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King County court records

King County has 2 courts with their own files and case search, kept by the King County Superior Court Clerk's Office and the King County District Court. This page maps each kind of case to its court, then adds the Washington rules on public and sealed files, statewide searches and copy fees.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Which court has the case
  2. King County Superior Court
  3. King County District Court
  4. Copies and fees
  5. What is public and what is sealed
  6. Statewide case search and court system
  7. Criminal history checks
  8. Divorce and probate files
  9. Questions people ask
  10. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  11. Sources

Which court has the case

Each court keeps its own files and runs its own case search. Find the kind of case in the second column, then use that court's search or ask its clerk.

CourtCases it hearsFiles kept byCase search
King County Superior CourtFelony criminal, civil, family law (divorce), probate, adoptions, juvenile, paternity, civil protection ordersKing County Superior Court Clerk's OfficeSearch cases1Free search, fee for copies
King County District CourtCivil (limited), infractions, criminal misdemeanor casesKing County District CourtSearch cases2Free search

King County Superior Court

Cases: Felony criminal, civil, family law (divorce), probate, adoptions, juvenile, paternity, civil protection orders.

Case search
dja-prd-ecexap1.kingcounty.gov/home1Free search, fee for copies
About this search
KC Script Portal; view in person at no cost; online copies per fee schedule1

King County Superior Court Clerk's Office (Department of Judicial Administration)

Address
King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue, Room E-609, Seattle, WA 98104; Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center, 401 Fourth Avenue N, Room 2C, Kent, WA 980323
Phone
206-477-0691 (Correspondence Clerk, records requests); 206-296-9300 (general)1
Hours
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday3

King County District Court

Cases: Civil (limited), infractions, criminal misdemeanor cases.

About this search
E-Filing and Case Access portal; free portal account required2

King County District Court (limited jurisdiction: civil, infraction, criminal misdemeanor)

Hours
8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday5

Copies and fees

What the King County clerks charge:

Fees
Superior Court Clerk copies: non-certified $.50 per page; certified $5.00 first page and $1.00 per page thereafter; exemplified $9.00 first page and $1.00 per page thereafter; expedited $40.00 per case; $10 page-count fee for microfilm records1

Fees set for Washington courts generally:

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).7

What is public and what is sealed

These rules come from Washington law and court rules and apply to the King County courts as to every court in the state.

What is public
Court records are presumptively public except as restricted by federal or state law, court rule, court order or case law; juvenile offender records are not shown on public websites but may be accessed at the clerk's office.8
Sealed and confidential records
Courts may seal or redact records only on written findings that compelling privacy or safety concerns outweigh public access; party agreement alone is not enough (GR 15).9
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.10
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.11

Criminal history checks

A court case file and a criminal history report are different records: the courts keep case files, and the state repository issues the report.

Overview
Felony case records: Superior Court Clerk (KC Script Portal); misdemeanor cases: District Court portal (municipal courts handle city cases)6
State repository
Washington State Patrol, Identification and Criminal History Section (WASIS).12
State: online portal
WATCH (Washington Access to Criminal History): watch.wsp.wa.gov12
State: fee
WATCH online: $11 per name and date of birth search (charged regardless of outcome); $15 notary request. By mail/in person: $32 Request for Conviction Criminal History form; $58 fingerprint card; notarized letter $15 additional.12
State: who may order
Anyone may obtain conviction records; for non-criminal-justice requesters (the public) WSP releases conviction information, arrests less than one year old with dispositions pending, and registered sex/kidnapping offender information only; other non-conviction information is not public; requester information is logged.13

Divorce and probate files

Questions people ask

Which clerk has felony case files in King County?

The King County Superior Court Clerk's Office (Department of Judicial Administration), for the King County Superior Court (Felony criminal, civil, family law (divorce), probate, adoptions, juvenile, paternity, civil protection orders).4

Where are King County civil and small claims cases kept?

King County District Court: Civil (limited), infractions, criminal misdemeanor cases. Files are kept by the King County District Court (limited jurisdiction: civil, infraction, criminal misdemeanor).

Can I search King County court cases online for free?

E-Filing and Case Access portal; free portal account required. The search is at kcdc-efiling.kingcounty.gov/ecourt2

What does a certified copy of a King County court record cost?

Superior Court Clerk copies: non-certified $.50 per page; certified $5.00 first page and $1.00 per page thereafter; exemplified $9.00 first page and $1.00 per page thereafter; expedited $40.00 per case; $10 page-count fee for microfilm records.1

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

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 13 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Accessing Superior Court RecordsKing County Department of Judicial Administration (Superior Court Clerk)
  2. E-Filing and Case Access Portal HelpKing County District Court
  3. Clerk's Office locations and hoursKing County Department of Judicial Administration
  4. Recorder's OfficeKing County, Washington
  5. District Court home pageKing County District Court
  6. King County records and requestsKing County, Washington
  7. RCW Chapter 36.18 Fees of county officersWashington State Legislature
  8. GR 31 Access to Court RecordsWashington Courts (Supreme Court rules)
  9. GR 15 Destruction, Sealing, and Redaction of Court RecordsWashington Courts (Supreme Court rules)
  10. A Guide to Washington Courts: Superior CourtsWashington State Administrative Office of the Courts
  11. Washington Courts Case Records Search (About This Site)Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts
  12. WATCH - Washington Access to Criminal HistoryWashington State Patrol
  13. RCW Chapter 10.97 Criminal Records Privacy ActWashington State Legislature