Grant County Divorce Records

Grant County divorce records are filed and maintained at the Superior Court Clerk's office in Ephrata. You can search dissolution cases online through the statewide court system or visit the clerk in person to request copies. The county has roughly 98,000 residents spread across a wide rural area in central Washington. The clerk's office handles all Superior Court filings, including family law and dissolution matters, and has staff on hand to help you find what you need. If you live in or around Moses Lake, Quincy, Soap Lake, or other parts of Grant County and need to look up a divorce case or get a certified copy of a decree, this page walks you through the process.

Grant County Superior Court Clerk

The Grant County Clerk is an elected position established by the Washington State Constitution. Kimberly A. Allen has served as county clerk since 2006. Her office is responsible for processing and managing all Superior Court records and financial transactions, including juvenile court and civil commitment matters. The clerk's office supports three Superior Court judges and one court commissioner. Dissolution filings are part of the civil and family law caseload this office handles every day.

The clerk's mission focuses on compliance with all laws, rules, and policies tied to judicial and administrative procedures. Under state law, the clerk serves as the keeper of court records with a separation of powers from the judiciary itself. This means the clerk operates independently to preserve the integrity of all case files. That independence matters when you need reliable access to divorce records.

For divorce or probate record questions, contact the Clerk's Office at 509-754-2011, ext. 2845. You can also find the clerk online at grantcountywa.gov/302/Clerk.

The Grant County Superior Court page provides additional court information, including local rules and ex parte procedures. Ex partes must be presented in person or mailed to the Clerk's Office with a $30.00 fee. You can reach the Superior Court at 509-754-2015 or visit grantcountywa.gov/351/Superior-Court.

The Grant County Superior Court page shows local rules and current notices for litigants.

This screenshot shows the Grant County Superior Court website, which lists local rules, judicial officer contacts, and filing information for dissolution cases.

Search Grant County Divorce Records

Grant County uses the Odyssey case management system. To search divorce records online, go to the Washington State Courts Name and Case Search page. From there, follow the link in the gray note box that directs you to the Odyssey portal for Grant County. You can search by cause number or by party name (last name first). You'll need to complete a Captcha before submitting your search. If you search by cause number, make sure you select Grant County as the correct county.

The clerk's Forms page explains the Odyssey Portal access process in detail. Public users can use the portal without registering, but attorneys and law firms who need ongoing access must submit a Registration form and Confidentiality Agreement along with a $25 annual fee. The clerk also has a Request for Clerk to Search Court Records PDF and a Request for Copies PDF available on that page.

The Grant County Clerk page links directly to clerk services and resources.

The Grant County Clerk website details available services, forms, and procedures for accessing court records including dissolution filings.

You can also use the statewide Washington State Courts Case Locator to search across all counties. It shows case numbers, parties, and filing dates but does not provide document images. For certified copies, you must contact the clerk directly. The database updates approximately every 24 hours. If your case was filed within the last day or two, it may not yet appear in the search results.

The Odyssey Portal gives you direct access to Grant County Superior Court case records. Search by party name or case number to find dissolution and family law filings.

Note: Records found through online search tools are reference material only, not official court records. The official record is held by the Grant County Clerk.

Grant County Divorce Records in Digital Archives

The Washington State Archives Digital Archives holds copies of divorce records provided by county clerks across the state. This is the first digital archives in the nation to preserve electronic records of both state and local government. Grant County historical dissolution records are searchable through this system. Collections include Divorce Records, Superior Court Cases, Marriage Records, and more. Many county clerks have contributed copies of the records they hold.

To check if Grant County records are available, go to the Digital Archives search page, select "Divorce Records" from the collection drop-down, and enter "Grant County" as a search term. If you already have a case number, use the Detailed Search option and choose "Superior Court Cases" from the menu. Enter the case number with dashes and click Search. If the record has been scanned, a magnifying glass icon will appear next to the listing and you can order copies online. Non-certified copies from Digital Archives cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 per additional page.

