Court records in King County, Washington, are maintained by the clerks of the Superior Court and District Court and are accessible through online portals, clerk's offices, and state resources. KingCourt.us provides convenient access to publicly available information about county court records. Additionally, records can be found through the KC Script portal, the Washington State court case search system, and directly at the court clerk's office.
King Court System Overview
King County is part of the Western Judicial District of Washington and is the state's largest county by population. The county's court system includes two main levels: the Superior Court (general jurisdiction court) and the District Court (limited jurisdiction court). The Superior Court handles serious criminal cases, civil disputes without a claim limit, family law, probate cases, and appeals from the District Court. The District Court deals with misdemeanors, small civil claims, traffic violations, and protection orders.
The main courthouse is located in downtown Seattle:
The second major court complex, the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, serves the southern part of the county.
Courts Serving King
King County Superior Court
King County District Court
The District Court operates through several divisions across the county:
U.S. District Court — Western District of Washington
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Western District of Washington
Municipal Courts
Many cities in King County have their own municipal courts, including Seattle Municipal Court, Bellevue Municipal Court, Auburn Municipal Court, and others. These courts handle violations of city ordinances and minor offenses within their respective cities.
What Types of Cases King Courts Hear
King County courts hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Felonies — Superior Court
- Misdemeanors and infractions — District Court
- Civil claims of any amount — Superior Court; up to $100,000 — District Court
- Small claims up to $10,000 — District Court
- Family law: divorce, custody, support — Superior Court
- Probate, guardianship, conservatorship — Superior Court
- Juvenile and child protection cases — Superior Court (Juvenile Division)
- Adoptions — Superior Court
- Traffic violations — District Court and municipal courts
District Court Cases in King
King County Superior Court hears all cases beyond the jurisdiction of the District Court. This includes serious criminal cases (felonies), civil claims over $100,000, appeals from the District Court, and post-conviction proceedings. Criminal cases reach the Superior Court after a preliminary hearing or prosecutor's charge. Cases are assigned to judges according to the court's internal rules. The Presiding Judge coordinates case assignments. Documents and audio recordings of proceedings are available through the KC Script portal.
Magistrate Court Cases in King
In Washington State, the District Court performs a function similar to a magistrate court. King County District Court handles misdemeanors, civil claims up to $100,000, small claims up to $10,000, traffic violations, DUI cases, and preliminary hearings in some cases. Information on fines and violations can be checked online. Due to high caseloads, certain District Court divisions specialize in specific types of cases — for example, the Seattle Division handles a significant portion of criminal misdemeanors. Case searches by number are available through the District Court e-filing system, and general case information is accessible through case access resources.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in King
Family Law
Divorce, custody determinations, support, paternity establishment, protection orders, and termination of parental rights fall under the jurisdiction of the Superior Court. Family cases are heard in the Unified Family Court Division, which operates in both Seattle and the Maleng Regional Justice Center.
Probate Matters
Probate, estate administration, guardianship, conservatorship, and trust cases are also under the Superior Court's jurisdiction. Filings are made through the court clerk, and most probate documents are public records.
Juvenile Matters
The Juvenile Court Division handles cases under the Juvenile Justice Act and Child Protective Act. Juvenile case records are confidential under Washington State law.
How Cases Move Through the King Court System
- Case Initiation: a criminal complaint, civil lawsuit, or petition is filed with the appropriate court.
- Judge Assignment: the case is assigned to a judge according to the court's internal procedures.
- Initial Hearings: in criminal cases — arraignment; in civil cases — scheduling conference.
- Pre-Trial Phase: motion filing, discovery, plea negotiations (in criminal cases) or settlement (in civil cases).
- Trial or Resolution: trial (bench or jury), plea, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: sentencing, appeal filing, court order enforcement.
The next hearing date can be checked through the Find My Court Date tool on the Washington State Courts website.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in King
The administration of King County courts is managed by the Presiding Judge and the Court Administrator. Local rules for the Superior Court and District Court are published on the respective court's official websites and govern procedural matters, including electronic filing and remote hearings.
Under Washington State's General Rule (GR) 31, most court records are public. However, some categories of records are restricted — including juvenile cases, sealed records, and certain family cases. Detailed information on access to court records is published by the Administrative Office of the Courts.
Requests for public disclosure of Superior Court administrative records can be submitted through the public disclosure page. The general King County public records program is governed by RCW 42.56 (Public Records Act).
Hearings in many cases are available remotely via video. Specific instructions for participating in online hearings are usually provided in the hearing notice or on the respective court's website.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in King
- Court Case Search: Washington State Courts Name and Case Search allows finding cases by name or number. This is a reference tool — official records are kept directly at the court.
- Superior Court Documents: through the KC Script Portal, you can view, download, and order court documents and audio recordings.
- District Court Records: case access resources include warrant status, sentencing conditions, and a filed documents index.
- Official County Records: online records search at the Recorder's Office covers documents recorded since August 1991. Copies of recorded documents can be ordered online or by mail.
- Arrest Warrants: check for District Court warrants through the warrants page. The Sheriff's Criminal Warrants Unit executes Superior Court warrants.
- Inmate Search: adults in local King County facilities can be found through Subject Lookup. State-level inmates can be searched through the Department of Corrections search.
- Criminal History: official criminal background checks are conducted by the Washington State Patrol based on fingerprints.
- Vital Records: certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued by the Washington State Department of Health. Marriage and divorce records can also be ordered separately.
- Property Information: the King County Assessor provides property assessment data, and the Parcel Viewer allows searching parcels on a map.
- Sheriff's Requests: the King County Sheriff's Office public disclosure unit processes requests in accordance with RCW 42.56.
For more information and convenient access to King County court records, visit KingCourt.us.