Des Moines Divorce Records
Divorce records for Des Moines residents are filed and maintained at the King County Superior Court. Des Moines is a coastal city in King County with around 34,000 residents. If you need to search for an existing dissolution case, request a certified copy of a decree, or find out how the filing process works, the King County Superior Court Clerk handles all of that. The clerk has two locations, one in downtown Seattle and one at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, which is closer to Des Moines. Both locations can provide access to Des Moines dissolution records.
Des Moines Overview
Where Des Moines Residents File for Divorce
Since Des Moines is in King County, all dissolution cases are filed at the King County Superior Court. The family law division processes divorce, legal separation, and related family law matters for all King County residents. For Des Moines residents, the Kent location at the Maleng Regional Justice Center is often more convenient than the Seattle courthouse.
The King County Superior Court Clerk maintains the official records for all superior court cases in the county. That includes every divorce petition, financial declaration, parenting plan, and Decree of Dissolution filed by Des Moines residents. You can request records in person, by mail, or through the county's online portal. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 per additional page. Non-certified copies are $0.25 per page.
| Office | King County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Main Address | 516 Third Avenue, Room E609 Seattle, WA 98104 |
| South Location | Maleng Regional Justice Center 401 Fourth Avenue North, Kent, WA 98032 |
| Phone | (206) 296-9300 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | kingcounty.gov/courts/clerk |
If you do not know your case number and need the clerk to search for it, a $30.00 research fee may apply. Mail requests require a $10.00 deposit and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Sealed or confidential files require a court order before they can be released.
King County Family Law Facilitators
The King County Family Law Facilitator program at kingcounty.gov serves people from Des Moines who are handling their own dissolution case. Walk-in hours are 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, on a first-come first-served basis at either the Seattle or Kent location.
King County Family Law Facilitators at the Seattle and Kent courthouses assist Des Moines residents with self-represented dissolution cases at no charge.
Facilitators can review your completed forms, explain court procedures, help you find what documents you need, and run a child support calculation. They cannot fill out your forms, give legal advice, or assist people who already have an attorney. You must complete the Family Law Orientation before getting a facilitator appointment. Virtual appointments are available if you email your paperwork at least seven days in advance.
All official dissolution forms are free to download at courts.wa.gov/forms. The site has petition forms, summons, financial declarations, parenting plans, and every other document the court needs. WashingtonLawHelp at washingtonlawhelp.org provides step-by-step instructions for people filing without legal representation.
Des Moines Municipal Court
Des Moines has its own municipal court at 21630 11th Ave. S., Suite C, Des Moines, WA 98198. The court phone is 206-878-4597. Lobby hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This court handles traffic infractions, misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, and municipal code violations. It does not hear divorce or family law matters.
The Des Moines Municipal Court handles city-level violations and infractions but has no jurisdiction over divorce filings or family law matters.
For dissolution cases, Des Moines residents must go to the King County Superior Court in Seattle or Kent. The municipal court does offer online payment options for fines and fees and provides a Request for Court Records Form for its own case types. If you have a traffic matter or a misdemeanor from within Des Moines city limits, this is the right court. If you need a divorce, it is not.
Note: The King County District Court South Division at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent also serves Des Moines for misdemeanors and small claims but has no family law jurisdiction either.
Finding Des Moines Dissolution Cases Online
Several online tools let you search for Des Moines divorce records before contacting the clerk. All of them give you basic case data rather than full document images.
The Washington State Courts Case Locator searches across all state courts including King County Superior Court. You can look up by party name or case number. Results include the case number, party names, and filing date. The database refreshes every 24 hours.
The Odyssey Portal provides public access to King County case records. Search by name, case number, or attorney to find cases. The portal shows case summaries, hearing dates, and party details. King County uses Odyssey as its case management system. The Washington State Courts Name and Case Search is another statewide search option, updated daily at 3:00 a.m. For older records, check the Washington State Digital Archives, which holds copies of divorce records submitted by county clerks going back decades.
Dissolution Law and Process in Des Moines
Des Moines residents file for dissolution under RCW Chapter 26.09. Washington is a no-fault divorce state. The only required ground is that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." Under RCW 26.09.030, at least one spouse must be a Washington resident or armed forces member stationed here. There is no minimum time you must live in King County before filing.
You file a Petition for Dissolution and a Summons at King County Superior Court. The other spouse is served. If both agree on all terms, you can file an agreed decree and skip mediation. Contested cases may need a hearing before the judge signs off. Washington law requires a 90-day waiting period from the date of service before the decree can be finalized. Cases involving children also require a parenting plan and both parents must complete a parenting seminar.
If you want a short summary of your divorce rather than the full decree, the Washington State Department of Health holds divorce certificates from 1968 forward. These are not the same as the full decree. Fees start at $25 per copy. It can take up to five months after a divorce for the county to send the record to DOH. If your dissolution was recent, contact the King County Clerk first.
Northwest Justice Project at (888) 201-1014 offers free legal help to low-income King County residents with family law matters. The King County Bar Association referral line is (206) 267-7010 for those who need an attorney referral.
King County Divorce Records
Des Moines is in King County. All dissolution filings from the city are handled through the King County Superior Court. For more information on the county court system, search tools, and additional resources, visit the King County records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Des Moines. Most are also in King County and use the same superior court for dissolution cases.