Columbia County Dissolution Of Marriage

Columbia County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the County Clerk of Superior Court in Dayton. The clerk stores all case files for dissolution proceedings, including petitions, decrees, parenting plans, and financial documents. Columbia County is one of the smallest counties in Washington by population, but its Superior Court follows the same process and legal framework as every other county in the state. If you need to find a dissolution case, request a certified copy of a decree, or understand how the filing process works in Columbia County, this page covers what you need to know.

Columbia County Superior Court Clerk

Columbia County Superior Court is presided over by Honorable Brooke J. Burns, Judge. The Court Administrator is Adrianne Krull. An important detail: Columbia County Superior Court shares its Judge with Asotin and Garfield Counties. The Superior Court Judge alternates between the three county seats. This is common in smaller, rural counties in eastern Washington. Despite the shared judge, each county maintains its own clerk's office and its own set of court records.

The Columbia County Superior Court is a trial court of general jurisdiction. It has original and appellate jurisdiction as authorized by the Washington Constitution and state law. The court hears major criminal matters (felonies), civil cases including real property, domestic relations matters including dissolution of marriage, appeals from lower courts, and state administrative agency appeals. Superior Court also has jurisdiction over adoption, probate, and competency cases.

Kriston Chapman is the County Clerk. Felice Wiens serves as Deputy Clerk. The clerk's office goal is to protect the integrity and accuracy of the court records of Columbia County Superior Court while serving the public in a courteous and professional manner.

The Columbia County Superior Court page at columbiaco.com provides information on the court's jurisdiction, case types, and the clerk's contact information. The image below is from that official page.

The Superior Court page at columbiaco.com/Superior-Court lists the judge, court administrator, and clerk contact information for Columbia County.

How to Search Columbia County Dissolution Records

Columbia County Superior Court provides two options for electronic access to publicly available court records. For infrequent or one-time users, you can access records through the Washington State Digital Archives in partnership with the clerk. Available records online include civil, criminal (adult and juvenile), domestic, and probate/guardianship cases. Records that are statutorily confidential, court-ordered sealed, or otherwise restricted are not available electronically.

For frequent users, Columbia County offers a subscription to the Odyssey Portal. Annual subscription fees are tiered by office size: 1 to 3 employees pay $100, 4 to 6 employees pay $250, 7 to 10 employees pay $500, and more than 10 employees pay $600. Original signatures are required for all portal contracts. Allow two weeks for access to be processed. This subscription option is mainly for law firms and legal professionals.

For casual public searches, the statewide Odyssey Portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov is the easiest free option. Search by party name or case number to find dissolution case details. The system covers Columbia County Superior Court records.

In-person searches are done at the courthouse at 341 E Main Street, Suite 2, Dayton. Staff can search by name or case number during business hours. Bring identification and the name of at least one party in the dissolution case.

The Columbia County access to court records page outlines the two options (Digital Archives and Odyssey Portal), fees, and how to apply for remote access subscriptions. The image below shows that page.

More details about remote access, subscription fees, and application requirements are at columbiaco.com/Access-to-Court-Records.

Filing Fees and Costs

The filing fee for a dissolution in Columbia County is approximately $280. This fee is paid to the clerk when you file your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. As with all Washington counties, the fee includes state surcharges. Contact the clerk at (509) 382-4321 to confirm the current total before you file.

Fees for Digital Archives copies in Columbia County are $0.25 per page for non-certified copies, with a $1 Digital Archives service charge per document. Certified copies via the Digital Archives cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page, with the same $1 service charge per document. For copies obtained in person at the courthouse, standard copy fees apply: $0.50 per page for non-certified copies and $5 for the first page plus $1 per additional page for certified copies.

Dissolution certificates from the Washington State Department of Health cost $25. DOH holds dissolution records from 1968 to the present. There may be a delay of up to five months before DOH receives recent records from county clerks. Fee waivers for the filing fee are available through the court for those with low income. Forms are at the courthouse and at courts.wa.gov/forms.

What Dissolution Records Are Available

Columbia County Superior Court maintains complete files for every dissolution case filed in the county. A typical dissolution case file contains the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, the Summons, any Response from the other party, temporary orders, financial declarations, any parenting plan if children are involved, child support worksheets, property division documents, and the Final Decree of Dissolution. The decree is the key document that officially ends the marriage and sets the terms for all issues decided in the case.

Available records online through the Digital Archives include civil, domestic, and probate cases. Unavailable electronic records include those that are statutorily confidential, court-ordered sealed, or otherwise restricted. This means sealed financial declarations, records with personal account numbers, and records involving certain minor children's information won't be accessible to the general public.

Washington is a no-fault state under RCW 26.09.030. The only ground for dissolution is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. The 90-day mandatory waiting period from filing and service applies in Columbia County. Community property is divided equitably under RCW 26.09.080. Child custody is determined under RCW 26.09.187.

Getting Copies of Dissolution Records

To get copies of dissolution records from Columbia County, contact the clerk's office at 341 E Main Street, Suite 2, Dayton, WA 99328. You can go in person during business hours (8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, closed noon to 1 PM) or send a written request by mail. Include the case name, case number if you have it, approximate filing year, and a list of specific documents needed. Include payment for copy fees.

Certified copies of dissolution decrees include the court seal and a deputy clerk's signature. These are needed for name changes, immigration filings, loan applications, and other official purposes. Non-certified copies are cheaper but may not be accepted everywhere. The clerk at (509) 382-4321 can tell you which type you need for your specific situation.

For dissolution certificates (one-page DOH documents confirming the dissolution), contact the Washington State Department of Health. The fee is $25. Mail orders through DOH take six to eight weeks. VitalChek at 1-866-687-1464 handles faster requests.

The image below shows the DOH vital records page for ordering dissolution certificates for Columbia County cases finalized after 1968.

The county clerk holds the full dissolution decree. DOH holds the dissolution certificate. These are two separate records. Make sure you request the right one for your needs.

Legal Help in Columbia County

Northwest Justice Project serves Columbia County residents with free legal services for low-income individuals, including help with dissolution, custody, and child support matters. Call (888) 201-1014 or visit nwjustice.org. Columbia County is small and rural, so services may be provided remotely or through referrals to nearby offices.

WashingtonLawHelp at washingtonlawhelp.org has free self-help guides and downloadable court forms. The Columbia County Clerk's Office also provides a Community Resource List as part of its public services. Official court forms are at courts.wa.gov/forms.

If you need a private attorney, the Washington State Bar Association offers a statewide referral service at (206) 443-9722. Search for licensed family law attorneys at wsba.org. Child support rules are governed by RCW Chapter 26.19. For dissolution proceedings in general, RCW Chapter 26.09 applies throughout Washington State.

Cities in Columbia County

Columbia County is one of Washington's smallest counties by population. Dayton is the county seat and main community. All dissolution cases in Columbia County are filed at the Superior Court in Dayton. No cities in Columbia County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Columbia County is in southeastern Washington. It borders three other Washington counties. File your dissolution in the county where you or your spouse lives.