Jefferson County Court Records
Jefferson County court records are maintained by the County Clerk at the Superior Court in Port Townsend. You can search case files online through the Washington State Digital Archives, use the statewide court search portal, or visit the clerk's office in person to look up civil, criminal, family law, and probate cases. The clerk's office processes all copy requests and can help you find both recent and older court records. If you need certified copies or have questions about a specific case, call the office at 360-385-9125 during regular business hours. Most public case documents from 2010 forward are accessible through the digital archives portal without a trip to the courthouse.
Jefferson County Overview
Jefferson County Superior Court Clerk
The Jefferson County Clerk's office keeps all court records for the Superior Court and processes copy requests from the public. Amanda Hamilton serves as the elected clerk. The mission is to protect the accuracy and integrity of court records while serving the public and legal community. Staff can help you find cases by name or case number. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The County Clerk is an elected position created by the Washington State Constitution, Article XI Section 5. By virtue of Article IV, Section 26, the Clerk is also the ex-officio Clerk of Superior Court. The office handles civil, criminal, family law, probate, juvenile, and mental commitment matters. Public case documents may be viewed at no charge in the clerk's office during business hours.
The clerk also provides Family Law Facilitator services for people who don't have a lawyer in family court matters. This is a useful resource for those handling their own cases. Staff cannot give legal advice, but they can help you find the right forms and understand court procedures.
| Office | Jefferson County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address |
1820 Jefferson Street, Room 210 Port Townsend, WA 98368 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA 98368 |
| Phone | 360-385-9125 |
| Fax | 360-385-5672 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Website | co.jefferson.wa.us/161/Clerk |
The Jefferson County Clerk's page at co.jefferson.wa.us lists current fees, e-filing instructions, and links to the court payment portal. Note that many fees increased by $50.00 on July 27, 2025, so check the updated fee schedule before submitting payment.
The Jefferson County Clerk of Superior Court page lists current fees, filing rules, and contact information for the clerk's office in Port Townsend.
Search Jefferson County Court Records
There are a few ways to find court records in Jefferson County. The Washington State Digital Archives is the best place to start for cases filed after January 1, 2010. For older cases, some documents filed after November 2017 may also be in the archives. The statewide name and case search at dw.courts.wa.gov is another free option. In-person searches at the clerk's office work for any case on file.
The digital archives portal lets you search by case number or by name. Go to the Jefferson County collection at digitalarchives.wa.gov and enter the case number in the Case Number field. If you don't know the case number, type the litigant's name into the Keywords search field. Records processed by the clerk are generally available through the portal after 5:00 p.m. daily. Confidential records like adoptions, mental health cases, and juvenile dependency files are not available online.
To search in person, visit Room 210 at 1820 Jefferson Street in Port Townsend. Bring the person's name or a case number. Staff can run a search and pull documents. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 per additional page. You can also call 360-385-9125 for help confirming case information before you visit.
The Jefferson County Court Records page explains how to access case documents through the digital archives and the clerk's office directly.
Note: Sealed and confidential case types will not appear in digital archives searches and cannot be ordered online. Contact the clerk's office directly for those records.
Filing Court Documents in Jefferson County
Case documents can be filed in person, by mail, or electronically through the county's web portal. E-filing goes through LiquidFiles; register by emailing countyclerks@co.jefferson.wa.us. Each document must be uploaded as a separate, flattened PDF that is not in an active editable state. Colored pages, highlighting, and colored markings are not allowed under the format rules in GR 14(a).
Fax filing is also accepted at 360-385-5672 and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The fax fee is $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 per page after that. Transmissions over 20 pages during business hours require prior permission from the clerk's office. You must attach a GR 17(b)(2) Affidavit to fax filings and pay all fees before sending.
Payment must be made before fax filing through the Superior Court Payment link or by calling the payment agent at 877-793-8935. The payment agent charges a service fee in addition to filing fees. For mailed documents, send to: Jefferson County Clerk, P.O. Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Access to court records is governed by GR 31, Washington State Supreme Court's general rule on court records.
Hearing Recordings and Transcripts
If you need a recording of a Superior Court hearing, you must know the case name, case number, and the date of the hearing. The cost is $25 per hearing day and must be paid before the recording is made. Payment goes through the County Portal or in person at the clerk's office. CDs are ready for pickup within two business days. Digital files are emailed within two business days. If you need a CD mailed, add $10 for shipping.
For transcripts, you work directly with a transcriptionist of your choice. The clerk's office keeps a list of certified transcriptionists for Jefferson County Superior Court. Call the Superior Court Administrator with transcript questions at 360-385-9395. The clerk can assist with verifying case information if you're unsure of the details before ordering.
The Jefferson County Transcript and Hearing Recordings page explains the process for ordering recordings and finding certified transcriptionists.
Washington Laws That Govern Court Records
Several state statutes and court rules apply to court records access in Jefferson County. Understanding these helps you know what is public and what may be restricted.
RCW 42.56 is Washington's Public Records Act. It sets the general rules for how government agencies respond to records requests. Most records are presumed open to the public unless a specific exemption applies. Agencies must respond within five business days or provide an estimated timeline. However, this Act does not directly cover court case files because access to those records is governed by court rules instead.
Court records in Washington are governed by GR 31, the General Rule on court records access. GR 31 sets out what records are public, what can be restricted, and who can access sealed files. Under this rule, counsel and parties are responsible for redacting personal identifiers in court filings. The court and clerk do not review each document for compliance. RCW 36.23 governs the county clerk's duties, including record-keeping requirements and the clerk's role as ex-officio clerk of the Superior Court.
Confidential case types include adoptions, paternity, mental illness proceedings, juvenile dependency, and certain name changes. These are not available through the digital archives or for general public access. To request these records, contact the clerk's office directly at 360-385-9125.
Note: For assistance with access to records and fees, call the clerk at 360-385-9125 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Statewide Search Tools
Washington State offers several free tools to search court records across all counties, including Jefferson. The statewide name and case search at dw.courts.wa.gov lets you look up cases by name or case number across superior, district, and municipal courts. Results include case summaries, docket entries, and hearing schedules. The site updates daily at 3:00 a.m. Official copies must be ordered from the court of record.
The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov holds Jefferson County Superior Court case files from 2010 forward, plus some older records. The collection has millions of records across all counties. You can search by keyword, collection, or use the advanced search. Many cases are transferred to the archives within two business days of being processed by the clerk. This is a good resource for finding records without a trip to Port Townsend.
The Odyssey Portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov gives online access to case information from many Washington counties. Basic searches are free. Document access may require fees. Check if Jefferson County cases are included in the portal when you register.
Cities in Jefferson County
Jefferson County's county seat is Port Townsend, where the Superior Court is located. All Superior Court filings for the county go through the courthouse at 1820 Jefferson Street. Other communities in Jefferson County include Quilcene, Chimacum, Sequim (bordering Clallam County), and unincorporated areas on the Olympic Peninsula.
No cities in Jefferson County currently meet the qualifying population threshold for individual city pages. All court records for residents of Jefferson County are handled at the Superior Court in Port Townsend.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Jefferson County. If you are not sure which county handles your case, check where the events took place or where you reside.