Thurston County Court Records

Courts in Thurston County, Washington, collect and produce forms, documents, and other materials during legal proceedings. These materials (called "court records") are preserved for future reference and comprise the larger Washington court records collection.

Thurston County court records help residents learn about the law, help lawyers and judges research legal precedents and make informed decisions, and ensure court administrators organize cases efficiently. To find and obtain Thurston court records, individuals can visit the Thurston County Clerk's office and District Court.

Are Court Records Public in Thurston County?

Yes, court records are part of Thurston County public records. RCW 42.56 (the Washington Public Records Act) secures the public's right to access most documents, files, and information generated by courts in the county.

However, court rules and state and federal laws also regulate the public's access to protect confidential information. Protected records include sensitive personal data, victim details, certain juvenile case records, sealed court records, and information tied to ongoing investigations.

Thurston County Court Records Search

Searching for Thurston court records involves knowing the type of record(s) one seeks and the correct custodian. For example, certain cases are heard exclusively by the local Superior Court, and the Thurston County Clerk maintains related records.

The court clerks' offices provide various methods for viewing and obtaining case records, including online, in person, and via mail.

Additionally, individuals can use third-party court records search websites to find case documents and information for a fee.

Thurston County Court Records Search by Name

A prominent case records search option is to provide the names of people, organizations, or attorneys to find case information. Various channels provided by Superior, District, and Municipal Courts support this search method. Some official online search portals allow partial name searches to accommodate users who may not know the full names of case parties or their attorneys.

Members of the public can also conduct name searches for court records through third-party websites.

Thurston County Courts

Thurston County is served by Superior, District, and Municipal courts. Below are their physical addresses:

Superior Court
2000 Lakeridge Drive Southwest
Building 2
Olympia, WA 98502-6001
Phone: (360) 786-5560

Family and Juvenile Court
2801 32nd Avenue Southwest
Tumwater, WA 98512-6178
Phone: (360) 709-3131 (Juvenile Court), (360) 709-3201 (Family Court)
Fax: (360) 709-3150 (Juvenile Probation), (360) 709-3256 (Family Court)

Mailing Address:
2000 Lakeridge Drive Southwest
Olympia, WA 98502-6001

District Court
2000 Lakeridge Drive Southwest
Building 3
Olympia, WA 98502-6001
Phone: (360) 786-5450
Fax: (360) 754-3359

Municipal Courts

Lacey Violations Bureau
420 College Street Southeast
Lacey, WA 98503-1238
Phone: (360) 491-3211
Fax: (360) 438-2669

Olympia Municipal Court
900 Plum Street Southeast
Olympia, WA 98501-1403
Phone: (360) 753-8312
Fax: (360) 753-8775

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1967
Olympia, WA 98507-1967

Tenino Municipal Court
149 Hodgden Street South
Tenino, WA 98589
Phone: (360) 264-4157
Fax: (360) 264-5772

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 4019
Tenino, WA 98589-4019

Tumwater Violations Bureau
555 Israel Road Southwest
Tumwater, WA 98501-6515
Phone: (360) 754-4190
Fax: (360) 754-4138

Yelm Municipal Court
206 McKenzie Avenue Southeast
Yelm, WA 98597-8831
Phone: (360) 458-3242
Fax: (360) 458-3566

Thurston County Superior Court Case Search

The Thurston County Superior Court is the county's court of general jurisdiction. It handles the following cases:

• Felony criminal cases, including theft, assault, drug offenses, and murder
• Civil cases worth over $100,000, including complex lawsuits, property disputes, and business conflicts.
• Family law matters like divorce, child support, and adoption.
• Probate and guardianship cases, including overseeing wills, estate administration, and guardian appointments
• Involuntary mental health commitments
• Serious juvenile offenses

The Thurston County Clerk's office maintains files, documents, and other materials generated by the Superior Court. Individuals can view these case records online and order them through the clerk's office in person, by mail, and by telephone.

Using the State's Online Case Search Portal

The State of Washington operates an Online Case Search portal where individuals can view basic information about cases heard in Superior Courts. Users can choose a search method (Smart Search, Search Hearings, or Judgment Search) and select Thurston County to find case records.

The Smart Search and Search Hearing portals allow users to search by name and other advanced parameters, such as case and citation numbers. These systems provide different case information, including dispositions, hearings, case numbers, case status, file dates, party and attorney names, and case events.

However, individuals cannot view or obtain case documents via the portal. Instead, they must contact, write to, or visit the County Clerk's office.

Using Public Computers at the County Clerk's Office

People who want to view Thurston County Superior Court documents can visit the County Clerk's office to use public access computers. The systems are free to use unless individuals want to print copies of documents.

