Spokane County Court Records Search
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Spokane County is the fourth-most-populous county in Washington State, with the city of Spokane serving as both the county seat and the largest urban center in eastern Washington. The county’s court system produces a substantial volume of legal records across three tiers of courts: the Superior Court, which exercises general jurisdiction over felonies, major civil disputes, family law, and probate; the District Court, which adjudicates misdemeanors, infractions, and civil claims up to $100,000; and several municipal courts that resolve traffic offenses and local ordinance violations. These courts collectively generate case filings, judgments, motions, transcripts, sentencing orders, and other documents that members of the public may need to access for legal, employment, or personal purposes.
Individuals looking for Spokane County court records can begin their search through several official channels. Washington State provides centralized and county-level tools for locating case information, and WashingtonStateCourts.us offers a starting point for understanding the state’s judicial structure. Beyond that, the Spokane County Clerk’s Office maintains Superior Court filings, the District Court Clerk manages its own case records, and the Spokane County Auditor’s Recording Division handles recorded documents such as marriage certificates and property deeds. Public access terminals at the courthouse, online case viewers, and the statewide Odyssey Portal each provide different levels of access, and the sections below explain how to navigate these resources effectively.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Spokane County?
The first step in finding a case record is determining which court handled the matter. Felonies and major civil and domestic cases are filed in Superior Court, while misdemeanors, small claims, and civil disputes up to $100,000 go through the District Court. Traffic infractions and city ordinance violations are processed by municipal courts.
Spokane County Court Locations
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court / County Clerk | 1116 W Broadway Ave, Room 300, Spokane, WA 99260 | (509) 477-2211 |
| Juvenile Court | 902 N Adams St, Spokane, WA 99260 | (509) 477-4742 |
| District Court (Criminal) | 1100 W Mallon Ave, Spokane, WA 99210 | (509) 477-4770 |
| District Court (Civil/Small Claims) | 721 N Jefferson St, Spokane, WA 99260 | (509) 477-4770 ext. 8 |
| Spokane Valley District Court | 12710 E Sprague Ave, Spokane Valley, WA 99206 | (509) 477-4770 |
| Spokane Municipal Court | 1100 W Mallon Ave, Spokane, WA 99260 | (509) 625-4400 |
Online search tools provide multiple ways to look up Spokane County cases without visiting the courthouse:
- Spokane County Court Viewer. The county maintains its own Court Viewer application, which allows the public to search both Superior Court and District Court cases by defendant name or case number. This tool displays hearing dates, case types, and — for Superior Court cases — scanned documents in the public file.
- Washington Courts Odyssey Portal. The statewide Odyssey Portal indexes Superior Court cases across Washington and provides limited case data at no cost, including docket entries and scheduled hearings.
- Washington State Case Search. The statewide case search covers District Court and municipal court filings and allows searches by name, case number, or court location.
- Spokane Municipal Court eCourt Portal. For city-level infractions and misdemeanors, the eCourt Portal provides defendant-based case searches specific to the Spokane Municipal Court.
- Washington State Digital Archives. The Digital Archives contain historical Spokane County Superior Court case files and other recorded documents dating back decades.
In-person access. The Clerk of the Superior Court office at 1116 W Broadway Ave, Room 300, is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed on federal holidays. Viewing public records in person at the courthouse is free under Washington Court General Rule 31. The District Court Clerk’s office at 1100 W Mallon Ave operates the same hours, with the Civil/Small Claims division at 721 N Jefferson St open 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed noon to 1:00 p.m.).
Requesting copies by mail. Mail requests to the Superior Court Clerk should include the case number, party names, and the specific documents needed, along with a check or money order payable to the Spokane County Clerk and a pre-addressed, postage-paid return envelope. Send requests to:
Spokane County Clerk’s Office
1116 W Broadway Ave, Room 300
Spokane, WA 99260
Phone: (509) 477-2211
The Clerk’s Office accepts cash and cards for in-person filing fees. Checks may be used to pay for photocopies only.
Are Court Records Public in Spokane County?
Washington State has strong public-access protections for court records, grounded in two primary legal frameworks.
General Rule 31 (GR 31). This statewide court rule establishes that the public has the right to access all court records unless restricted by federal law, state law, court rule, court order, or case law. Viewing records at the courthouse is free of charge. Parties and attorneys filing documents must redact certain personal identifiers — Social Security numbers (except last four digits), financial account numbers (last four digits only), and driver’s license numbers. The court and clerk are not required to screen filings for compliance; that responsibility rests with the filer.
