Reviewed and updated October 1, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. Every office link on this page was opened and checked against the office's own website at review time.
King County is a county in Washington with about 2.3 million residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). Its public records are not in one place: court cases, jail bookings, deeds, property values, vital records and records requests each belong to a different office. This guide names the office that holds each kind of record, links to its own website and gives the phone number and address where the office publishes them. SearchSystems verified 8 county office pages for King County, every one opened and checked.
In this guide: Where the records live, Jail and arrests, Court records, County Clerk, Deeds and property, Vital records, Prosecuting Attorney, Records requests, Statewide sources, More directory links, Cities and towns, Other counties and Questions.
Where King County public records live
Each kind of King County record is kept by a different office. The list below names the office SearchSystems verified for each one; the sections that follow give its phone, address and hours where the office publishes them.
- Arrests and jail bookings: data.kingcounty.gov/Jail/Names-dates-charges/yri2-fef8 (details)
- Court cases: kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dja/courts-jails-legal-system/case-records/r... (details)
- County records: kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dja (details)
- Deeds and recorded documents: kingcounty.gov/en/dept/executive-services/certificates-permits-lice... (details)
- Property values and parcels: kingcounty.gov/en/dept/assessor/buildings-and-property/property-val... (details)
- Birth and death certificates: kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dph/certificates-permits-licenses/change-bir... (details)
- Criminal prosecutions: kingcounty.gov/en/dept/pao (details)
- Public records requests: kingcounty.gov/en/dept/executive-services/about-king-county/busines... (details)
Arrests, jail and inmate lookups in King County
A person arrested in King County is booked into the jail, and the booking record (name, charges, bond and the next court date) is public in most cases. The office below is the one SearchSystems verified for jail and inmate information in King County.
- Website: data.kingcounty.gov/Jail/Names-dates-charges/yri2-fef8 (page title: Names, dates, charges | King County | Open Data)
- Phone: (206) 296-1234
- Checked: September 23, 2026, the page answered.
Jail rosters usually show the people in custody now. Once a person is released, the case continues in the court records below.
Court records and case lookups in King County
Civil, criminal, family, probate and traffic cases filed in King County are kept by the clerk of the court that heard them. Many courts offer an online case search; the page below is the one SearchSystems verified for King County.
- Website: kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dja/courts-jails-legal-system/case-records/r... (page title: Accessing Superior Court Records | King County, Washington)
- Phone: 206-477-0691
- Hours: Wednesday, September 23 through 7:00am
- Checked: September 23, 2026, the page answered.
- Statewide court case search: courts.wa.gov/index.cfm
County Clerk of King County
The county clerk is the county's record keeper. What the office holds differs by state: in some states it files marriage licenses and vital records, in others deeds, court papers or the meeting records of the governing board. Its own website below says what it holds in King County.
- Website: kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dja (page title: Superior Court Clerk's Office | King County, Washington)
- Phone: 206-296-9300
- Hours: Wednesday, September 23 through 7:00am
- Checked: September 23, 2026, the page answered.
Deeds, land records and property values in King County
Two offices share property records. The recording office files deeds, mortgages, liens and the other documents that affect title to land in King County. The assessment office sets the taxable value of each parcel and usually offers a free parcel search by address or owner name.
Recorded documents: County Auditor (recording)
- Website: kingcounty.gov/en/dept/executive-services/certificates-permits-lice... (page title: Recorder's Office | King County, Washington)
- Phone: 206-477-6620
- Address: 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 204 Seattle, WA 98104
- Checked: September 24, 2026, the page answered.
Property values: County Assessor
- Website: kingcounty.gov/en/dept/assessor/buildings-and-property/property-val... (page title: Look up property information | King County, Washington)
- Address: 201 South Jackson Street, 2nd floor Seattle, WA 98104
- Checked: September 23, 2026, the page answered.
Birth, death and marriage records in King County
Certified copies of birth and death certificates for events in King County are issued by the office below. The Washington state vital records office also issues certified copies for any event in the state.
- Website: kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dph/certificates-permits-licenses/change-bir... (page title: Make changes to birth or death certificates | King County, Washington)
- Phone: 206-837-0719
- Address: 201 S Jackson St. Suite 220, Seattle, WA 98104
- Hours: Monday through Friday Office: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
- Checked: September 23, 2026, the page answered.
- Washington state vital records office: doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/vital-records/ordering...
Prosecuting Attorney for King County
The Prosecuting Attorney is the office that prosecutes criminal cases in King County. The case files themselves are court records (above); the prosecutor's office handles victim services and questions about pending prosecutions.
- Website: kingcounty.gov/en/dept/pao (page title: Prosecuting Attorney's Office | King County, Washington)
- Phone: 206-477-1200
- Address: 516 Third Avenue, W400, Seattle, WA 98104
- Checked: September 24, 2026, the page answered.
Public records requests to King County
Every state has a public records law that applies to county offices. A record that is not posted online is requested from the office that holds it. Many counties run one request page for every department; it is listed below when SearchSystems verified one for King County.
- Website: kingcounty.gov/en/dept/executive-services/about-king-county/busines... (page title: Submit a Public Records Request | King County, Washington)
- Phone: 206-263-2250
- Address: 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 320 Seattle, WA 98104
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Checked: September 23, 2026, the page answered.
Statewide Washington sources
Some records are kept by the state rather than the county. These are the Washington state offices SearchSystems verified; each link opens the state office's own page.
- Statewide court case search: courts.wa.gov/index.cfm
- State prison inmate locator: doc.wa.gov/records/incarcerated-data-search/incarcerated-search
- State vital records office: doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/vital-records/ordering...
- State criminal history records: wsp.wa.gov/crime/criminal-history
- Business entity search: sos.wa.gov/corporations-charities
- Unclaimed property search: ucp.dor.wa.gov/app/claim-search
More King County links from the SearchSystems directory
These links come from the SearchSystems directory for King County and were opened again on October 1, 2026. Each one still answers.
Court records
- Washington Courts - Search Case Records (dw.courts.wa.gov)
Criminal records
- WATCH Help FAQs - Washington State Patrol (watch.wsp.wa.gov)
Recorded documents
- Directory - Employee search - King County (directory.kingcounty.gov)
- Online Directory (directory.kingcounty.gov)
Vital records
- View Record - Mason County Auditor, Birth Records, 1891-1907 - Sw323-2-6-00152.Tif - Annie R. King - Victor Bruce… (digitalarchives.wa.gov)
Voter records
- Voters' Guide - PRIMARY 2025 - VoteWA.gov (voter.votewa.gov)
Cities and towns in King County
King County has 38 incorporated cities and towns (2024 Census Bureau count, population in parentheses). City records such as council minutes, permits, business licenses and police reports are kept by each city; the records on this page are county records whatever the city.
- Seattle (780,995)
- Bellevue (154,377)
- Kent (136,588)
- Renton (105,543)
- Federal Way (100,252)
- Kirkland (95,499)
- Auburn (85,513)
- Redmond (82,195)
- Sammamish (66,474)
- Shoreline (66,251)
- Burien (52,046)
- Bothell (51,770)
- Issaquah (39,664)
- SeaTac (34,024)
- Des Moines (33,207)
- Maple Valley (28,553)
- Mercer Island (25,302)
- Kenmore (24,166)
- Tukwila (21,636)
- Covington (21,567)
- Woodinville (13,942)
- Snoqualmie (13,748)
- Lake Forest Park (13,276)
- Enumclaw (13,173)
- Newcastle (13,072)
- Duvall (9,176)
- North Bend (8,553)
- Pacific (7,085)
- Black Diamond (6,787)
- Normandy Park (6,661)
- Algona (3,269)
- Clyde Hill (3,158)
- Medina (2,976)
- Carnation (2,279)
- Yarrow Point (1,134)
- Hunts Point (460)
- Beaux Arts Village (313)
- Skykomish (158)
Other counties in Washington
SearchSystems has a guide like this one for every county in Washington.
- Adams County
- Asotin County
- Benton County
- Chelan County
- Clallam County
- Clark County
- Columbia County
- Cowlitz County
- Douglas County
- Ferry County
- Franklin County
- Garfield County
- Grant County
- Grays Harbor County
- Island County
- Jefferson County
- Kitsap County
- Kittitas County
- Klickitat County
- Lewis County
- Lincoln County
- Mason County
- Okanogan County
- Pacific County
- Pend Oreille County
- Pierce County
- San Juan County
- Skagit County
- Skamania County
- Snohomish County
- Spokane County
- Stevens County
- Thurston County
- Wahkiakum County
- Walla Walla County
- Whatcom County
- Whitman County
- Yakima County
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the official King County website?
No. SearchSystems.net is an independent public records directory, online since 1997. It links to the official offices listed above; SearchSystems does not hold records, charge for them or take requests.
How do I find out if someone is in jail in King County?
Use the jail or inmate page SearchSystems verified for King County at data.kingcounty.gov, or call (206) 296-1234. Rosters usually show the people in custody now; after release, the case continues in the court records.
Where do I look up a court case in King County?
The court records page SearchSystems verified for King County is at kingcounty.gov, phone 206-477-0691. A case number finds a case fastest; a name search returns every case with that name.
Who records deeds in King County?
The County Auditor (recording), at kingcounty.gov. Deeds, mortgages and liens on land in King County are filed there.
How do I get a birth or death certificate for King County?
From the office SearchSystems verified for King County vital records at kingcounty.gov, phone 206-837-0719, or from the Washington state vital records office.
How do I request a public record from King County?
Through the records request page at kingcounty.gov. A record that is not covered there is requested from the office that holds it.