Find Divorce Records in Kittitas County

Kittitas County divorce records are filed and maintained at the Superior Court Clerk's Office in Ellensburg, serving a county of roughly 48,000 residents in central Washington. Whether you need to look up an active dissolution case, find an old decree, or get certified copies of court documents, the clerk's office at the Kittitas County Courthouse is the right place to start. Online searches through the statewide court systems can pull up basic case data, while in-person visits allow you to review full case files and order copies directly from staff.

Kittitas County Superior Court Clerk

Karen Bowen serves as the Kittitas County Clerk. The office is at 205 W 5th Ave, Suite 210, Ellensburg, WA 98926. You can reach the clerk by phone at 509-962-7531 or by email at clerk@co.kittitas.wa.us. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office breaks for lunch daily, so plan your visit around those windows.

The Clerk's primary job is to file and index all records for Kittitas County Superior Court and Family Court. This includes every dissolution case filed in the county. The office keeps permanent records of all civil, criminal, family law, and probate matters. Certified copies of court documents are available on request for the applicable fees. Staff provide services to attorneys, litigants, and members of the public who need to access court records.

The Kittitas County Superior Court is on the second floor of the courthouse at 205 W. 5th Avenue, Ellensburg, WA 98926. Two judges serve the court: the Honorable Chris Herion and the Honorable James D. Kirkham. Court Administrator Sarah Keith can be reached at 509-933-8306. The court handles dissolutions and all other family law matters for the county.

Searching Kittitas County Divorce Records

You have a few ways to search dissolution records in Kittitas County. Online tools give you case-level data fast. Visiting in person lets you review full files and get certified copies on the spot.

The Washington Courts Name and Case Search lets you look up cases by name or case number. Data refreshes every 24 hours at 3:00 a.m. Search results are reference material, not official records. They show party names, case numbers, and case status but no actual documents. The official record stays with the county clerk. If you need document copies, you have to contact the Kittitas County Clerk directly.

The Washington Courts Odyssey Portal gives public access to case records statewide, including dissolution and family law matters. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney. The portal shows case summaries, hearing dates, and party info. For full documents, request them from the clerk. The Washington State Courts Case Locator also searches across all court levels and updates daily from clerk-entered data.

The Washington State Courts directory for Kittitas County lists judges, clerks, commissioners, and administrative staff with direct contact details.

To search a case, you typically need the full name of at least one party and a rough filing year. A case number helps if you have it. In person, bring a photo ID. Staff can run the search and make copies. Photocopies cost $0.50 per page in some counties; certified copies are $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. Confirm exact fees with the Kittitas County Clerk when you request copies.

Kittitas County Digital Archives

The Washington State Digital Archives holds Kittitas County Superior Court Case Files from 2015 to the present, with most records from 2016 onward. Case types include civil, criminal, divorce, and probate. Each file contains documents filed by both parties and the judge, including decrees, orders, complaints, and pleadings. As of the last count, the collection includes over 469,000 documents.

Sealed and confidential documents are not available online and cannot be ordered through the digital system. Adoption, dependency, and mental competency files are restricted and must be requested from the Kittitas County Clerk's Office. For records not in the digital system, contact the clerk at (509) 962-7531. You can also reach the Washington State Archives, Central Regional Branch at (509) 963-2136 or at cebrancharchives@sos.wa.gov for questions about the collection.

Access to court records is governed by Washington State Supreme Court General Rule 31. Personal identifiers may sometimes appear in records, and the responsibility for redacting them rests with the parties and their attorneys, not the clerk or the court. Original records remain at the Kittitas County Clerk's Office in Ellensburg.

Divorce Certificates from the State

The Washington State Department of Health holds divorce records from 1968 to the present. It can issue a divorce certificate, which is a short document confirming a marriage ended. The fee starts at $25 per copy. The DOH does not have the full divorce decree. That document comes only from the county clerk where the case was filed.

The Washington State DOH vital records page covers ordering divorce certificates, marriage records, and related documents from the state office.

Wait times matter. It can take up to five months from the date of divorce for the county clerk to send the record to the DOH. If your divorce was finalized in the last five months, start with the Kittitas County Clerk rather than the state. The clerk can confirm whether the record has been sent yet.

District Courts in Kittitas County

Kittitas County has two district courts. Neither one handles divorce filings, which go to Superior Court. But they are relevant for related matters like name changes, protection orders, and small claims.

The Upper Kittitas County District Court is in Cle Elum at 700 E 1st St, Cle Elum, WA 98922. Phone: 509-674-5533. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Judge Craig Juris presides. It serves Cle Elum, Roslyn, and surrounding upper county areas.

The Lower Kittitas County District Court is at 205 W 5th Ave, Suite 180, Ellensburg, WA 98926. Phone: 509-962-7511. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Judge Paul R. Sander presides. This court handles traffic, criminal misdemeanors, civil matters, and protection orders for the Ellensburg and Kittitas areas. Both courts have authority to hear name change petitions and protection orders that sometimes relate to dissolution proceedings.

Legal Help in Kittitas County

Self-represented litigants in Kittitas County can find help through several channels. The Northwest Justice Project / CLEAR line at 1-888-201-1014 provides free legal help for low-income residents. Washington Law Help at washingtonlawhelp.org has self-help guides and instructions for completing dissolution forms. Official forms are available through the Washington Courts website.

The Kittitas County Superior Court also lists resources for self-represented parties through the Administrative Office of the Courts at courts.wa.gov. All dissolution cases in Washington are governed by RCW Chapter 26.09, which covers filing requirements, residency rules, the 90-day waiting period, and property division standards. Washington is a no-fault and community property state. The only ground for dissolution is that the marriage is irretrievably broken.

Communities in Kittitas County

All dissolution cases in Kittitas County are filed at the Superior Court in Ellensburg. Communities in the county include Ellensburg, Cle Elum, Roslyn, Kittitas, and several smaller towns. None of the cities in Kittitas County meets the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Kittitas County. File for dissolution in the county where you or your spouse lives.