Find Divorce Records in Grays Harbor County

Grays Harbor County divorce records are held by the Superior Court Clerk in Montesano. You can search dissolution cases through the statewide Washington Courts online system or visit the clerk's office in person to request copies of decrees, petitions, and other case documents. The county has about 75,000 residents spread across Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Ocean Shores, and many smaller coastal communities. All dissolution cases are filed in Montesano at the county seat, and the clerk's office processes requests from residents throughout the county. This page covers where to look, how to request copies, and what to expect from the process.

Grays Harbor County Superior Court Clerk

Kym Foster serves as the Grays Harbor County Superior Court Clerk. The clerk's role is described in the office's own mission statement as "Justice with Dignity and Speed." The position is best understood as the administrative and financial officer of the Superior Court. The clerk's office receives and processes all legal documents and exhibits filed in Superior Court cases, maintains court records, attends hearings and trials to make a record, enters judgments, processes appeals, and handles trust funds and support payments.

The office is located at 102 W Broadway Ave, Suite 203, Montesano, WA 98563. Phone: (360) 249-3842. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed on major holidays. Due to limited staff, response times may be longer than usual. Fines or filing fees can be paid by cash, cashier's check, money order, or business check. Personal checks are not accepted.

The clerk's office also provides assistance to victims of domestic violence and supplies mandatory form packets for domestic relations case types. You can reach the clerk online at co.grays-harbor.wa.us/government/clerk.

The Grays Harbor County Superior Court Clerk page has additional contact details for specific deputy clerks handling appeals, jury matters, and payoff inquiries.

The Grays Harbor County Superior Court Clerk website shows contact information, hours, payment methods, and the various clerk functions including divorce and family law record-keeping.

A Self-Help Office for Family Law is staffed by Julie Wade, Court Facilitator, at (360) 249-8174. This is a valuable resource if you need help with dissolution forms or understanding the process. The clerk's office cannot give legal advice per RCW 2.32.090, but the facilitator can assist with court forms and procedures.

Grays Harbor County Superior Court

The Grays Harbor County Superior Court is located at 102 W. Broadway Ave, Room 305, Montesano, WA 98563. The phone number is 360-249-5311. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to Noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The court hears felony, civil, domestic, guardianship, probate, juvenile, and dependency matters. Dissolution cases fall under the domestic relations category and are handled by the Superior Court.

Grays Harbor Superior Court consists of three full-time judges and one court commissioner. The court is a trial court of general jurisdiction with both original and appellate jurisdiction as authorized by the Washington State Constitution and state law. It also hears appeals from courts of limited jurisdiction, including Grays Harbor District Court and municipal courts in Aberdeen, Cosmopolis, Elma, Hoquiam, McCleary, Montesano, Oakville, Ocean Shores, and Westport.

The court's mission commits to the administration of justice in a fair, impartial, and timely manner. Visit the Superior Court page at co.grays-harbor.wa.us/government/superior_court for local rules and current notices.

The Superior Court page includes local procedures and case management information for family law matters.

The Grays Harbor County Superior Court handles all dissolution and family law cases filed in the county, with three judges and one court commissioner presiding over domestic relations matters.

How to Search Grays Harbor Divorce Records

The primary online tool for searching Grays Harbor County divorce records is the Washington State Courts Name and Case Search. This statewide system lets you search by party name or case number. Data updates every 24 hours at 3:00 a.m. The results show case information for reference but are not the official court record. If you need certified documents, you must contact the clerk.

You can also search through the Odyssey Portal. This system provides public access to case records for Washington Superior Courts, including Grays Harbor County. Use the Smart Search option, enter the party name last name first, and complete the Captcha. The portal shows case summaries, party names, hearing dates, and case status. It does not provide document images. For full copies of divorce decrees or other filed documents, contact the Grays Harbor County Clerk directly.

The Washington State Courts Case Locator is another statewide tool. It searches across municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts. Divorce cases filed in Grays Harbor Superior Court will appear here. Results include case numbers, parties, and filing dates. The database updates roughly every 24 hours.

For historical records, check the Washington State Archives Digital Archives. Many county clerks, including Grays Harbor, have contributed copies of their records to this archive. You can search by collection type, selecting "Divorce Records" or "Superior Court Cases" and entering a party name or case number.

Note: When requesting copies by mail from Grays Harbor County, include the case number, document title, your return address, and payment by cashier's check or money order. Personal checks are not accepted.

Divorce Filing in Grays Harbor County

To file for dissolution in Grays Harbor County, you file a Petition for Dissolution and Summons at the Superior Court Clerk's office in Montesano. Washington's divorce law is governed by RCW Chapter 26.09. The state is no-fault, meaning the only ground for dissolution is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. No proof of wrongdoing is needed. Either spouse can file, and the other cannot stop the divorce from proceeding once it is properly started.

After filing and serving the other party, a mandatory 90-day waiting period applies before the court can enter a final decree. If both parties agree on all terms, you can file an agreed decree at the 90-day mark. Contested cases may go through mediation or a trial before a judge enters the Decree of Dissolution. The decree covers property division, custody arrangements, child support, and any spousal maintenance ordered by the court. Once entered, the decree is the court's official record of the dissolution.

Property division in Washington follows community property rules under RCW 26.09.080. The court divides community property in a just and equitable manner. Assets owned before marriage or received as gifts or inheritance are generally treated as separate property.

A new fee schedule became effective July 27, 2025 for Grays Harbor County. The clerk's office is also excited to offer e-filing as a new option. Contact the clerk at (360) 249-3842 to confirm current filing fees before you submit your petition. The filing fee for dissolution is approximately $350 and covers various statutory surcharges.

The statewide court directory lists all judges and staff for Grays Harbor County Superior Court.

The Washington State Courts directory for Grays Harbor County lists judicial officers, the county clerk, and court administrators for Superior Court, District Court, and municipal courts across the county.

State Vital Records and Divorce Certificates

The Washington State Department of Health holds marriage and divorce records from 1968 to present. These are certificates, not full decrees. A divorce certificate confirms the dissolution occurred and lists basic identifying information about the case. Fees start at $25 per copy. If you need the full decree showing the terms of the divorce, you must request it from the Grays Harbor County Clerk, not the state agency.

It can take up to five months from the date of divorce for the county clerk to send the record to the Department of Health. If your dissolution was finalized recently, the state may not yet have it. In that case, contact the Grays Harbor County Clerk directly at (360) 249-3842 and ask whether the record has been sent. For older records, both the DOH and the Digital Archives are good starting points.

Note: If you were divorced in Grays Harbor County and need proof for a name change, new ID, or legal matter, a certified copy of the decree from the clerk's office is what most agencies will require.

Cities in Grays Harbor County

All dissolution cases in Grays Harbor County are filed at the Superior Court in Montesano, regardless of which city the parties live in.

Communities in Grays Harbor County include Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Ocean Shores, Montesano, Elma, Westport, Cosmopolis, McCleary, and Oakville. None of these cities currently qualify for a dedicated city page based on population thresholds, but all residents file dissolution cases through the Grays Harbor County Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

If you are unsure which county handles your dissolution case, check where you or your spouse reside. You must file in the correct county.