Grant County Divorce Records for Moses Lake
Moses Lake divorce records are filed at the Grant County Superior Court in Ephrata, the county seat. If you live in Moses Lake and need to start a dissolution case, find an existing filing, or get copies of court documents, the Grant County Superior Court Clerk handles all of that. The courthouse is about 30 miles from Moses Lake, but case searches are also available online through state court tools. This page explains how to search, file, and get copies of dissolution records tied to Moses Lake and Grant County.
Moses Lake Overview
Grant County Superior Court: Where Moses Lake Cases Are Filed
All divorce cases for Moses Lake residents go to the Grant County Superior Court. The court is at 35 C Street NW in Ephrata, Washington 98823. Kimberly A. Allen has served as Grant County Clerk since 2006. The clerk's office supports three Superior Court Judges and one Court Commissioner. You can reach the office at 509-754-2011, with fax at 509-754-6099.
The clerk is responsible for processing and managing all Superior Court records and financial transactions, including all family law and domestic relations cases for Moses Lake. The office also handles Juvenile Court and Civil Commitment matters. When you file for dissolution, the clerk creates and maintains your case file. Every document filed, every order entered, and every hearing scheduled becomes part of that record. Copies of those records can be requested at the clerk's window in Ephrata.
| Office | Grant County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 35 C Street NW Ephrata, WA 98823 |
| Phone | 509-754-2011 |
| Fax | 509-754-6099 |
| Website | grantcountywa.gov/302/Clerk |
Record searches and copy requests go faster when you include the case number and the names of both parties. Ex parte orders must be presented in person or mailed to the clerk's office with the required $30.00 fee. Public access to family law files is subject to Washington court rules and any applicable confidentiality statutes.
Grant County Court Facilitator Program
Grant County offers a Court Facilitator Program to help people who are handling their own dissolution cases without an attorney. The facilitator is based at the Grant County Courthouse, Room 218, 35 C Street NW, Ephrata, WA 98823. Services are by appointment only. To schedule, call the Grant County Clerk's Office at 509-754-2011, extension 2810.
The facilitator can review your completed paperwork for completeness before you file, explain how the court process works, calculate child support when both parties' income figures are provided, and help you schedule hearings. The facilitator can also identify which mandatory family law forms your case needs, make referrals to other agencies, and clarify deadlines and local court rules. What the facilitator cannot do is give legal advice, fill out forms for you, tell you what to say in court, or assist anyone who already has an attorney.
The Grant County Court Facilitator page provides instructions for scheduling an appointment and lists what the program can and cannot help with for Moses Lake residents filing dissolution cases.
Self-represented parties are encouraged to use the facilitator program before filing a divorce or parenting plan case. It is one of the most useful free resources available to Moses Lake residents who want to file on their own. If you show up at the courthouse without your paperwork completed, the facilitator cannot help you on the spot. Have your forms ready first.
Moses Lake City Clerk and Public Records
The City of Moses Lake has its own City Clerk's Office that manages public records requests for city documents. The office is at 401 S. Balsam Street, Moses Lake, WA 98837. The phone is 509-764-3703, and the email is publicrecords@cityofml.com. The City Clerk acts as the public records officer and records manager for the city. The office records and certifies resolutions and ordinances, maintains the municipal code, and coordinates with Grant County Elections.
The Moses Lake City Clerk's Office manages city records and public records requests but does not hold divorce decrees or Superior Court case files. Dissolution records are maintained by Grant County.
The City Clerk does not hold divorce records or Superior Court documents. If you contact them looking for a dissolution decree, they will redirect you to Grant County. Public records requests for city documents go through the Public Records Officer at the address above. The city may request clarification for overly broad requests, and large requests may require a deposit before processing begins.
The City of Moses Lake government page lists contact information for all city departments and directs residents to the appropriate offices for various services, including public records and legal referrals.
Online Tools to Search Moses Lake Divorce Cases
You don't have to drive to Ephrata just to see whether a case exists. Washington State provides several online tools for searching dissolution records. These are good for basic lookups. For certified copies or full document access, you still need to contact the Grant County Clerk.
The Odyssey Portal gives public access to Superior Court case records across Washington, including Grant County. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney. The portal shows case summaries, party information, and hearing dates. The Washington State Courts Name and Case Search covers multiple court types at once and updates every 24 hours. The Washington Courts Case Locator is another statewide tool showing case numbers, parties, and filing dates. None of these provide document images. For actual copies, submit a request with the case number and party names to the clerk at 509-754-2011.
For older dissolution records, check the Washington State Digital Archives. The Archives holds divorce records, superior court cases, and other documents contributed by county clerks across the state. Search by county name and the word divorce to see what Grant County records are available. Some older files may be there when the online case search tools don't show them.
The Washington State Department of Health holds dissolution certificates from 1968 forward. A certificate of dissolution is different from the full decree. The DOH can issue a certified copy of the certificate for $25.00, but it does not have the full multi-page decree that explains the terms of the divorce. That document is only at the Grant County Superior Court Clerk.
How Moses Lake Residents File for Dissolution
Washington is a no-fault divorce state. The only ground for dissolution is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. You don't prove fault. You don't need to establish a reason beyond that. If either spouse says the marriage cannot be fixed, the court proceeds. This standard applies whether you file in Grant County or anywhere else in Washington.
To file, at least one spouse must be a Washington State resident or a member of the armed forces stationed in the state. There is no county-specific residency requirement. Once you meet that threshold, you file a Petition for Dissolution and a Summons at the Grant County Superior Court. The other spouse gets served with those papers or signs a Joinder. After filing and service, Washington requires a mandatory 90-day waiting period before the court can finalize the dissolution. This wait cannot be skipped.
If both spouses agree on all issues, including property, debts, and any parenting plan, the case can resolve as an agreed decree. Contested cases may need mediation or a hearing in front of the judge. All forms used in the process can be downloaded from courts.wa.gov/forms. The Grant County Clerk also provides forms and packets for common family law filings.
Note: If children are part of the case, Washington requires a parenting plan. Child support is calculated using state guidelines under RCW Chapter 26.19, which factors in both parents' income, the number of children, and other variables. The Grant County facilitator can help calculate child support if you bring income figures for both parties to your appointment.
Grant County Divorce Records
Moses Lake is in Grant County, and all dissolution cases are handled by the Grant County Superior Court in Ephrata. For a full overview of the county court, fee schedules, how to access records, and local legal resources, visit the Grant County divorce records page.
Nearby Eastern Washington Cities
These cities in Eastern Washington also handle dissolution cases through their respective county Superior Courts.