Washington divorce records
Who holds it: Divorce decrees: county superior court clerk where the divorce was finalized. DOH issues one-page divorce certificates (1968-present).1
On this page
Certified copy fee
DOH certificate $25; certified copy of decree from clerk $5 first page + $1 each additional page.2
More details
- State verification
- DOH divorce certificate (certificate of dissolution), January 1, 1968-present; anyone may order.1
- Which court
- Superior court (original jurisdiction over divorce); filing fee $200 plus surcharges plus a $54 dissolution fee.3
Related records in Washington
- Courts: court system
- State court system administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts: Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, superior courts (general jurisdiction; felonies, civil, probate, divorce; a courthouse in each of 39 counties, grouped into 30 districts) and courts of limited jurisdiction (district and municipal courts). The elected county clerk keeps superior court records.4
- Courts: statewide case search
- Washington Courts Case Records Search (dw.courts.wa.gov) indexes municipal, district, superior and appellate cases; for complete superior-court records the AOC points to Odyssey Portal (37 listed counties), King County Superior Court's DJA portal (dja-prd-ecexap1.kingcounty.gov) and Pierce County LINX; listed participating limited-jurisdiction courts via re:SearchWA.5
- Courts: fees
- Superior court clerk copies: certified $5 first page + $1 each additional page; uncertified 50 cents per page; electronic media $5. Civil filing fee $200 (plus statutory surcharges).3
- Marriage records: who holds it
- County auditor of the county that issued the license (recorded license/certificate); Department of Health holds state marriage records from 1968; pre-1968 county marriage records at State Archives regional branches.6
How Washington handles it
- County clerk is the clerk of the superior court (court records, divorce, probate) — separate from the auditor4
- Marriage/divorce certificates only from DOH for 1968+; earlier marriage records via State Archives regional branches7
Divorce records in Washington counties with a full guide
The local office, its official online search and its own fee, for each county with a full guide. Local fees can differ from the statewide figures above.
| County | Office | Search online | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benton County | Benton County Clerk8 | — | — |
| Clark County | Clark County Clerk9 | — | — |
| Cowlitz County | Cowlitz County Clerk of Superior Court10 | — | — |
| Franklin County | Franklin County Clerk - Domestic11 | — | Certified $5.00 first page, $1.00 each subsequent page; uncertified $0.50 per page12 |
| Grant County | Grant County Clerk13 | — | — |
| Island County | Island County Clerk14 | — | Certified $5 first page, $1 per page thereafter15 |
| King County | King County Superior Court Clerk's Office16 | — | — |
| Kitsap County | Divorce (dissolution) case files and decrees: Kitsap County Clerk (Superior Court family law)17 | — | — |
| Lewis County | Lewis County Clerk18 | — | — |
| Pierce County | Pierce County Clerk of the Superior Court19 | — | — |
| Skagit County | Skagit County Clerk20 | — | — |
| Snohomish County | Snohomish County Clerk21 | — | — |
| Spokane County | Spokane County Clerk22 | — | — |
| Thurston County | Thurston County Clerk23 | — | Court copy fees apply: $0.50 per page, certified $5.00 first page and $1.00 each additional24 |
| Whatcom County | Divorce case files: Superior Court Clerk25 | — | — |
| Yakima County | Yakima County Clerk26 | — | — |
For any other county, see the county list on the Washington guide.
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 office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.
Rules in other states: divorce records in every state. Everything else in Washington: Washington public records guide.
Sources
Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.
- Ordering a Marriage or Divorce RecordWashington State Department of Healthchecked November 4, 2026
- RCW Chapter 70.58A Vital statisticsWashington State Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
- RCW Chapter 36.18 Fees of county officersWashington State Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
- A Guide to Washington Courts: Superior CourtsWashington State Administrative Office of the Courtschecked November 4, 2026
- Washington Courts Case Records Search (About This Site)Washington State Administrative Office of the Courtschecked November 4, 2026
- RCW Chapter 26.04 MarriageWashington State Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
- Common Research SubjectsWashington State Archives (Secretary of State)checked November 4, 2026
- Benton County, WA home pageBenton Countychecked November 5, 2026
- Access to RecordsClark County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Clerk of Superior CourtCowlitz County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- CourtsFranklin County, WAchecked November 7, 2026
- Superior Court Clerk Records Request FormFranklin County, WAchecked November 7, 2026
- Washington State Courts - Court DirectoryWashington Statechecked November 7, 2026
- Island County: Departments OfficesIsland County, Washingtonchecked November 8, 2026
- Island County: Access to Court RecordsIsland County, Washingtonchecked November 8, 2026
- Recorder's OfficeKing County, Washingtonchecked November 4, 2026
- Kitsap County ClerkKitsap Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Court Records/Records RequestsLewis County, WAchecked November 8, 2026
- Courts & LawPierce Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Clerk's OfficeSkagit Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Access Court Records (County Clerk)Snohomish County, WAchecked November 4, 2026
- Obtain Copies of Documents (Clerk)Spokane Countychecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkThurston Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Obtaining Copies of DocumentsThurston Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Document Requests (Superior Court Clerk)Whatcom Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Clerk of Superior CourtYakima Countychecked November 4, 2026