Clallam County Court Records Search
WashingtonStateCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on WashingtonStateCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.
Clallam County occupies the northwestern tip of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, with Port Angeles serving as the county seat. The county’s judicial system includes a Superior Court with general jurisdiction over felonies, major civil disputes, family law, and probate, alongside two District Courts that handle misdemeanors, traffic violations, small claims, and civil matters up to $100,000. Court records produced through these proceedings — complaints, motions, orders, judgments, dockets, and exhibits — are filed and maintained by the respective court clerks and are broadly available to the public under Washington’s open-records framework.
Individuals looking for case information in Washington can draw on several resources. The Washington Courts website provides a statewide case search tool covering municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts, and the site maintained at WashingtonStateCourts.us may also help users locate publicly available case data. Beyond online tools, records can be obtained directly from the Clallam County Clerk of Superior Court or the District Court clerks through in-person visits, email correspondence, or mail requests. Public access terminals at the courthouse offer another option for reviewing case files during business hours.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Clallam County?
Clallam County offers multiple pathways for locating court records, ranging from free statewide databases to direct contact with courthouse staff.
Washington Courts Case Search
The most accessible starting point is the Washington Courts case search portal, a free tool operated by the Administrative Office of the Courts. It indexes cases filed in district, municipal, superior, and appellate courts across the state. Users can search by person name or by case number, and results display basic case details including filing date, case type, charges, parties, hearing schedule, and disposition. The database updates every 24 hours.
Clallam County OnBase Document Access
For actual copies of Superior Court filings, Clallam County provides an electronic document system. Records are searchable by cause number through the Superior Court records request page. If you do not have the cause number, perform a name search on the Washington Courts case search site first to obtain it. Non-certified electronic copies cost $0.50 per page.
Odyssey Portal Subscription
Attorneys and businesses that need frequent access to Superior Court records may subscribe to the Odyssey Portal, which provides case information and publicly available documents for cases where the subscriber is attorney of record. Annual subscription fees are based on company size:
| Company Size | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| 1–3 employees/individuals | $100 |
| 4–6 employees/individuals | $250 |
| 7–10 employees/individuals | $500 |
| More than 10 employees/individuals | $600 |
Contact the Clerk’s Office at Web_Clerk@ClallamCountyWA.gov for registration.
In-Person and Email Requests
Records can be requested by visiting the courthouse or by emailing the clerk’s office. Include the case name, case number, and a description of the specific documents needed.
Clallam County Clerk of Superior Court
Address: 223 East 4th Street, Suite 9, Port Angeles, WA 98362
Phone: (360) 417-2231
Email: Web_Clerk@ClallamCountyWA.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Clallam County Court Directory
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court / Clerk of Superior Court | 223 E. 4th Street, Suite 9, Port Angeles, WA 98362 | (360) 417-2231 |
| Superior Court – Juvenile Division | 1912 W. 18th Street, Port Angeles, WA 98363 | (360) 417-2282 |
| District Court I (Port Angeles) | 223 E. 4th Street, Suite 10, Port Angeles, WA 98362 | (360) 417-2560 |
| District Court II (Forks) | 502 E. Division Street, Forks, WA 98331 | (360) 374-6383 |
District Court I and II are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Clerk of Superior Court’s office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 12:00–12:30 p.m.). The Clerk’s Office does not accept filings by fax or email.
Copy and Certification Fees (Superior Court)
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Non-certified copy (paper or electronic) | $0.50 per page |
| Certified copy – first page | $5.00 |
| Certified copy – each additional page | $1.00 |
| Authenticated/exemplified certificate (seal) | $4.00 each |
| CD of court proceedings | $25.00 per court date |
| Photograph or digital copy of exhibit | $5.00 / $25.00 |
| Postage handling | $2.00 |
| Clerk services (record searches, statistical reports) | $30.00 per hour or portion |
Payment is accepted in cash, cashier’s check, money order, or through the LexisNexis online payment portal.
