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Cowlitz County, Washington public records

In Cowlitz County, deeds are recorded by the Cowlitz County Auditor's Office - Recording; property values come from the Cowlitz County Assessor; court files are kept by the Cowlitz County Clerk of Superior Court.

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. Marriage records
  6. Divorce records
  7. Birth certificates
  8. Death certificates
  9. Probate records and wills
  10. Voter records
  11. Historical records
  12. Good to know about Cowlitz County records
  13. Office addresses, phones and hours
  14. Records that are not online: public records requests
  15. Questions people ask
  16. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  17. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsCowlitz County Auditor's Office - Recording4Search deeds2Copies of non-certified documents $1.00 per page; map copies $1.00 (11x17 or less) / $5.00 (18x24 or 24x36)3
Property values and ownersCowlitz County Assessor's Office5Property search6—
Property tax billsCowlitz County Treasurer5Tax bill search7—
Court casesCowlitz County Clerk of Superior Court8Cowlitz County Superior Court9Fees: copy: Copies without a seal $.50 per page; search fee $30.00 per hour (large requests); recording of court proceedings $25.00 per hearing date10
Marriage recordsCowlitz County Auditor's Office - Recording4—Certified copy fee: $3.00 certified copy (must be requested)11
Divorce recordsCowlitz County Clerk of Superior Court12——
Birth certificatesCowlitz County Health & Human Services - Vital Records8——
Death certificatesCowlitz County Health & Human Services - Vital Records8——
Probate and willsCowlitz County Superior Court8——

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Cowlitz County are recorded by the Cowlitz County Auditor's Office - Recording.4

Copy fee
Copies of non-certified documents $1.00 per page; map copies $1.00 (11x17 or less) / $5.00 (18x24 or 24x36)3
Certified copy fee
Certified copies $3.00 first page + $1.00 each additional page3
Recording fee
Effective July 27, 2025: first page $303.50 + $1.00 each additional page; deeds of trust $304.50 first page; DOT substitutions/assignments $301.00; non-standard/emergency $50.00; DD214 no charge3
How to order
In person at the Auditor's Office (public computer to search and view all documents) or order copies from the Recording department for a fee13

How deeds work in Washington

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Cowlitz County Assessor's Office sets property values5; the Cowlitz County Treasurer bills and collects the tax5.

Property search
cowlitzinfo.net/…6
Tax bill search
co.cowlitz.wa.us/…7
Appealing a value
Cowlitz County Board of Equalization (207 N 4th Ave, Room 305; [email protected]; 360-577-3015): petition by July 1 or within 30 days of the value notice15
Due dates
Second half 2026 property taxes due by October 317

How property tax works in Washington

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Cowlitz County Superior CourtFelonies, civil cases including real property, domestic relations, appeals from District/Municipal courts and state agencies, adoption, probate and competency; Juvenile Court is a department16Cowlitz County Clerk of Superior Courtodysseyportal.courts.wa.gov/odyportal9
Cowlitz County District Court—— District Court records are not available online through the county portal; court dates via dw.courts.wa.gov17
Municipal courts (Castle Rock, Kalama, Kelso, Longview, Woodland)Handled by Cowlitz County District Court18——
Fees: certified
Certified copies $5.00 first page + $1.00 each page thereafter (Clerk fee schedule June 30, 2026)10
Fees: copy
Copies without a seal $.50 per page; search fee $30.00 per hour (large requests); recording of court proceedings $25.00 per hearing date10

Criminal records and background checks

Overview
Felony case files: County Clerk; state conviction records: Washington State Patrol WATCH19

How Washington courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the Cowlitz County Auditor's Office - Recording.4

Marriage license fee
$172.00 (card service fee applies); 3-day wait; valid 60 days11
Certified copy fee
$3.00 certified copy (must be requested)11
How to order
Marriage Certificate Copy Request Form, by mail or in person11

Washington marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Divorce decrees: Cowlitz County Superior Court Clerk's Office20

Washington divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

CCHHS issues certificates for Washington births July 1, 1907-present (walk-in, mail, or VitalChek online/phone for an extra fee); births before July 1, 1907: County Auditor21

Early
Birth and death records 1892-1907 were recorded in Cowlitz County; copies via the Washington State Digital Archives13

Ordering a Washington birth certificate

Death certificates

CCHHS: deaths on or after January 1, 2018 (some 2014-2017 electronic records); older/paper records from WA DOH22

Ordering a Washington death certificate

Probate records and wills

Probate filed in Superior Court; files kept by the County Clerk. Estate (probate) filing $290.00 total (filing $200 + judicial surcharge $40 + archive surcharge $50)10

Finding a will or probate case in Washington

Voter records

Elections is a division of the County Auditor's Office4

Historical records

1892-1907 county birth and death records and other Auditor records at the WA State Digital Archives13

