Free links to official Washington state and county government records — courts, criminal histories, vital records, property, voter, business, and licenses across all 39 counties.
How to Search Washington Court Records (Start Here)
Washington court records are filed with the County Clerk. The Superior Court / District Court / Municipal Court handles trial-level cases. Washington offers a statewide court search through WA Courts, which covers most case types across all counties courts.
What this page covers: Washington state court case records — criminal, civil, family, and probate filings. What it does not cover: Federal court cases (those are on PACER) or sealed/juvenile records.
Where to start: Use WA Courts for online case search. If you need documents beyond docket information, contact the County Clerk in the specific county where the case was filed.
Common mistake: WA Courts covers state courts only. Federal cases filed in Washington (bankruptcy, federal criminal, federal civil) require PACER — a separate federal system.
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Washington court URLs verified against the official .gov / state-judiciary publisher on the review date. 6 primary .gov / .uscourts.gov sources cited below.
Washington Court Records — Key Numbers (2025)
Washington publishes monthly, year-to-date, and annual caseload data for every Superior Court and most District/Municipal Courts.
Washington State Courts
Court system
Statewide
2025
Latest fiscal year
Official .gov data
.gov
Primary source
Never data brokers
Free
Public access
Most case records
June 04, 2026
Last reviewed
By SearchSystems editorial
How to access court records — typical costs
Search online
$0
View docket entry
$0
Download document
$1
Certified copy
$5
Expungement filing
$50
Unit: USD typical fee. Fees and access policies vary by court; see Primary Sources below.
What Changed in 2026 — Washington Court Records
2026
Washington 2025 caseload report active
The Washington State Courts publishes its current 2025 case filings, dispositions, and trends on the official statistics portal.
On this website are slip opinions from the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals that were filed after February 22, 2013. Slip opinions are the opinions that are filed on the day that the appellate court issues its decision and are often not the court's final opinion .
The search results can point you to the official or complete court record. SYSTEM AVAILABILITY NOTICE: No Issues at this time. How can I obtain the complete court record? You can contact the court in which the case was filed to view the court record or to order copies of ...
The Frontier Justice Records Project catalogued over 37,000 Territorial District · and Probate Court cases , all those which have survived from Washington’s territorial · period (1853-1889).
This site is a search engine for cases filed in the municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts of the state of Washington. The search results can point you to the official or complete court record. SYSTEM AVAILABILITY NOTICE: No Issues at this time. How can I obtain the complete court ...
Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) New User Application (Billed Account) Criminal Records · Division · 3000-240-063 (R 7/19) Mail to: WATCH · Identification & Background Check Section · PO Box 42633 · Olympia, WA 98504-2633 · E-Mail: watch.help@wsp.wa.gov ·
Close PACER Case Locator PACER Log in Manage PACER Account · An official website of the United States government ... Log in to... Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. ... Learn options to find case information. ... Find court specific information to help you file a case electronically and developer resources.
CalendarsFeesLocations & email addressesReschedule a hearingVideo courtJudgesJudges who perform weddings District Court cases + Civil filingsCriminal casesefiling and case access helpName changesProtection ordersSmall claimsEvidence SubmittalTowed/impounded vehiclesWarrants Parking and traffic citations + Respond to citation/ticketPhoto enforced ticketsUnified payments for traffic citations/ticketsYouth Traffic Court - East King County District Court services +
Proceedings scheduled in a Washington State district and municipal court (except Seattle Municipal Court) can be searched by case number or name of a party using Washington Courts' Find My Court Date. Display Current Pierce County Corrections Jail Roster
39 Washington counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Washington's trial courts publish case lookups through the Washington State Courts. Start at www.courts.wa.gov — most case dockets, filings, and hearing calendars are searchable by name, case number, or filing date. County-level clerks publish additional searches; see the cards below for direct county court links.
Is there a free statewide court case search in Washington?▼
The Washington State Courts operates Washington's official statewide judicial portal at www.courts.wa.gov. Basic case lookups are typically free of charge; certified copies and bulk-data exports may incur a per-document or per-search fee. Federal cases for Washington residents are searched separately through PACER.
What's the difference between trial and appellate courts in Washington?▼
Trial courts in Washington handle the original filing of civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters. Appellate courts review questions of law from trial-court decisions. The Washington State Courts publishes the full court structure, judge rosters, and jurisdiction maps at www.courts.wa.gov.
How far back do Washington court records go online?▼
Online coverage varies by court and case type. Most Washington county courts have digitized records from approximately the late 1990s or early 2000s forward; older case files may require an in-person clerk visit or a written record request. Check the Washington State Courts portal at www.courts.wa.gov for each court's coverage window.
Are sealed or expunged Washington cases visible in the online search?▼
No. Washington courts redact or remove sealed, expunged, juvenile, and certain confidential records from public-facing searches as required by state statute and court rule. If a record was previously visible and has since been sealed, it will no longer appear in the Washington State Courts portal. For verification you can contact the county clerk where the case was filed.