District Court Record Fees
- Paper copy: $0.50 per page
- Emailed copy: $0.25 per page
- Certified copy: $5.00 first page, $1.00 each additional page
- CD of hearing: $10.00 per hearing
District Court payments can be made in person, by mail, or online via the Municipal Online Payments portal.
Are Court Records Public in Clallam County?
Washington provides robust public access to court records through two overlapping legal frameworks.
Public Records Act (RCW 42.56)
The Washington Public Records Act requires all state and local agencies to make public records available for inspection and copying. This law covers administrative records held by court clerks and other county offices. Requesters do not need to state a reason for seeking records, and agencies must respond within five business days of receiving a request.
General Rule 31 – Access to Court Records
For judicial records specifically, GR 31 establishes that the public has access to all court records unless restricted by federal law, state law, court rule, court order, or case law. This rule applies to both paper files and electronic records maintained in case management systems.
Categories of Restricted Records
Despite the strong presumption of openness, certain records are sealed or confidential by statute:
- Juvenile offender records (RCW 13.50)
- Adoption records (RCW 26.33)
- Mental illness commitment proceedings (RCW 71.05)
- Paternity records, except final orders
- Confidential name change records
- Alcohol and drug treatment commitment records
- Sealed records under court order
- Personal identifiers (Social Security numbers, financial account numbers) subject to redaction
- Personnel records whose disclosure would violate individual privacy (RCW 42.56.230)
- Inmate medical records (governed by HIPAA and RCW 70.02)
- Inmate file records as defined in RCW 70.48.100
Anyone may petition the court to unseal records that have been restricted by court order, though the court will weigh the public interest against privacy and safety considerations.
Clallam County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Clallam County are divided between the Superior Court and the two District Courts based on severity. Felonies and serious offenses are prosecuted in Superior Court, while misdemeanors (punishable by up to one year in jail and $5,000 in fines) and criminal traffic offenses are heard in District Court. In 2024, District Court I alone handled 687 criminal misdemeanors, 191 DUIs, and 118 criminal traffic cases.
Searching Criminal Case Records
- Use the Washington Courts case search to locate cases by defendant name or case number. Results show charges, case status, and hearing dates, but do not constitute a formal criminal history.
- Contact the Clerk of Superior Court at (360) 417-2231 or email Web_Clerk@ClallamCountyWA.gov for copies of Superior Court criminal filings.
- Contact District Court I at (360) 417-2560 or District Court II at (360) 374-6383 for misdemeanor and traffic case records.
New criminal cases (“fresh arrests”) are heard daily at 1:00 p.m. in Superior Court, with the clerk’s office receiving confirmation by 11:45 a.m. Friday motion calendars for criminal matters rotate among the three Superior Court judges — see the Friday Superior Court Judges Calendar Schedule for specific dates.
Statewide Criminal Background Checks
The Washington State Patrol operates WATCH (Washington Access to Criminal History), an online portal for searching conviction records. The fee is $11.00 per name searched, payable by Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. Results are returned immediately. Fingerprint-based background checks are also available through the State Patrol for $58.00 for submissions through designated agencies, or $32.00 for name-and-date-of-birth requests submitted by mail using the official request form.
Clallam County Sheriff’s Office
For arrest reports, incident reports, and local law enforcement records, contact the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office:
Clallam County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 223 East 4th Street, Suite 12, Port Angeles, WA 98362
Phone: (360) 417-2262
Records requests: (360) 504-1262
Public records requests can be made in person, by phone, or through the county’s NextRequest online portal. Not all records in inmate files or medical charts are public; inmate file records fall under the City and County Jails Act (RCW 70.48.100), and medical records are protected by HIPAA and RCW 70.02.
Criminal Filing Fees
In Superior Court, criminal filing fees of $200.00 are assessed upon conviction (RCW 10.01.160). District Court criminal appeal fees are $200.00. Additional statutory surcharges and assessments may apply depending on the offense.
