HOW TO LOCATE AND OBTAIN COPIES OF KING COUNTY DOCUMENTS

King County is responsible for keeping and maintaining millions of case files dating back to 1854. Case files are, with some exceptions, public records and available for viewing by the general public. All cases filed in King County after January 1, 2000, have been scanned as an image file for viewing on a computer. Also, in an ongoing project to convert older case files, the majority of case files from 1990's have been scanned as well. Many other older case files have been filmed and are preserved on microfilm. Finally, cases of varying ages are available only in paper form. To view or copy any of these case files involves a two step process:

1. FINDING THE CASE NUMBER; AND,

2. LOCATING THE CASE TO VIEW OR COPY.

FINDING THE CASE NUMBER

A. CASES FILED IN JULY 1979 OR LATER:

1. ONLINE: LOOK UP A CASE NUMBER ONLINE FROM ANYWHERE WITH AN INTERNET CONNECTION (May not contain ALL older cases): http://dw.courts.wa.gov/index.cfm?fa=home.home

2. IN-PERSON: LOOK UP A CASE NUMBER USING THE SCOMIS DATABASE IN PERSON AT ANY OF THE THREE KING COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT CLERKS LOCATIONS.

B. CASES FILED PRIOR TO JULY 1979:

Before July 1979, new cases were indexed by handwriting the parties names in very large ledger-type books. These books were later filmed, reduced in size and preserved onto 4" x 6" microfiche. Each fiche can hold approximately 60 pages of the old index books. Many of the Microfiche Case Number Indexes are now available online. You will need to know the following in order to look up the case number:

• The case type (criminal, civil, domestic, probate, guardianship).
• The name of at least one person in the case.
• The approximate year the case was filed.

If the year or case type of the case you are looking for is not available online you will need to request it from the clerk at the Copy Center in the King County Clerk's Office, Room E609, Seattle Courthouse location.

When you have provided the information above, the clerk will select one or more of the fiche for you to research based on those criteria.

LOCATING THE CASE TO VIEW OR COPY

A. CASES FILED AFTER NOVEMBER 1, 2004, are available via ECR-Online: https://dja-ecreweb.kingcounty.gov/ecronline/

You may apply for access online with a credit card and begin to use the service immediately. Cost is $ .15/page.

EXCEPTIONS: ECR-Online users may not view Domestic cases(divorce, legal separation, child support, etc.), guardianship cases, or cases involving protection orders. Exhibits which are not able to be scanned must be viewed separately (and may be stored in a different location). Also, the general public may not view cases or documents which are sealed by law or court order.

B. CASES FILED AFTER JANUARY 1, 2000 are available at the Clerk's Offices via ECR at Seattle Courthouse or Kent Regional Justice Center.

EXCEPTIONS: Exhibits to pleadings which are not able to be scanned must be viewed separately (and may be stored in a different location). Also, the general public may not view cases or documents which are sealed by law or court order.

C. CASES FILED FROM JULY 1979- DECEMBER 1999:

1. ECR: Many archived cases filed after 1979 have been scanned and are available at the Clerk's Offices via at Seattle Courthouse or Kent Regional Justice Center.

2. MICROFILM: many older archived cases. Please check with the clerk to determine location.

3. PAPER CASE FILES: All active pre-2000 cases, those cases which have non-standard exhibits or those cases which for some reason have not been filmed or scanned. Active cases are usually located in at the Clerk's Office for the area which they were filed: Seattle ("SEA") or Kent ("KNT"). Please check with the clerk to determine location. Some cases are stored off-site and need to be retrieved prior to viewing. Please contact a Clerk at (206) 296-9300, Option 9 to discuss where your file is at.

D. CASES FILED PRIOR TO JULY 1979:

1. MICROFILM: nearly all archived cases from this period. Please check with the clerk to determine location.

2. PAPER CASE FILES:some older cases which are still active, those cases which have non-standard exhibits or those cases which for some reason have not been filmed or scanned. Please check with the clerk to determine location.

E. EXCEPTIONS TO FILES AVAILABE FOR VIEWING BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC:

1. Sealed cases
1. Sealed by Law
2. Sealed by Court Order
2. Certain documents or exhibits within a case file sealed by the court by law or court order.

F. HOW TO VIEW OR COPY A FILE:

1. ECR:Files may be viewed on public computers at either SEATTLE COURTHOUSE OR RJC--KENT. Copies can be requested at the computer and will be printed at the copy counter for $ .25/page.

2. MICROFILM:Request film from the clerk where microfilm is located and view at microfilm reader. Copies from the reader are $ .25/page.

3. PAPER CASE FILES:Request file from the clerk. Copies may be made at machines in the copy centers for $ .15/page or by the clerk for $ .50/page.

4. FILES STORED AT THE KING COUNTY CLERK'S WAREHOUSE: These need to be requested from the Clerk and brought to that Clerk's office for viewing and copying. Turn around is usually 2 business days.

5. CERTIFIED COPIES: Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page of any document plus $1.00 for each additional page in the same document.

6. THROUGH THE MAIL: Submit a written mail request for certified copies of King County Superior Court documents. Please provide:

• Written request, specifying the documents you want returned to you.
• Your name, address, and a daytime telephone number where we can contact you if we have questions.
• A self-addressed, stamped envelope.
• Fees: If you are outside of Washington State, send a Cashier's Check or Money Order in the amount of $10.00 for a copy deposit. If your request has omitted the case number and the document title you will be required to pay an additional $30.00 research fee. If you do not know your case number or document title submit $40.00 (which includes a $30.00 research fee and a $10.00 deposit for copies) made out to "King County Superior Court Clerk." (If in Washington State: A Personal Check is acceptable, if drawn on an in-State bank, provided the name of the person is imprinted on the check.)

Should the charge for the documents you are requesting total more than $10.00, you will be billed for the difference. Research is based on $30.00 per hour with a one hour minimum. Once fully paid for, the documents will be sent to you.

These fees are in accordance with RCW 36.18.016(11) and 36.18.016(4).

Mail your request for Seattle (SEA) Cases to:
King County Superior Court Clerk
ATTN: Correspondence Clerk
516 3rd Ave, E-609
Seattle, WA 98104-2386

Mail your request for Kent (KNT) Cases to:
King County Superior Court Clerk
ATTN: Correspondence Clerk
401 4th Ave, N #2C
Kent, WA 98032