Clallam County Family Court Records Lookup
Clallam County family court records are held at the Superior Court Clerk's office in Port Angeles. The Superior Court has jurisdiction over all family law matters in the county, including dissolution of marriage, child custody and parenting plans, child support, legal separation, domestic violence protection orders, adoption, and minor guardianship. Residents can search Clallam County family court records online through the Odyssey Portal, request records by email, or visit the courthouse in person. This page explains the tools and steps for locating and obtaining family court records in Clallam County.
Clallam County Overview
Clallam County Superior Court Clerk
The Clallam County Superior Court Clerk maintains all family court records for the county. The clerk's office stores case files for dissolution, custody, support, protection orders, and other family law matters. You can view the clerk's official page at clallamcountywa.gov/223/Superior-Court-Clerk.
The screenshot below shows the Clallam County Superior Court Clerk's official page with contact details and services.
The clerk's page lists office hours, contact information, and links to court services for Clallam County residents.
Clallam County also maintains a dedicated page explaining how to request Superior Court records. That page, at clallamcountywa.gov/1934/Requesting-Superior-Court-Records, explains how to request records in person, by email, or through the online system. The screenshot below shows that records request page.
The records request page is helpful if you are not sure whether to visit in person, send an email, or use the online system. All three methods are valid for requesting Clallam County family court records.
Under RCW Chapter 26.12, the Clallam County Superior Court has full family court jurisdiction. The court can appoint guardians ad litem, order parenting seminars, set temporary and permanent orders, and handle all matters related to family law. Copy fees follow the statewide schedule: $0.15 per page for photocopies and $0.10 per page for scanned documents.
Search Clallam County Family Court Records Online
Two online tools cover Clallam County case searches. Start with the Washington Courts central search at dw.courts.wa.gov. This statewide system searches cases across all court levels and directs Clallam County Superior Court queries to Odyssey. The screenshot below shows the central search engine.
Some case details like dockets or judgment links may not show up correctly in the central search. For complete records, go directly to Odyssey.
The Odyssey Portal is the primary online access point for Clallam County Superior Court case records. You can search by party name or case number. The portal displays docket entries, hearing dates, case status, and document links for cases where public access is allowed. The screenshot below shows the Odyssey Portal.
If you have a case number with a hyphen and Smart Search is not working, try omitting the hyphen. Enter 2410 instead of 24-10. That often fixes the search issue.
Clallam County Family Court Case Types and Records
Clallam County Superior Court handles all family law matters for county residents. Dissolution of marriage is the most common case type, governed by RCW Chapter 26.09. Washington uses a no-fault standard: the only ground for dissolution is that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." There is a mandatory 90-day waiting period from the date of service before the court can finalize a dissolution. No exceptions exist to this rule.
The family court records you can access in Clallam County include dissolution petitions and responses, settlement agreements, final decrees, parenting plans, residential schedules, child support orders, temporary orders, protection orders, and modification filings. Adoption records under RCW Chapter 26.33 are sealed and require a separate process to access. Most other family court records are public and can be requested by anyone.
Child abuse and neglect cases under RCW Chapter 26.44 may have restricted access depending on the type of proceeding. If you are unsure whether a specific record is public, ask the clerk's office before making a trip or sending a request.
Filing Fees and Costs in Clallam County
Clallam County follows Washington State's fee schedule for family court filings. Filing a dissolution petition costs approximately $314. This amount reflects various statutory surcharges that fund court operations, facilities, and technology. The petitioner pays when filing the initial petition. The respondent may also pay a response fee when filing their response to the petition.
Other costs you may face include fees for service of process, certified copies of court orders, parenting seminar fees when children are involved, and mediation costs. Fee waivers are available for people who qualify based on income. Download the fee waiver motion and declaration forms from courts.wa.gov/forms and file them with your petition or as a separate motion. If you receive public assistance or earn below 200% of the federal poverty guideline, you will likely qualify.
Note: Confirm current fees with the Clallam County Clerk before filing. Fees are set by the state legislature and can change.
Divorce Certificates for Clallam County Divorces
Certified divorce certificates for Clallam County divorces from 1968 forward are available through the Washington State Department of Health at doh.wa.gov. Anyone can order without showing ID or proving a relationship. The base fee is $25. To order, provide one party's full name, the approximate date, and the county where the divorce was finalized.
Keep in mind that the DOH only issues divorce certificates, not decrees. The certificate is a one-page document on security paper confirming the divorce and date. If you need the actual dissolution decree with all its terms, that comes only from the Clallam County Superior Court Clerk. For pre-1968 events, contact the clerk directly or search the Washington State Digital Archives. VitalChek expedited orders ship in 3 to 7 business days. Mail orders through DOH take 6 to 8 weeks.
Legal Resources for Clallam County Residents
Washington Law Help provides free family law legal information for all Washington residents, including those in Clallam County. The site covers dissolution, custody, support, protection orders, and guardianship. Guides walk you through every step of the court process. Resources are available in English and Spanish. It also covers fee waivers, how to complete forms, and how to serve the other party.
Official family law forms for Clallam County are free at courts.wa.gov/forms. The Guide & File interactive tool helps you create completed forms through an online interview. Clallam County may have local rule forms in addition to the statewide set. Check with the clerk before you file to make sure you have all required documents.
The JIS-Link subscription service provides display-only access to Washington court records for researchers and legal professionals. It costs $0.145 per transaction with a $13 monthly minimum. This service is mainly used by attorneys and businesses rather than individual members of the public.
Nearby Counties
Clallam County is on the Olympic Peninsula in northwest Washington. The counties below border or are near Clallam County. File your case in the county where you reside.