Grays Harbor County Court Records

Grays Harbor court records are generated and filed by a court clerk in a civil dispute or criminal trial. They document the legal proceedings from the complaint or lawsuit to the indictment, pleadings, motions, orders, transcripts, evidence, jury verdict, and sentencing. These records are a significant part of the state’s legal history.

Court records typically contain the names of the parties involved, defendants, claimants, plaintiffs, court orders, docket, case number, trial transcript, and other important information. They sometimes serve as case laws and form legal precedence. They are recorded and filed alongside court records from other counties and states and form the totality of Washington Court Records. The primary custodian of court records is the Grays Harbor County Court Clerk. The superior court clerk is responsible for creating, filing, and transferring court records within its jurisdiction.

Are Court Records Public in Grays Harbor County?

Yes. The purpose of the Washington Public Records Act is to ensure that all persons have access to public records. Individuals are at liberty to review, inspect, and request copies of court records prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency, regardless of physical form or characteristics.

Government agencies are required to make public their official hours and make court records available for inspection and copying during those hours. These custodians are also required to draft and implement rules and regulations to protect the records from damage, provide full assistance to inquirers, and process mail requests for copies of court records timely.

Furthermore, requests for court records fall under the Washington General Rule-31, which states that access to court records is not absolute and must be in tandem with reasonable expectations of privacy. Agencies in the custody of court records can rely on statutory exemptions to refuse the public’s right of access to records.

Generally, where a record does not constitute public business or where disclosure would violate the personal privacy and safety of such a person, it shall be exempt from the public’s right to inspect. The following information may be committed or redacted from public court records:

• Family court mediation files
• Personal identifying information, including the parties’ home contact information, social security numbers, driver's license numbers, and date of birth.
• Intelligence information and investigative records compiled by law enforcement agencies
• Vital records (birth and death certificates)
• Financial and commercial information
• Information revealing the identity of persons who are witnesses to or victims of crime
• Information that describes any detail or identifies the child victim information of sexual assault under the age of eighteen
• Information revealing the identity of minors involved in a case
• Adoption records
• Juvenile records

Grays Harbor County Court Records Search

Members of the public can utilize the following resources in finding Grays Harbor court records:

• The court clerk's office.
• The originating courthouse
• Washington Courts Case Search
• Third-party public records website.

Grays Harbor County Court Records Search by Name

The Superior, District, or Municipal court clerk of the court in the county where the case originates is responsible for filing and maintaining court records. Rules for requesting court records vary across Grays Harbor Courts; thus, interested persons must consult their websites or contact the courts to make all necessary inquiries.

However, here are some general rules for completing a successful application to inspect or obtain copies of court records. To search for Grays Harbor County court records by name, the requester must first determine what court has jurisdiction over the case. Next, provide the name of the case or the names of the parties in the case; this is necessary to enable the clerk’s office to identify the record sought.

Additionally, the applicant may be required to provide the case number, case type, filing date range, and other information to provide as much detail as possible. To request court records by mail, fill out the records request form (the Grays Harbour district court record request form differs from the superior court’s request form and that of other courts. Request forms will be available on the court's official website) and send the completed form to the specific court's mailing address or email along with all associated fees.

The general fee for obtaining court documents in Grays Harbor County is $0.50 per page, $0.25 per page for electronic copies (sent via email), $5 for the first page of certified copies, and $1 for each additional page, and $25 per case for electronic audio recordings.

As stated earlier, the guidelines for requesting superior court case documents are different from district court records. For Grays Harbor County superior court records, the searcher can send their request to clerk@graysharbor.us. Simply provide the case number, name of one of the parties or case title, the document title or index number, and specify if the record is to be emailed or certified (certified documents cannot be sent via email), and a return address. The subject line of an email request should contain the case number (individuals may check the Washington Court Odyssey Portal to find case numbers and documents beforehand). The clerk’s office will respond with the cost of the request and payment instructions within 48 hours.