Requesting Thurston County Superior Court Documents

Members of the public can make email, telephone, or in-person requests to obtain plain and certified copies of Thurston Superior Court records. However, they must provide details like the case number, party names, and the documents they want to order. They must also include payment. Below is the clerk's office address:

Thurston County Clerk's Office
2000 Lakeridge Drive South West, Building 2
Olympia, WA 98502
Phone: (360) 786-5430 (Civil and Criminal), (360) 709-3260 (Family and Juvenile)
Email: tcclerk@co.thurston.wa.us

Fees:

• Non-certified hard copies: 5 cents per page
• Non-certified electronic copies: 25 cents per page
• Certified copies (hard copies only): $5 for the first page and $1 per additional page for each document

Thurston County District Court Records

The Thurston County District Court has limited jurisdiction over various criminal and civil cases. Criminal cases include misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors, such as traffic violations, DUI, reckless driving, and less serious assaults. The court also conducts preliminary hearings for felony cases.

In civil matters, the District Court adjudicates cases such as personal injury and contract disputes with damages less than $100,000. It also handles anti-harassment and domestic violence protection orders, name changes, small claims (up to $10,000), and some lien foreclosures.

Municipal courts are also courts of limited jurisdiction in Thurston County, which are set up by cities like Lacey and Olympia to deal with city ordinance violations and protective orders.

Obtaining District Court Records

Individuals can view Thurston County District Court records online through the District Court Electronic Case Records website. To initiate a search, users must provide case numbers or law enforcement agency codes (for infractions and criminal cases). It is important to note that online records may sometimes be incomplete.

One can also find District Court case information by name via the Washington Courts Case Search system. The online tool enables users to search for cases by name and displays basic information, such as a case number or file date.

Alternatively, people seeking Thurston County District Court records can complete and submit the District Court Records Request form online. They can also download, print, and mail the form's PDF version to the court using the following address information:

Public Records Officer
Thurston County District Court
2000 Lakeridge Drive Southwest
Building 3
Olympia, WA 98502-6045

Finally, individuals can visit the courthouse to pick up the form and submit it if they do not have access to a printer or want to make in-person requests.

The following is a breakdown of record request fees:

• Certified copies: $5 per document
• CDs of court proceedings: $20 per CD

Members of the public are advised to review the District Court's request policy for administrative records before requesting them. Then, they must complete the administrative records request form and send it by email or mail to the same address used for case records requests.

Fees for administrative records include:

• $30 per hour (first hour free) for research and preparation
• $15 cents per page for copies of documents
• $20 per CD
• Actual postage costs

Obtaining Municipal Court Records

Municipal courts have varying records search and copy processes. To find out the request process, individuals should visit the website of the court whose records they want to obtain. For example, the Olympia Municipal Court operates an online record request center where members of the public can find and request court records using registered accounts.

Thurston County Criminal Records

Thurston County criminal records include information about criminal activities that occurred in the county, such as arrests. These records are maintained by and can be obtained from local law enforcement agencies.

For example, people can contact the Sheriff's Office's Warrants Section to search for active criminal warrants. They can also use the Washington Department of Corrections warrants search portal to find warrant information.

Additionally, interested parties can submit requests for public criminal records and Thurston County Arrest Records to local law enforcement, such as the sheriff's office, municipal police departments, and prosecutor's offices. However, agencies may deny requests for records connected to active investigations or classified as confidential information.

Thurston County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Thurston County's Superior, District, and Municipal courts adjudicate adult and juvenile criminal offenses in the county. Individuals can find Thurston criminal case records (which may include some Thurston arrest records) by contacting the applicable clerk's office, i.e., where a charge was filed.

Get Thurston County Civil Court Records

Civil cases in Thurston County involve disputes between individuals, businesses, or organizations. Unlike criminal cases, civil cases typically do not include jail time. Instead, the court focuses on resolving the issue and awarding compensation where due. These cases often center around broken contracts, property disagreements, personal injuries, or family matters.

The Thurston County District Court oversees civil cases worth less than $100,000, while the Superior Court handles other larger and more complex civil matters. Individuals can approach either court for records, depending on the type of case they are looking into.

Thurston County Family Court Records

Family law cases include dissolution of marriage, adoption, child custody, parentage, and emancipation matters. Per RCW 26.12.010, these cases are heard in the Thurston County Superior Court.

Individuals can utilize the Thurston County Clerk's phone, email, and online resources to find family case records. However, they must understand that not everyone can access certain cases. So, confirming whether the court would release a record is advisable.

