Island County Court Records

Island County court records serve as essential documentary instruments for boosting the authority of the criminal justice system. These documents detail the events and happenings of each case action filed by litigants, adjudicated by the presiding judge, and generated by the clerk to reflect the court’s verdicts on specific legal matters.

In general, they form a major component of Washington court records, allowing for transparency and public trust in the judiciary. Court records contain pleadings, warrants, orders, witness statements, docket sheets, exhibits, motions, affidavits, summons, complaints, and judgments. They also contain case parties’ names, case numbers, dates of court hearings, detailed summaries of legal proceedings, filed motions, and legal evidence presented at trials.

Members of the public, attorneys, and judges can review or retrieve copies of court records for the following reasons:

• Verify past decisions
• Conduct criminal background checks
• Support court arguments
• Track legal disputes
• Conduct legal research
• Establish judicial precedents
• File appeals
• Study legal trends

Are Court Records Public in Island County?

Yes. Court records are public in Island County under Washington State Judiciary General Rule 31. Per this policy, public members can query the appropriate custodians of court records in Island County to inspect or print copies of case files. However, this access is not ultimate as certain exceptions may apply to protect personal privacy.

On the other hand, the Washington Public Records Act (PRA) recognizes the court’s authority to oversee the public perusal of court records though it cannot be referenced when requesting case documents.

A few examples of confidential court records include the following per General Rule 22:

• Personal information and identity of crime victims or witnesses
• Juvenile offender court records
• Adoption records
• Personal identifies omitted or reacted from court records, such as social security numbers, financial account numbers, and driver's license numbers
• Family law, protection orders, guardianships, and therapeutic court records
• Confidential informants in an ongoing criminal investigation
• Sealed or expunged Island County criminal records
• Sealed financial source documents
• Mental health competency evaluation reports

Island County Court Records Search

The following are vital avenues for anyone to conduct an Island County court record search:

• The Island County courthouse-Lobby of the Law and Justice Facility
• The Island County Superior Court Clerk’s Office
• The online database and archives maintained by the Washington state judiciary
• Third-party websites

Individuals can obtain court records in Island County through the Superior Court Clerk’s Office in person, by mail, or online. The majority of cases filed since 2007 are maintained at the lobby of the Law and Justice Facility - the Island County Courthouse. Meanwhile, older records above five years and inactive case files are preserved at the Offsite County Storage facility.

On the other hand, digitalarchives.wa.gov offers certified and non-certified court records to requesting parties during official business hours, provided the requester has a case number. To obtain a case number, individuals can visit odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov/odyportal using the case party’s first and last name. The search result automatically reveals the case party’s case information and case number.

Next, the requester can proceed to obtain copies of court records by following these steps:

• Visit digitalarchives.wa.gov
• Select "Detailed Search"
• From the drop-down menu, click on "Superior Court Cases".
• Enter the case number with dashes.
• Click "Search".
• If the desired results are returned, click on "Island County Superior Court Case Files 1982-Present".
• Select the desired records, and place an order.

Non-certified court records may attract a charge of 50 cents per page, while certified records cost $5 for the first page and $1 per page for subsequent documents.

Island County Courts

Island County court system accommodates the superior and district courts. Their addresses and contact information are listed below:

Island County Superior Court - Camano
121 North East Camano Drive
Camano Island, WA 98282
Coupeville, WA 98239
Phone: (360) 387-3443

Island County Superior Court - Juvenile
501 North Main Street
Coupeville, WA 98239
Phone: (360) 679-7325
Fax: (360) 678-2139

Island County Superior Court - Whidbey
Law and Justice Center
101 North East 6th Street
Coupeville, WA 98239
Phone: (360) 679-7359

Island County District Court
800 South East 8th Avenue
Oak Harbor, WA 98277
Phone: (360) 675-5988
Fax: (360) 675-8231

Island County Criminal Records

Law enforcement agencies, such as the sheriff’s offices and police department are the primary custodians of Island County criminal records. This includes Island arrest records, warrant information, biometric data, charges, sentencing, parole, and probation terms.

The first point of visit for Island criminal records is the Washington State Patrol. Criminal History Records maintained by the agency contain fingerprint-based records, and disposition data submitted to the database by several criminal justice agencies, including the courts throughout the state.

Requesters can make their inquiry through any of the following avenues:

In-person and Mail requests: Anyone can demand a copy of the conviction CHRI by completing and submitting the Request for Conviction Criminal History form, stating the record owner’s name and date of birth or a full set of the subject’s fingerprints.

Request for Conviction History may attract a fee of $32, while fingerprint card processing costs $58, payable by cash, check credit/debit card. The office may also demand a notarized letter for an additional $10 fee.

If one is unable to visit the Olympia office located at 106 11th Avenue South West, Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501, they can mail the form along with the applicable fees to:

Washington State Patrol
Identification and Background Check Section
P.O. Box 42633
Olympia, WA 98504-2633

Online: The WSP provides an online means of running an instant result-based background check. To do this, registered users can upload the record subject’s name, and fingerprints on the the WATCH (Washington Access to Criminal History)

However, records of arrests performed locally by the Island County Sheriff’s office but never charged to court, are publicly accessible by filling out a Public Records Request form.

Requesters can submit this request form online or in person at the address below:

Public Records Officer
101 North East Sixth Street
Coupeville, WA 98239
Phone: (360) 678-4422

Record requests may attract an applicable processing fee per the Island County Records Fee Schedule Resolution C-46-22.