Public Records Act (RCW 42.56). This statute provides broad public access to government records, with specific exemptions for sensitive categories. Access to family law and guardianship records is further governed by General Rule 22, which defines what is confidential versus publicly available in those case types.
Records that are restricted or sealed in Spokane County include:
- Adoption records
- Juvenile non-offender records
- Mental illness commitment records
- Alcohol and drug treatment commitment records
- Paternity records (except final orders)
- Confidential name change records
- Medical records within court files
- Documents containing unredacted personal identifiers
- Any record sealed by judicial order
- Certain guardianship records
Juvenile offender records are not displayed on publicly accessible statewide websites under GR 31(d)(2), though they may still be viewed at the Clerk’s Office in person. Any person denied access to records may seek judicial review under the applicable court rules.
Spokane County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Spokane County are divided among three court levels. The Superior Court handles felonies and gross misdemeanors. The District Court presides over misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, and felony preliminary hearings. Municipal courts address infractions and city ordinance violations.
Where to search criminal records:
- Superior Court felony records are searchable through the Spokane County Court Viewer by defendant name or case number. Documents in the public case file can be viewed online.
- District Court misdemeanor records appear on the statewide case search platform.
- Spokane Municipal Court cases are searchable through the city’seCourt Portal.
Obtaining copies in person or by mail. Criminal records may be obtained during business hours at the Clerk’s Office (Room 300, 1116 W Broadway Ave) or by mail. Mail requests must include the case number, names of parties, documents requested, a check or money order payable to the Spokane County Clerk, and a pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope.
Copy fees for Superior Court criminal records:
| Copy Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Non-certified copy | $0.25 per page |
| Certified copy – first page per document | $5.00 |
| Certified copy – each additional page | $1.00 |
Statewide criminal history background checks. The Washington State Patrol operates the WATCH (Washington Access to Criminal History) system. A name-based search costs $11 and requires the subject’s full name and date of birth. Fingerprint-based searches cost $58 and must be conducted at a state-recognized fingerprint location. Washington’s Criminal Records Privacy Act (RCW 10.97) permits public access to conviction records but restricts access to non-conviction data. Arrest records held by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office are not generally open to public inspection.
Spokane County Civil Court Records
Civil disputes in Spokane County are adjudicated in either the Superior Court (no jurisdictional dollar limit) or the District Court (claims up to $100,000). Small claims matters — capped at $10,000 for individuals and $5,000 for businesses — are handled by the District Court’s Civil/Small Claims division.
Searching civil records. The Spokane County Court Viewer allows searches of both Superior Court and District Court civil cases by party name or case number. Superior Court civil docket entries also appear on the Odyssey Portal, while District Court civil records are indexed on the statewide case search. Public computer terminals at the Superior Court Clerk’s Office provide free in-person access to case files.
District Court Civil/Small Claims office:
Broadway Center Building
721 N Jefferson St
Spokane, WA 99260
Phone: (509) 477-4770 ext. 8
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (closed noon – 1:00 p.m.)
Selected Superior Court civil filing fees:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil action | $290 |
| Counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim | $290 |
| Mandatory arbitration | $200 |
| Request for trial de novo (arbitration) | $250 |
| Jury demand – 12 jurors | $250 |
| Jury demand – 6 jurors | $125 |
| Anti-harassment filing | $53 |
| Foreign judgment | $290 |
| Extension of judgment | $200 |
| Unlawful detainer – residential (initial) | $135 |
| Unlawful detainer – commercial | $290 |
| Supplemental proceedings | $20 |
| Writs (attachment, garnishment, restitution, execution) | $20 |
| Subpoena (per person) | $20 |
District Court civil filing fees:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Small claims filing | $35 |
| Civil filing | $83 |
| Name change | $287 |
| Jury demand – civil | $125 |
| Appellate filing (civil) | $280 |
Property records. Deeds, liens, and other real property documents recorded in Spokane County are maintained by the Auditor’s Recording Division and can be searched through the document search portal. The Auditor’s office is located at 1116 W Broadway Ave, Spokane, WA 99260; Phone: (509) 477-2270; hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Standard recording fees begin at $303.50 for the first page, with each additional page costing $1.00.
Spokane County Family Court Records
The Family Law Division of the Spokane County Superior Court handles domestic relations matters including dissolution of marriage (divorce), legal separation, child custody and support, paternity, minor guardianships, domestic violence protection orders, and contempt proceedings. The County Clerk maintains these records at the courthouse.
Searching family court records. The Spokane County Court Viewer provides access to public domestic case information by party name. Documents in family law cases may be viewed online through the viewer, though records involving minors and certain sealed documents are excluded. The Clerk’s Office can also be reached at (509) 477-2211 (option 6) to verify case status.
