Lake Stevens Divorce Records

Lake Stevens divorce records are filed and maintained through the Snohomish County Superior Court. Residents of Lake Stevens who need to search dissolution cases, obtain a Decree of Dissolution, or look up case information can access records through the Snohomish County clerk's office or through Washington's statewide online court tools. Lake Stevens is a growing city in Snohomish County with around 44,000 residents. Dissolution cases are not handled by the city or by the Marysville Municipal Court, which shares jurisdiction over minor matters in Lake Stevens. All divorce filings go to Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett.

Where Lake Stevens Residents File for Divorce

Lake Stevens residents file for dissolution at the Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett. The Washington State Courts Snohomish County directory lists contact information for judges, clerks, and court staff. The courthouse is in downtown Everett. The clerk's office processes filings, handles copy requests, and manages all case records for dissolution cases in Snohomish County.

Washington requires that at least one spouse be a resident of the state at the time of filing. There is no minimum county residency period. Under RCW 26.09.030, members of the armed forces stationed in Washington also qualify to file here. Since Lake Stevens is entirely within Snohomish County, all filings go to Everett. The Lake Stevens Municipal Court and the Marysville Municipal Court do not handle divorce cases.

The clerk's office accepts payments by cash, check, money order, and credit card at the counter. All fees must be paid before filing per RCW 36.18.060, and they are nonrefundable. The fee schedule is posted online and updated periodically as state law changes.

Marysville Municipal Court and Lake Stevens

The Marysville Municipal Court has jurisdiction over traffic infractions, misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, and code violations for both Marysville and Lake Stevens. The court is at 501 Delta Avenue, Marysville, WA 98270. The main phone is 360-363-8050. Court hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed noon to 12:30 p.m.

This court does not handle civil cases, small claims, name changes, or divorce. Those matters go to Snohomish County Superior Court and Snohomish County District Court respectively. If you contact the Marysville Municipal Court about a dissolution, they will direct you to Superior Court. Protection orders also go through Superior Court, not the municipal court.

Most hearings at the Marysville Municipal Court are conducted via Zoom, with hearing links posted on the court calendar. The court clerk's email for records is selsner@marysvillewa.gov. The court offers warrant recall services and public defense screening through its website.

The City of Lake Stevens Public Records Request portal uses NextRequest for submitting and tracking records requests from city departments.

Divorce and court records are not available through the city's portal. Those requests go to the Snohomish County Superior Court Clerk in Everett.

How to Search Lake Stevens Divorce Records

The Washington State Courts Odyssey Portal covers Snohomish County Superior Court. Search by party name, case number, or attorney. Results include case summaries, hearing dates, and party information. You won't find document images, but you can confirm whether a case exists and get the case number to request certified copies. Most Washington counties use the Odyssey platform for case management, and Snohomish County is part of that system.

The Washington State Courts name and case search covers courts statewide and updates every 24 hours. Use it if you're not certain which county filed a case. The Washington State Courts case locator covers all court types, including municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts. Both are reference tools. The official court record stays at the Snohomish County clerk's office.

In-person searches are available at the Snohomish County Courthouse in Everett. Bring the full name of at least one party and the approximate year the case was filed. Staff can look up cases by name or number and provide copies. Uncertified electronic copies prepared by staff cost $0.25 per page. Self-service copies on the public lobby copier also cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. Authenticated or exemplified copies cost $9.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page.

The Washington State Archives Digital Archives holds older records transferred by county clerks. Snohomish County records may be available through the archive for older cases. Search by the Divorce Records collection and enter Snohomish County to see what's been preserved there.

The Marysville Municipal Court handles misdemeanor and traffic matters for Lake Stevens but does not hear divorce cases.

Dissolution filings for Lake Stevens residents go to Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, not the municipal court.

Snohomish County Filing Fees and Facilitator Help

The Snohomish County Clerk fee schedule became effective August 25, 2025. The filing fee for a Dissolution of Marriage, Domestic Partnership, Legal Separation, or Invalidity is $364.00. A Counter Petition in a Domestic Relations Action costs $310.00. The Family Court Facilitator User Fee is $25.00 per visit. Modification of a Snohomish County decree costs $56.00, while modification of an out-of-county decree costs $310.00. Change of venue for domestic cases costs $290.00 plus applicable copy fees.

The Snohomish County Courthouse Facilitator Program is in Room 1-525 on the first floor of the Snohomish County Courthouse. Facilitators assist self-represented parties in family law and adult guardianship cases. They can explain court process, review forms for completeness, calculate child support worksheets, arrange interpreter services, and help schedule hearings. Facilitators cannot give legal advice, attend hearings, or fill out forms for litigants. Anyone represented by an attorney is not eligible for facilitator services.

Walk-in hours for quick procedural questions are from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone hours for quick questions are from 10:00 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. To book an appointment for more detailed review, call 425-388-3795 and leave a message. A facilitator will return the call. The fee is $25.00 per visit, paid in advance with no refunds. Paperwork must be completed before the appointment.

The clerk's office sells self-help packets for divorce, legal separation, invalidity, modifications, and child support. Court forms can also be downloaded at courts.wa.gov. Northwest Justice Project partners with Washington Law Help to provide self-guided forms for family law matters at washingtonlawhelp.org.

Lake Stevens City Records Requests

The City of Lake Stevens uses the NextRequest online portal for public records requests. Once you submit a request, the city responds within five business days. If records are readily available, they may be provided right away. For complex requests or records with confidential information, the city provides an estimated availability date. Public disclosure requests are governed by the Washington Public Records Act, RCW 42.56.

For non-police records, the City Clerk's Office is at 1812 Main Street, PO Box 257, Lake Stevens, WA 98258. The phone is 425-622-9412. For police records, contact the Police Records Division at 1825 S Lake Stevens Road, phone 425-622-9401. The city prefers submissions through the NextRequest portal rather than by email or phone call. The public records requests themselves become public records once received by the city. Specific exemptions from disclosure are listed in RCW 42.56.230 through RCW 42.56.480.

City records cover things like council records, city code, police records, and other city department documents. Divorce records are not part of what the city holds. For dissolution records, contact the Snohomish County Superior Court Clerk in Everett directly.

Vital Records for Lake Stevens Divorces

The Washington State Department of Health maintains marriage and divorce records from 1968 to the present. They can issue a certificate of dissolution for cases that occurred in Washington. A certificate is a summary document, not the full decree. The full multi-page decree with all terms stays at the Snohomish County clerk's office. Certified or noncertified informational copies from DOH cost $25.00 each. Fees are nonrefundable.

For your actual Lake Stevens divorce decree, contact the Snohomish County Superior Court Clerk. It can take up to five months from the date of the dissolution for the clerk to send the record to the Department of Health. If your case is less than five months old, go straight to the clerk's office in Everett. The decree is the document most people actually need when proving the terms of a divorce settlement or custody arrangement.

Additional legal resources for Lake Stevens residents include Northwest Justice Project at (888) 201-1014 and nwjustice.org, and the Washington State Bar Association referral line at (206) 443-9722 through wsba.org. Washington requires a 90-day waiting period after the petition is filed and served before a dissolution can be finalized. Washington is a no-fault state under RCW Chapter 26.09, meaning no one has to prove wrongdoing. The sole ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken.

Snohomish County Divorce Records

Lake Stevens is in Snohomish County. All dissolution filings go through the Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett. For more on county court procedures, fees, and self-help resources, visit the Snohomish County divorce records page.

View Snohomish County Divorce Records

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Lake Stevens. Each one files dissolution cases through its respective county superior court.