Clallam County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Clallam County is heard in either the Superior Court or the District Courts, depending on the amount in controversy and the type of relief sought.
Jurisdictional Overview
- Superior Court: General civil jurisdiction with no dollar cap. Handles cases involving real property title, equity, injunctions, and complex commercial disputes.
- District Court I: Civil jurisdiction up to $100,000, small claims up to $10,000, name changes, civil protection orders, evictions, and garnishments.
- District Court II (Forks): Same limited jurisdiction as District Court I, serving the west end of the county.
Superior Court Civil Filing Fees (Effective April 21, 2026)
| Filing Type | Total Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil filing (complaint) | $290.00 (base $200 + judicial surcharge $40 + surcharge $50) |
| Counterclaim / cross-claim / third-party claim | $290.00 |
| Unlawful detainer – residential (without order) | $135.00 |
| Unlawful detainer – commercial | $290.00 |
| Foreign judgment or decree | $290.00 |
| Land use petition | $290.00 |
| Petition to invalidate common law lien | $35.00 |
| Transcript of judgment | $20.00 |
| Abstract of judgment preparation | $20.00 first page; $5.00 + $1.00 additional |
| 12-member jury demand | $250.00 |
| 6-member jury demand | $125.00 |
District Court Civil Filing Fees
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| General civil case | $83.00 |
| Small claims | $50.00 |
| Small claims counterclaim | $50.00 |
| Name change | $296.50 |
| Civil protection order | $83.00 |
| Ex parte civil fee | $20.00 |
Civil filings in Superior Court can be submitted electronically through the e-filing system or in paper form at the clerk’s office. As of July 1, 2026, e-filing is mandatory in District Court I. The Clerk of Superior Court also provides downloadable forms, documents, and legal kits including civil case cover sheets.
Property Records
Property ownership records — deeds, deeds of trust, liens, and plats — are recorded by the Clallam County Auditor’s Recording Division. The Auditor’s online document search allows free lookups of recorded instruments by document type, name, or recording date. For property assessments and tax information, the Clallam County Assessor’s Office offers an online property search tool searchable by owner name, property address, or account number.
Clallam County Assessor’s Office
Address: 223 East 4th Street, Suite 2, Port Angeles, WA 98362
Phone: (360) 417-2400
Clallam County Family Court Records
Family law cases in Clallam County are adjudicated in Superior Court. The Clerk of Superior Court files and maintains all family case records, which encompass divorce, legal separation, child custody, parenting plans, child support, paternity, adoption, domestic violence protection orders, and termination of parental rights.
Divorce and Legal Separation
A dissolution of marriage, legal separation, or declaration of invalidity action is filed with the Clerk of Superior Court. Washington is a no-fault state, requiring only that the marriage be “irretrievably broken”. The total filing fee for a dissolution or legal separation is $364.00 (comprising the $200 base filing fee, $20 facilitator surcharge, $54 domestic violence surcharge, $40 judicial surcharge, and $50 surcharge). Filing a modification of an existing Clallam County decree costs $56.00 ($36 base + $20 facilitator surcharge). When the modification involves a decree from another county or state, the fee is $310.00.
Civil motion calendars for family law matters are held every Friday at 9:00 a.m. Domestic violence hearings are at 1:30 p.m. on Fridays. Child support matters are heard on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m.
Other Family Law Filing Fees
| Filing Type | Total Fee |
|---|---|
| Paternity / parenting plan / support | $310.00 |
| Adoption | $310.00 |
| Termination of parent-child relationship | $310.00 |
| Third-party custody / registering out-of-state decree | $310.00 |
| UCCJEA – registration, enforcement, or modification | $310.00 |
| Wage assignment (spousal maintenance or child support) | $310.00 |
| Anti-harassment / unlawful harassment petition | $53.00 |
| Domestic violence protection order | No fee |
| Notice of relocation | No fee |
Family law forms — including case cover sheets for family matters (case types 3 and 5) — are available through the Clerk’s forms page and from the Washington Courts forms repository.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued by the Clallam County Auditor’s Office, not by the courts. Both applicants must appear in person with a current photo ID. No blood tests, witnesses, or residency requirements apply, though the license is valid only for ceremonies performed in Washington. The fee is $162.00, payable by cash, money order, cashier’s check, or debit/credit card (personal checks not accepted). A three-day waiting period begins the day after application, and the license expires 60 days after it becomes effective.