Thurston Dissolution of Marriage Records

Dissolution of marriage records are documents produced during and after couples legally end their marriages. They include divorce decrees, information and documents generated or gathered during divorce hearings, and divorce certificates.

Since divorce matters are heard in the Superior Court, individuals can obtain divorce decrees and other documents filed during such hearings from the Thurston County Clerk's office. The office does not issue divorce certificates.

People seeking divorce certificates must go through the Washington State Department of Health's Vital Records office. The Department allows requesters to order divorce certificates for divorces recorded since 1968. Individuals can submit phone, online, mail, and in-person requests for copies.

Online and telephone requests are handled by the Department's third-party contractor and cost more. Mail-in requests involve completing the Marriage/Divorce Certificate Mail Order Form and sending it (alongside the money order for payment) to:

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

Costs include the following:

• Phone and online requests: $40.50 (other fees may apply)
• Mail and in-person requests: $25 per page (other fees, such as delivery and apostille costs, may apply)

Thurston County Marriage and Divorce Records

Individuals seeking divorce records can follow the process explained earlier. Thurston County marriage records, on the other hand, are public information and can be ordered by anyone unless one or both spouses are part of the Washington State Address Confidentiality Program.

People who wish to order copies of Thurston County marriage certificates can go through the Thurston Auditor's office or the Washington State Department of Health's Center for Health Statistics.

Thurston County Auditor's Office

Interested individuals can order copies of marriage certificates through the Thurston County Auditor's office in person, by mail, and by telephone using the following information:

Thurston County Auditor
Attn: Copy Request
3000 Pacific Avenue South East
Olympia, WA 98501
Phone: (360) 786-5405

Each certified copy costs $3 for the initial page and $1 per extra page. Plain photocopies cost $1 per page.

Thurston County Department of Health

The Department of Health issues certified and informational copies of Thurston County marriage certificates for unions entered from 1968 upwards. Anyone can request a certificate, as there are no eligibility or identification requirements.

Interested parties can follow the method for obtaining divorce certificates from the Department. However, they must fill out the Marriage Records Details section of the Marriage/Divorce Certificate Mail Order Form.

Thurston County Birth and Death Records

Thurston County birth certificates are typically needed for driver's license and passport applications, school enrollment, and government benefits. Death certificates, on the other hand, are often required to claim insurance benefits and settle estates.

Anyone can request non-certified informational copies of birth and death records. However, these copies cannot be used in legitimate transactions.

Washington law requires requesters to prove their eligibility and show identification to order certified copies of birth and death certificates. Eligible applicants include immediate family members, legal representatives, or those with a court order.

Individuals can order birth and death records through the Thurston County Public Health & Social Services Department online, by mail, or in person. The county department's vital records division can provide Thurston County birth records from 1907 till date and death records from 2008 to the present.

Online requests require completing and submitting an electronic form embedded on the Department's Birth and Death Certificates webpage. Meanwhile, inquirers can stop by the vital records division at 412 Lilly Road NorthEast, Olympia, WA 98506-5132, within business hours to order birth or death certificates.

Applicants seeking to use the mail-in method must print and fill out the Birth and Death Certificate Request Form and send it with a check or money order payable to:

ATTN: Vital Records
Thurston County Public Health & Social Services
412 Lilly Road Northeast
Olympia, WA 98506-5132

The Washington Department of Health is another place where individuals can obtain Thurston County vital records. One can obtain birth and death records dating back to 1907 online, in person, or via mail.

Thurston County Probate Court Records

Probate cases pertain to settling a deceased person's estate and resolving related disputes. They are heard in the Thurston County Superior Court, and the County Clerk's office maintains and dispenses associated records.

Individuals can find probate case information online via the Washington Online Case Search portal or order copies from the clerk's office by mail, telephone, or in person. They can also view case records for free using the office's public-access computers at the courthouse.

Thurston County Property Records

Thurston County property records include information about real estate lying in the county. They contain ownership details, property characteristics, tax and easement information, liens, and sales transaction histories. Individuals often look up these documents when buying or selling property, applying for loans, settling estates, or verifying and paying property taxes.

Individuals can visit the Community Planning and Economic Development Department's Get Property Records and Look Up Your Property webpages to find guides and resources for finding real estate information in Thurston.

Thurston County Court Records Online

Third-party websites like Washingtoncourtrecords.us help streamline the search for Thurston County court records online. These websites usually have user-friendly interfaces and make looking up court cases easy. They can often provide users with records from multiple jurisdictions, eliminating the need to visit courthouses or court websites for case information.

However, researchers should note that third-party websites charge fees for accessing records and are not contracted by official bodies to dispense records.