The Grant County Auditor's Recording Department at 35 C Street NW, Ephrata, phone 509-754-2011 Ext. 2705, can record dissolution decree documents. The recording fee for a Marriage Dissolution Decree is $18.00 for the first page. Certified copy requests cost $3.00 for the first page, and regular copies cost $1.00 per page. You can reach the Auditor's recording office at grantcountywa.gov/272/Recording.

For fee schedule details, including recording fees effective July 27, 2025, see the Grant County Auditor Fee Schedule.

Grant County Public Records Requests

The Grant County Public Records office oversees compliance with the public records disclosure requirements of RCW 42.56. Under state law, a public record includes any writing related to the conduct of government or the performance of any governmental function. The Public Records Officer serves as a point of contact for members of the public requesting access to records.

When you submit a request, you must identify the records clearly. RCW 42.56.080 requires that requests be for identifiable records. A good request says something like: "Requesting a copy of the Grant County Superior Court dissolution decree for case number 24-3-00123-13." A vague request like "the divorce papers" will not meet the standard. Include the case number, the name of the parties, and the approximate year if you have them. The clerk can also help you find a case number if you provide name and approximate filing year.

The Public Records page at grantcountywa.gov/1175/Public-Records provides additional guidance and request forms.

The Grant County Public Records page outlines how to submit identifiable records requests in compliance with RCW 42.56, including requests for divorce case documents.

Filing for Divorce in Grant County

Dissolution cases in Grant County are filed at the Superior Court under RCW Chapter 26.09. Washington is a no-fault state. The only ground for dissolution is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Neither spouse needs to prove wrongdoing to get a divorce. Either party can file, and the other party cannot block the process from moving forward once it is properly filed and served.

You file the Petition for Dissolution and a Summons with the Grant County Superior Court Clerk. The other spouse must be served or sign a Joinder. After service, a mandatory 90-day waiting period begins before the court can enter a final decree. If both parties agree on all terms, you can file an agreed decree at the end of the 90 days. Contested cases may require mediation or go to trial. The Grant County Superior Court has three judges and one court commissioner to handle these matters.

Self-help divorce kits and form packets are available in the Superior Court Clerk's office. You can also get forms from courts.wa.gov/forms and from washingtonlawhelp.org.

The District Court in Grant County has two locations and handles certain related matters. District Court Judges are appointed by Superior Court Judges as commissioners of the Superior Court, which allows them to sign temporary and preliminary orders in some family law cases. The Grant County District Court page is at grantcountywa.gov/324/District-Court.

The Grant County District Court website outlines the court's scope and procedures for ancillary matters.

The District Court page explains the limited jurisdiction matters that District Court judges can handle, including temporary orders in family law cases as commissioners of the Superior Court.

Washington State Vital Records for Divorce

The Washington State Department of Health maintains divorce records from 1968 to present. These records are in the form of certificates of dissolution, not full decrees. A divorce certificate confirms that a dissolution occurred and lists the parties, date, and county. Fees start at $25 per certified or noncertified copy. Other fees may apply depending on how you order or the shipping method you choose.

There is a key difference between a divorce certificate and a divorce decree. The Department of Health can issue a certificate. But the full divorce decree, which sets out the terms of the dissolution including property division, custody, and support, is only available from the county clerk where the case was filed. If you were divorced in Grant County, the clerk's office in Ephrata has the decree. It may take up to five months from the date of the divorce for the clerk to send the record to the Department of Health. If your divorce was recent, contact the Grant County Clerk directly rather than the state agency.

Note: For Grant County divorce decrees, contact the clerk at 509-754-2011, ext. 2845. For a state dissolution certificate, use the DOH ordering page linked above.

Cities in Grant County

All dissolution cases in Grant County are filed at the Grant County Superior Court in Ephrata, regardless of which city the parties live in.

Other communities in Grant County include Quincy, Ephrata, Soap Lake, Warden, Royal City, Mattawa, and George. All dissolution filings go through the Grant County Superior Court system in Ephrata.

Nearby Counties

Grant County shares borders with several other central Washington counties. If you are unsure which county handles your dissolution case, file where you or your spouse reside.