Lewis County Family Court Records

Lewis County family court records are filed and maintained at the Superior Court in Chehalis. The court handles dissolution of marriage, legal separation, custody, parenting plans, child support, adoption, guardianship, probate, and juvenile matters. The County Clerk Scott Tinney manages all case files at the Law and Justice Center on West Main Street. You can search for records online through the Washington State Courts system or visit the clerk's office in person. Most family court records in Lewis County are open to the public under Washington State court access rules.

Lewis County Superior Court and Clerk

Lewis County Superior Court is a state trial court of general jurisdiction. It hears felony criminal matters, civil cases including family law and domestic relations, probate, guardianship, juvenile matters, and appeals from lower courts. Three judges currently serve the court: Judge J. Andrew Toynbee in Department 1, Judge Paul A. Strophy in Department 2, and Judge Joely A. Yeager in Department 3. The court is located on the 4th floor of the Law and Justice Center at 345 West Main Street in Chehalis.

The County Clerk Scott Tinney is on the 2nd floor of the same building. His office files and indexes all records for Lewis County Superior Court, collects filing fees and fines, and serves as the financial officer for the court. The clerk also handles passport applications and manages jury duty. The clerk's office is the right place to go for copies of family court documents, case status, and court forms.

The screenshot below shows the Lewis County government homepage, which links directly to Court Records, Superior Court, the Clerk's Office, and District Court services.

The homepage also links to online payment portals for Superior Court criminal payments and District Court fines, as well as marriage licenses, birth and death certificates, and public records requests.

Lewis County Superior Court Details

The Superior Court page at lewiscountywa.gov/offices/superior-court lists judge profiles, contact information, and recent news. The court has announced free legal clinics for fall and winter 2025, which can help people without attorneys understand court procedures. Updated Webex links for remote hearings started in June 2025. Always check the Superior Court page for the latest administrative orders and hearing changes.

The screenshot below shows the Lewis County Superior Court page with current judge information and news updates.

The court page includes a contact form for questions about procedures, scheduling, and other court matters. You can also find information about recent administrative orders there.

Family court cases in Lewis County are governed by RCW Chapter 26.09 for dissolution and RCW Chapter 26.12 for family court proceedings. Adoption cases fall under RCW Chapter 26.33. Protection orders for domestic violence and abuse follow RCW Chapter 26.44. Washington is a no-fault state, so either spouse can file for dissolution based solely on the marriage being irretrievably broken.

Lewis County Clerk Records Access

The Lewis County Clerk is an elected official under the Washington State Constitution. The clerk files and indexes all Superior Court records and serves as the court's financial officer. A new $50 surcharge will be added to most Superior Court filing fees effective July 27, 2025, due to recent legislation. The fee schedule on the clerk's website is updated on that date, with a link to the bill provided on the clerk's page.

The screenshot below is from the Lewis County Clerk's Office page with information on fees, services, and how to access court records.

The clerk page also lists online payment options, jury duty information, passport application services, and how to request copies of filed documents.

To get copies of family court records, contact the clerk by phone at (360) 740-2704 during office hours. You can also visit in person at the 2nd floor of the Law and Justice Center. Bring a valid ID and the case number if you have it. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. Payment for copies must be made in advance.

Note: Effective July 27, 2025, a new $50 legislative surcharge applies to most Superior Court filings in Lewis County. Confirm the latest fee total with the clerk before you file.

Lewis County District Court

The Lewis County District Court is on the 3rd floor of the same Law and Justice Center building at 345 West Main Street, Chehalis. District Court handles misdemeanors, infractions, small claims, and civil lawsuits up to $100,000. It does not handle dissolution or family law cases, but it does handle protection orders and some civil matters. The court is presided over by Hon. R.W. Buzzard and Hon. Wade S. Samuelson.

District Court customer service hours changed in March 2026. The front counter is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM, and Friday from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Phones are answered Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM, with the lunch hour closed. A 24-hour automated payment system is available at 1-844-534-9281.

The screenshot below shows the Lewis County District Court page with current hours, payment options, and judge contact information.

The District Court page includes an online payment portal through Point and Pay and a payment call center at 1-888-891-6064, available Monday through Friday from 5:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Legal Help for Lewis County Residents

Lewis County Superior Court posts free legal clinic schedules on its website. These clinics help people without lawyers understand court procedures and forms. The Administrative Office of the Courts has also launched a new webpage to help self-represented litigants navigate the court system.

Washington Law Help has free guides on divorce, custody, child support, protection orders, parenting plans, guardianship, and adoption. Forms are available at no cost at courts.wa.gov/forms. The Guide and File tool walks you through selecting and completing the right forms for your case type. All forms must be printed single-sided under GR 14.

If you need an attorney, the Washington State Bar Association's referral service is at (206) 443-9722. You can search their directory at wsba.org. For older historical records, the Washington State Digital Archives holds historical Superior Court case collections.

Cities in Lewis County

Lewis County's main communities include Chehalis, Centralia, Morton, Winlock, and Toledo. All family court cases for Lewis County residents are filed at the Superior Court in Chehalis. No cities in Lewis County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

If you are not sure which county handles your case, check the address where you live. You file in the county where you or your spouse resides.