San Juan County Family Court Records

San Juan County family court records are filed with the County Clerk at the Superior Court in Friday Harbor, covering dissolution cases, custody matters, parenting plan modifications, adoptions, guardianships, and protection orders for residents across the San Juan Islands. You can search case records online through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal or visit the clerk's office in person to request copies, review active files, or get certified documents for legal and personal use.

San Juan County Superior Court Clerk

The San Juan County Clerk's Office keeps all family court records filed in the county. This includes dissolution cases, custody and parenting plan filings, domestic violence protection orders, paternity matters, guardianship petitions, and adoptions. The clerk is the administrative and financial officer of Superior Court. Staff process new filings, collect fees, store case files, and provide copies to the public.

The office is located on the second floor of the courthouse at 350 Court Street in Friday Harbor. Regular hours run Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with a lunch closure from noon to 1:00 PM. Electronically submitted filings received after 4:30 PM are processed the next court day. The clerk's phone number is (360) 378-2163.

The San Juan County Clerk's Office also accepts credit card payments for fees, fines, and costs. You must have a case number to pay by credit card. Checks and money orders are also accepted for in-person and mail transactions.

The clerk's office screenshot below shows the services and court calendar information available on the county's official website.

You can confirm office hours, access the fee schedule, and learn about e-filing procedures through the clerk's website.

Search San Juan County Family Court Records

The easiest way to search San Juan County family court records online is through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal. This gives you access to Superior Court case indexes statewide. You can search by party name using the Smart Search feature, which helps match names even with spelling variations. Search by case number if you have one. The portal shows party names, case types, filing dates, and docket entries for non-confidential cases.

The Washington State Courts central search engine also provides a starting point. It links to court-specific search tools across all levels. For the most complete and current records, contact the Superior Court Clerk directly. Online systems may have display inaccuracies or lag behind recent filings.

For in-person access, court files can be viewed during office hours from 8:30 AM to noon and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Restricted or sealed files require a valid ID or court order to view. To request copies, fill out the San Juan County Superior Court Clerk's Document Request form, available on the county website at sanjuancountywa.gov.

Below is a view of the county's document request and file-viewing page, which explains how to submit copy requests and what to expect during the process.

You can print the form and bring it to the office, or email it to the clerk. Processing time is up to five business days for copy requests.

Note: If you do not have a case number, call the clerk at (360) 378-2163 with the confirmation code and the clerk can search by name.

San Juan County Family Court Fees

San Juan County charges a $364.00 filing fee for domestic relations cases, which includes dissolution, legal separation, and invalidity. A Family Court Facilitator fee of $20.00 is added to the filing fee. Modification of a decree in an existing San Juan County case costs $56.00. Parenting plan filings are $310.00. Paternity and termination of parent-child relationship filings are also $310.00 each.

Copy fees are as follows:

• Non-certified copy: $0.50 per page
• Certified copy: $5.00 for the first page, $1.00 each additional
• Authenticated/Exemplified copy: $6.00 authentication + $5.00 first page + $1.00 each additional
• Electronic copy by email: $4.00 flat fee plus $0.25 per page
• Hearing request audio file: $25.00 per individual hearing

Fees are non-refundable. Payment can be made in cash, cashier's check, law firm check, money order, or personal check. Credit card payments are processed through Point and Pay for a small processing fee. All fees must be paid in advance except by state and county offices under RCW 36.18.060. If you are out of town, mail a check or money order along with a self-addressed stamped envelope for copies to be returned to you.

Fee waivers are available for those who cannot afford court costs. Official court forms for waiver requests are available at courts.wa.gov/forms.

Court Facilitator Program

San Juan County offers a Courthouse Facilitator program to help self-represented parties with family law matters. The facilitator assists pro se litigants in understanding court procedures and completing the forms needed for their cases. This includes help with dissolution, parenting plan modifications, and other domestic relations matters.

The San Juan County Court Facilitator page describes the program's scope and how to access services. The facilitator does not give legal advice but can explain court procedures and point you to the right forms. The program is designed to improve access to justice for self-represented people in family court cases.

The facilitator program is a good first stop if you are handling your own case and are not sure where to start.

For broader self-help resources across Washington State, Washington Law Help offers free guides on divorce, custody, child support, protection orders, and parenting plans. The site also has multilingual resources and links to local legal aid organizations.

Family Court Records and Case Types

The San Juan County Superior Court hears family law cases on a regular schedule. The court calendar includes protection order hearings on Tuesdays at 9:00 AM and civil law and motion on Tuesdays at 10:30 AM. Special set hearings run at 1:30 PM on other days, only as set by court administration. Dependency and therapeutic court hearings alternate on Mondays at 1:15 PM. Juvenile criminal matters are heard Mondays at 2:30 PM.

Family court records in San Juan County cover several case types. Dissolution and legal separation filings are among the most common. The record set typically includes the petition, summons, settlement agreement or final order, financial declarations, the parenting plan (if children are involved), and the Decree of Dissolution or Legal Separation. Child support orders and spousal maintenance terms also appear in the decree.

Other family court matters handled here include paternity actions under RCW Chapter 26.26, guardianship petitions, adoption filings, and non-parental child visitation cases. All of these generate court records that are filed and stored by the County Clerk. Most are public records, but some documents are restricted under state court rules.

Under RCW Chapter 26.09, dissolution proceedings follow Washington's no-fault standard. The only required ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Washington is also a community property state, and the court divides property and debts in a just and equitable manner.

Note: Sealed records, adoption files, paternity records (except final orders), and certain juvenile non-offender records are not available to the public.

Legal Help for Family Court in San Juan County

Several resources are available for people dealing with family court matters in San Juan County. The clerk's office can help you find forms and direct you to the right filing procedures. The courthouse facilitator is available for self-represented parties. For legal advice, you will need to contact an attorney or a legal aid organization.

Washington Law Help provides free self-help guides on divorce, custody, child support, and domestic violence protection orders. The site covers parenting plan basics, relocation notices, and guardianship. It also lists courthouse facilitator programs by county and offers translated resources in multiple languages.

All official Washington State court forms are available at courts.wa.gov/forms. This includes dissolution packets, parenting plan forms, protection order applications, and modification packets. The Guide and File system walks you through filling out forms step by step. Local San Juan County rules may require additional forms, so check with the clerk before filing.

For historical research, the Washington State Digital Archives holds older Superior Court case records and pre-1968 vital records. You can search by record series and keyword. This is useful for genealogy and older case research that may not appear in the Odyssey Portal.

The Washington State Department of Health issues certified divorce certificates for cases from 1968 to the present. You can order through doh.wa.gov. The base fee is $25 per copy. These certificates confirm that a divorce occurred but do not include all the details found in the full court decree from the clerk's office.

Cities in San Juan County

San Juan County consists of island communities in the San Juan Islands. All family court cases for the county are filed at the Superior Court in Friday Harbor. No cities in San Juan County currently meet the population threshold for individual city pages.

Communities in the county include Friday Harbor, Eastsound, Lopez Village, and Roche Harbor. All family law matters for these areas go through San Juan County Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near San Juan County. If you live near a county border, confirm your residence to file in the correct court.