Court Records in Mason County

Mason County court records are filed and maintained by the County Clerk at the courthouse in Shelton. You can search case information online through the state's public portal, request documents from the Clerk's Office, or visit in person to review files from Superior Court and District Court proceedings.

Mason County Clerk of Superior Court

Charles Rhodes has served as Mason County Clerk since January 1, 2023. The Clerk is an elected position under Washington State Constitution with duties set by statute and court rules. The office acts as the administrative and financial officer of Superior Court. The Clerk preserves public access to a fair and accurate record of court opinions, decisions, and judgments while staying independent of the judicial branch. That independence keeps the judiciary free from any appearance of bias.

The Clerk's Office is located at 419 N 4th St, Shelton, WA 98584. The mailing address includes P.O. Box 340. Phone: (360) 427-9670, Extension 346. For Superior Court information, the court administration can be reached at extension 348 or at the same address with P.O. Box X. Virtual appearances through Zoom are available for eligible hearings; call Court Administration at least one business day in advance to set one up.

Mason County Superior Court

Mason County Superior Court is a trial court of general jurisdiction. It has original and appellate jurisdiction as granted by the Washington State Constitution and state law. The court hears felony criminal matters, civil cases, domestic relations proceedings, guardianship and probate cases, juvenile matters, child dependency cases, and appeals from Mason County District Court, Shelton Municipal Court, and state administrative agencies.

Court proceedings follow a mix of in-person and virtual options. All criminal matters are held in person, with an exception for defendants appearing via jail video booths or from the Department of Corrections. Civil, domestic, probate, and guardianship proceedings may be attended in person or virtually at the party's discretion unless the court orders in-person appearance. All civil and probate jury trials are held in person. Protection order hearings are held in person but may be virtual upon request and court approval under RCW 7.105.205.

Afternoon ex parte dockets run Monday through Thursday at 3:30 p.m. and Friday at 3:00 p.m. All paperwork for ex parte must be provided to the Clerk's Office by 2:00 p.m. that day. The mission of Mason County Superior Court is to serve the public by administering justice and resolving disputes under law while protecting rights and liberties guaranteed by state and federal constitutions.

Mason County District Court Records

Mason County District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil claims, traffic infractions, and other matters of limited jurisdiction. The court is located at 419 N. 4th St, Shelton, WA 98584, the same building as Superior Court. For District Court public records, complete a Court Records Request form and submit it to the District Court directly.

You can deliver the form to the court in person, email it to DistrictCourt@masoncountywa.gov (attention Public Records Officer), or fax it to 360-427-7776. After the form is received, a clerk reviews the request to determine what access is appropriate and what the copy costs will be. Payment must be received before copies are provided. The Public Records Officer will respond within five working days of receiving the request. Once the court confirms what is available, records will be mailed (include a self-addressed, stamped envelope) or made available for pickup.

District Court record access is governed by General Rule 31 (Access to Court Records), GR 15 (Destruction, Sealing and Redaction), and GR 22 (Access to Family Law and Guardianship Court Records). Some records are exempt from disclosure under GR 31.1 and other court rules or statutes. The court is prohibited from giving out lists of individuals for commercial purposes.

Mason County Court Record Copy Fees

Fees for court records in Mason County follow a set schedule. For District Court, electronic-to-paper copies cost $0.25 per page. Paper copies run $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. Duplication of court proceedings on CD costs $20.00 per disc.

For administrative records (not case files), the fee is $30.00 per hour for collection, research, and preparation, with no charge for the first hour. Billing is in 15-minute increments after that. Copy fees for administrative records match the case record fees above. Administrative records and case records use different request forms; make sure you use the right one for what you need.

If a requestor disagrees with the Public Records Officer's decision, they can appeal within 90 calendar days by completing a Request for Review of Records Officer's Decision form. This process follows the rules set under GR 31.1. Under RCW 36.23, county clerks follow specific rules for fee collection and disbursement tied to their statutory duties.

Note: Payment must be received before the Clerk provides copies. There are no exceptions to this policy.

How to Search Mason County Court Records

The free statewide tool at dw.courts.wa.gov is the quickest way to search Mason County court cases online. Search by name or case number. The system covers Superior Court, District Court, and Shelton Municipal Court. It updates each day at 3:00 a.m. and provides case status, party names, and hearing information. Copies of documents must be ordered from the Clerk's Office separately.

The Odyssey Portal offers online access to Superior Court records and documents statewide for counties using the Odyssey case management system. If Mason County participates, you can search by case number or party name and view public documents filed with the court. The portal provides 24/7 access for registered users. Some features require registration or a subscription fee for enhanced access to case documents.

For older records, the Washington State Digital Archives may hold historical Mason County court files. These are useful for genealogical or legal research involving older cases not yet in electronic court systems. Search by name or document type. Some records include scanned document images; fees apply for copies.

To get copies or look at full case files, visit the Clerk's Office in person at 419 N 4th St in Shelton. Bring valid photo ID and case information including the names of the parties and the year the case was filed. Staff can look up by name or case number. Open files are available for review at no charge. Copy fees apply to any documents you want to take with you.

Nearby Counties

Mason County borders four counties in western Washington. If you need records from a neighboring county, each has its own Superior Court Clerk.