Search Kennewick Family Court Records
Kennewick family court records are filed with the Benton County Superior Court Clerk in the Tri-Cities area. If you need to find a dissolution, custody order, parenting plan, or any other family law filing involving a Kennewick resident, the Benton County Superior Court is your starting point. Cases can be searched online through the Washington Courts Odyssey portal, and the statewide search tool also covers Benton County cases.
Kennewick Overview
Where to File Family Court Records in Kennewick
All family court matters for Kennewick residents go through Benton County Superior Court. That includes dissolutions, legal separations, child custody cases, child support orders, parenting plan modifications, and protection orders. The Benton County Clerk manages all case files and handles public records requests.
Benton County has two courthouse locations. The main courthouse for Superior Court filings is in Prosser, which is the county seat. There is also a Benton County Justice Center in Kennewick itself, which handles District Court matters. For family law filings and Superior Court records, you typically deal with the clerk's offices at both locations. When in doubt, call ahead to confirm where your case or records request should go.
| Office | Benton County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Prosser Courthouse | 620 Market Street Prosser, WA 99350 |
| Kennewick Justice Center | 7122 West Okanogan Place, Building A Kennewick, WA 99336 Phone: (509) 735-8388 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Online Search | odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov |
Benton and Franklin Counties share a Superior Court website at benton-franklinsuperiorcourt.com. That site has civil, criminal, domestic, guardianship, and fee waiver forms. It is worth checking before your first visit to the courthouse.
How to Search Kennewick Family Court Records
The Washington Courts Odyssey portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov is the primary online search tool for Kennewick family court records. This system covers Benton County Superior Court and lets you search by party name or case number. It shows case status, docket entries, and basic party information for non-confidential cases. No account is needed for a basic name search.
The screenshot below shows the Odyssey portal used by Kennewick residents to access Benton County Superior Court case records.
Smart Search in the Odyssey portal helps when you have an approximate name spelling. The portal provides public access to non-confidential dockets. Cases involving sealed records, adoptions, or minors in dependency proceedings do not appear in public search results.
You need at least one party's full name to run a search. A case number is faster when you have it. Including the approximate year of filing helps narrow results when a name search returns many matches.
Benton County also has a dedicated court records page at bentonwa.org/Court_Records.html. That page has fee schedules, retention schedules, copy request information, and links to the county's public records portal. It is a good starting point for understanding what records are available and what they cost.
Washington Courts Central Search for Kennewick Cases
The statewide search tool at dw.courts.wa.gov lets you search Benton County Superior Court cases along with all other Washington courts at once. It is useful when you are not sure which county a case was filed in. The results show basic case data and direct you to the right court for additional details.
The central search engine at dw.courts.wa.gov is a solid backup when you are unsure whether a case was filed in Benton County or Franklin County, which is common in the Tri-Cities area. It covers all Washington superior courts in a single search.
Neither the Odyssey portal nor the central search tool gives you access to downloadable court documents. For certified copies or full case files, you contact the Benton County Superior Court Clerk directly by phone, in person, or by submitting a written request.
Benton County District Court and Kennewick Municipal Court
Kennewick uses Benton County District Court for municipal court functions. This court handles misdemeanor cases, gross misdemeanors, traffic infractions, parking violations, civil cases up to $100,000, and small claims matters within the county. Domestic violence protection orders and no-contact orders are also processed here. This is separate from the Superior Court, which handles all family law filings.
The Benton County District Court page at bentonwa.org has fee schedules, retention schedules, and information on how to request copies of District Court records. Certified copies from District Court cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each page after. Non-certified copies are $0.50 per page for hard copies or $0.25 per page by email.
If you need a protection order record or a misdemeanor record connected to a family law case in Kennewick, the Benton County District Court or Kennewick Justice Center is the right place to contact. For the underlying dissolution or custody case, go to the Superior Court. The two systems are separate and keep different records.
Family Court Filing Process for Kennewick Residents
Kennewick residents file all family law cases at Benton County Superior Court under RCW Chapter 26.09. That statute governs dissolution proceedings, property division, maintenance, and parenting plans. Washington is a no-fault state, so you do not need to prove fault. The only ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken.
One spouse files a Petition for Dissolution and a Summons. The other party must be served or must sign a Joinder to the proceedings. There is a mandatory 90-day waiting period after service before the court can enter a final decree. Agreed cases can resolve soon after that period passes. Contested cases may require hearings, mandatory mediation, or trial. Property disputes and parenting plan disagreements are the most common reasons cases go contested.
Cases involving children are also governed by RCW Chapter 26.12. That chapter covers family court jurisdiction, guardian ad litem appointments, and the requirement for parenting seminars when children are part of a dissolution or custody case. Both parties must complete an approved seminar before the court finalizes the case. Benton County has approved seminar providers that meet this requirement.
Note: The 90-day waiting period runs from the filing and service date. Benton County Clerk contact for Superior Court documents: clerk@co.benton.wa.us or (509) 736-3082.
Certified Divorce Records for Kennewick Residents
If you need a certified divorce certificate, that comes from the Washington State Department of Health rather than the court clerk. The DOH maintains divorce records from 1968 to the present. You order through their portal at doh.wa.gov. The base fee is $25 per copy. No ID is required for a standard certificate request.
The DOH certificate shows the parties' names, the date of the decree, and the county of filing. It does not include property division terms, parenting plan details, or any other specifics from the case file. For those, you contact the Benton County Superior Court Clerk. The clerk charges $5 for the first page and $1 per additional page for certified copies. Non-certified copies run $0.50 per page for hard copies or $0.25 per page for emailed copies. A research fee of $20 per hour applies for staff time spent locating records.
Records at DOH may take up to five months after a decree is entered before they appear in the state database. If you need a record from a very recent dissolution, the court clerk is likely the faster option.
Legal Help and Self-Help Resources for Kennewick
Free legal resources are available to Kennewick residents navigating family court. The Washington Law Help website at washingtonlawhelp.org has guides on dissolution, custody, child support, and protection orders. Materials are in multiple languages including Spanish, which is widely spoken in Kennewick. The site has step-by-step help for people filing without an attorney.
Official court forms are free at courts.wa.gov/forms. That includes petition packets, financial declaration forms, parenting plan templates, and protection order forms. The Guide and File interactive tool walks you through the forms with questions rather than leaving you to figure out blank fields on your own.
Northwest Justice Project serves Benton County and offers free civil legal aid to income-eligible residents. Call (888) 201-1014 to find out if you qualify. Columbia Legal Services also operates in the Tri-Cities region. For historical family court records before 1968, check the Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov. That archive holds Superior Court records from earlier eras and is useful for genealogy work.
Benton County Family Court Records
Kennewick is in Benton County. All family law cases go through Benton County Superior Court. See the county page for full clerk info, courthouse addresses, fee schedules, and additional resources.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Kennewick in the Tri-Cities area. Each files family court cases through the superior court for its own county.