| County Clerk (Superior Court) | Whatcom County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Whatcom County Superior Court Clerk, Whatcom County Courthouse, 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 301, Bellingham, WA 98225 |
| Phone | 360-778-5560 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 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 |
Whatcom County, on the Canadian border with its seat in Bellingham, keeps Superior Court records with the Whatcom County Superior Court Clerk in Suite 301 of the county courthouse at 311 Grand Avenue. The Clerk receives, processes, and preserves every document filed in a Superior Court case, keeps the minutes and exhibits of each hearing, and issues writs, letters testamentary, and warrants ordered by the court.
Whatcom gives the public three ways to reach its files depending on the age of the case. Cases from 2005 to the present can be searched and ordered through the Washington State Digital Archives; cases from 2000 forward can be viewed on a self-serve basis at the county Law Library; and cases before 1999 are on microfilm at the Clerk's counter. The Odyssey Portal covers Whatcom Superior Court case information and document lists, and the Clerk's Document Requests page links straight to it for anyone who does not know a case number.
Whatcom County District Court, one floor up in Suite 401, hears misdemeanors, infractions, civil claims up to $100,000, small claims up to $10,000, protection orders, and name changes, and takes records requests on its own form. Bellingham, Blaine, Everson-Nooksack, Ferndale, Lynden, and Sumas each run a municipal court with separate records.
Search Whatcom County court records online
County Clerk (Superior Court)
Whatcom County Superior Court Clerk
- Cost
- Free case search and in-person viewing; electronic and non-certified copies $0.50 per page; certified copies $5.00 first page plus $1.00 per additional page; research $30 per hour when required
- Coverage
- Superior Court felony, civil, family law, probate, guardianship, and juvenile case files and exhibits for Whatcom County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
Certified copies can only be obtained from the Clerk's Office. Hearing audio for Departments 4 and 5 and Commissioner calendars is $25 per recording (plus $3 postage if mailed), prepaid; Departments 1–3 use court reporters. Clerk fees were updated effective June 11, 2026.
Other courts
Odyssey Portal (Whatcom County Superior Court)
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Whatcom County Superior Court case information and the document list for each case
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
The Clerk's Document Requests page links here for anyone who does not know a case number. Registered users who sign a confidentiality agreement (with or without fee, per the Clerk's forms) can get expanded access.
Other courts
Washington State Digital Archives (Whatcom Superior Court Records)
- Cost
- Per-copy purchase price
- Coverage
- Whatcom County Superior Court case documents from 2005 to the present, searchable and purchasable by case number
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
The Clerk's Office directs document requests for 2005-and-later cases here. Older cases (2000–2004) can be viewed at the Law Library; pre-1999 cases are on microfilm at the Clerk's Office.
Other courts
Whatcom County District Court
- Coverage
- Misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, infractions, civil cases up to $100,000, small claims up to $10,000, protection orders, and name changes in Whatcom County District Court
- Records
- Criminal, Civil, Traffic
Records requests use the District Court Records Request Form, emailed, faxed to 360-778-5401, or mailed to 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 401, Bellingham, WA 98225. Phone 360-778-5400; hours 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., with a daily noon–1:00 p.m. closure starting September 14, 2026.
What is available online
Whatcom Superior Court case information and each case's document list are free on the Odyssey Portal. Document images for cases filed in 2005 or later are sold through the Washington State Digital Archives at $0.50 per page for plain copies. Cases from 2000 to 2004 are viewable free at the county Law Library on a self-serve basis, and cases before 1999 exist only on microfilm at the Clerk's counter. Certified copies are never sold online in Whatcom — they come only from the Clerk's Office. District Court and the six municipal courts keep separate records.
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
Whatcom County clerk offices
Whatcom County Superior Court Clerk, Whatcom County Courthouse, 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 301, Bellingham, WA 98225
Phone: 360-778-5560
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Online. If you do not know the case number, search the Odyssey Portal. For cases from 2005 to the present, order documents through the Washington State Digital Archives. For anything else, email the Clerk's Office with the case number and document titles, or call 360-778-5618.
In person. Visit Suite 301 of the courthouse at 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Copies are $0.50 per page; certified copies are $5.00 for the first page plus $1.00 per additional page per document. Cases before 1999 are viewed on microfilm at the counter; cases from 2000 forward can also be viewed free at the Law Library.
By mail. Write to the Clerk at the address above with the case number, the documents needed, and whether you need certified copies. If staff must research the file, a $30-per-hour charge may apply in addition to copy fees.
Hearing audio. For hearings in Departments 4 and 5 or before a Commissioner, email Customer Service or ask in person with the case title, case number, hearing date, and hearing/CD number. The $25 fee is prepaid; mailing adds $3 and CDs are usually ready in 24–48 hours. Transcripts are arranged privately with a court-approved transcriptionist; Departments 1–3 hearings go through that department's court reporter.
District Court records. Complete the Whatcom County District Court Records Request Form and email, fax (360-778-5401), or mail it to Suite 401. Municipal tickets from Bellingham, Blaine, Everson-Nooksack, Ferndale, Lynden, or Sumas are held by that city's court.
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
How do I find a Whatcom County Superior Court case online?
Search the Odyssey Portal for free case information and the list of documents in the case. To buy copies of documents from 2005 onward, use the Washington State Digital Archives; certified copies must come from the Clerk's Office.
What do copies cost from the Whatcom County Superior Court Clerk?
Electronic and non-certified paper copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page, per document. Research, when needed, is billed at $30 per hour.
Can I see an old Whatcom County court file from the 1990s?
Yes, but only on microfilm at the Clerk's Office in Suite 301. Cases from 2000 forward are viewable at the county Law Library, and cases from 2005 forward are online through the Digital Archives.
Where do I request Whatcom County District Court records?
Fill out the District Court Records Request Form and email it, fax it to 360-778-5401, or mail it to Whatcom County District Court, 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 401, Bellingham, WA 98225. The court sends the records to the requester.
Sources
- Whatcom County Superior Court Clerk — https://www.whatcomcounty.us/1944/Superior-Court-Clerk
- Whatcom County Superior Court Clerk — Document Requests — https://www.whatcomcounty.us/4370/Document-Requests
- Whatcom County District Court — https://www.whatcomcounty.us/420/District-Court
- Whatcom County District Court — Records Requests — https://www.whatcomcounty.us/2267/Records-Requests
- Washington State Court Directory — Whatcom County — https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/orgs/296.html
- 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.