Benton County Court Records Search
Benton County court records are filed with the Superior Court Clerk and are accessible to the public at the courthouse in Kennewick or in Prosser. Benton County shares its Superior Court with Franklin County. Known as Benton and Franklin Counties Superior Court, the court handles civil, criminal, domestic, probate, and guardianship cases. You can search records online through the statewide Washington Courts portal or request copies directly through the clerk's office. Benton County also operates a District Court with offices in both Kennewick and Prosser for misdemeanor and civil matters. This page covers how to search and access court records across all Benton County court levels.
Benton County Overview
Benton and Franklin Counties Superior Court
The Benton and Franklin Counties Superior Court strives to adjudicate all cases in a timely and fair manner. The court's mission is "Open to all. Accountable to all. Justice for all." Court Commissioner Darin R. Campbell serves the court. The clerk's office handles records for civil, criminal, domestic, fee waiver, guardianship, and veterans court matters.
Benton County has two main courthouse locations. The Benton County Justice Center in Kennewick handles most current case activity. The older Benton County Courthouse in Prosser also serves filings. The Superior Court Clerk's Office can be reached at 509-736-3082 or by email at clerksoffice@co.benton.wa.us. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed on weekends and holidays. Under RCW Chapter 36.23, the county clerk is the administrative and financial officer of the Superior Court and is responsible for maintaining all case files and records.
Court dockets are available online through the court's official website. Public Records Requests and Court Records Requests under GR 31 are handled through designated Public Records Officers. The court also provides forms by case type including civil, criminal, domestic, paternity, and protection orders, and fee waiver forms are available for eligible litigants.
| Justice Center | 7122 W. Okanogan Place, Building A, Kennewick, WA 99336 |
|---|---|
| Courthouse | 620 Market Street, Prosser, WA 99350 |
| Clerk Phone | 509-736-3082 |
| Clerk Email | clerksoffice@co.benton.wa.us |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | co.benton.wa.us |
The Superior Court's website includes current dockets, calendars for all departments, form downloads by case type, and links to fee waiver resources for litigants who cannot afford court costs.
Benton County District Court
Benton County District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction. It has concurrent jurisdiction with the Superior Court in all misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases. The court also handles traffic cases, civil matters not exceeding $100,000, small claims, and protection orders. Contact the District Court by phone at 509-735-8476 or by email at District.Court@co.benton.wa.us. The Kennewick office is at the Justice Center. The Prosser office handles cases from the western part of the county.
District Court records can be accessed through the Benton County Public Records Portal or by contacting the court directly. Court security at the Justice Center requires all visitors to pass through metal detectors. The court provides interpreter services for limited English speakers. Jury duty information for district court cases is managed through the court administrator's office. The court also runs a separate probation department for monitoring court-ordered conditions.
| Kennewick Office | 7122 W. Okanogan Place, Suite A110, Kennewick, WA 99336 Phone: 509-735-8476 |
|---|---|
| Prosser Office | 620 Market Street, Prosser, WA 99350 Phone: 509-786-5480 |
| District.Court@co.benton.wa.us | |
| Jurisdiction | Misdemeanors, civil to $100,000, small claims, traffic, protection orders |
| Website | co.benton.wa.us |
The District Court page includes contact information for both court locations, fine payment options, court forms, and details on specific procedures for continuances and evidence submission.
Note: Wedding appointments can be made by calling District Court at 509-735-8476, extension 3232.
How to Get Benton County Court Records
Benton County provides several ways to get court records. In-person requests at the Justice Center or the Prosser courthouse are the most direct. Bring the case number or the full name of one party along with the approximate year filed. Staff can locate your case and provide copies during regular hours. You can also request records online through the Benton County Clerk's online payment portal, which handles requests for document copies, record searches, and hearing recordings. Payment is accepted by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. The portal operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Mail requests are another option. For Superior Court records, direct your request to the Superior Court Clerk's Office. For District Court records, contact the specific location where the case was filed. Include the case name, case number if available, and a clear description of the documents you need. A research fee of $20 per hour applies for staff-assisted searches. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Non-certified copies are $0.50 per page for hard copies or $0.25 per page for emailed documents. Court recordings are available on a CD or thumb drive for $10 each, plus the research fee.
Superior Court records are generally kept permanently, including felony convictions and family law decisions. District Court records for closed criminal, civil, and traffic cases are typically kept for 3 years. Cases involving domestic violence or DWI are kept for 10 years. Police reports, mental health commitment records, and drug treatment commitment records are not public records. Court records sealed by judicial order cannot be accessed by the public. The Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 governs government records broadly, but court records specifically follow General Rule 31.
Note: Online requests through the ncourt portal are for Superior Court matters only; District Court record requests should go to the appropriate district court location directly.
Search Benton County Cases Online
The fastest free way to search Benton County court records is the Washington Courts Case Search. This statewide portal covers superior, district, and municipal courts. It updates every 24 hours at 3:00 a.m. Enter a person's name or a case number to pull basic case information including parties, case type, docket entries, and hearing dates. The portal does not provide full document downloads. For actual copies of court documents, use the clerk's office or the online request portal.
The Odyssey Portal provides online access to court records and documents from counties using the Odyssey case management system. Check whether Benton County cases are available through the Odyssey Portal before using it for your search. The statewide Washington Courts Name and Case Search is another option and lets you filter by court type, case type, and year filed. Under RCW Chapter 2.68, the Judicial Information System maintained by the Administrative Office of the Courts powers these search tools.
Legal Help in Benton County
Northwest Justice Project offers free civil legal assistance to low-income residents in Benton County. Their intake line is (888) 201-1014, and their website at nwjustice.org has eligibility information and a full list of services. Washington Law Help at washingtonlawhelp.org has self-help guides for civil court matters. Official forms for Washington courts can be found at courts.wa.gov. The Washington State Bar Association's lawyer referral service is at (206) 443-9722, with a searchable attorney directory at wsba.org.
Cities in Benton County
Benton County includes Kennewick, Richland, Prosser, West Richland, and Benton City. All Superior Court cases for county residents go through the Benton and Franklin Counties Superior Court. District Court serves Kennewick and Prosser from separate office locations.
Other Benton County communities include Prosser, West Richland, and Benton City. All of their Superior Court cases are handled at the Benton County Justice Center in Kennewick or the Prosser courthouse.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Benton County. Cases are filed in the county where the action arose or where a party resides, so check before filing if you are near a county line.