Kittitas County Court Records Search

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    Kittitas County, Washington, is a central Washington county anchored by its county seat of Ellensburg and served by a layered court system spanning Superior Courts, District Courts, and Municipal Courts. Court records generated through these jurisdictions — including motions, pleadings, orders, judgments, and other case-related documents — form the official legal record of proceedings handled in the county. These records support a wide range of practical uses: verifying case outcomes, conducting due diligence, researching legal history, and supporting genealogical inquiry.

    Accessing Court Records in Washington State:

    Residents and researchers in Washington can look up Kittitas County court records through several channels, including the Superior Court Clerk’s office, the county’s public records portal, public access terminals at the courthouse, and online search tools maintained by Washington State. WashingtonStateCourts.us can serve as a starting point for locating publicly available case information and understanding how Washington’s court system is structured at the county level.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Kittitas County?

    Kittitas County operates six courts across two locations in Ellensburg and Cle Elum. The Superior Court Clerk’s Office is the primary custodian of records for Superior Court proceedings, while District Court and Municipal Court clerks manage their own case files.

    Kittitas County Superior Court
    Address: 205 W 5th Avenue, Suite 210, Ellensburg, WA 98926
    Phone: (509) 962-7531
    Fax: (509) 962-7667
    Email: clerk@co.kittitas.wa.us
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.

    Kittitas County Superior Court – Juvenile Division
    Address: 205 W 5th Avenue, Suite 211, Ellensburg, WA 98926
    Phone: (509) 962-7516
    Fax: (509) 962-7667

    Lower Kittitas County District Court
    Address: 205 W 5th Avenue, Suite 180, Ellensburg, WA 98926
    Phone: (509) 962-7511
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

    Upper Kittitas County District Court
    Address: 700 E 1st Street, Cle Elum, WA 98922
    Phone: (509) 674-5533
    Fax: (509) 674-4209

    Cle Elum Municipal Court
    Address: 700 E 1st Street, Cle Elum, WA 98922
    Phone: (509) 674-5533
    Fax: (509) 674-4209

    Roslyn Municipal Court
    Address: 700 E 1st Street, Cle Elum, WA 98922
    Phone: (509) 674-5533
    Fax: (509) 674-4209

    Kittitas County Superior Court is served by two judges: the Honorable Chris Herion and the Honorable James D. Kirkham. Most trials and hearings are open to the public.

    Online Case Search:
    Washington State operates the Find My Court Date portal, a statewide search engine covering municipal, district, superior, and appellate court cases. Users can search by person name, attorney name, or case number. Case information is updated daily at 3:00 a.m. The Washington State Courts Name and Case Search provides additional search capabilities through the Washington Courts website.

    Digital Archives for Superior Court Records (filed after 1/1/2016):
    Public court records filed in Kittitas County Superior Court from 2015 to the present — including civil, criminal, divorce, and probate case files — are available for preview and purchase through the Washington State Digital Archives. This system allows users to view and pay for document copies online before visiting the courthouse.

    County Public Records Portal:
    The county’s Public Records Request portal accepts online submissions for records not otherwise available through the state archives or clerk’s office website.

    In-Person and Mail Requests:
    Visit the Clerk’s office at Suite 210 of the Kittitas County Courthouse during counter hours. For mail requests, send a money order or business check (no cash) payable to Kittitas County Clerk, including the case number and delivery preference (electronic or photocopy), to: Kittitas County Clerk, 205 W 5th Ave, Suite 210, Ellensburg, WA 98926. Contact the office at (509) 962-7531 to confirm costs before sending payment, as refunds cannot be issued.

    Payment for Copies:
    Payments can also be made via the nCourt online payment system or by calling toll-free (877) 793-8935. Credit and debit card payments carry a convenience fee.

    Are Court Records Public in Kittitas County?

    Washington’s Public Records Act, RCW Chapter 42.56, creates a broad presumption of public access to records held by government agencies, including courts. Kittitas County Superior Court case files that are public records are available for inspection and copying unless sealed by court order or protected by the Revised Code of Washington, Washington Administrative Code, or applicable court rules.

    Copy costs for Superior Court records are set by statute:

    • Photocopies: $0.50 per page
    • Electronic copies: $0.25 per page
    • Certified copies: $5.00 for the first page, $1.00 for each additional page

    The following categories of information are exempt from public disclosure under the Washington Public Records Act:

    • Information whose release would violate personal privacy or security
    • Confidential attorney-client communications
    • Medical and mental health records
    • Trade secrets
    • Financial records including tax returns
    • Records from ongoing law enforcement investigations

    Sealed court records — those sealed by court order — are not available regardless of the general public access rules. Records involving juvenile offenders are handled separately through the Juvenile Court division and carry additional confidentiality protections under state law. For Sheriff’s Office records specifically, the fee schedule for copies is provided under Kittitas County Code 2.55.070.

    Kittitas County Criminal Court Records

    Adult felony criminal cases in Kittitas County are tried in Superior Court, while misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, and traffic infractions are typically handled at the District Court level. Municipal Courts in Cle Elum and Roslyn handle violations of city ordinances within those jurisdictions.

    Searching criminal case records:

    The Find My Court Date portal covers cases across all court types, including Superior, District, and Municipal Courts in Kittitas County. Searches can be run by person name or case number. For Superior Court criminal records filed from 2015 onward, the Washington State Digital Archives allows document preview and purchase online.

