King County Court Records

King County court records are maintained by the Department of Judicial Administration at the Superior Court in Seattle. The county operates the busiest court system in Washington State, covering over 2.3 million residents across Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Auburn, Kirkland, Redmond, and dozens of other cities. You can search King County court records online through the KC Script Portal for Superior Court cases, or use the District Court e-filing portal for misdemeanor and civil filings. In-person access is available at the King County Courthouse in Seattle and the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. This page covers how to find, request, and access court records throughout King County.

King County Superior Court and DJA

In King County, the county clerk also serves as Director of the Department of Judicial Administration, an executive branch department. The DJA maintains official records for all superior court cases, oversees record-keeping, and administers justice system programs. The department operates as an independent record keeper for the Superior Court and provides online access to documents and case information.

King County Superior Court is a general jurisdiction trial court. It hears civil, criminal, family law, and juvenile cases. The court has three main locations: the King County Courthouse and Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center in Seattle, and the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. Online services through the DJA include document filing, electronic filing, ex parte access, working copies, and electronic exhibits.

The DJA website at kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dja provides multilingual access to protection order information and court record requests. Resources are available in English, Amharic, Chinese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Customers can also submit petitions online for civil protection orders and extreme risk protection orders.

The King County Department of Judicial Administration manages court records, e-filing, and public access to Superior Court case information.

KC Script Portal - Online Record Access

The KC Script Portal is the main online tool for viewing and ordering King County Superior Court records. To use it, you need to create a free account. Once your request is completed, you have 14 calendar days to view or download the record. The clerk's office does not accept records requests or payments by phone or email. Use the portal or visit in person.

Copy fees through the KC Script Portal are straightforward. Non-certified copies cost $0.25 per page online or $0.50 per page with clerk assistance. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 per page after that. Exemplified copies cost $9.00 for the first page. Research requests run $30.00 per hour. Expedited requests cost $30.00 per case and are fulfilled within one business day. Recorded hearings cost $25 per cause number for up to 72 minutes, with an extra $10 for postage if you want it mailed.

The King County Superior Court page provides case information, ADA accommodations, hearing links, and court department contact details.

Fee waivers are available through the portal. If approved, you receive access for 12 months. Sealed case types include adoption, paternity, mental illness, juvenile dependency, and confidential name changes. These records are not accessible through the portal. Voucher accounts are available for agencies that need to pay monthly via invoice. Access the portal at kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dja.

The KC Script Portal walks users through creating an account and ordering Superior Court records online in multiple languages.

King County District Court

King County District Court has 25 elected judges and operates at 10 locations throughout the county. The court handles misdemeanors, infractions, civil lawsuits under $100,000, small claims up to $10,000, protection orders, and name changes. Public computer terminals are available at courthouse locations for free case searches. Court hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

King County District Court requires all attorneys to electronically file all documents for all case types through the eCourt portal. A $50.00 sanction applies for each paper document not filed electronically. Public access accounts for the portal are free and easy to set up. Case search functionality changed in April 2024. Searching by name now requires selecting a case type and a filing date range of up to 365 days.

The King County District Court page lists all 10 locations, case types heard, online payment options, and the fraud alert warning about scam texts and calls.

For District Court questions, call 206-205-9200 or email kcdcefilinghelp@kingcounty.gov for technical help with the eCourt portal. The portal maintenance window is Sundays from 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. Notices of Appeal must be filed in person or by mail; email filings are rejected. Accounts not used within 12 months are automatically deactivated.

The King County District Court eCourt Portal allows attorneys and public users to file documents and search cases electronically.

King County Recorder's Office

The King County Recorder's Office holds official recorded documents separate from court case files. These include deeds, liens, plats, and other land and legal records. Most documents recorded on or after August 1, 1991 are searchable online for free through the recorder's records search. Documents before that date are on microfilm and only available from the King County Archives.

You can search by name, document type, book and page number, parcel ID, recording date, recording number, or legal description. Uncertified copies are immediately available after online checkout. Certified copies are mailed within five business days. Phone orders are taken weekdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 206-477-6620. The in-person office is at 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 204, Seattle, WA 98104, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

The King County Recorder's Office Records Search provides free online access to official recorded documents going back to 1991.

The Recording Activity Notification System sends email alerts when a land record matching a subscribed name is recorded. This is useful for monitoring property records. Online payments accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover cards.

Washington Laws for Court Records Access

Court records in King County are governed by state law and court rules. RCW 42.56, the Public Records Act, sets the general framework for access to government records. However, court case files are governed by court rules rather than this statute. Most case files are public, but sealed types like adoption and juvenile dependency are restricted.

GR 31 is the Washington Supreme Court general rule that governs access to court records statewide. It sets what records are public, what can be sealed, and who may access restricted files. Counsel and parties are responsible for redacting personal identifiers in court filings. The court and clerk do not review documents for redaction compliance. RCW 36.23 outlines the duties of the county clerk, including maintaining court records and processing public access requests.

Cities in King County

King County covers dozens of cities and communities. Superior Court cases for all of them are handled at the King County Courthouse in Seattle or the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. District Court cases are heard at one of 10 court locations spread across the county.

Nearby Counties

These counties border King County. If you are not sure which county has your case, check the address where events took place or where you reside.