Skamania County Divorce Records
Skamania County divorce records are kept by the County Clerk at the Superior Court in Stevenson. If you need to find a dissolution case, request copies of a decree, or look up a court filing, the clerk's office at 240 Vancouver Ave is where you start. Skamania County is one of Washington's smallest counties, with around 12,000 residents along the Columbia River Gorge. The Superior Court here handles both criminal and civil matters, including all family law filings. The court shares its judge with Klickitat County, with the judge alternating weekly between the two county seats.
Skamania County Overview
Skamania County Clerk and Superior Court
The Skamania County Clerk is an independent elected official established by the Washington State Constitution. The clerk serves as the administrative and financial officer of the Superior Court. The office's purpose is to preserve the integrity of the judiciary by maintaining an independent record of the court's opinions, decisions, and judgments. Public access to the court record is a core function of the office.
The clerk's office is located at 240 Vancouver Ave, Stevenson, WA 98648. Mailing address is P.O. Box 790, Stevenson, WA 98648. Superior Court records are viewable at the public access terminal at the front counter. Copies can be purchased by cash, check, or credit card. The clerk's office also provides self-help resources, protection order information, e-filing services, and a will repository.
| Office | Skamania County Clerk / Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address |
240 Vancouver Ave Stevenson, WA 98648 |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 790, Stevenson, WA 98648 |
| Website | skamaniacounty.org/county-clerk |
The Skamania County Superior Court is presided over by Judge Randall C. Krog. Court Commissioner Vernon McCray and Court Administrator Pamela Bell round out the leadership. The court handles both criminal and civil cases. Because the state constitution allows the legislature to direct the number of superior court judges, Skamania and Klickitat counties share one judge who rotates weekly between Stevenson and Goldendale.
Filing and Court Procedures
Domestic form packets are available for purchase at the Superior Court Clerk's office for $25 each. These packets include the forms needed for an uncontested dissolution. If you need help completing the forms, self-help resources are listed on the clerk's website. Ex-parte orders may be submitted to the clerk's office along with a $30 fee. If you have a deadline for signatures, contact Court Administrator Pamela Bell first to confirm a judge will be available, since the judge alternates between counties.
Most Superior Court proceedings in Skamania County are electronically recorded. To purchase a copy of a court recording, complete the Request Form and send it with payment to the Superior Court Administrator. Include the hearing date, names of the parties, and the case number. The court lists approved transcriptionists on its website including Tammy Wooldridge, Amy Brittingham, and others. Electronic bench copies may be submitted up to 24 hours in advance with a limit of 10 pages total. For anything larger or submitted within 24 hours of the hearing, deliver hard copies to the court.
Superior Court fine payments may be made in person to the Skamania County Clerk, by phone at (844) 400-8874, or online at www.skamaniafinepay.com. You need your case number to pay by phone or online. Courtroom rules apply: no weapons, no food or drink, and all bags are subject to search.
The Washington State Courts directory lists the judicial officers, clerk, and court administrator serving Skamania County Superior Court in Stevenson.
How to Find Skamania County Dissolution Records
To search Skamania County dissolution records without visiting the courthouse, start with the statewide Odyssey Portal. The Skamania County records request page directs users to visit court.wa.gov under "access" and select Odyssey Portal for a basic case index without document images. This is a free public tool. You can search by party name or case number. For actual document copies, you need to contact the clerk's office.
The Washington State Courts Name and Case Search is another option. Search by party name or case number across Washington courts. The database updates every 24 hours. Keep in mind that information there is reference material only, not the official record. The official record is maintained by the Skamania County Clerk.
The Washington State Courts Case Locator covers all court levels in one search tool. It includes superior, district, municipal, and appellate courts. Search results show case numbers, parties, and filing dates. For document images, contact the clerk directly.
The Washington State Digital Archives is listed on the Skamania County records request page as an additional option for ordering records online. Older Skamania County dissolution records may be available there. Search by county name and "divorce" to find what has been digitized.
State Vital Records for Skamania County
The Washington State Department of Health holds marriage and divorce records from 1968 to the present. You can order a certified certificate of dissolution from DOH for $25 per copy. This certificate confirms a divorce occurred but does not include the terms of the decree. For the full decree showing property division, custody, and support terms, you need to contact the Skamania County Clerk directly.
The Washington State Department of Health issues certified certificates of dissolution for divorces that occurred in Washington from 1968 forward. Fees start at $25 per copy.
It can take up to five months after a dissolution is finalized for the county clerk to transfer the record to DOH. If your case closed recently, check with the Skamania County Clerk first before ordering from the state. You can also contact DOH online through their vital records page to confirm whether the record is available.
Dissolution Filing in Skamania County
Dissolution cases in Skamania County follow Washington State law under RCW Chapter 26.09. Washington is a no-fault state. The only ground for dissolution is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Either spouse must be a Washington State resident at the time of filing. You file in the county where you or your spouse lives. For Skamania County residents, that means filing at 240 Vancouver Ave in Stevenson.
The filing fee for dissolution is approximately $350. A domestic form packet for $25 is available at the clerk's office if you need the forms. Washington requires a 90-day waiting period after the petition is filed and served before the dissolution can be finalized. There are no exceptions. Agreed dissolutions can be completed at the end of the waiting period. Contested cases may take longer, especially given that the judge alternates weekly between Skamania and Klickitat counties. Scheduling hearings may require more lead time than in larger counties.
Property is divided under community property rules per RCW 26.09.080. The court divides community property in a just and equitable manner. Parenting plans and child support are required when children are involved. Spousal maintenance may also be ordered depending on the circumstances.
Shared Judge: Skamania County shares its Superior Court judge with Klickitat County. The judge alternates weekly between Stevenson and Goldendale. Contact Court Administrator Pamela Bell to confirm judge availability before setting hearings or filing time-sensitive documents.
Protection Orders and Related Resources
Washington State law allows a person to file a civil case asking a judge to issue a protection order. Skamania County handles all six types of protection orders: Anti-Harassment, Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, Vulnerable Adult, and Extreme Risk Protection Orders. Instructions and forms specific to Skamania County are available on the clerk's website. Submit documents to the clerk's office in person at 240 Vancouver Ave, by mail to P.O. Box 790, Stevenson, WA 98648, or by e-submission.
Skamania County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault advocate assistance is available by calling (509) 427-4210. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For non-emergency sheriff calls, reach the department at (509) 427-9490. Protection order filings are connected to but separate from dissolution proceedings.
Legal resources for Skamania County residents include Washington Law Help at washingtonlawhelp.org and official court forms at courts.wa.gov. The Washington State Bar Association runs a statewide lawyer referral service at (206) 443-9722. Their attorney directory is at wsba.org. Fee waivers are available for those who cannot afford filing fees; ask the clerk's office for the declaration of financial hardship forms.
Communities in Skamania County
Skamania County is a largely rural county along the Columbia River Gorge. Communities include Stevenson, North Bonneville, and other small towns. All dissolution cases are filed at the Superior Court in Stevenson. No cities in Skamania County meet the population threshold for a separate city page on this site.
Nearby Counties
Skamania County borders several counties in southwest Washington. If you live near a county line, confirm your address falls in Skamania County before filing.