To obtain copies of recorded marriage licenses, visit the Recording Division at 223 E. 4th Street, Suite 1, Port Angeles, or submit a request by mail using the Auditor’s request form. Certified copies cost $3.00 each; photocopies cost $1.00 each. Marriage records are also searchable through the Auditor’s online document search by selecting “Marriage” as the document type.
Birth and Death Records
The Clallam County Department of Health and Human Services issues certified birth and death certificates. Under the vital records law effective January 1, 2021 (RCW 70.58A), only individuals with a qualifying relationship to the person named on the record may receive a certified copy. Acceptable identification and proof of eligibility must be provided.
- Fee: $25.00 per certified copy
- Same-day expedited service (walk-in only): additional $10.00
- Mailing fee: $5.00 per address
- Payment: exact cash, check, money order, or debit/credit card ($2.50 or 2.5% transaction fee for cards)
Applications are available for both Port Angeles and Forks locations. Birth certificates cover records from 1907 to the present; for births before 1907, contact the Washington State Department of Health. Death certificates are available for deaths occurring after 2014 that have been finalized by the state; for deaths from July 1, 1907, through December 31, 2013, order from the state Department of Health.
Health and Human Services Office
Address: 111 East 3rd Street, 1st Floor, Port Angeles
Phone: (360) 417-2274
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Clallam County Probate Court Records
Probate proceedings in Clallam County are handled by the Superior Court, with the Clerk of Superior Court serving as the custodian of all probate filings. These cases involve the administration of decedent estates, probate of wills, guardianships of minors and incapacitated adults, conservatorships, trusts, and related disputes.
Probate Filing Fees (Effective April 21, 2026)
| Filing Type | Total Fee |
|---|---|
| Estate – probate | $290.00 |
| Guardianship | $290.00 (no fee if estate worth under $3,000) |
| Minor guardianship / conservatorship / protective arrangement | $290.00 (no fee if petitioner is a relative) |
| Petition contesting will | $290.00 |
| Petition to admit rejected will | $290.00 |
| Trust estate dispute (TEDRA) – filing in existing case | $290.00 |
| Registration of trust | $290.00 |
| Non-probate notice to creditors (no probate in state) | $290.00 |
| Non-judicial resolution – petition in existing case | $20.00 |
| Notice to creditors (probate filed in another county) | $20.00 |
| Small estate affidavit | $20.00 |
| Filing will or codicil after death (no probate contemplated) | $20.00 |
| Filing will or codicil before death (under seal) | $20.00 |
| Certificate of qualification | $5.00 |
| Certified copy of letters (administration/testamentary/guardianship) | $5.00 |
Searching Probate Records
Probate case records can be located through the Washington Courts case search by searching for the decedent’s name, which will return the cause number. With the cause number, users can then access documents through the county’s electronic records system on the Superior Court records page. Alternatively, visit the Clerk of Superior Court’s office to inspect probate files in person.
Probate-specific case cover sheets and forms (case type 4) are available for download from the county website. Additional standardized probate forms are hosted on the Washington Courts forms page. All filings can be submitted electronically, by mail, or in paper form at the clerk’s office at 223 East 4th Street, Suite 9, Port Angeles.
Confidentiality in Probate
Most probate records are public. However, guardianship proceedings involving incapacitated adults may contain medical evaluations or personal financial information that is restricted under GR 31 or sealed by court order. Wills filed before death are maintained under seal until the testator dies, at which point they become part of the public record upon commencement of probate proceedings.