello, Lind, Ritzville, and several small towns. All Superior Court cases for residents of Adams County are filed at the main courthouse in Ritzville. District Court cases from the eastern part of the county, including Othello, go through the Othello location at 425 E Main Street, Suite 400.
No cities in Adams County currently meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site. For court record needs in any Adams County community, use the Superior Court Clerk in Ritzville or the appropriate District Court location.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Adams County. If you are unsure which county court handles your case, check the address where the incident or filing originated.