Auburn Family Court Records
Auburn family court records are filed and maintained at the King County Superior Court in Seattle. If you need to search a dissolution case, find a custody order, or get a copy of a protection order filed by an Auburn resident, that court is where the records live. King County Superior Court handles all family law matters for Auburn under Washington State law, including cases governed by RCW Chapter 26.09 and RCW Chapter 26.12. You can search case records online through the King County portal or visit the courthouse in person to pull a file and get certified copies.
Auburn Overview
Where Auburn Family Court Records Are Filed
Auburn is in King County, and all family law cases for Auburn residents go to King County Superior Court. This is true for dissolution, legal separation, child custody, child support, paternity, guardianship, and protection orders. The courthouse sits in downtown Seattle. If you or your spouse lives in Auburn, that is your filing location under Washington law.
Auburn does not have its own superior court. The city contracts with King County District Court South Division for certain municipal court services, but that court only handles traffic infractions and misdemeanors. Family law cases have nothing to do with municipal court. They go straight to the Superior Court Clerk's office in Seattle.
| Office | King County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | King County Courthouse 516 Third Avenue Seattle, WA 98104 |
| Phone | (206) 296-9300 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | kingcounty.gov/courts/Clerk |
The Auburn city website at auburnwa.gov/city_hall/court directs residents to King County District Court South Division for municipal court services. That page is for things like parking tickets and small criminal matters. It is not where you go for family law filings. Keep those two courts separate in your mind.
Note: Auburn straddles the border of King and Pierce Counties, but family law cases for Auburn residents are filed in King County Superior Court unless you live in the Pierce County portion of Auburn, which is rare.
How to Search Auburn Family Court Records Online
The main tool for searching Auburn family court records is the King County Superior Court portal. It gives you access to cases filed November 1, 2004 or later. You can look up by party name or case number. The portal shows party names, docket entries, case status, and hearing dates. It does not give you the full documents unless you pay for copies.
The KC Script Portal is the most current source for King County cases. For cases in all other Washington counties, or to search statewide, use dw.courts.wa.gov. That statewide search engine covers municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts across Washington. Both tools are free to use for basic searches.
The King County portal lists these copy fees: non-certified copies cost $0.25 per page for online viewing or download. Certified copies run $5.00 for the first page, then $1.00 per page after that. If you need research help from clerk staff, they charge $30.00 per hour. You can reach the clerk at eservices@kingcounty.gov or call (206) 296-9300 during business hours.
The Washington State Digital Archives holds older court records. If you are searching for a case that predates the online portal, that archive may have what you need. It covers historical marriage, divorce, and superior court records and lets you search by name or keyword.
The King County Superior Court portal is the fastest way to look up Auburn family court records online. It includes all family law case types and shows current case status.
Auburn Municipal Court Services
Auburn contracts with King County District Court South Division for its local court needs. There is no standalone Auburn Municipal Court. The Auburn city court page explains that King County District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and city ordinance violations for Auburn. This court operates at a separate location from the King County Courthouse and deals with low-level criminal and civil matters only.
Family law is not part of this arrangement. If you are looking to file a dissolution, get a custody order, or seek a protection order in Auburn, you bypass the District Court entirely. You go directly to King County Superior Court. The only time the District Court touches family-adjacent matters is in domestic violence-related misdemeanor criminal cases, which are a separate track from the civil family law process.
The Auburn city court page explains how residents access King County District Court South Division for municipal court services. Family law cases go through the King County Superior Court, not this office.
Filing Family Court Cases in Auburn
Auburn residents filing for dissolution or other family law matters follow Washington State procedures under RCW Chapter 26.09. Washington is a no-fault state. The only ground for dissolution is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. You do not need to prove anyone did something wrong.
To start a case, you file a Petition for Dissolution and a Summons with the King County Superior Court Clerk. The other party must be served or sign a Joinder. Washington law requires a 90-day waiting period after the petition is filed and served before the court can finalize the dissolution. If both spouses agree on everything, the case can move through the system faster. Contested cases may need mediation or a hearing before a judge.
For cases involving children, you will also need to file a proposed Parenting Plan. Washington uses a detailed parenting plan format that covers the residential schedule, decision-making authority, and holiday arrangements. Child support is set under RCW Chapter 26.19 using state guidelines that weigh both parents' incomes and the parenting schedule. King County requires both parents to attend an approved parenting seminar.
All official court forms for family law cases in Auburn are available free at courts.wa.gov/forms. The site has petitions, financial declarations, parenting plan templates, and Guide & File interactive tools to help you fill them out correctly.
Family Court Filing Fees in Auburn
The filing fee for dissolution in King County is approximately $350. This covers the statutory surcharges built into Washington court fees. Fees can change, so check with the clerk before you file. Additional costs come up for service of process, certified copies, and parenting seminars.
Other common costs Auburn filers encounter:
- Service by sheriff: about $40 to $60
- Private process server: typically $50 to $100
- Certified copy of decree: $5.00 first page, $1.00 each after
- Parenting seminar (required if children are involved): $35 to $75
- Non-certified online copy: $0.25 per page
If you cannot afford the fee, you can ask the court to waive it. File a motion and a financial declaration showing your income and expenses. People who receive public assistance or who fall below 200% of the federal poverty level generally qualify for a fee waiver. Forms for this are at the courthouse or on the Washington Courts website.
Divorce and Marriage Certificates for Auburn Residents
If you need a certified copy of a divorce or marriage certificate rather than a court record, the Washington State Department of Health handles those. Their vital records ordering page covers records from 1968 to present. The base fee is $25 per copy. No ID is required to order.
For divorce records, you need the full name of at least one spouse, the approximate date of the decree, and the county where it was filed. King County is the county for Auburn. VitalChek processes online orders in 3 to 7 business days. Mail orders take 6 to 8 weeks. These certificates are separate from certified court copies and serve different purposes, such as name change requests with the DMV or Social Security Administration.
The Washington State Courts case search at dw.courts.wa.gov lets Auburn residents search across all court levels statewide, including superior, district, and municipal courts.
Legal Help for Family Court Cases in Auburn
Several organizations serve Auburn residents who need help with family court matters. Some provide free services based on income. Others offer reduced-rate consultations or referrals to local attorneys who handle family law cases.
Washington Law Help is a free resource with guides on divorce, custody, child support, protection orders, parenting plans, and relocation. The site has translated materials and step-by-step instructions for self-represented filers. Northwest Justice Project serves low-income residents in King County and can be reached at (888) 201-1014. King County also operates a family law facilitator program at the courthouse where you can get limited guidance on court procedures without hiring an attorney.
The Washington State Bar Association offers a statewide lawyer referral service at (206) 443-9722, and their directory is at wsba.org. For older or historical family law research, the Washington State Digital Archives holds pre-1968 vital records and historical superior court case information.
Note: Washington Law Help also has multilingual resources for non-English speakers who need to navigate the family court system in King County.
King County Family Court Records
Auburn is in King County. All family law cases for Auburn residents are handled by King County Superior Court. For more detail on the county court system, clerk office hours, and additional resources for King County filers, visit the King County family court records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Auburn also file family court cases through King County Superior Court.