| County Clerk (Superior Court) | King County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | King County Superior Court Clerk, King County Courthouse, 516 Third Ave, Room E-609, Seattle, WA 98104 |
| Phone | 206-296-9300 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (limited services 8:30–9:00 a.m. and 12:15–1:15 p.m.). Phone and live chat: 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | $0.50 per page (non-certified) at most superior court clerks; some counties charge $0.25 per page |
| Certified copy fee | $5.00 for the first page, $1.00 for each additional page |
King County is Washington's largest county and runs its own case management system rather than the statewide Odyssey Portal. The King County Superior Court Clerk, part of the county's Department of Judicial Administration, keeps felony, civil, family, probate, and juvenile files and makes them searchable through the KC Script Portal, which requires a free account to view documents and audio recordings.
Misdemeanors, infractions, small claims, and traffic tickets are handled by King County District Court, a separate seven-division court with its own e-filing and case-search system. Cases from cities with their own municipal courts (Seattle Municipal Court is the largest) are not in either county system at all.
The most common mix-up is searching the Superior Court Clerk's portal for a misdemeanor or a Seattle traffic ticket — those live in District Court or the city's municipal court, not with the Superior Court Clerk.
Search King County court records online
County Clerk (Superior Court)
King County Superior Court Clerk
- Cost
- Free to search case information; document/audio access requires a free account; copy fees apply
- Coverage
- Superior Court felony, civil, family, probate, guardianship, and juvenile offender case records for King County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
Search and document access is through the KC Script Portal. Some older records (pre-1979) are on microfiche index only; contact the clerk to request them.
Other courts
King County District Court e-Filing / Case Search
- Cost
- Free to search
- Coverage
- King County District Court misdemeanor, infraction, small claims, and civil case information across its divisions
- Records
- Criminal, Civil, Traffic
Does not cover Superior Court cases or any city municipal court, including Seattle Municipal Court.
Other courts
Washington Courts Case Search (statewide)
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Statewide search that includes King County District Court and participating municipal courts (including Seattle Municipal Court) alongside superior and appellate courts
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Traffic
Useful as a starting point for municipal-court tickets, since most cities do not have their own public online search.
What is available online
The KC Script Portal covers Superior Court case information and, for most cases filed electronically, document images and hearing recordings to registered users. Pre-1979 case records exist only as a microfiche index and must be requested from the clerk directly. King County District Court's e-filing portal covers misdemeanor, infraction, and civil case information separately and does not share King County's superior court login. Neither system includes Seattle Municipal Court or other city courts; those are searchable, where available, through the statewide dw.courts.wa.gov search.
Which clerk has your record
In Washington, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Washington page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Courts (one per county, some counties share) | Felony criminal cases; Divorce, custody, and other family-law cases; Civil cases above $100,000 (or any amount not limited to district court) | Clerk of the Superior Court for the county |
| District Courts | Misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors; Civil cases up to $100,000; Traffic and non-traffic infractions | District Court Clerk/Administrator for the county |
| Municipal Courts | Misdemeanors under city ordinance; Traffic infractions issued by city police; City code violations | Municipal court clerk for that city |
Request records in person or by mail
King County clerk offices
King County Superior Court Clerk, King County Courthouse, 516 Third Ave, Room E-609, Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206-296-9300
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (limited services 8:30–9:00 a.m. and 12:15–1:15 p.m.). Phone and live chat: 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Superior Court records. Search the KC Script Portal after creating a free account. For copies, use the correspondence request process described on the Clerk's records-access page: mail or submit a request with the case number, the documents needed, and payment. The correspondence clerk can be reached at 206-477-0691 (desk.correspondence@kingcounty.gov); copy centers in Seattle (206-477-0832) and Kent (206-477-3012) handle in-person requests. Standard processing is about five business days; expedited service (an additional $40 per case) is about one business day.
District Court records. Use the King County District Court e-filing portal to search by name or case number, or contact the specific division that heard the case for copies.
Municipal Court records. Contact the city's municipal court directly — King County does not hold or index those files.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Washington |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $0.50 per page (non-certified) at most superior court clerks; some counties charge $0.25 per page |
| Certified copy | $5.00 for the first page, $1.00 for each additional page |
Superior court clerk fees are set by RCW 36.18.016; district and municipal court fees are set by RCW 3.62.060. Both statutes set the $5.00 first-page / $1.00 additional-page certified-copy fee, but counties vary on the non-certified per-page rate, search fees for older records, and add-ons like expedited service or electronic delivery — confirm the current amount with the specific clerk before sending payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Washington court records are presumed open under General Rule 31 (GR 31), but several categories are not available in any public search:
The Washington guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Are King County Superior Court records online?
Yes, through the KC Script Portal. Case information is searchable for free; a free account is required to view document images and hearing audio for most cases filed electronically.
Where do I look up a King County misdemeanor or traffic ticket?
Misdemeanors, infractions, and small claims filed at the county level are in King County District Court's e-filing case search, not the Superior Court Clerk's portal. Tickets issued by a city police department, such as Seattle, are in that city's municipal court instead.
How much does a certified copy cost from the King County Superior Court Clerk?
Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. Non-certified copies are $0.50 per page, and expedited service adds $40.00 per case.
Can I search King County Superior Court records without registering?
You can search basic case information without an account, but viewing document images or hearing recordings on the KC Script Portal requires creating a free account.
Who keeps King County probate and guardianship records?
The King County Superior Court Clerk. Probate, guardianship, and adoption matters are Superior Court cases; adoption files are confidential and not included in the public search.
Sources
- King County Superior Court Clerk — Records Access — https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dja/courts-jails-legal-system/case-records/records-access
- KC Script Portal — https://dja-prd-ecexap1.kingcounty.gov/
- King County District Court e-Filing — https://kcdc-efiling.kingcounty.gov/ecourt/?q=Home
- King County official website — https://kingcounty.gov/
- Washington Courts — About the Courts — https://www.courts.wa.gov/
- Washington Courts Case Search — https://dw.courts.wa.gov/
- Odyssey Portal — https://odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov/odyportal
- Washington Appellate Courts Public Document Portal — https://acdocportal.courts.wa.gov/PublicAccess/search_ca.html
- WATCH — Washington State Patrol Criminal History Search — https://watch.wsp.wa.gov/public/watch
- GR 31 — Public Access to Court Records — https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/pdf/GR/GA_GR_31_00_00.pdf
- RCW 9.94A.640 — Vacation of Judgment (felony) — https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.94A.640
- RCW 9.96.060 — Vacation of Conviction (misdemeanor) — https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.96.060
- RCW 36.18.016 — Superior Court Clerk Fees — https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=36.18.016
- RCW 3.62.060 — District and Municipal Court Fees — https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=3.62.060
See also: all Washington counties.