Kittitas County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

Kittitas County dissolution of marriage records are held by the Superior Court Clerk in Ellensburg. The clerk's office manages all family law filings for the county, including dissolution petitions, decrees, parenting plans, and other court orders. If you need to search for a case, request a certified copy of a decree, or find out what was filed in a dissolution proceeding, the Kittitas County Clerk is your main contact. You can also search cases online through the Odyssey Portal or access digitized records through the Washington State Digital Archives.

Kittitas County Superior Court Clerk

Karen Bowen serves as Kittitas County Clerk. The clerk's office primary job is to file and index all records for Kittitas County Superior Court and Family Court. That includes dissolution of marriage cases, civil matters, criminal filings, and probate. All documents in a dissolution case pass through the clerk's office, from the initial petition through the final decree.

The Kittitas County Superior Court is on the second floor of the Kittitas County Courthouse at 205 W. 5th Avenue in Ellensburg. Two Superior Court Judges serve the county: the Honorable Chris Herion and the Honorable James D. Kirkham. The Court Administrator handles scheduling and assignments. Working copies can be submitted by email to sc.workingcopies@co.kittitas.wa.us. The Jury Administrator handles jury service matters separately.

The Kittitas County Digital Archives page provides access to case records going back to 2015. The screenshot below shows the Kittitas County Superior Court case files listing on the Digital Archives.

The Washington State Digital Archives holds Kittitas County Superior Court case files from 2015 to the present, including dissolution of marriage and other family law case types.

How to Search Kittitas County Dissolution Records

Start with the statewide Odyssey Portal for online searches. Click Smart Search and enter the party's last name first. The system returns case numbers, filing dates, and status for Kittitas County dissolution of marriage cases. Once you have the case number, you can use it to search the Digital Archives or request copies from the clerk's office.

The Kittitas County Superior Court case files on the Washington State Digital Archives include records from 2015 to the present, with the bulk from 2016 forward. Case types include civil, criminal, divorce, and probate. Public access to adoptions, dependency, and mental competency proceedings is restricted and not available online. Requests for those restricted files should go to the Kittitas County Clerk at 509-962-7531. Sealed or confidential documents are not displayed and cannot be purchased online.

In-person access is at 205 W 5th Ave Suite 210, Ellensburg. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to noon and from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Call 509-962-7531 or email clerk@co.kittitas.wa.us before going to confirm hours and what you need to bring. Staff can look up cases by name or case number and tell you what records are available. Bring a photo ID and, if known, the approximate year the case was filed.

Fees and Costs

Filing a dissolution of marriage petition in Kittitas County costs approximately $280. The petitioner pays this fee to the Superior Court Clerk when submitting the Petition for Dissolution. Fees follow Washington State law and may include local surcharges. Confirm the exact current total with the clerk's office at 509-962-7531 before filing, since fees can change with legislative updates.

Certified copies of a dissolution decree cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page of the same document. Non-certified copies run $0.50 per page. Certified copies carry an official court seal and are what most agencies and institutions require when you need to prove a dissolution of marriage. You will need a certified copy for name changes, updating financial accounts, and other legal purposes after the dissolution is finalized.

Fee waivers are available for those who cannot afford the filing fee. File a motion and declaration showing your financial circumstances. If you receive public assistance or your household income falls below 200% of the federal poverty level, you will likely qualify. Court forms are available at the courthouse or through the Washington Courts website.

What Records Are Available

Kittitas County dissolution of marriage records include the complete case file maintained by the Superior Court Clerk. The primary document most people request is the Decree of Dissolution. This is the court order that ends the marriage and sets out property division, parenting plan, child support, and any spousal maintenance. Most government agencies and institutions require a certified copy of this decree for legal and administrative purposes.

Other documents in a Kittitas County dissolution file may include the initial Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, the Summons, financial declarations from each party, any settlement agreements, interim court orders, and the parenting plan and child support worksheets if minor children are involved. Washington governs child support under RCW Chapter 26.19.

The Kittitas County case files on the Digital Archives cover records from 2015 to the present. Earlier records may exist in physical form at the courthouse. For pre-2015 cases, contact the clerk's office at 509-962-7531 to ask what is available. Most dissolution records are public. You do not need to be a party to request copies. Sealed documents or records involving adoptions, dependency, or mental competency proceedings are restricted.

Getting Copies

To get copies of Kittitas County dissolution records, call the clerk's office at 509-962-7531 or email clerk@co.kittitas.wa.us. You can visit in person at 205 W 5th Ave Suite 210 in Ellensburg during business hours. Staff will search by name or case number and process your copy request. Bring a photo ID. Certified copies are $5 for the first page and $1 per additional page. Non-certified copies are $0.50 per page.

For online access, search the Odyssey Portal to get the case number, then look up the case on the Digital Archives. Select Superior Court Cases, choose Kittitas County, and enter the case number with dashes. Records from 2015 forward are available there. Older records may require an in-person visit to the courthouse.

If you need a dissolution certificate rather than the full court record, order from the Washington Department of Health for $25. DOH holds dissolution certificates from 1968 forward. VitalChek orders typically arrive in 3 to 7 business days. The DOH certificate confirms the dissolution but does not include the terms of the decree. For the actual decree, go to the Kittitas County Clerk.

The Washington State Digital Archives also has historical records for a range of Kittitas County case types. Some records from the Digital Archives may be available without making a copy request through the clerk. Check both resources before visiting in person.

Legal Help in Kittitas County

Northwest Justice Project provides free legal help to low-income Kittitas County residents. Call (888) 201-1014 or go to nwjustice.org to check eligibility. They handle dissolution of marriage and other family law cases for qualifying residents throughout Washington State, including Kittitas County.

The Washington State Bar Association runs a statewide lawyer referral service at (206) 443-9722. Search their attorney directory at wsba.org to find family law attorneys serving Kittitas County. For self-help guides and court forms, visit washingtonlawhelp.org or download forms directly from courts.wa.gov.

Kittitas County dissolution cases 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" under RCW 26.09.030. Washington is a community property state. Property is divided under RCW 26.09.080. A mandatory 90-day waiting period applies after the petition is served, and the court cannot finalize the dissolution before that period ends. There are no exceptions to this requirement.

Cities in Kittitas County

Kittitas County's county seat is Ellensburg. No cities in the county exceed the threshold for a separate city page. All dissolution cases from anywhere in Kittitas County go through the Kittitas County Superior Court in Ellensburg.

Communities in Kittitas County include Ellensburg, Cle Elum, Roslyn, Kittitas, and Thorp. Dissolution filings for residents of all these communities go through the Superior Court in Ellensburg.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Kittitas County. File your dissolution case in the county where you reside. Kittitas County sits in the central Cascades region, bordered by King County to the west and Yakima County to the south.