Good to know about Cowlitz County records

  • Cowlitz County recorded births and deaths 1892-1907, before state registration13
  • Cities' municipal cases (Castle Rock, Kalama, Kelso, Longview, Woodland) go to the County District Court18
  • Auditor, Assessor and Treasurer are open Monday-Thursday only (closed Fridays)7
  • The County Clerk manages jury panels for both District and Superior Courts, sending over 15,000 summons a year23
  • Home of the Monticello Convention of 18526

Office addresses, phones and hours

Cowlitz County Auditor's Office - Recording

Address
207 N 4th Ave., Kelso, WA 98626, Room 206 (Auditor's Office, Cowlitz County Administration Building)4
Phone
Auditor 360-577-3002; fax 360-414-55524
Hours
Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.4

Cowlitz County Assessor's Office

Hours
Monday - Thursday 7:00 am - 4:30 pm24

Cowlitz County Treasurer

Address
207 N. 4th Ave., Room 202, Kelso, WA 98626 (Admin Bldg, 2nd Floor by Assessors)7
Phone
360-577-3060; fax 360-578-20717
Hours
7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; closed Fridays and legal holidays7

Cowlitz County Clerk of Superior Court

Address
312 SW 1st Ave., Room 233, Kelso, WA 9862612
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (number machine pulled at 4:15pm)12

Cowlitz County Clerk of Superior Court (civil, family law, probate)

Address
312 SW 1st Ave., Room 233, Kelso, WA 9862618
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.12

Cowlitz County Superior Court (probate)

Address
312 SW First Avenue, Suite 250, Kelso, WA 98626 (Superior Court administration)16
Hours
Reception 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., closed 12:00-1:00 p.m.16

Cowlitz County Health & Human Services (CCHHS) - Vital Records

Address
1952 9th Avenue, Longview, WA 9863221

Cowlitz County Elections (Auditor's Office)

Address
207 N 4th Ave., Kelso, WA 986264

Cowlitz County Sheriff Records

Cowlitz County Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Address
207 N. 4th Ave., Kelso, WA 9862614
Hours
Monday - Thursday 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM14

Records that are not online: public records requests

Where to send it
Public Records Officer, Cowlitz County Commissioners, 207 4th Ave. N., Room 305, Kelso, WA 98626; 360-577-3020 ext. 6990; [email protected]26

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Cowlitz County?

The Cowlitz County Auditor's Office - Recording keeps deed records. To order copies: In person at the Auditor's Office (public computer to search and view all documents) or order copies from the Recording department for a fee. Plain copies: Copies of non-certified documents $1.00 per page; map copies $1.00 (11x17 or less) / $5.00 (18x24 or 24x36). Certified copies: Certified copies $3.00 first page + $1.00 each additional page.4133

Where do I get a divorce decree in Cowlitz County?

Divorce decrees: Cowlitz County Superior Court Clerk's Office.20

How much does a marriage license cost in Cowlitz County?

$172.00 (card service fee applies); 3-day wait; valid 60 days.11

How do I look up who owns a property in Cowlitz County?

Use the property search of the Cowlitz County Assessor's Office: cowlitzinfo.net/…6

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 Cowlitz County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties in Washington with a full guide: Benton County, Clark County, Franklin County, Grant County, Island County, King County, Kitsap County, Lewis County, Pierce County, Skagit County, Snohomish County, Spokane County, Thurston County, Whatcom County, Yakima County. Every county in the state: Washington county list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 27 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. Search Auditor's RecordsCowlitz County Auditor
  3. Recording Fee SheetCowlitz County Auditor
  4. Cowlitz County Auditor
  5. County assessor and treasurer websitesWashington Department of Revenue
  6. Cowlitz County, WA - Official WebsiteCowlitz County
  7. TreasurerCowlitz County Treasurer
  8. DepartmentsCowlitz County
  9. Court RecordsCowlitz County Clerk
  10. Cowlitz County Clerk's Fee ScheduleCowlitz County Clerk
  11. Marriage LicensingCowlitz County Auditor
  12. Clerk of Superior CourtCowlitz County Clerk
  13. RecordingCowlitz County Auditor
  14. Geographic Information Systems (GIS)Cowlitz County
  15. Board of EqualizationCowlitz County
  16. Superior Court HomeCowlitz County Superior Court
  17. Commonly Requested RecordsCowlitz County
  18. Washington State Court Directory: Cowlitz CountyWashington Courts (AOC)
  19. WATCH - Washington Access to Criminal HistoryWashington State Patrol
  20. Birth and Death CertificatesCowlitz County Health & Human Services
  21. Birth CertificatesCowlitz County Health & Human Services
  22. Death CertificatesCowlitz County Health & Human Services
  23. Specific Functions of the ClerkCowlitz County Clerk
  24. AssessorCowlitz County Assessor
  25. Standard Fees for Public RecordsCowlitz County
  26. Public Records Request ProcessCowlitz County
  27. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau