Lincoln County Divorce Records

Lincoln County divorce records are filed and maintained by the County Clerk at the Superior Court in Davenport. If you need to search dissolution cases in Lincoln County, you can start online through the Washington State Courts case search tools or visit the clerk's office in person. The clerk handles all domestic case types, including dissolution filings, parenting plans, and decree copies. This page covers how to search, what you will find, how to request copies, and what the filing process looks like for residents of Lincoln County, Washington.

Lincoln County Superior Court Clerk

The Lincoln County Clerk's Office was established to give the public open access to fair and accurate court records. It serves as the administrative and financial officer for the Superior Court. The clerk files and indexes all records filed in Lincoln County Superior Court, including dissolution and family law cases. Domestic cases are classified as case type 3, and the clerk maintains the file for the full life of each case.

The clerk's office handles a range of case types: criminal felony, civil, domestic and family law, probate, paternity, mental illness, and juvenile matters. For dissolution cases specifically, the clerk stores the petition, any agreements, the parenting plan if children are involved, financial declarations, and the final Decree of Dissolution. You can get plain or certified copies of any of these documents by contacting the office directly.

The Lincoln County Clerk's Office in Davenport handles requests by phone, mail, or in person. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays. The office address is 406 Sinclair Street, Davenport, WA 99122. You can also reach them at 509-725-1401.

The clerk's office is the primary place to get certified copies of dissolution decrees filed in Lincoln County.

Lincoln County Superior Court

The Lincoln County Superior Court actively manages its docket to provide fair and timely resolution of legal disputes. All dissolution cases go through this court. The court holds family law hearings on a set schedule. Tuesdays are the main law and motion docket days in Lincoln County Superior Court. Civil, family law, probate, and guardianship hearings take place on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. Criminal hearings follow at 10:30 a.m., and juvenile hearings are at 1:30 p.m.

The Superior Court in Davenport handles all dissolution filings and family law matters for Lincoln County residents.

If you need to present a court order for signature outside of a hearing, a $30 ex parte fee applies. This fee is charged each time an order is presented to the court outside the courtroom. For questions about court scheduling, contact Court Administrator Rena L. Hills at rlhills@co.lincoln.wa.us or call 509-725-3081.

Family law and dissolution matters are heard on the Tuesday docket in Lincoln County Superior Court.

Occasionally the court cancels a docket day. The court's website posts updates on cancelled or reinstated docket days. If you have a scheduled hearing and are not sure whether it is still on, check the Court Docket tab on the court's site or call the court administrator.

Searching Lincoln County Dissolution Records

There are a few ways to search divorce records in Lincoln County. The fastest starting point is the statewide Washington Courts case search tool. The Washington State Courts Name and Case Search lets you look up cases by party name or case number across all Washington Superior Courts. The site updates every 24 hours at 3:00 a.m. Results show basic case data but not full document images. If you want copies, you request them from the clerk directly.

Lincoln County cases are also accessible through the Washington State Courts Odyssey Portal, which gives public access to records in participating Superior Courts. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney. The portal shows case summaries, party info, and hearing dates. For full document copies or certified decrees, you still need to contact the Lincoln County Clerk.

The Washington State Courts Case Locator is another option. It searches across municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts statewide. Dissolution cases filed in Superior Court show up in the results with case numbers, party names, and filing dates. The database updates daily from clerk-entered data.

For older dissolution records, check the Washington State Archives Digital Archives. Many county clerks have shared copies of older divorce records with the state archives. You can search by county name and the keyword "divorce" to see what Lincoln County records may be available there.

The Washington State Courts directory lists judges, clerks, and court staff for Lincoln County Superior Court.

E-Filing Dissolution Documents in Lincoln County

Lincoln County Superior Court accepts electronic filings, but e-filing is not mandatory. Documents are still accepted in person or by mail at the clerk's office. The Lincoln County e-filing system lets you submit documents electronically for an existing case with an assigned case number. There is a $5.00 fee each time you e-file documents into a case. That fee covers an entire bundle submitted at once, not each individual document. Civil protection order paperwork can also be e-filed, and it has no $5.00 fee.

Wait to pay the $5.00 fee until the office reviews your documents and emails you to pay. If you do not get an email within two business hours, call 509-725-1401. Documents must be PDF format, letter-size 8.5" x 11", no color or highlighting, and each document should be its own separate file. A document is officially "filed" only after payment and review during clerk business hours. Submissions after hours are reviewed the next business day.

Some documents cannot be e-filed in Lincoln County. These include new case filings (except civil protection orders), orders that need a judge's signature, certificates of dissolution, original wills, subpoenas, trial exhibits, and writs. For those items, you must file in person or by mail.

Fees for Lincoln County Divorce Records

Filing a dissolution petition in Lincoln County costs approximately $350. This follows the standard Washington State fee schedule and covers various statutory surcharges. When you need copies of divorce records after a case is filed, the clerk charges separate copy fees.

For certified copies of documents, the fee is $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. Plain paper copies cost $0.50 per page. If you want electronic copies, the fee drops to $0.25 per page. If the clerk needs more than an hour to research a case, a $30 research fee applies. You can pay by mail with check or money order. No personal checks are accepted by the court for filing fees.

Fee waivers exist for people who cannot afford to pay. You file a motion and declaration for waiver of civil filing fees. If you receive public assistance or your household income is below 200% of the federal poverty level, you likely qualify. Forms are available at the courthouse and on the Washington Courts website.

State-Level Divorce Records for Lincoln County

The Washington State Department of Health holds marriage and divorce records from 1968 to the present. These are certificates, not full decrees. A divorce certificate, also called a certificate of dissolution, is a short document that confirms the divorce occurred. The Department of Health can issue one after the county clerk sends the record to the state. Fees start at $25 per copy.

Keep in mind that there can be a delay. It may take up to five months from the date of divorce for the Lincoln County Clerk's office to send the record to the Department of Health. If your dissolution was finalized recently, you may need to contact the clerk directly rather than the state agency. The Department of Health does not have full divorce decrees. For the decree itself, you go to the Lincoln County Clerk.

Legal Resources for Lincoln County Residents

Several resources can help Lincoln County residents with dissolution cases. If you need legal advice or help completing forms, consider these options. The Washington State Bar Association runs a statewide lawyer referral service at (206) 443-9722. You can search their directory at wsba.org. Northwest Justice Project serves low-income residents across Washington. Call (888) 201-1014 to ask about eligibility. Their site at nwjustice.org has more on the services they provide.

WashingtonLawHelp.org is a free resource with self-help guides for family law cases, including dissolution. It walks you through the steps, explains what forms you need, and links to official court forms. All official Washington State court forms are available for free at courts.wa.gov/forms. Using the right forms matters. Lincoln County Superior Court follows Washington State court form requirements.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lincoln County. You must file in the county where you or your spouse lives. Check your address if you are unsure which court handles your case.