Spokane County Divorce Records
Spokane County divorce records are filed with the Superior Court Clerk and cover all dissolution cases, parenting plan filings, and family law matters handled in the county. If you need to search for a dissolution case, get a certified copy of a decree, or learn how the process works in Spokane County, this page covers the offices, fees, and tools you can use to get started. The County Clerk maintains these records going back many years and provides both in-person and online access options for the public.
Spokane County Overview
Spokane County Superior Court Clerk
The Spokane County Clerk's office handles all Superior Court records, including divorce and family law cases. The office is located at the Spokane County Courthouse at 1116 W Broadway Avenue in downtown Spokane. Staff can look up cases, make copies, and help you find what you need. In-person hours run from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Domestic Relations cases at the Spokane County Clerk include divorce, legal separation, parenting plans, and child support. The Clerk also manages civil cases, felony criminal records, juvenile records, probate, guardianships, and mental illness cases. If you need a record that goes back many years, the office also has an Archives Division for older microfilm files. Call ahead at (509) 477-2211 to check on older materials before you come in.
| Office | Spokane County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address |
County Courthouse, Room 300 1116 W Broadway Avenue Spokane, WA 99021 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 160, Spokane, WA 99210-0090 |
| Phone | (509) 477-2211 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM |
| Website | spokanecounty.org/192/Clerks-Records |
Search Spokane County Divorce Records Online
Spokane County has its own online case search tool. The Spokane County Court Document Viewer lets you search for Superior Court cases by name, case number, or filing date. Click the Superior Court tab and use the Find options to locate dissolution and family law matters. The viewer shows docket entries, party names, case status, and scheduled hearings. It does not let you download full document images, but it gives you enough to identify a case number before you request certified copies.
The page below shows the Spokane County Court Viewer, which is a solid first stop for anyone looking up a divorce case in the county.
Visit the Spokane County Court Document Viewer to search dissolution cases
The Court Viewer is updated regularly by the Clerk's Office. Basic case information is free and available to the public online.
You can also use the statewide Washington State Courts Case Locator to search across all counties. The locator covers municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts. It shows case numbers, parties, and filing dates but not full document images. The database updates about every 24 hours. For cases filed in Spokane, the locator links to Spokane County records. The Washington Odyssey Portal is another statewide tool for searching Superior Court cases including divorce and family law filings.
The screenshot below shows the Spokane County Government Clerk's Records page, where you can find guidance on how to request court documents.
View the Spokane County Clerk's Records page for document request guidance
The Clerk's Records page outlines what types of records are held in Spokane County and how to get copies.
Fees for Spokane County Divorce Records
Spokane County charges a $30 fee to search records. This fee applies when the Clerk's Office staff conducts the search for you. If copies are requested, copy fees apply on top of the search fee. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page of the document and $1 for each additional page. Non-certified copies cost $0.25 per page. These fees are set under RCW 36.18.016.
The filing fee for a dissolution of marriage petition in Spokane County is approximately $350. This amount covers required statutory surcharges under Washington State law. Fee waivers are available to those who qualify based on income. You file a motion and declaration showing your financial situation, and the court reviews your request. People who receive public assistance or whose household income is below 200% of the federal poverty level generally qualify. Forms for fee waivers are available at the courthouse or at courts.wa.gov/forms.
Note: Call the Spokane County Clerk at (509) 477-2211 to confirm current fees before visiting or mailing a request.
Divorce Filing in Spokane County
Divorce in Washington is called dissolution of marriage. You file at the Spokane County Superior Court. The process is governed by RCW Chapter 26.09. Washington is a no-fault state, meaning the only ground for dissolution is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Neither spouse can block the divorce.
You start by filing a Petition for Dissolution and a Summons with the Spokane County Clerk. Pay the filing fee at that time. The other spouse must be served with those documents or sign a Joinder. After service, the responding spouse has 20 days to respond (or 60 days if served outside Washington). Washington requires a mandatory 90-day waiting period from the date of service before the court can finalize the dissolution. There are no exceptions to this rule.
The page below shows the Spokane County Government website's Getting Divorced page, which outlines local procedures for those starting a dissolution case.
View the Spokane County Getting Divorced page
That page covers local steps, forms, and procedures specific to Spokane County Superior Court.
If both spouses agree on all terms, they can file an agreed decree. If they do not agree, the case goes through mediation or possibly trial. Property division follows Washington's community property rules under RCW 26.09.080. The court divides community property in a just and equitable manner. Anything owned before the marriage, or received as a gift or inheritance, is typically separate property.
90-Day Waiting Period: Washington law requires a 90-day waiting period after the petition is filed and served. The dissolution cannot be finalized before this period ends.
State-Level Divorce Record Sources
Beyond the Spokane County Clerk, there are several state-level resources for finding divorce records. The Washington State Department of Health holds marriage and divorce records from 1968 to the present. You can get a certified or informational copy of a divorce certificate from DOH's vital records office. Fees start at $25 per copy. Keep in mind that DOH holds divorce certificates, not divorce decrees. If you need the full decree with all the terms, you need to contact the Spokane County Clerk directly.
The Washington State Digital Archives holds older records that county clerks have transferred over. You can search the Digital Archives by selecting the Divorce Records collection and searching by county name. Many Spokane County divorce records from past decades are accessible this way. The Digital Archives is free to use online and is run by the Washington State Archives office.
The image below shows the Washington State Courts directory listing for Spokane County, which provides contact information for judges, clerks, and court staff.
View the WA State Courts Spokane County directory
The state court directory is maintained by the Washington State Courts Administrative Office and is updated on a regular basis.
Mediation and Legal Help in Spokane County
The Northwest Mediation Center serves Spokane and surrounding counties. It is a nonprofit that provides mediation, conflict coaching, and the court-mandated co-parenting seminar called "Sharing the Children." Services are offered on a sliding fee scale regardless of ability to pay. Their office is at 35 W Main Avenue, Suite 230, Spokane, WA 99201, phone (509) 456-0103. The NMC is one of Resolution Washington's 21 designated dispute resolution centers.
For free or low-cost legal help with dissolution cases, contact Northwest Justice Project at (888) 201-1014. They serve low-income residents in the Spokane area. The Washington State Bar Association has a statewide lawyer referral service at (206) 443-9722 and online at wsba.org. Self-help guides and all official forms are available free at washingtonlawhelp.org.
The Washington State Courts Name and Case Search lets you look up cases across the state by party name or case number. Results are updated every 24 hours and include case numbers and filing dates for dissolution matters.
Note: The Northwest Mediation Center also serves Whitman, Lincoln, Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties, making it a regional resource for Eastern Washington residents.
Cities in Spokane County
All dissolution cases in Spokane County are filed at the Spokane County Superior Court, regardless of which city you live in.
Other communities in Spokane County include Airway Heights, Cheney, Liberty Lake, Medical Lake, and Millwood. All dissolution cases in those areas are also filed with Spokane County Superior Court.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Spokane County. File your dissolution case in the county where you live.