Get Island County Civil Court Records

Island County civil court records are generated due to a litigant’s lawsuit against a natural person or corporation for monetary restitution or fulfillment of an agreement. This includes small claims action, property disputes, civil protection orders, personal injury, breach of contract, and employment.

Civil cases are filed and adjudicated at the Island County Superior Court and District/Municipal Courts. The district court oversees civil matters at most $100,000, and small claim actions for money recovery not above $10,000. Meanwhile, the superior court adjudicates every other civil matter above the statutory authority of the district court.

Public members can approach the Island County Superior Court Clerk’s office to view and obtain copies of civil case records or call (360) 679-7359 to inquire about the availability of court files.

Island County Marriage Records

Island County marriage records are essential legal documents that declare the legibility of marital union between two adults within the county. These records detailing the couple’s names, marriage dates, and location are typically maintained at the Island County Auditor’s office. Interested persons can request Island County marriage licenses from this office at official hours.

Meanwhile, the Washington Department of Health issues marriage records, such as marriage certificates to married couples within the state. However, the DOH only receives marriage documents from the auditor’s office five (5) months from the date of marriage. In this case, individuals seeking these records for official purposes, such as insurance, and last name changes on a driver's license may receive the certified white copy of the marriage license from the county auditor's office.

To obtain a marriage license, the intending spouses will be required to sign an affidavit in person swearing that they are:

• Unmarried at the time of the application
• Aware of the status of the co-applicant concerning sexually transmitted diseases
• 18 years or have received the required parental consent form (if they are under 16 years of age)

Upon proper completion of the forms, the applicants may pay a fee of $60 to receive the license. The fee is payable by cash, check, money order, and debit/credit card. Card payments may incur a $2 fee. Once the marriage ceremony is completed, applicants or their officiants may return the paperwork to receive certified copies of the Island County Marriage Certificate for $3.

Requests can be made in person to the auditor’s office, or by mail along with the appropriate fees and a return address to:

Island County Auditor
1 North East 7th Street
Coupeville, WA 98239

Marriage records are categorized as Island County public records, and generally accessible to members of the public.

Island County Divorce Records

Island County divorce records establish the dissolution of a marital relationship between two previously married couples within the jurisdiction. In Washington, petitioners may receive two types of divorce records: a divorce decree and a divorce certificate. The former is a several-page court document stating the terms for divorce, including child custody, assets, and property division. Meanwhile, the divorce certificate is a one-page certified document confirming the marriage annulment and the date of divorce.

To obtain an Island divorce certificate (also called a certificate of dissolution), petitioners can approach the Washington State Department of Health. The office may request the first and last name of the subjects on record, the county or city where the divorce was finalized, and the date of divorce.

Applicants can submit their order form in person or mail it alongside a nonrefundable fee of $25 to:

Washington State Department of Health
Center for Health Statistics
P.O. Box 9709
Olympia, WA 98507-9709

Mail requests may take up to 6-8 weeks to receive, but the department’s third-party vendor processes online and phone orders within 3-7 business days, depending on the customer’s preferred shipping option. This may incur a cost of $40.50.

Finally, the Superior Court Clerk's office is the official custodian of Island divorce decrees. To order certified or non-certified copies of the divorce papers by mail, applicants may be required to provide the case number and the title of the document.

Mail requests can be sent along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Island County Clerk’s office at 1 North East 7th Street, Coupeville, WA 98239. Certified copies may attract $5 for the first page and $1 for each extra page per document. Non-certified copies cost 50 cents per page. Individuals may also order certified copies of the divorce papers through digitalarchives.wa.gov before the hearing.

Island County Birth and Death Records

Island County birth and death records are essential for multiple legal and official purposes. For example, a birth certificate is generally required for proof of identity and age, genealogical/family research, health insurance, school enrolment, acquiring a driver’s license, international passports, and social security. Meanwhile, a death record is a legal document confirming a person’s demise and is necessary for wills, pension, and insurance claims, including other official affairs.

The State of Washington categorizes birth and death records as Island County vital records. Hence, they are not publicly accessible. Eligible applicants are the record owners, relatives, and legal representatives.

Anyone ordering certified copies of Island County birth and death certificates should visit the Island County Public Health Office at the Coupeville office in person. Certificates cost $30 per copy. On the other hand, the Washington Department of Health issues vital records dated 1907 to the present for $20.

Island County Probate Court Records

Island County probate matters typically involve trust management, guardianship appointment for minors, distribution of a decedent’s assets, conservatorships, and probating wills. Members of the public can visit the Office of the Superior Court Clerk to view or request copies of Island County Probate court records during official business hours.

Island County Property Records

The Island County Assessor's office is the official keeper of property records detailing real and personal property ownership, land information, and property valuation. The office offers offline and online tools to aid real property searches.

Walk-in visitors are received at the physical office located at:

North East
7th Street
Room 208, Admin Building
Coupeville, WA 98239

Meanwhile, one can utilize the county assessor’s parcel search tool to gain online access to Island County’s property tax and valuation database. Basic search details include account number, property owner’s name, property address, and doing business as a name. Available search results include property type, property ID, tax area, geographical ID, appraised value, and map.

Island County Court Records Online

Government websites and offices are not the only means of obtaining Island County court records online. Individuals can utilize reputable third-party web resources, such as Washingtoncourtrecords.us, to search for court cases and Island public records in one place.

Most of these services are run by private businesses that aggregate publicly available information from official sources. One may peruse limited information for free, but obtaining copies of such records may attract a certain fee. The payment structure depends on the website. Some platforms offer subscription plans, while others charge per search.