Wahkiakum County Family Court Records

Wahkiakum County family court records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Cathlamet, Washington. The county's Superior Court handles dissolution of marriage, child custody and support, parenting plan modifications, adoptions, guardianships, and protection orders. You can search case information through the Odyssey Portal or contact the Clerk's Office in person or by phone to request copies of filed documents.

Wahkiakum County Superior Court Clerk

Wahkiakum County is the smallest county in Washington by total area, covering about 287 square miles along the north bank of the Columbia River. Despite its small size, the county operates a full Superior Court with a clerk, judge, and commissioner. The Clerk's Office is the official record keeper for all family law and civil cases filed in the county. Court records here go back to 1852, making it one of the oldest record collections in Washington State.

The County Clerk is an elected official under the Washington State Constitution and serves as ex-officio clerk of the court. The clerk must be present at all court sessions to maintain independent hearing records (minutes) that are available to the public. The Clerk's Office also collects and disburses monies for restitution, court costs, child support, trust accounts, garnishments, and fees, and manages jury administration for Superior Court.

The official Wahkiakum County Superior Court Clerk website describes the clerk's duties, office hours, and contact information.

The site also includes information on case types maintained by the office and the quasi-judicial functions the clerk performs, such as issuing writs of execution and orders of sale.

Searching Wahkiakum County Court Records Online

Wahkiakum County Superior Court participates in the statewide Odyssey Portal system, assigned Odyssey Code 35. You can search by party name, case number, or business name to find public case information. Basic case summaries and docket entries are available at no cost. Online search options for Wahkiakum County may be more limited than for larger counties, but the portal provides a starting point. For actual document copies, you need to contact the Clerk's Office directly.

The statewide search tool at dw.courts.wa.gov routes searches to the correct county system and covers all court levels across Washington.

This is a good first stop if you are not sure which system to use or if you want to confirm which county a case was filed in.

The Odyssey Portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov provides direct access to Wahkiakum County Superior Court case records with a Smart Search feature and Quick Reference Guide.

Public users can view non-confidential dockets and basic case information. Attorneys registered with the system can also e-file and access more detailed case materials. Note that online dockets may have minor display inaccuracies; contact the Clerk at (360) 795-3558 to confirm details or request certified copies.

Contacts for Wahkiakum County on the Odyssey system: Kay Holland and Jessica Reddon, both reachable at (360) 795-3558 or superiorcourt@co.wahkiakum.wa.us. For subscription-based access to district and municipal court records in addition to Superior Court data, JIS-Link charges $0.145 per transaction with a $13 monthly minimum.

Family Court Case Types in Wahkiakum County

Wahkiakum County Superior Court handles all family law cases filed within the county. Dissolution of marriage (divorce) and legal separation are the most common, governed by RCW Chapter 26.09. Washington is a no-fault divorce state; the only ground needed is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Either party must be a Washington resident or a member of the armed forces stationed in Washington. A 90-day waiting period applies after service of the petition before final orders can be entered.

Family court jurisdiction in Washington, including the appointment of guardians ad litem and courthouse facilitator programs, is established under RCW Chapter 26.12. Child custody and parenting plan cases are filed as part of dissolution actions or as separate parentage proceedings. Child support amounts are determined using the state schedule under RCW Chapter 26.19.

Adoption petitions follow RCW Chapter 26.33 and those files are sealed from public access. Dependency cases involving child abuse or neglect under RCW Chapter 26.44 are handled in the Superior Court but with restricted file access. Minor guardianships and probate guardianships are also filed with the Clerk. Protection orders, including domestic violence orders and anti-harassment orders, can be filed in either Superior Court or District Court. District Court for Wahkiakum County is located at the same courthouse address: 64 Main St, Cathlamet, WA 98612, phone (360) 795-3461. Judge Heidi L. Heywood serves as District Court Judge.

The Clerk's Office is responsible for keeping permanent records of all cases, including felony criminal, civil lawsuits, family law matters, probates, guardianships, and mental or alcohol commitment cases. The goal, as stated by the office, is "to protect the integrity and accuracy of the court records while serving the public and legal community in a courteous, professional, and expedient manner."