Alternatively, there is a mail-in option. Call the Superior Court clerk's office at (360) 249-3842 or with the case number and specific details needed. Inform the office that you’d like to request the documents to be sent via the USPS. The clerk’s office will inform you of the cost of producing the documents and postage fees. Then, mail the requests along with a money order and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Grays Harbor County Clerk’s Office
102 W Broadway Suite 203
Montesano, WA 98563

The Grays Harbor County Clerk has a physical workstation where individuals can find and print copies of Superior Court documents. This service is available Tuesdays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Grays Harbor County Courts

The Grays Harbor County court system consists of a superior court, a juvenile court, two district courts, and eight municipal courts in different cities. Below is the Grays Harbor County Court Directory detailing all physical addresses, websites, and contact information of all courts within its jurisdiction.

Grays Harbor County Superior Court
Grays Harbor County Courthouse
102 W Broadway Avenue,
Suite 203, Montesano, WA 98563
Phone: (360) 249-3842
Fax: (360) 249-6381

Grays Harbor County Superior Court - Juvenile
Grays Harbor County Juvenile Center
103 Hagara Street,
Aberdeen, WA 98520
Phone: (360) 533-3919
Fax: (360) 533-3927

Grays Harbor County District Court - Aberdeen
Pearsall Building
2109 Sumner Avenue,
Room 201, Aberdeen, WA 98520
Phone: (360) 532-7061
Fax: (360) 532-7704

Grays Harbor County District Court - Montesano
Grays Harbor County Courthouse
102 W Broadway Avenue,
Room 202, Montesano, WA 98563
Phone: (360) 249-3441
Fax: (360) 249-6382

Aberdeen Municipal Court
210 E Market Street,
Aberdeen, WA 98520
Phone: (360) 533-5411
Fax: (360) 537-3247

Cosmopolis Municipal Court
1312 1st Street,
P.O. Box 478, Cosmopolis, WA 98537
Phone: (360) 532-9264
Fax: (360) 532-9273

Elma Municipal Court
202 W Main Street,
P.O. Box 2013, Elma, WA 98541
Phone: (360) 482-2603
Fax: (360) 482-0103

Hoquiam Municipal Court
609 8th Street,
Hoquiam, WA 98550
Phone: (360) 637-5700, x234
Fax: (360) 533-3602

Montesano Municipal Court
112 N Main Street,
Montesano, WA 98563
Phone: (360) 249-4245
Fax: (360) 249-6225

Oakville Municipal Court
204 E Main Street,
P.O. Box D, Oakville, WA 98568
Phone: (360) 273-5531
Fax: (360) 273-5120

Ocean Shores Municipal Court
585 Point Brown Avenue NW,
P.O. Box 909, Ocean Shores, WA 98569
Phone: (360) 289-2486
Fax: (360) 289-7911

Westport Municipal Court
604 N Montesano Street,
P.O. Box 1208, Westport, WA 98595
Phone: (360) 268-0125
Fax: (360) 268-6158

Grays Harbor County Criminal Records

Information on inmates incarcerated within the Grays Harbor County Corrections Division is available online at the division’s jail register. Individuals can also contact the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office at (360) 249-3711 to inquire about arrest or inmate information.

The Sheriff’s office does not provide warrant information; curious persons should contact the court where the original charge was filed, or the offense was committed for warrant information. The Washington State Department of Corrections is also a useful resource for finding information on inmates in the state's custody.

Furthermore, the Washington State Patrol is in charge of disseminating criminal history records, background checks, and fingerprint checks, using information provided by law enforcement agencies and courts throughout Washington. Criminal history information may be obtained online, by mail, or by completing a “request for conviction criminal history form” in person.

Get Grays Harbor County Civil Court Records

Grays Harbor County Civil Court Records are public records, and per Washington General Rule-31 and the Public Records Act, courts are required to make their records reasonably available for inspection and copying. Requests for district court records may be mailed to dcrecords@graysharbor.us or submitted in person at either of its branches. Similarly, individuals can send record requests to the Office of the Superior Court Clerk or look up court records online at the Washington Odyssey Portal.

