Find Divorce Records in Clark County

Clark County divorce records are filed and maintained by the County Clerk at the Clark County Superior Court in Vancouver. The clerk's office keeps all dissolution filings, family law case documents, and certified copies of decrees for the county. If you need to look up a past dissolution case, get a certified copy of a decree, or check the status of a filed case, the Clark County Superior Court is your starting point. This page explains how to search Clark County divorce records, what you can expect to find, and where to get help.

Clark County Superior Court Clerk

The Clark County Clerk's office is the official keeper of all Superior Court records in Clark County. This includes divorce and dissolution cases, family law filings, civil cases, criminal cases, and probate matters. County Clerk Scott G. Weber oversees the office. The clerk's main office is on the first floor of the Clark County Courthouse in Vancouver.

The clerk's office provides certified copies of court orders and divorce decrees for a fee. A computer terminal is available on the first floor for routine records checks and to look up case numbers. Staff can help you confirm the case number before you submit a formal copy request. Some records may be restricted or sealed by court order and cannot be released without additional steps.

Visit the Clark County Clerk Access to Records page for current procedures, fees, and contact details.

The clerk's office first-floor terminal lets the public look up case numbers and verify filing information before requesting copies.

Note: Phone hours run 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Call before 4:00 PM if you need to speak to someone. The criminal division can be reached at (564) 397-2295 and the juvenile division at (564) 397-2073.

How to Search Clark County Divorce Records

You can search Clark County dissolution records online or in person. The statewide Washington Courts Name and Case Search is the fastest way to pull basic case details. You can search by party name or case number. Information on the site updates every 24 hours at 3:00 AM. Results are for reference only; they are not official court records.

For in-person access, go to the first floor of the Clark County Courthouse at 1200 Franklin Street. The public computer terminal there lets you search for case numbers and verify basic case information. Once you have the case number, you can request copies from the clerk's office window. The clerk accepts in-person requests and may accept mailed requests with proper payment and a self-addressed envelope.

The Washington State Courts Clark County Directory lists judges, clerks, and court administrators for Clark County. This is useful if you need to confirm court contact information or find the name of a specific judicial officer.

The Washington State Courts directory confirms judicial officers and contact information for Clark County Superior Court.

Older Clark County divorce records may be available through the Washington State Archives Digital Archives. Many county clerks have provided historical dissolution records to the state archives. Search by selecting the Divorce Records collection and entering Clark County as your search term.

Clark County Family Court and Facilitator

The Clark County Family Court handles all dissolution, legal separation, paternity, child support, and parenting plan cases. It is a division of the Clark County Superior Court. Family law cases are filed and heard at the Clark County Courthouse in Vancouver.

The Family Court division manages all dissolution and domestic relations cases filed by Clark County residents.

Clark County has a Family Court Facilitator who helps self-represented people through the divorce process. The facilitator is located on the first floor of the Clark County Courthouse at 1200 Franklin Street. Appointments start at 1:00 PM and end at 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday. You must schedule in person at the clerk's office counter. Phone scheduling is not available. A $20 user fee must be paid at the Clerk's Office before your appointment. Bring the receipt to the session.

The facilitator can tell you what mandatory forms to use, explain court procedures, review completed forms for procedural correctness, and point you to court rules and case schedules. They cannot fill out your paperwork for you, cannot give legal advice, and cannot help you if you are already represented by an attorney. Appointments are 20 minutes each.

Form packets are available for purchase at the Clark County Clerk's Office or the Law Library, or you can download them free at courts.wa.gov/forms. Packet costs at the clerk's office are: Dissolution or Legal Separation with children $50.00; without children $30.00; Modification of Child Support $30.00; Modification of Parenting Plan $30.00.

Clark County Divorce Filing Fees

Clark County follows Washington State's fee schedule for dissolution filings. The filing fee for a dissolution petition is approximately $350. This covers statutory court surcharges for court operations, facilities, and technology. The petitioner pays this amount when filing.

Other costs may include service of process, certified copies of the decree, and a parenting seminar fee if children are involved. Certified copies of the Decree of Dissolution are the most commonly requested record type. Contact the clerk's office directly for current copy fees, as rates may change.

Fee waivers are available for people who qualify based on income. File a motion and declaration for waiver of civil filing fees. People who receive public assistance or whose household income falls below 200% of the federal poverty level generally qualify. Forms for fee waivers are free at the courthouse or at courts.wa.gov/forms.

Note: Contact the Clark County Superior Court Clerk directly to confirm current filing fees before you file, as amounts can change by statute or court order.

Dissolving a Marriage in Clark County

Clark County dissolution filings follow RCW Chapter 26.09. Washington is a no-fault state. The only required ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Under RCW 26.09.030, at least one spouse must be a resident of Washington or a member of the armed forces stationed here. No minimum time in Clark County specifically is required.

The process starts when one spouse files a Petition for Dissolution and a Summons with the Clark County Superior Court Clerk. The other spouse is served with the documents. If both parties agree on all terms, they file an agreed decree. If they do not agree, the case may go to mediation or eventually to trial before a judge enters the Decree of Dissolution.

Property is divided under community property principles. RCW 26.09.080 directs courts to divide property in a just and equitable manner. Property acquired during the marriage is generally community property. Assets owned before marriage or received as gifts or inheritances kept separate are typically treated as separate property.

Clark County is one of Washington's largest and busiest court systems. Cases with contested issues around property, custody, or support may take longer to resolve than uncontested cases. Having all forms complete and correct when you file speeds up the process significantly.

Clark County District Court

The Clark County District Court is the court of limited jurisdiction in Clark County. It handles misdemeanors, traffic infractions, small claims, civil lawsuits up to $100,000, and protection orders. It does not handle divorce or family law cases. If you contact the District Court about a dissolution matter, they will redirect you to the Superior Court Clerk. Divorce decrees and family law files must be requested from the Superior Court Clerk, not the District Court.

District Court is located on the ground floor of the Clark County Courthouse at 1200 Franklin Street, Vancouver. Its phone number is 564-397-2424.

Washington State Divorce Certificates

For proof that a divorce occurred, the Washington State Department of Health issues divorce certificates going back to 1968. Fees start at $25 per copy. DOH holds certificates, not the full decree. A certificate confirms the divorce happened. The full Decree of Dissolution, which spells out property division, custody terms, and other details, must come from the Clark County Superior Court Clerk. If a divorce was finalized within the past five months, the clerk may not have sent the record to DOH yet.

Legal Help in Clark County

If you need legal help with a dissolution case in Clark County, several options exist. The Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program at ccvlp.org provides legal assistance for low-income residents. The Northwest Justice Project CLEAR line at (888) 201-1014 also handles family law matters statewide. Washington Law Help at washingtonlawhelp.org offers self-help guides and plain-language information on the divorce process.

The Washington State Bar Association operates a lawyer referral service at (206) 443-9722. You can search their directory at wsba.org. All mandatory court forms for dissolution are free at courts.wa.gov/forms.

Cities in Clark County

All cities in Clark County file dissolution cases with the Clark County Superior Court in Vancouver.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Clark County. File your dissolution case in the county where you or your spouse lives.