Family Court Facilitator. Spokane County operates a Family Court Facilitator program for self-represented litigants. The facilitator helps individuals navigate forms and procedures for dissolution, custody modifications, child support, and paternity matters. Appointments are 20 minutes in length and can be scheduled by calling (509) 477-7612. The office is located at Room 200, Spokane County Courthouse, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Forms. The county publishes Family Court Forms including adoption instructions, declarations, and decrees. Mandatory statewide family law forms are available on the Washington Courts forms page. The county also provides self-help instructions specific to each type of domestic case.
Selected family law filing fees:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Dissolution of marriage / legal separation / invalidity | $364 |
| Adoption filing | $310 |
| Paternity filing | $310 |
| Counter-petition in a domestic relations action | $310 |
| Modification of decree (Spokane County case) | $56 |
| Modification of decree (other county) | $310 |
| Registration of out-of-state decree/order | $310 |
| Adoption/paternity facilitator fee | $20 |
| Minor guardianship (no fee if guardian is a relative) | $290 |
| Domestic violence protection order | No fee |
| Sexual assault protection order | No fee |
| Vulnerable adult protection order | No fee |
Marriage records. The Spokane County Auditor issues marriage licenses at a fee of $162 (effective July 27, 2025), which includes one certified copy. The application fee component is $159 and the certified copy is $3. The ceremony must take place in Washington State between 3 and 63 days of application. Certified copies of marriage certificates can be requested by mail for $3 each, payable to the Spokane County Auditor. Marriage records are also available through the Washington State Digital Archives, with indexes and images dating back to 1880.
Birth and death records. The Spokane Regional Health District issues birth and death certificates for events occurring from 1907 to present. Fees vary by ordering method: walk-in orders cost $40, mail-in orders $35, and phone orders through VitalChek $43. The state certificate fee is $25 per copy, with additional processing fees depending on the method. The Vital Records office is located at 1101 W College Ave, Spokane, WA 99201, and is open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Walk-ins are not accepted after 4:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday or after 12:15 p.m. on Fridays. General questions can be directed to (509) 324-1601. For deaths occurring between 1891 and July 1907, contact the Spokane County Auditor at (509) 477-2270.
Spokane County Probate Court Records
Probate proceedings in Spokane County — including estate administration, will contests, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust matters — are adjudicated by the Superior Court. The County Clerk serves as the custodian of all probate case files. Washington’s probate statutes are found in Title 11 of the Revised Code of Washington.
Searching probate records. Public probate case information is accessible through the Spokane County Court Viewer by searching party names or case numbers. Scanned documents in the public file can be viewed online. The Odyssey Portal also indexes probate filings for Superior Courts statewide.
Requesting probate records. Copies can be obtained at the Clerk’s Office during regular hours or by mail. The same copy fees that apply to all Superior Court records apply to probate documents: non-certified copies at $0.25 per page and certified copies at $5.00 for the first page plus $1.00 for each additional page. Mail requests should follow the standard procedure described above.
Will Repository. The Spokane County Clerk maintains a will repository where individuals may deposit original wills for safekeeping. Deposited wills remain sealed documents until the testator’s death. Upon presentation of a certified death certificate, a deposited will becomes a public record. Withdrawal of a will by someone other than the testator requires a court order. Relevant forms include the Motion and Declaration to Withdraw Will and the Order to Withdraw Will.
Guardianship and trust resources. The county publishes guardianship and trust forms for use in its Superior Court Guardianship Monitoring Program. Additional forms and instructions may be purchased at the Spokane County Bar Association office, located in the Courthouse Annex, 4th Floor, 1116 W Broadway Ave; Phone: (509) 477-6032
Selected probate and guardianship filing fees:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Probate (estate) filing | $290 |
| Guardianship filing (no fee if assets under $3,000) | $290 |
| Letters of administration/testamentary (Form K) | $5 |
| Petition to contest a will | $290 |
| Petition to admit rejected will | $290 |
| Non-judicial binding agreement (TEDRA) – existing case | $20 |
| Non-judicial binding agreement (TEDRA) – new case | $290 |
| Registration of trust | $290 |
| Will only filing (no probate) | $20 |
| Counterclaim/cross-claim in probate or guardianship | $290 |
Copy and miscellaneous fees are uniform across all Superior Court case types. The Clerk charges $8.00 per hour (one-hour minimum) for records searches. A complete fee schedule is published on the Spokane County website. Fee waivers may be requested using form GR 34, available at the Clerk’s Office or downloadable from the county’s website. Waiver requests are presented to the ex parte court in Courtroom 202.