Filing Fees and Copy Costs

Filing fees in Wahkiakum County follow state law. Dissolution of marriage typically runs around $314 for cases without children and $364 for cases with children, though you should confirm exact current amounts with the Clerk before filing since fees change. Modification filings generally cost $56. Guardianship petitions run about $310. Fee waivers are available for low-income individuals who cannot afford the filing fee; ask the Clerk for the Order to Proceed In Forma Pauperis form.

Copy fees at Wahkiakum County: certified copies typically cost $5 per document plus $1 per page; standard non-certified copies run $0.50 per page. Contact the Clerk's Office at (360) 795-3558 for exact current rates and to submit a copy request. Include full party names, dates, and case numbers if known when requesting records. You may submit formal public records requests to the County Clerk under RCW 42.56. In-person requests can be made at the courthouse during regular business hours, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Electronic filing is accepted through the statewide eFileWA system. Attorneys may be required to e-file in civil case types. Self-represented parties may register for an e-filing account through the eFileWA portal. Each document must be a separate PDF file, letter size, no color or highlighting, and no larger than 30 MB. E-filing support from Tyler Technologies: 800-297-5377 or efiling.support@tylertech.com, 7 AM - 7 PM CST.

Divorce Certificates and Historical Vital Records

Wahkiakum County has one of the oldest vital records collections in Washington State. The County Auditor has birth and death records from 1891 to 1907, marriage records from 1868, and land records from 1858. The Clerk has court records from 1852 and probate records from 1890. For cases filed before 1968, contact the Clerk's Office directly or search the Washington State Digital Archives.

For divorce certificates from 1968 to the present, use the Washington State Department of Health. The DOH issues certified divorce certificates at a base fee of $25 per copy. Anyone can request one. Records include names, the date of decree, and the county where it was filed.

The DOH vital records portal handles both marriage and divorce certificates statewide. Mail orders take 6-8 weeks; VitalChek expedited service is available.

For pre-1968 records and historical research, the Washington State Digital Archives holds historical Superior Court case files, birth, death, marriage, and divorce collections going back to territorial times. Marriage licenses for current events are issued by the Wahkiakum County Auditor's Office. Both parties must appear in person with valid photo ID, and there is a three-day waiting period before the license is valid. It expires after 60 days. Divorce decrees (the full court order) are held by the Clerk of Superior Court.

Court Forms and Legal Help

Wahkiakum County Superior Court uses standardized Washington State forms, which are free to download from courts.wa.gov/forms. The site has fillable PDFs for divorce, legal separation, parenting plan modification, child support, protection orders, adoption, and guardianship. A "Guide and File" interactive tool helps self-represented parties build customized court packets without legal training. Forms must be printed single-sided on standard 8.5" x 11" white paper per GR 14. Some local Wahkiakum County rules may require additional forms or cover sheets; the Clerk's Office can clarify what is needed before you file.

For free legal information, Washington Law Help has guides in multiple languages covering divorce, custody, support, protection orders, and guardianship. The CLEAR hotline at 1-888-201-1014 provides legal aid intake for low-income residents, staffed by Northwest Justice Project attorneys who may be able to help with your case. Given the county's small size, in-person legal aid may require travel to a neighboring county. Attorney referrals are available through the Washington State Bar Association. Free or low-cost mediation may be available for parenting plan disputes through regional programs. The Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Office can be reached at (360) 795-3242 for questions about active warrant status related to your case.

Cities in Wahkiakum County

All family court filings for communities in Wahkiakum County go through the Superior Court Clerk in Cathlamet, regardless of where within the county the parties reside.

No cities in Wahkiakum County meet the population threshold for individual city pages. Communities in the county include Cathlamet, Skamokawa, Rosburg, and Grays River. If you live in any of these areas, file your case at the Superior Court Clerk's Office at 64 Main St, Room 106, Cathlamet, WA 98612.

Nearby Counties

Family law cases must be filed in the county where you live; verify your county of residence before submitting your petition.