Franklin County Divorce Records Search
Franklin County divorce records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Pasco, Washington. If you need to look up a dissolution case or get a certified copy of a decree, the Clerk's office is the place to start. Franklin County covers the Pasco area in southeastern Washington and is one of the more active county courts in the region. The Clerk's office supports seven Superior Court judges and five commissioners, which gives you a sense of the volume of cases handled here. This page explains how to search Franklin County dissolution records, what online tools are available, and where else to look if you need related documents.
Franklin County Overview
Franklin County Superior Court Clerk
The Franklin County Clerk is a constitutional officer whose role is defined under Washington State Constitution Article 11 Section 5 and Article 4 Section 26. The Clerk is the official record keeper for all Superior Court proceedings, including civil, probate, criminal, family law, juvenile, and other case types. Michael J. Killian currently serves as County Clerk. The office processes and manages court records for a large case volume given the county's population.
For divorce records, the Clerk's office is the authoritative source. All dissolution petitions, agreed decrees, final decrees, parenting plans, child support orders, and financial declarations filed in Franklin County Superior Court are stored here. You can call 509-545-3525 or 509-546-5805 to reach the office. Records may be viewed at the Clerk's Office and copies can be ordered in person or through a formal records request.
| Office | Franklin County Clerk of Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Phone | (509) 545-3525 |
| clerkrecords@franklincountywa.gov | |
| County Seat | Pasco, WA |
| Website | franklincountywa.gov/Clerk |
The Washington State Courts directory for Franklin County lists current judges. Judges Bronson J. Brown, Joseph M. Burrowes, David L. Petersen, and Diana N. Ruff currently serve Franklin County Superior Court. The court also has court commissioners who hear many routine family law matters.
Note: The Clerk's website states clearly that information provided is meant for general reference and that the office cannot guarantee 100% accuracy. Always verify critical details directly with the Clerk before relying on them for legal purposes.
The Franklin County Clerk page describes the office's role, mission, and services including court record access and passport services.
The Clerk's office in Pasco processes all dissolution filings for Franklin County and provides copies to the public on request.
Search Franklin County Divorce Records
For court records including divorce, you can contact the Franklin County Clerk at 509-545-3525. Records can be viewed at the Clerk's office in Pasco. The Franklin County FAQ page confirms that all divorce filings should be directed to the Superior Court Clerk's office and that divorce records are retrievable through that office. Bring the names of both spouses and the approximate year of filing, or the case number if you have it.
Franklin County offers an Enhanced Odyssey Portal for online case access. This is an enhanced records search system that provides more detail than the basic statewide search. To use it, you must register by completing a portal master registration form and a portal confidentiality agreement. A signed agreement is required for each individual requesting access. Send the completed forms and payment to the Clerk's office. There is a $50 modification fee if you later need to change your registration, such as adding staff access.
For a basic online case search without registration, use the statewide Washington Courts name and case search. This covers Franklin County along with other Washington counties. Results include party names, case numbers, docket entries, and case status. The site updates daily at 3:00 AM. It is reference material only, not the official record.
The Franklin County Public Records page also covers how to request Superior Court case file copies, audio recordings of proceedings, and other court documents. The GovQA online portal offers 24/7 access for submitting public records requests and tracking their status. For court-specific records, the Clerk is still the primary contact.
The Franklin County Public Records page outlines how to request Superior Court records and other county documents online.
Records requests can be submitted through GovQA or directly to the Clerk for court-related files including dissolution case records.
Electronic Filing in Franklin County
Franklin County Superior Court uses eFileWA for electronic submission of court documents. This system handles Superior Court filings only. E-filing through eFileWA is a separate service from the Enhanced Odyssey Portal. Registration and training are available through Tyler Technologies, which provides free videos, webinars, and documentation on using the system.
There is no fee to use eFileWA itself, though standard court filing fees and ecommerce transaction fees may apply. Court fee schedules are available at franklincountywa.gov/179/Court-Fee-Schedule. All filings must follow the eFileWA document order. Technical support is available by email at efiling.support@tylertech.com or by phone at 800-297-5377, Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CST.
Some things eFileWA cannot handle: ex-parte filings still follow the court's standard process, and judicial working copies must be submitted separately under local court rules. Case cover sheets and court forms are at franklincountywa.gov/238/Court-Forms.
The Franklin County Court Records page links to additional resources including the statewide Odyssey Portal for case searches, audio recording request forms, and daily audit reports. The Washington State Digital Archives link is also available there for historical records research.
Divorce Filing Process in Franklin County
Dissolution of marriage in Franklin County follows RCW Chapter 26.09. Washington is a no-fault state. Under RCW 26.09.030, the only ground for dissolution is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. No fault needs to be shown, and either spouse can petition regardless of the other's wishes.
To file in Franklin County, at least one spouse must be a Washington resident or a military member stationed in the state. You start by filing a Petition for Dissolution and a Summons with the Superior Court Clerk. The other spouse must then be served or sign a Joinder. The filing fee is approximately $350. Additional costs may apply for service of process, certified copies, and a parenting seminar if children are involved. Fee waivers are available through a motion and declaration for waiver of civil filing fees. You can get the forms from the Clerk or from courts.wa.gov/forms.
Washington has a mandatory 90-day waiting period from the date the petition is filed and served. There are no exceptions. After 90 days, if both spouses agree, an agreed decree can be submitted. If there is no agreement, the case may go through mediation or trial. Community property rules under RCW 26.09.080 govern how assets and debts are divided.
Tip: The Franklin County Help Me Find It page has a directory of services including who handles divorce filings, passports, parenting plans, name changes, and more, with phone numbers for each office.
Digital Archives and Historical Records
The Franklin County Superior Court Case Files collection at the Washington State Digital Archives is one of the larger county collections in the system. It holds over 2 million documents covering civil, criminal, divorce, and probate cases. Public access is restricted for adoptions, dependency cases, and mental competency matters. For those, contact the Franklin County Clerk directly.
Each case file contains documents filed by both parties and the presiding judge, including complaints, decrees, depositions, orders, and verdicts. Cases are ordered numerically by filing date. Documents are not previewable online before ordering. Contact the Washington State Archives, Central Regional Branch at (509) 963-2136 or cebrancharchives@sos.wa.gov if you have questions about a specific record before ordering copies.
For divorce certificates (not full decrees), the Washington State Department of Health holds records from 1968 to present. A divorce certificate is a short summary document. Fees start at $25 per copy. The Department of Health does not have the full decree. That stays with the Franklin County Clerk. Allow up to five months from the date of finalization for the record to reach the Department of Health.
The Franklin County FAQ page answers common questions about divorce filings, court records, and where to go for different county services.
The FAQ confirms that divorce records and civil filings go to the Superior Court Clerk at 509-545-3525, while marriage certificates go to the Auditor's office.
The Washington State Courts directory for Franklin County lists current judges and the County Clerk serving Superior Court in Pasco.
The state court directory is updated regularly and provides accurate contact details for Franklin County Superior Court staff.
Cities in Franklin County
Franklin County includes the city of Pasco, which is the county seat and where the Superior Court is located. Pasco is the largest city in the county. All dissolution cases filed by Franklin County residents go through the Superior Court in Pasco.
Other communities in Franklin County include Connell, Mesa, Kahlotus, and several smaller towns. Residents of those areas file at the Superior Court in Pasco as well.
Nearby Counties
These counties are adjacent to Franklin County. If you are not sure which county your case was filed in, check where you resided at the time. You file dissolution cases in the county where at least one spouse lives.