Grays Harbor County Marriage Records

Certified copies of marriage licenses may be purchased for $3 at the Grays Harbor County Auditor's Office or online (records may be searched by date or party name). Interested persons may also find Grays Harbor County Marriage Records online at the Washington State Archives.

The Washington State Department of Health allows residents to order certified and noncertified copies of marriage records online or by mail for $25 (does not include courier or postage fees). The application form should include the first and last names of the spouses and the name of the county where the marriage license was filed. The processing time depends on the mode of request and delivery (online orders may take 3-7 days, while mail requests will be fulfilled within 6-8 weeks)

Grays Harbor County Divorce Records

Grays Harbor divorce records can be obtained from the superior court in the county where the divorce was finalized. To obtain divorce records in Grays Harbor County, interested persons may contact the clerk’s office to confirm the cost and information needed to access the record. One may also send a request through the Grays Harbor County Public Records Request Portal; this will require the applicant to provide their name, contact information, description of record, the name of either spouse on the divorce records, and valid identification.

Additionally, the Washington State Department of Health Office of Vital Records issues certified copies of marriage and divorce certificates for $25. Anyone can request a divorce certificate. It is irrelevant whether or not the requester is related to the person named on the record. The required information to obtain this certificate includes the following:

• The first and last name of one of the person on the record
• Approximate date of the divorce
• The county where the divorce was finalized.

Mail requests may take as long as 6-8 weeks to be processed and completed.

Grays Harbor Birth and Death Records

People living in Grays Harbor County can order copies of birth and death certificates from the Washington State Department of Health. Birth certificates are official documents that can be used to prove identity, citizenship, or relationship to another person.

Grays Harbor County birth certificates are not public records and may only be issued to the following qualified persons: the subject of the record, a spouse/domestic partner, child, parent, stepparent/child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, great grandparents, legal guardian, legal/authorized representative, government agency and the courts. A certified or uncertified informational copy costs $25.

For birth certificates, the applicant must provide:

• The first, middle, and last name of the subject of the record
• Date of birth
• City or country of birth
• First and last names of all parents listed on the record

On the other hand, only individuals with specific qualifying relationships/qualified applicants to the subject of the record can receive a Grays Harbor County death certificate or a fetal death certificate.

To complete the request, apply along with a valid government ID, proof of relationship, and all applicable fees. The application will require the deceased's first and last name, approximate date of death, and city and county of death.

Mailing Address
Center for Health Statistics Department of Health
P.O. Box 9709
Olympia, WA 98507
Phone: (360) 236-4300
Email: ContactCHS@doh.wa.gov

Grays Harbor County Probate Court Records

Grays Harbor County probate court records consist of legal documents relating to the administration of the deceased’s estate; this process includes wills, the appointment of trustees and executors, asset inventories, debt claims, and inheritance claims. The Grays Harbor County Superior Court handles all probate matters within the county. These records may be accessed at the superior court clerk’s office by visiting them in person and placing a record request by email or mail(USPS).

Grays Harbor County Property Records

The Recordings Department of the Grays Harbor County Auditor’s Office is responsible for all documents affecting real property in the county. Real estate records include ownership information, deeds, mortgages, contracts, liens, and title documents. Interested persons may find land records online at the Auditor’s Recorded Document Search Portal or contact or visit the recording office during office hours.

100 W Broadway, Suite 2
Montesano, WA 98563
Phone: (360) 249-4232
Fax: (360) 249-3330
E-Mail: recordings@graysharbor.us

Grays Harbor County Court Records Online

Third-party court records search databases like Washingtoncourtrecords.us are a convenient and efficient means of accessing legal information. These platforms remove the need to visit courthouses or wait days to weeks for mail requests. Third-party court record websites compile data from government agencies in different counties and states, making it easy for individuals to access court documents. However, many third-party sites charge users per search, which makes it expensive to use. It is also more difficult to find and access confidential records.