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Washington County, Rhode Island public records

In Washington County, court files are divided among the Washington County Superior Court, Clerk of the Court, the District Court 4th Division, Clerk and the Family Court Clerk. Deeds: City or town clerk / recorder of deeds of each of the 39 cities and towns (land evidence records).3

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Where to get each record
  2. Deeds and land records
  3. Property values, owners and tax bills
  4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
  5. Divorce records
  6. Probate records and wills
  7. Good to know about Washington County records
  8. Office addresses, phones and hours
  9. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  10. Sources

The Census Bureau lists no county government for Washington County.1 The offices below are the state, registry or local offices that keep its records.

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsStatewide: City or town clerk / recorder of deeds of each of the 39 cities and towns (land evidence records)3—$1.50 per page (state statute for all recording officers)2
Court casesWashington County Superior Court, Clerk of the Court4
District Court 4th Division, Clerk’s Office5
Family Court Clerk’s Office5		Rhode Island Superior Court - Washington County6
Rhode Island District Court - 4th Division6
Rhode Island Family Court - McGrath Judicial Complex6		—
Marriage recordsStatewide: City/town clerk (local registrar) where the license was issued7——
Divorce recordsRhode Island Family Court (McGrath Judicial Complex for Washington County)8——
Birth certificatesStatewide: RIDOH Center for Vital Records (Simpson Hall, 6 Harrington Rd., Cranston) and city/town clerks7——
Death certificatesStatewide: RIDOH Center for Vital Records7——
Probate and willsMunicipal probate court in each town; records from the town clerk9——
Business names (DBA)Statewide: No longer local: since the 2025-26 transfer, the RI Department of State keeps all trade name (DBA) records10——

Deeds and land records

Where Rhode Island records deeds: City or town clerk / recorder of deeds of each of the 39 cities and towns (land evidence records).3

Copy fee
$1.50 per page (state statute for all recording officers)2
Certified copy fee
$3.00 certification plus $1.50 per page2
Recording fee
Statewide statutory schedule plus $1 per additional page; towns post their own tables (e.g., Narragansett deed $84 first page)11
How to order
Ask the town clerk of the town where the land lies (in person or by mail with fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope)12

How deeds work in Rhode Island

Property values, owners and tax bills

Appealing a value
Appeal to the town assessor within 90 days of the first tax payment due date, then the local board of review, then Superior Court13

How property tax works in Rhode Island

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Rhode Island Superior Court - Washington County (J. Howard McGrath Judicial Complex)Felony criminal cases and larger civil cases; also hears probate appeals (statewide state court)9Washington County Superior Court, Clerk of the Court (McGrath Judicial Complex)publicportal.courts.ri.gov/PublicPortal6
Rhode Island District Court - 4th Division (McGrath Judicial Complex)Misdemeanors, small claims, civil cases up to $5,000 (state court)14District Court 4th Division, Clerk’s Office (McGrath Judicial Complex)publicportal.courts.ri.gov/PublicPortal6
Rhode Island Family Court - McGrath Judicial ComplexDivorce and other domestic relations matters (state court)8Family Court Clerk’s Office (McGrath Judicial Complex)publicportal.courts.ri.gov/PublicPortal6
Municipal probate courts (one per town)Wills, estates, guardianships; held by each city/town, not the county9——
Jurisdiction
Washington County is its own Superior Court jurisdiction4

How Rhode Island courts keep their files

Divorce records

Rhode Island Family Court (McGrath Judicial Complex for Washington County)8

Probate records and wills

Municipal probate court in each town; records from the town clerk9

Good to know about Washington County records

  • New Shoreham (Block Island) land records go back to 167515
  • Charlestown land evidence records date back to 173812
  • Richmond land records begin with the town’s 1747 incorporation16
  • Westerly held its first Town Meeting on May 18, 1669, electing a Town Clerk to record land grants17
  • All Washington County Superior, Family and District Court cases are heard at the McGrath Judicial Complex in Wakefield, dedicated in 19885
  • New Shoreham deeds must be filed with Block Island Land Trust forms15
  • New Shoreham offers a free fraud alert for recordings in your name15

Office addresses, phones and hours

Washington County Superior Court, Clerk of the Court (McGrath Judicial Complex)

Address
4800 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 028794

District Court 4th Division, Clerk’s Office (McGrath Judicial Complex)

Address
4800 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 028795

Family Court Clerk’s Office (McGrath Judicial Complex)

Address
4800 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 028795

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Washington County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties in Rhode Island with a full guide: Providence County. Every county in the state: Rhode Island county list. Looking for another Washington County? Washington County, Arkansas; Washington County, Maryland; Washington County, Minnesota; Washington County, Ohio; Washington County, Oregon; Washington County, Pennsylvania; Washington County, Tennessee; Washington County, Utah; Washington County, Wisconsin.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 19 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
  2. R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-13-9Rhode Island General Assembly
  3. Recorder of DeedsCity of Providence
  4. Superior Court: Know Your CourtsRhode Island Judiciary
  5. Courthouse and Facility LocationsRhode Island Judiciary
  6. Access to Case InformationRhode Island Judiciary
  7. Birth, Death & Marriage Records (Vital Records)Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Vital Records
  8. About the Family CourtRhode Island Judiciary
  9. Judicial Records Center - List of RecordsRhode Island Judiciary
  10. Trade Names - Municipal Transfer DatesRhode Island Department of State
  11. R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-13-7Rhode Island General Assembly
  12. Charlestown: Town Clerk - Land Evidence RecordsTown of Charlestown
  13. R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-5-26Rhode Island General Assembly
  14. About the District CourtRhode Island Judiciary
  15. New Shoreham: Land RecordsTown of New Shoreham
  16. Richmond: Land Evidence Records & RecordingsTown of Richmond
  17. Westerly: Town ClerkTown of Westerly
  18. Contact the CourtRhode Island Judiciary
  19. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau