Chelan County Court Records

Chelan County court records are maintained by the County Clerk at the Superior Court in Wenatchee. The clerk's office processes and preserves all documents filed in Superior Court, from civil and criminal cases to domestic relations, probate, and juvenile matters. You can search Chelan County case records online through the statewide Washington Courts portal or order copies directly through the clerk's office or the Washington State Digital Archives, which holds nearly three million Chelan County Superior Court case files online. This page explains how to search, access, and request copies of Chelan County court records at all court levels.

Chelan County Superior Court Clerk

The County Clerk is an elected official under the Washington State Constitution, Article IV, Section 26. The clerk serves as the administrative and financial officer of Superior Court and is an executive branch position. As an independent elected official, the clerk ensures the public has unrestrained access to a fair, accurate record of court opinions, decisions, and judgments. The Clerk's Office is located at 350 Orondo Avenue, Suite 501, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

The Chelan County Clerk's Office files 109,855 legal documents each year. Over 18,500 jury summons are sent out annually, processed through a computer jury management system. In Chelan County, the clerk manages the jury panel for both District and Superior Courts. Specific functions include serving as administrator of court records and exhibits, receiving and preserving forever all documents filed in a Superior Court cause of action, and serving a quasi-judicial function by reviewing court documents for errors and issuing letters testamentary, warrants of arrest, orders of sale, writs of execution, garnishments, and restitution orders. Under RCW Chapter 36.23, county clerks hold these duties statewide.

Court staff can provide the status of a specific case unless it is sealed, general information on court rules, court-approved forms, and court schedules. Staff cannot provide legal advice, fill out forms for parties, speculate on what a judge might decide, or advise on what action to take in a case.

The clerk's page covers the full scope of the office's work, including financial duties, quasi-judicial functions, and the specific things staff can and cannot help you with when you visit or call.

Note: Spanish language services are available at the Chelan County Superior Court Clerk's Office.

Chelan County Records in the Digital Archives

The Washington State Digital Archives holds Chelan County Superior Court case files covering nearly all case types tried in the county. The record count is 2,928,209 cases. Case types available include civil, criminal, divorce, and probate records. Public access to adoption, dependency, and mental competency case files is restricted. Those files are not available online and requests for them must go directly to the Chelan County Clerk's Office.

Each case file in the Digital Archives contains documents filed by both parties and the presiding judge. These include awards, complaints, decrees, depositions, orders, pleadings, sentences, and verdicts. Cases are titled and ordered numerically by the date the case was initiated. You cannot preview documents online before ordering. Contact the county clerk before placing an order if you are unsure which documents you need. Sealed or confidential documents will not be displayed and cannot be purchased 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 for each additional page, plus a $1 service charge. After online payment, certified copy orders are forwarded to the Chelan County Clerk for preparation and mailing. Access to these records is governed by General Rule 31. Per GR 31(e)(2), personal identifiers may appear in records; responsibility for redaction rests with counsel and the parties, not the court or clerk.

The Digital Archives collection is one of the largest county-level court record sets available online in Washington, making it a strong resource for both current and historical Chelan County case research.

Search Chelan County Court Cases

You have a few good options for searching Chelan County court records. The Washington Courts Case Search is the free statewide portal. It covers superior, district, and municipal courts across all 39 Washington counties. Search by person name or case number. Results update every 24 hours at 3:00 a.m. The portal shows basic case data including party names, case type, docket entries, and hearing dates. It does not provide document downloads. Official copies must be requested through the clerk's office or the Digital Archives.

The Odyssey Portal provides online access to court records and documents from counties using the Odyssey case management system. Check whether Chelan County cases are in the Odyssey system before using the portal for document access. The Washington Courts Name and Case Search lets you filter by court type, year filed, and case status. For ongoing electronic access, the JIS-Link service under RCW Chapter 2.68 is a fee-based subscription at $0.145 per transaction with a $13 monthly minimum.

In-person searches at the courthouse at 350 Orondo Avenue in Wenatchee are also an option. Go to the fifth floor, Suite 501, during business hours. Bring the full name of one party and the approximate year the case was filed. Staff can locate the case and provide copies. Standard copy fees apply. The clerk's office closes noon to 1:00 p.m. for lunch, so plan your visit accordingly.

Chelan County District Court

Chelan County District Court is located at 350 Orondo Avenue, Wenatchee, WA 98801, the same courthouse as the Superior Court. The District Court oversees municipal court functions for the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, and Chelan. It handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic infractions, civil cases up to $100,000, small claims, and other limited jurisdiction matters. Court records can be searched through the Washington Courts Name and Case Search or requested from the Clerk's Office. Standard copy fees are $0.25 per page for non-certified copies and $5.00 for certified copies.

The Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 sets the framework for public access to government records in Washington. Court records, however, are governed by General Rule 31 rather than the PRA. GR 31 establishes the presumption that court records are open to the public, with exceptions for sealed records, juvenile filings in certain cases, and other protected materials. You have the right to view records for free at the courthouse. Copying costs money, but viewing does not.

Legal Help in Chelan County

Northwest Justice Project provides free legal aid to qualifying low-income residents in Chelan County. Call (888) 201-1014 or visit nwjustice.org for eligibility details and services. Washington Law Help at washingtonlawhelp.org has step-by-step guides for many court processes. Official court forms are at courts.wa.gov. The Washington State Bar Association lawyer referral service is at (206) 443-9722. Their attorney directory is at wsba.org. For federal court cases in the Eastern District of Washington, use PACER to search and access records.

Cities in Chelan County

Chelan County includes Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Chelan, and several other communities. All Superior Court cases for county residents go through the courthouse at 350 Orondo Avenue in Wenatchee. District Court serves Wenatchee and surrounding cities from the same courthouse address.

Other Chelan County communities include Leavenworth, Cashmere, East Wenatchee, and Chelan. Superior Court cases for all of these communities are filed at the Wenatchee courthouse on Orondo Avenue.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Chelan County. If you are not sure which county's court handles your case, confirm the address of the incident or filing location.