    For older criminal case files not yet digitized, contact the Superior Court Clerk’s Office at (509) 962-7531. The Clerk’s office counter is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

    Arrest records and Sheriff’s Office records:
    Arrest records and incident reports are maintained by the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office, located at 307 W Umptanum Road, Ellensburg, WA 98926 (Phone: (509) 962-7525; Email: sheriff.office@co.kittitas.wa.us). The Sheriff’s Office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding holidays. Public records requests to the Sheriff’s Office must be submitted through the county’s Public Records Portal and should include the requestor’s contact information, a description of the records sought (case number, names of parties, date and type of incident), and the date of the request. Responses are provided within five business days.

    The Kittitas County Jail Roster is publicly available online and lists current inmates held at the Kittitas County Jail, which is located within the Public Safety Building in Ellensburg.

    Kittitas County Civil Court Records

    Civil matters in Kittitas County — encompassing contract disputes, property claims, personal injury cases, small claims, landlord-tenant actions, and other non-criminal litigation — fall under the general jurisdiction of the Kittitas County Superior Court. The Superior Court Clerk at Suite 210 in the Ellensburg courthouse maintains all civil case files. The Lower Kittitas County District Court handles smaller civil claims and infraction cases at the district level.

    Searching civil case records:

    1. Use the statewide Find My Court Date portal to search by name or case number across all Kittitas County courts.
    2. For Superior Court civil records filed from 2015 onward, preview and purchase documents through the Washington State Digital Archives.
    3. For records not available online, submit a records request through the county’s Public Records Portal.
    4. Visit the Superior Court Clerk’s office in person at 205 W 5th Avenue, Suite 210, Ellensburg, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    5. Submit a written mail request with a money order or business check payable to Kittitas County Clerk, case number, and delivery preference.

    Court calendars for scheduled hearings and case dates are available through the Kittitas County Clerk’s court calendars page. The District Court also offers electronic hearings for certain infraction cases — see the electronic hearing option for details.

    Kittitas County Family Court Records

    Family law proceedings in Kittitas County — including dissolution of marriage (divorce), legal separation, child custody, child support, domestic violence protection orders, and juvenile matters — are adjudicated in the Kittitas County Superior Court. Washington Superior Courts have general jurisdiction over these matters, and the Kittitas County Superior Court Clerk’s office files and indexes all related family court records.

    Divorce records:
    Divorce case files are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk’s office. These are generally public records subject to applicable exemptions. Certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained in person at the Clerk’s counter, by mail, online through the Digital Archives for records from 2015 onward, or through the county’s public records portal. Provide the case number or the names of both parties and the approximate year of filing to facilitate the search.

    Domestic violence records:
    The Superior Court handles domestic violence protection order proceedings. Certain identifying details within protection order files may be redacted or restricted to protect victims’ safety under Washington’s Public Records Act exemptions.

    Marriage licenses and records:
    Marriage licenses are issued by the Kittitas County Auditor’s Office, located at 205 W 5th Avenue, Suite 105, Ellensburg, WA 98926 (Phone: (509) 962-7504; Email: recording@co.kittitas.wa.us). Licenses are issued Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. — not on weekends or holidays.

    Key marriage license rules in Kittitas County:

    • Fee: $140, which includes one certified copy of the marriage certificate
    • Both applicants must be at least 18 years old
    • No blood test or witnesses are required
    • The license is not valid for the first three days after issuance and this waiting period cannot be waived
    • The license is void if not used within 60 days of the valid date
    • After the ceremony, the signed license must be returned to the Auditor’s office for recording

    The Auditor’s office holds marriage records dating back to 1884. To search existing records for genealogical purposes, visit the office in person or submit a written request with an $8.00 search fee. Copies are $1.00 for a regular copy and $3.00 for a certified copy. The Kittitas County Auditor’s self-service search tool and the Washington State Digital Archives also provide online access to historical marriage records indexed through 2005.

    Birth and death records:
    Vital records are managed across several offices depending on the year:

    • Birth records (1891–1907): Kittitas County Auditor’s Office
    • Birth records (July 1, 1907–1919): Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, Olympia, WA
    • Birth records (1919–present):Kittitas County Public Health Department, 507 N Nanum Street, Suite 102, Ellensburg, WA 98926 (Phone: (509) 962-7515), Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (vital records requests processed 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.)
    • Death records (pre-2014 and pre-1907): Kittitas County Auditor (1891–1907) and Washington State Department of Health for other years
    • Death records (after 2014):Kittitas County Public Health Department via the online vital records request portal

    Access to birth and death certificates is restricted — certified copies are generally available only to the registrant, immediate family members, authorized legal representatives, and qualified genealogical researchers.

    Kittitas County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in Kittitas County — including estate administration, wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, and name changes — are handled by the Kittitas County Superior Court. Washington does not maintain a separate probate court; these proceedings are filed directly with Superior Court and managed by the Superior Court Clerk’s office.

    Probate court records are generally public unless the information they contain falls under a specific exemption — such as records that would violate personal privacy or security, or records sealed by court order. Adoption case records, in particular, carry heightened confidentiality protections under Washington state law.

    How to access Kittitas County probate records:

    • Online (2015 to present): Preview and order documents through the Washington State Digital Archives, which indexes Kittitas County Superior Court case files including probate matters.
    • Online records request: Submit a request through the county’s Public Records Portal for records not available via the Digital Archives.
    • In person: Visit the Superior Court Clerk’s office at 205 W 5th Avenue, Suite 210, Ellensburg, WA 98926, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bring identifying details such as the decedent’s name, the estate case number, or the approximate year of filing.
    • By mail: Send a written request with payment (money order or business check payable to Kittitas County Clerk) to the above address. Contact the office at (509) 962-7531 to confirm document availability and cost before submitting payment.

    Copy fees are the same as for other Superior Court records: $0.50 per page for photocopies, $0.25 per page for electronic copies, and $5.00 for the first page plus $1.00 per additional page for certified copies. Copies are not prepared until payment is fully processed.