Search Des Moines Family Court Records
Des Moines family court records are held by King County Superior Court, which processes all dissolution, custody, child support, legal separation, and protection order cases for Des Moines residents. The King County Clerk maintains official case files and provides copies on request. You can search Des Moines family court records online using the KC Script Portal or the statewide Washington Courts search. This page explains how to access records, how cases are filed, what fees to expect, and where to find legal help.
Des Moines Overview
Where Des Moines Family Cases Are Filed
Des Moines is in King County. All family law cases go through King County Superior Court. The main location is the King County Courthouse in Seattle. Des Moines does not have its own superior court. The Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, at 401 4th Avenue N, is the south King County courthouse and may be more accessible for Des Moines residents than the Seattle location.
| 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 |
| South Location | Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center 401 4th Avenue N, Kent, WA 98032 |
Des Moines has its own municipal court for local matters. The Des Moines Municipal Court is located at 21630 11th Ave. S., Suite C, Des Moines, WA 98198, phone (206) 878-4597. That court handles misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors like DUI and domestic violence charges, traffic infractions, parking citations, and other civil matters. It does not handle family law. Divorce, custody, and support cases go to King County Superior Court.
Des Moines Municipal Court
The Des Moines Municipal Court operates Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Electronic filings can be sent to efile@desmoineswa.gov. The court conducts arraignments, pretrial hearings, trials, sentencing, probation review, and warrant hearings.
The screenshot below shows the official Des Moines Municipal Court page with contact details, hours, and links to records and payment options.
View the Des Moines Municipal Court page at desmoineswa.gov/your_government/municipal_court. Payments can be made in person, by mail, or online through the NCourt link on the city's website. A records request form is available on the same page. Court-related fines can also be resolved through the King County Unified Payment (UP) Program if you have outstanding amounts at multiple King County courts.
How to Search Des Moines Family Court Records
King County Superior Court uses a portal called KC Script, separate from the statewide Washington Courts system. The portal covers cases filed from November 1, 2004 forward. Searches are free. You can look up cases by party name or case number and see docket entries, case type, and hearing dates. Family law cases are included.
The screenshot below shows the King County Superior Court portal that Des Moines residents use to access family court case records.
Go to dja-prd-ecexap1.kingcounty.gov to use the KC Script Portal. Non-certified copies cost $0.25 per page when ordered online. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after. Staff research time costs $30.00 per hour. Contact the Clerk at eservices@kingcounty.gov or (206) 296-9300 for help.
The Washington Courts statewide search is a second option for Des Moines residents.
The central statewide search at dw.courts.wa.gov covers Washington courts broadly. For Des Moines cases specifically, the King County portal is more thorough. Older records can sometimes be found at the Washington State Digital Archives. High-volume users can access JIS-Link at courts.wa.gov/jislink for $0.145 per transaction with a $13 monthly minimum.
Filing Family Court Cases as a Des Moines Resident
Des Moines residents file under RCW Chapter 26.12 for family court jurisdiction and RCW Chapter 26.09 for dissolution proceedings. Washington is a no-fault state. You only need to show the marriage is irretrievably broken. One spouse must be a Washington resident or a member of the armed forces stationed here.
You start by filing a Petition for Dissolution and a Summons at the King County Clerk's office. The other party must be served. If both sides agree on property, custody, and support, you can submit an agreed decree and skip trial. If issues are contested, the case may go through mediation before reaching a judge. Washington requires a 90-day waiting period from the date of service before finalizing any dissolution.
Cases involving children require a parenting plan. Both parents must complete an approved parenting seminar in King County before the case can be resolved. Child support is set using state guidelines under RCW Chapter 26.19, based on income and the residential schedule. RCW 26.12 also governs guardian ad litem appointments and parenting seminar rules.
All court forms are free at courts.wa.gov/forms. You can find dissolution packets, parenting plan templates, child support worksheets, and protection order forms there. The Guide and File tool walks you through completing forms interactively. Attorneys must e-file in King County Superior Court under LGR 30. Self-represented parties may file in paper at the Clerk's window.
Fee waivers are available at the Clerk's office. Bring proof of income or documentation showing you receive public assistance. The waiver covers the initial filing fee and may cover other court costs.
Certified Copies and Vital Records
The King County Superior Court Clerk issues certified copies of court orders and decrees. Certified copies are stamped and valid for legal purposes such as name changes, property title work, and estate matters. Plain copies are cheaper but not always accepted by government agencies or lenders.
Washington State Department of Health keeps a separate statewide divorce record system covering filings from 1968 forward. Order state-level records at doh.wa.gov. Each copy costs $25. The record shows the party names, the date of the decree, and the county of filing. No ID is required. VitalChek expedited service is available for an extra fee. These records are different from the court case file. You may need both depending on what the requesting agency requires.
For records predating 1968, check the Washington State Digital Archives. Microfilm records from before July 1979 require an in-person visit to the Seattle Clerk's Office.
Legal Help for Des Moines Residents
Northwest Justice Project provides free or reduced-cost family law help to low-income King County residents. Call (888) 201-1014. Their website at washingtonlawhelp.org has step-by-step guides for dissolution, custody, support, and protection orders. Resources are available in Spanish and other languages.
The King County Courthouse has a family law facilitator available to self-represented filers. The facilitator helps you understand the process and complete forms but cannot give legal advice. For attorney referrals, call the Washington State Bar Association at (206) 443-9722 or the King County Bar Association at (206) 267-7010. The Dispute Resolution Center of King County at (206) 443-9603 offers low-cost mediation services that can help resolve custody and property disputes without a full trial.
Des Moines Municipal Court also offers a domestic violence victim advocate through its prosecution team. If you have a related protective order or domestic violence charge in municipal court and a family law case in Superior Court, you may be dealing with both systems at once. The advocate at the municipal court level can help navigate the local case while legal aid covers the family court side.
King County Family Court Records
Des Moines is in King County. All family law cases go through King County Superior Court. For full clerk info, hours, and resources for King County filers, see the King County page.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities also file family law cases through King County Superior Court.