Bremerton Family Court Records Lookup
Bremerton family court records are filed and maintained by the Kitsap County Superior Court Clerk in Port Orchard, which serves as the court of general jurisdiction for all of Kitsap County and handles dissolution, custody, child support, protection orders, and all family law matters for Bremerton residents. You can search case records online through the Washington Courts Odyssey portal, and the Kitsap County Clerk's office provides copy requests and payment processing for anyone who needs documents from a specific case.
Bremerton Overview
Kitsap County Superior Court for Bremerton
All family court filings for Bremerton residents go to Kitsap County Superior Court. The courthouse is at 614 Division Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366. Phone: (360) 337-7122. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Port Orchard is a short drive from Bremerton, across the Puget Sound inlet on the Kitsap Peninsula.
Kitsap County Superior Court has a Family Division that handles all family law matters including dissolution, legal separation, spousal support, child custody, child support, visitation, paternity cases, adoptions, and domestic violence restraining orders. The court also has a Juvenile Court that handles juvenile offenders, at-risk youth, and child welfare cases. Seven elected judges preside. The court serves all of Kitsap County, so everyone in Bremerton files there for family law.
| Court | Kitsap County Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 614 Division Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366 |
| Phone | (360) 337-7122 |
| Clerk Copy Requests | kitsap.gov/clerk |
| Odyssey Portal | odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov |
| Statewide Search | dw.courts.wa.gov |
Family court records in Kitsap County are subject to public view unless a law requires them to be kept confidential. Juvenile court records, domestic violence protection orders, and adoption records are closed to the public. For all other family court cases, records can be accessed through the clerk's office or online through the Digital Archives.
Getting Copies and Making Payments
The Kitsap County Clerk handles copy requests and payments for Superior Court records. Authenticated and exemplified copies cost $9.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after that. Standard copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies of court documents cost $5.00. Audio recordings of court hearings cost $25 per hearing day for regular processing, which takes 3 to 5 business days for pick-up or digital download. Mailed audio CDs cost $30 per hearing day.
Payment rules are strict. The clerk does not accept personal checks. Do not send cash. Pay by money order or cashier's check made out to "KITSAP COUNTY CLERK." In-person payments are accepted Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, at Room 202, 614 Division St. MS-34, Port Orchard, WA 98366. Online payments by debit or credit card and phone payments are also available. Phone: 1-360-337-4536.
The Kitsap County Clerk payment page at kitsap.gov/clerk/Pages/Payment-Information.aspx has full details on all accepted payment methods and current fees.
The Kitsap County Clerk payment page covers accepted payment types, in-person location, and fees for copies and audio recordings for Bremerton residents with legal financial obligations.
Search Bremerton Family Court Records Online
The Odyssey portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov is the main online tool for searching Kitsap County Superior Court cases. Bremerton family court records are included. Search by party name or case number. If you only have a partial name, use Smart Search. Results include case status, docket entries, and party details for non-confidential cases. Attorneys and law and justice agencies can apply for subscription access to the Odyssey Portal for more frequent use.
For document requests using the Digital Archives, go to digitalarchives.wa.gov. Under the Record Series dropdown, select Superior Court Records, then select Kitsap County. Enter the case number with dashes or search by name. Once your case appears, select the documents you want and check the magnifying glass icon under Image Exists to preview. Then add to cart and check out. Digital download links expire after 30 days.
If you need a case number before searching the archives, find it first through the Odyssey portal. If audio recordings are sealed, you must appear in person at the clerk's office with a government-issued photo ID to request them.
Statewide Search for Bremerton Court Cases
The central Washington Courts search at dw.courts.wa.gov covers all Washington courts, including Kitsap County Superior Court and Bremerton Municipal Court. This is a good starting point if you are not sure which court a case was filed in, or if you want to check across multiple courts at once. For the most up-to-date Kitsap Superior Court data, use the Odyssey portal.
After finding a case in the statewide search, contact the Kitsap County Clerk to get copies of documents or request further information about the file.
The Kitsap County District Court also maintains an eCourt portal for limited jurisdiction cases. District Court locations include a Bremerton branch at 1122 Wycoff Avenue. The District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and small claims, not family law matters. Family law always goes to the Superior Court in Port Orchard.
Bremerton Municipal Court
Bremerton has its own Municipal Court, which is a court of limited jurisdiction. It handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic infractions, parking violations, and domestic violence protection orders and no-contact orders within Bremerton city limits. The Municipal Court does not handle family law matters like dissolution or custody. Those go to Kitsap County Superior Court in Port Orchard.
Bremerton Municipal Court is located at 1027 Burwell Street, Bremerton, WA 98337. Phone: 360-473-5284. The older address of 550 Park Avenue is also referenced in some sources, so call ahead to confirm the current location. For family court matters such as dissolution, custody, or support, Bremerton residents must contact Kitsap County Superior Court, not the Municipal Court. Online fine payments are available through the Municipal Court's payment portal.
How to File a Family Law Case in Bremerton
Bremerton residents filing for dissolution follow Washington State law under RCW Chapter 26.09. Washington is a no-fault state. You state the marriage is irretrievably broken and do not need to prove any wrongdoing. File a Petition for Dissolution and Summons at Kitsap County Superior Court in Port Orchard and pay the filing fee at that time. After the other party is served or signs a Joinder, a mandatory 90-day waiting period applies before the court can finalize the dissolution.
Cases involving children require parenting plans and child support orders calculated under state guidelines. Parents may be required to complete a parenting seminar. Under RCW Chapter 26.12, courts can appoint a guardian ad litem to represent children's interests in contested custody matters. The Kitsap County Law Library at 614 Division Street, Room 110, Port Orchard, phone (360) 337-7174, provides legal resources for self-represented filers.
Free court forms are at courts.wa.gov/forms. Washington Law Help at washingtonlawhelp.org has free guides in multiple languages. The Northwest Justice Project at (888) 201-1014 can help Bremerton residents who cannot afford an attorney.
Certified Records and Other Resources
To get a certified divorce certificate, order through the Washington Department of Health at doh.wa.gov. Records from 1968 to the present are $25 per copy. No ID is needed. The certificate shows names, date, and county of the decree. VitalChek expedited service is available. Note that a vital record certificate is different from a court-certified copy. One comes from DOH; the other comes from the court clerk.
Kitsap County also keeps divorce records from the last two months at the Superior Court Clerk's Office, and records going further back at the Washington State Digital Archives. For records from before 1973, consult the Digital Archives directly at digitalarchives.wa.gov. The Kitsap County Auditor's Office maintains marriage records filed within the last two months and has an online search tool for recent marriages.
JIS-Link at courts.wa.gov/jislink is a subscription tool for legal professionals who need regular access to court data. It costs $0.145 per transaction with a $13 monthly minimum and is down for maintenance from 3:00 to 6:00 AM daily.
Kitsap County Family Court Records
Bremerton is in Kitsap County. All family law cases go through Kitsap County Superior Court. See the county page for full clerk info and resources.
Nearby Cities
No other Kitsap County cities are in the qualifying cities list. Nearby King County cities to the east, accessible by ferry, also have Superior Court family law resources.