King County, Washington Divorce Records

In King County, Washington, divorce records are official recordings of divorce filings, case proceedings, and judgments. Such records often play a vital role in legal, personal, and financial matters. For instance, you may access and use the records when filing for mortgage refinancing.

King County divorce records are mostly accessible to the public. Persons or entities may contact government bodies for instructions on how to obtain divorce records in King County. That said, public agencies also retain the right to accept or refuse requests for records in their custody. The entities expressly deny record requests if the requested document is exempt under state laws. For instance, abuse claims are not included in public divorce records.

King County, Washington Divorce Rate: In 2022, King County, Washington had a divorce rate of 19.3 per 1,000 women who were 15 years old and above. Meanwhile, 19% of King County residents were divorced as of 2022

Are Divorce Records Public in King County?

Yes, most divorce records are accessible to the public. Under the Washington state laws, public members may inspect or obtain copies of documents generated by government entities. Government entities must maintain options via which the public may obtain records.

In some cases, record custodians may redact or withhold specific divorce information from the public. Such information may contain sensitive or private information that may violate the rights of vulnerable parties. For example, record custodians may redact information on sexual abuse or violence in divorce records. Exempt divorce information also includes custody arrangements and identifying information about minors affected by the divorce.

How to Find Divorce Records in King County

Generally, almost anyone can look up King County divorce records using government resources. For instance, the King County Superior Court Clerk's Office allows online and offline access to divorce records in its custody. At the same time, you may look up divorce records via the Washington State Department of Health.

How to access divorce records from the King County Superior Court Clerk's Office

The superior court clerk offers an online search portal for accessing divorce case dockets. Inquirers may conduct searches on the portal via these steps:

• Visit the King County Clerk's online case search platform.
• Select the "Family/Domestic Case Search; Case Type 3" box.
• Next, input relevant information like the case party's name, case number, or filing date.
• Complete the verification and click on "Search" to view relevant search results.

The court clerk also maintains an online request portal. The portal contains information on full case files and divorce decrees in written and audio format. To order records on the portal, inquirers must follow this guide:

• Create an account on the KC Record Access Portal.
• Log in to the account and name your request in the submission title box.
• Input the case number in the search box and click search to generate results.
• Select the checkbox next to the required document.
• Choose the "Add Selected Documents to Order" button.
• Enter the number of copies, document type, and delivery method.
• There is an option to expedite your request for $30. This option shortens the processing time to one business day.

Note: The clerk's office charges $0.25 per page to view court records online. However, the fee is $0.5 per page if the clerk's office assisted in retrieving the record. Certified copies are $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Additional costs are outlined in the court's fee schedule list.

• Click the "Submit Order" button to add it to the cart.

Note: You may view the request's status via the Order Summary Screen. The clerk's office processes the request in five business days.

Likewise, you may access divorce records in person at any of these courthouses:

How to obtain King County divorce records from the Washington State Department of Health

The WSDH allows in-person or mail-in requests for divorce certificates. Interested parties may obtain the record via these steps:

• Fill out and sign the divorce record request form in English or Spanish.
• Attach a photocopy of a valid ID if requesting certified copies.
• Attach a $25 non-refundable fee in the form of a money order or check made payable to the DOH.
• Mail the documents and fees to:

Overview of the King County Court System

King County Superior Court oversees all divorce case proceedings in the county. Interested persons will find the superior courthouses at these locations:

King County superior court records, including divorce proceedings, fall under the jurisdiction of the superior court clerk's office. The court clerk maintains and issues the records to interested and eligible parties.

Online Access to King County Divorce Records

Interested persons may find King County divorce records online via the superior court clerk's searchable database. The database provides access to court docket information. Inquirers must provide the case number or case party name so they may view records on the portal. The court clerk's online request portal offers an alternative path to access court records. To search records on the portal, inquirers must input the case number and other relevant information.

You may find free online divorce records through third-party search websites. These websites typically feature user-friendly interfaces that enable users to conveniently locate records. Some might offer perks like free downloads in different formats. Despite their perks, third-party sites are not reliable options for accessing online divorce records in King County.

What's Typically Included in a King County Divorce Record

King County divorce records typically reveal the following data:

• Case parties' names.
• Case number
• Filing date.
• Case summaries.
• Court judgment.
• Divorce petitioner's name.
• Divorce year and dissolution type.

The court clerk's office may seal sensitive or confidential divorce information. Such records are only accessible to the case parties, their legal representatives, and persons backed by a court order.

How to Get Certified Copies of King County Divorce Records

You may obtain certified divorce records from the county clerk's office or the Washington State Department of Health. The county clerk offers access to certified divorce decrees. You may obtain the record by using the clerk's online record access portal. An alternative option is to inquire about certified divorce decrees in person at these locations:

The Washington State Health Department also offers access to certified divorce records. Inquirers seeking to obtain the record must send a mail request to the agency at:

Mail requests for certified divorce records must include the following:

• A completed divorce record request form in English or Spanish.
• A photocopy of a valid ID is required if requesting certified copies.
• A $25 non-refundable fee in the form of a money order or check made payable to the DOH.

Note that certified divorce records are not the same as informational records. Certified divorces contain a court seal and a court official's signature. Furthermore, they are crucial in important legal matters like loan applications and name changes.

Why People Request King County Divorce Records

There are different reasons for requesting King County divorce records. Persons or entities may request divorce records for these reasons:

This is a shorter, supportive section. Just outline common reasons people might need these records:

• To change their name
• To remarry
• To refinance a mortgage.
• To remove an ex-spouse from a property deed.
• To conduct a background search.

King County Divorce Records Summary

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