Search Vancouver Family Court Records

Vancouver family court records are filed and maintained at Clark County Superior Court, which is located in Vancouver itself and serves as the court of general jurisdiction for all of Clark County, handling dissolution, custody, child support, protection orders, and all other family law matters for Vancouver residents and everyone else in the county. You can search case records online through the Odyssey portal, and the Clark County Clerk's office at the courthouse handles copy requests and in-person record access.

Clark County Superior Court in Vancouver

Vancouver is the county seat of Clark County, and Clark County Superior Court sits here. The courthouse is at 1200 Franklin St., Vancouver, WA 98660. Phone: 564-397-2150. Fax: 360-397-6078. The mailing address is PO Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000. The court handles all family law cases for Vancouver and every other city and community in Clark County.

The court's jurisdiction covers dissolution, legal separation, custody and parenting plans, child support, spousal maintenance, domestic violence protection orders, guardianship, conservatorship, adoptions, and probate. The Presiding Judge is Hon. Derek J. Vanderwood. Court Administrator is Pamela Hartman Beyer. The Family Law Annex at 601 West Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver handles many family court hearings. The Juvenile Court Division is at 500 W 11th St., Vancouver, phone 360-397-2201.

The clerk's office is on the first floor of the courthouse. Public review hours are 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. A computer terminal is available in the lobby for looking up case numbers and doing basic records checks. Documents from 1996 to the present are on OnBase and can be viewed at public terminals. Confidential files such as adoptions are not open to the public.

E-Filing at Clark County Superior Court

Clark County Superior Court has an electronic filing system open to attorneys, schools, guardians ad litem, and government agencies. Self-represented Vancouver residents cannot use e-filing. They must file in person at the clerk's office. Attorneys register by emailing a completed registration form to efilereg@clark.wa.gov. Before e-filing a new case, send the Case Information Cover Sheet, a copy of the petition, and the Confidential Information Form to newefiledcase@clark.wa.gov.

Call 564-397-2298 to pay filing fees before submitting any documents that require payment. E-check is the accepted payment method for e-filed documents. Mail or in-person payments are not accepted for documents submitted through the e-filing system. The Clark County e-filing page at clark.wa.gov/clerk/electronic-filing-superior-court has the current registration form and all instructions.

The e-filing page covers registration requirements, document submission steps, and payment procedures for Vancouver attorneys filing at Clark County Superior Court.

Search Vancouver Family Court Records Online

The Odyssey portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov is the main online search system for Clark County Superior Court cases. Vancouver family court records appear there. Search by party name or case number. Smart Search makes partial name searches work better. Results include docket entries, case status, hearing dates, and party information for cases that are not sealed.

The Odyssey portal provides access to Clark County Superior Court case data for Vancouver residents, including docket history and party details for non-confidential family law cases.

The statewide search at dw.courts.wa.gov covers all Washington courts in one search. This is useful if you are not certain which county a case was filed in, or if you want to look for cases across multiple courts at once. Both online tools are free and do not require an account. They show case information but not the actual documents in the file.

Statewide Search for Vancouver Court Cases

The Washington Courts central search at dw.courts.wa.gov is a good first stop when you are not sure where a case was filed. It pulls in records from all Washington Superior, District, and Municipal Courts. Clark County cases for Vancouver residents are included.

Use the central search tool to locate a case, then contact the Clark County Clerk to order copies or request additional documents from the case file.

Getting Copies of Family Court Documents

The Clark County Clerk's office copies court records for anyone who requests them. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. Non-certified copies are 50 cents per page by mail or 25 cents per page by email. For documents from 1996 to the present, the clerk can copy to a CD for 25 cents per page plus $20 for the CD and postage costs.

Records before 1996 are on microfilm. These older requests may include an extra $30 search fee. Submit your Copy Request Form by email to copyrequests@clark.wa.gov, by mail to PO Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000, or in person at the first-floor clerk's office. Clark County Clerk Amanda Willden can be reached at 564-397-2292 or amanda.willden@clark.wa.gov with questions about fees and access.

Criminal case searches cost $5.00 each and are accepted only through regular mail. These cover Clark County criminal convictions back to 1979. They are separate from family court case searches and require a written verification form.

Filing a Family Law Case in Vancouver

Vancouver residents filing for dissolution proceed under RCW Chapter 26.09. Washington is a no-fault state. You state the marriage is irretrievably broken. No proof of wrongdoing is needed. File a Petition for Dissolution and Summons at Clark County Superior Court and pay the filing fee. After service on the other party or receipt of a signed Joinder, a 90-day waiting period begins before the court can enter a final order.

Cases with minor children require parenting plans and child support calculations under state guidelines. Washington courts may require both parents to complete a parenting seminar. Under RCW Chapter 26.12, courts can appoint guardians ad litem to protect children's interests in contested custody cases. Vancouver Municipal Court handles misdemeanors, traffic matters, and some protection orders, but family law cases do not go there.

Free forms are at courts.wa.gov/forms. Washington Law Help at washingtonlawhelp.org has free self-help materials in multiple languages. The Northwest Justice Project provides low-income legal assistance to Clark County residents at (888) 201-1014.

Certified Records and Other Resources

Certified divorce certificates are ordered through the Washington Department of Health at doh.wa.gov. Records from 1968 to the present are available for $25 per copy. No ID required. The certificate shows names, date of decree, and county. VitalChek expedited service is available for an extra fee. Note that a certified divorce certificate and a court-certified copy of the final order are different documents with different uses.

Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov has historical Superior Court cases for genealogy and legal research. Select Clark County from the dropdown. Records go back decades and cover cases not in the online court systems. JIS-Link at courts.wa.gov/jislink is a subscription tool for legal professionals needing regular court data access at $0.145 per transaction with a $13 monthly minimum.

Clark County Family Court Records

Vancouver is in Clark County. All family law cases go through Clark County Superior Court. See the county page for full clerk info and resources.

View Clark County Family Court Records

Nearby Cities

Other Clark County cities use the same Superior Court. Longview in Cowlitz County is to the south along the Columbia River.