King County Court Records Questions
How do I search King County Superior Court records?
Use KC Script, the Superior Court Clerk's portal. Open the Case Search menu and choose the case type: criminal, civil, family, probate, parentage, juvenile, judgment, search warrant, or will repository. For the main types you search by case number, party name, or filing date. Post-July 1979 case numbers use the XX-X-XXXXX-X format. Full steps are on the court records page.
Is KC Script the official court record?
No. The portal is a public-service system, and the Clerk says the online information does not constitute the official record. It may contain errors, and a filing or hearing can take up to three court days to appear. For an official document, order a certified copy from the Superior Court Clerk.
Do I need an account to view records?
For online requests and downloads, yes. The Clerk requires a KC Script account to request and view Superior Court records online, and old ECR Online or ERR accounts do not carry over. You can also view documents free at a courthouse public terminal. The Superior Court Clerk page explains account setup.
How do I search King County District Court records?
Use the District Court e-Filing and Case Access portal. It shows hearing dates, judgment information, sentence conditions, warrant status, protection-order status, and a document index. Public access accounts are free, but anonymous access is not allowed. The Superior Court page covers District Court and its locations.
What changed in District Court name search?
Since April 2024, a name search requires choosing Criminal and Infraction or Civil, plus a filing-date range of up to 365 days when you do not know the exact date. Criminal and Infraction includes parking. Civil includes small claims, protection orders, and name changes. See court dockets for how to read the results.
How do I find someone in the King County jail?
Use the DAJD Subject Lookup Tool. It tells you whether an adult is in custody, the facility, and the booking number, also called a B/A number. You can search by name, booking number, or other filters, or call the adult jail line at 206-296-1234. The inmate records page has the full search.
What if the person is under 18?
Call 206-263-9595, the youth custody line, which runs 24 hours a day. Youth custody and juvenile court records are more restricted than adult information under RCW 13.50 and court rules. The arrest records page explains restricted juvenile records in more detail.
How do I find someone recently released?
Start with the DAJD Subject Lookup Tool and set Currently In Custody to No, since it covers people held within the past year. For state prison use the Washington DOC search, and for federal custody use the BOP locator. The released inmates page gathers these tools together.
Does the jail provide court dates?
No. Detention staff do not have court-case or hearing information. Use the court that handles the case: KC Script for Superior Court matters, the District Court portal for misdemeanors and infractions, or a city municipal court for city cases. The inmate records page explains this split.
How do I get a marriage license in King County?
Use the King County Recorder's Office process. The application uses current full legal names, must be notarized for mail, and needs at least one daytime phone number. A mail application includes a $169 check or money order payable to King County and a physical return address. The marriage and divorce records page has the steps.
How do I get a certified marriage certificate?
After the certificate is recorded, search the county's online records, and if the record shows the Marriage Certificate document type, request a copy. Certified copies are $3 each, ordered by phone, mail, or in person. See the Recorder's Office page for ordering details.
Where are divorce records?
Divorce records are Superior Court family law records, not Recorder's Office records. Search KC Script Family or Domestic Case Type 3 by case number, name, or filing date. Certified decree copies come from the Superior Court Clerk. The marriage and divorce records page covers the divorce search.
How do I search probate records?
Use KC Script Probate and Guardianship Case Type 4, searching by the decedent's name or a case number. A separate Will Repository search tells you whether a will was deposited for safekeeping. The probate records page covers both searches and the filing rules.
Are search warrants public?
Some are. KC Script has a Search Warrant search for records filed after November 11, 2018, searchable by name, record number, warrant type, and filing date. Only publicly available warrants appear, and sealed warrants must be requested in person. The warrant records page explains the warrant search.
What court handles traffic tickets?
King County District Court handles many county and contract-city traffic and infraction matters, while municipal courts handle city tickets. The ticket names the courthouse that receives your response. You can pay, mitigate, or contest online, by phone, or by mail. The traffic court records page has the full process.
Can I get court records for free?
You can search basic case information for free, and the Clerk has public access areas where you can view documents at no cost during business hours. Online downloads and certified copies carry per-page fees unless a fee waiver applies. The court records page lists the fees and waiver steps.
What personal information is hidden?
District Court does not publish addresses, phone numbers, or dates of birth, and GR 31 requires parties to redact personal identifiers. Sealed and confidential case types, juvenile records, adoption, parentage, and mental health cases carry extra restrictions. The public records page explains the access framework.
What should I do about a call claiming I missed court?
Be cautious. The District Court and the Prosecuting Attorney warn about scam callers who pose as law enforcement and demand payment. A real court does not collect a fine by prepaid card over the phone. Call the court using a published King County number. The warrant records page covers warrant scams.
How do I find a Washington state prison inmate?
Use the Washington Department of Corrections incarcerated search. You can search by first name, last name, or DOC number, and the results show the DOC number, name, age, location, and a notification link. It covers people in state prison, not county jail. The released inmates page links the DOC search.
How do I find a federal inmate?
Use the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator. Search by a register, FBI, or INS number, or by name with filters such as age, race, and sex. Results can show release date and status. A Released result does not mean the person is free of all supervision. The released inmates page has more.
How do I request records if I cannot pay the fees?
Request a fee waiver in KC Script. Create an account, search the case, open the Documents tab, click Fee Waiver Request, complete the documentation fields, and submit. If approved, you get free access, including certified copies, for 12 months. The Superior Court Clerk page covers the waiver workflow.
How do I access sealed or confidential records?
Only eligible parties can. Appear in person with current government photo ID, or submit a KC Script request and meet the Clerk over video to verify identity. Some confidential cases cannot even be confirmed to exist, and sealed documents cannot be mailed without a court order. The court records page explains the process.
How do I know whether to use Superior, District, or municipal court?
Use the case type and the issuing agency. Felonies, divorce, probate, guardianship, major civil, and juvenile matters are Superior Court. Misdemeanors, traffic infractions, parking, small claims, and name changes are often District Court, unless a city municipal court handles the case. City ordinance cases usually stay in municipal court. The Superior Court page maps the court levels.
What is the difference between a court file and an administrative record?
A court file is a case record: pleadings, orders, dockets, and judgments under a cause number, governed by GR 31. An administrative court record is about how the court operates, governed by GR 31.1. Agency records follow the Public Records Act. The public records page explains all three.
Where does a sex offender register in King County?
With the King County Sheriff's Office, in the county of residence. The Sheriff publishes registration hours and requirements, while the public search runs through the statewide registry. Level 1 offenders are usually not shown, while Level 2 and 3 are. The warrant records page covers registration and the registry.