Skagit County Divorce Records Search

Skagit County divorce records are maintained by the County Clerk at the Superior Court in Mount Vernon. If you need to find a dissolution case, get certified copies of a decree, or search for older records, this page explains what is available and how to access it. Skagit County has around 135,000 residents and sits between Snohomish and Whatcom counties along the I-5 corridor. The Superior Court handles all family law filings for the county. The clerk's office keeps the official record and is the primary point of contact for dissolution case requests.

Skagit County Clerk and Superior Court

The Skagit County Clerk is an independent elected official whose role is defined by the Washington State Constitution. The clerk serves as the administrative and financial officer of the Superior Court and is responsible for receiving, processing, and permanently preserving all documents filed in Superior Court cases. This includes dissolution of marriage cases, as well as felony criminal, civil, probate, guardianship, paternity, adoption, and other matter types.

The clerk's office is at 205 W Kincaid, Room 103, Mount Vernon. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except nationally recognized holidays. The office does not have a fax number and does not accept fax filings. Passport acceptance hours run 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You can reach the clerk by email at supcrtclerk@co.skagit.wa.us or by phone at (360) 416-1800.

The Skagit County Clerk's office at 205 W Kincaid in Mount Vernon maintains the official court record for all dissolution cases filed in the county.

The Superior Court is at 205 W. Kincaid, Room 202, Mount Vernon, WA 98273, and can be reached at (360) 416-1200. Administration hours run 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Zoom access has been discontinued for most hearings. All court hearings and trials are conducted in person with limited exceptions. All court records and documents are maintained in the clerk's office.

Skagit County Superior Court

Skagit County Superior Court has four judges and several court commissioners. Judges include Heather D. Shand (Department 1), Laura M. Riquelme (Department 2), Elizabeth Y. Neidzwski (Department 3), and Mary K. Crandall (Department 4). Court Commissioners include Haley Sebens, Rebecca K. Carroll, and Mark A. Kaiman. The court handles felony criminal, civil, dissolution and custody, juvenile proceedings, paternity and adoption, probate, and mental commitment cases.

The Superior Court mission is to deliver fair, prompt, and understandable resolutions of legal disputes with equal access to justice. Court Facilitators Darcy MacKenzie-Mehlhaff and Esme Romero are available to help self-represented parties with family law matters. The Superior Court Administrator is Rosanna Wadkins at the address listed above. If you have questions about scheduling or local court rules, contact the administrator directly.

Skagit County Superior Court in Mount Vernon handles all dissolution of marriage cases for the county, with four judges and court facilitators available for family law matters.

Note: The court is accepting proposals for new local court rules until April 10, 2026. Submit proposals to Rosanna Wadkins at the address above or by email. Proposals must be received by 4:30 p.m. on the deadline date.

How to Search Skagit County Dissolution Records

To search dissolution cases in Skagit County, start with the statewide tools. The Washington State Courts Name and Case Search lets you search by party name or case number. Results update every 24 hours. The search site is for reference only. The official court record is held by the Skagit County Clerk. You can also use the Odyssey Portal to find case summaries, hearing dates, and party information for cases filed in participating Washington Superior Courts.

The Washington State Courts Case Locator provides another search option and covers all court levels including district, municipal, superior, and appellate courts. Search results include case numbers, parties, and filing dates, but not document images. For certified copies of dissolution documents, contact the Skagit County Clerk at (360) 416-1800 or email supcrtclerk@co.skagit.wa.us.

The Washington State Courts directory for Skagit County lists judges, commissioners, clerks, and court staff with contact information and departmental assignments.

For older records, the Washington State Digital Archives may have Skagit County dissolution records on file. Many county clerks have transferred historical records to the state archives. Search by county name and "divorce" to see what is available.

Skagit County District Court

The Skagit County District Court handles traffic infractions, misdemeanors, civil claims up to $100,000, and small claims. District Court does not handle dissolution of marriage cases. Dissolution is strictly a Superior Court matter. If you are looking for a divorce record, the District Court is not the right office. Contact the Superior Court Clerk at (360) 416-1800.

That said, District Court records may be relevant if related matters like domestic violence no-contact orders or criminal charges arise from the same circumstances. District Court Judges Warren M. Gilbert and Commissioner Patrick A. Eason oversee that court. The District Court Clerk's office is open from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Due to a staffing shortage, the court is temporarily unable to answer calls; use email for assistance.

Skagit County District Court handles civil and criminal matters below the Superior Court threshold. Dissolution cases belong in Superior Court, not District Court.

State Records and Certified Certificates

The Washington State Department of Health holds divorce records from 1968 to the present. You can order a certified certificate of dissolution from DOH for $25 per copy. The certificate confirms the divorce but does not include the terms. For the full decree, you need the Skagit County Clerk. Keep in mind that it can take up to five months after a divorce closes for the clerk to send the record to DOH. If your case is recent, go to the clerk first.

The Dispute Resolution Center of Snohomish, Island, and Skagit Counties offers mediation services for families going through dissolution. Mediators help parties communicate and work toward solutions on parenting plans, property, and other issues. The DRC offers sliding-scale fees and never turns anyone away for inability to pay. Contact information is available through the Skagit County Superior Court listing on the Washington Courts directory.

Filing for Dissolution in Skagit County

Dissolution cases in Skagit County are governed by RCW Chapter 26.09. Washington is a no-fault state. The only ground for dissolution is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. You file the Petition for Dissolution and a Summons at the Skagit County Clerk's office at 205 W Kincaid, Room 103. The filing fee is approximately $350. Either spouse must be a Washington State resident at the time of filing. There is no minimum county residency requirement.

Washington's 90-day waiting period applies. The dissolution cannot be finalized until 90 days after the petition is filed and served on the other party. Agreed dissolutions can be wrapped up at that point if all terms are settled. Contested cases take longer and may involve mediation or a court hearing.

Property is divided under community property rules per RCW 26.09.080. If children are involved, a parenting plan and child support order are required. The court facilitators can help self-represented parties understand the forms and process.

Legal Resources in Skagit County

Court Facilitators at Skagit County Superior Court help self-represented parties navigate family law cases, including dissolution. This free service is available to people who do not have an attorney. Contact the court administrator at (360) 416-1200 to ask about the facilitator schedule. Washington Law Help at washingtonlawhelp.org has plain-language guides on dissolution, parenting plans, and child support. Official court forms are at courts.wa.gov.

The Washington State Bar Association has a statewide lawyer referral service at (206) 443-9722. Their attorney directory is at wsba.org. Fee waivers are available for those who can't pay the filing fee. File a declaration of financial hardship with the petition. Eligibility is generally based on income below 200% of the federal poverty level or receipt of public assistance.

Cities in Skagit County

All dissolution cases for Skagit County residents are filed at the Superior Court in Mount Vernon. Other communities in the county include Anacortes, Burlington, Sedro-Woolley, and several smaller towns.

Nearby Counties

Skagit County borders several counties along the northwest Washington coast and inland. File in the county where you or your spouse lives.