Search Klickitat County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

Klickitat County dissolution of marriage records are held by the Superior Court Clerk in Goldendale. The clerk's office processes and stores all family law filings for the county, including dissolution petitions, decrees, parenting plans, and related court orders. If you need to look up a dissolution case, get a certified copy of a decree, or verify what was filed in a Klickitat County dissolution proceeding, the clerk's office is your main source. You can also search cases online through the Odyssey Portal or access older records through the Washington State Digital Archives.

Klickitat County Superior Court Clerk

The Klickitat County Clerk serves multiple roles in the court system. As Administrator of Court Records and Exhibits, the clerk receives and processes all documents presented in superior court cases, including filing, classification, assignment of cause numbers, computerized docketing, and calendaring. The clerk also acts as Financial Officer for the Courts, collecting statutory fees, fines, trust funds, and support funds, and maintaining a computerized accounting system. In addition, the clerk is a Quasi-Judicial Officer, authorized to issue writs, subpoenas, warrants, garnishments, and other legal instruments.

The clerk's presence is required at all court sessions as Ex Officio Clerk of the Court, establishing a record of proceedings. The clerk also manages jury summonses and maintains the randomly selected pool of jurors. The Klickitat County Clerk is also an authorized agent for accepting passport applications. For dissolution of marriage records specifically, the clerk is where you go to file, access, and get copies of case documents.

The Klickitat County Clerk's What We Do page outlines the full scope of the clerk's responsibilities including record management, financial duties, and quasi-judicial functions. The screenshot below shows that page.

The Klickitat County Clerk's page explains the office's role in maintaining court records including dissolution of marriage filings and in managing the financial and administrative functions of the Superior Court.

How to Search Klickitat County Dissolution Records

The statewide Odyssey Portal is the best place to start searching online. Use Smart Search and enter the party's last name first. The portal returns case numbers, filing dates, and status for Klickitat County dissolution of marriage cases. If you find a match, note the case number for follow-up with the clerk or the Digital Archives.

The Klickitat County Superior Court case files on the Washington State Digital Archives contain official documentation for all types of cases tried in Klickitat County Superior Court, including civil, criminal, divorce, and probate. The database holds over 404,000 records. Each case file contains awards, complaints, decrees, depositions, orders, pleadings, sentences, and verdicts. Case documents are not previewable online, but you can search by case number and make copy requests. Sealed or confidential documents cannot be viewed or purchased online. Public access to adoptions, dependency, and mental competency cases is restricted.

In-person searches are at 205 S Columbus Ave in Goldendale. Contact the clerk's office to confirm current hours before visiting. Staff can look up dissolution records by name or case number. Bring a photo ID and, if possible, the approximate year the case was filed. Klickitat is a small county, so staff are generally able to process requests without long wait times.

Fees and Costs

The filing fee for a dissolution of marriage in Klickitat County is approximately $280. This is paid to the clerk when you file the Petition for Dissolution. Washington State law sets the base fee schedule, and local surcharges may apply. Confirm the exact current amount with the clerk's office before submitting your petition.

Certified copies of a dissolution decree cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page of the same document. Non-certified plain copies run $0.50 per page. Most legal and government purposes require a certified copy with an official court seal. You will need it to update your name, close financial accounts, or prove marital status to an agency or institution.

Fee waivers are available for those who cannot afford to pay. File a motion and declaration with the court showing your financial situation. If you receive public assistance or your income is below 200% of the federal poverty level, you will likely qualify. Forms are at the courthouse or through courts.wa.gov. Public records access in Washington is governed by RCW 42.56 and General Rule 31.

What Records Are Available

The Klickitat County Superior Court Clerk holds all dissolution of marriage case files for the county. The Digital Archives database for Klickitat County Superior Court contains more than 404,000 records. Each case file may include awards, complaints, decrees, depositions, orders, pleadings, sentences, and verdicts. The Decree of Dissolution is the primary document most people need. It formally ends the marriage and sets the terms for property division, parenting plans, child support, and spousal maintenance if ordered.

Other documents in the file may include the Petition for Dissolution, the Summons, financial declarations, settlement agreements, interim orders, and parenting plan worksheets. Washington handles child support under RCW Chapter 26.19. Washington is a community property state, and property division in dissolution cases follows RCW 26.09.080.

Most dissolution records are public. You do not have to be a party to the case to request copies. Sealed documents and proceedings involving adoptions, dependency, or mental competency are restricted and not available to the public. The clerk's office can advise you on what is accessible for a specific case before you make a formal copy request.

The Digital Archives page for Klickitat County shows the scope of available records. The screenshot below shows that page.

The Washington State Digital Archives holds over 404,000 Klickitat County Superior Court case records, including dissolution of marriage and other case types, dating back through the county's court history.

Getting Copies

To get copies of Klickitat County dissolution records, contact the Superior Court Clerk's office in Goldendale. You can visit in person at 205 S Columbus Ave. Call ahead to confirm office hours and bring a photo ID. Staff will search by name or case number and process your copy request. 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 first to get the case number. Then look up the case on the Klickitat County Digital Archives page. Enter the case number with dashes. Documents are not previewable, but you can make copy requests from there. Some records from mid-1998 onward are also available through the Klickitat County Auditor's recording section on the Digital Archives site.

If you need a dissolution certificate, not the full court file, order from the Washington Department of Health. DOH holds dissolution certificates from 1968 forward. The fee is $25 per certificate. VitalChek orders arrive in 3 to 7 business days. The DOH certificate confirms the dissolution but does not contain the decree terms. For the actual decree and case documents, go to the Klickitat County Clerk.

The Klickitat County Auditor also maintains recorded documents including marriage certificates and community property agreements. The screenshot below shows the Auditor's page, which includes information on recorded documents accessible through the Digital Archives.

The Klickitat County Auditor maintains recorded documents including marriage certificates. For dissolution of marriage records and decrees, the correct office is the Superior Court Clerk, not the Auditor.

Legal Help in Klickitat County

Northwest Justice Project provides free legal help to low-income residents across Washington, including Klickitat County. Call (888) 201-1014 or visit nwjustice.org for eligibility information. They handle dissolution of marriage cases and other family law matters for qualifying residents throughout the state.

The Washington State Bar Association runs a lawyer referral line at (206) 443-9722. Their directory at wsba.org lets you search for attorneys handling family law in Klickitat County and nearby areas. Self-help guides and official court forms are available at washingtonlawhelp.org and courts.wa.gov.

Washington's dissolution law is governed by RCW Chapter 26.09. The state uses a no-fault approach. The only ground for dissolution is that the marriage is "irretrievably broken" under RCW 26.09.030. Washington is a community property state. Property division in Klickitat County dissolution cases follows RCW 26.09.080. A mandatory 90-day waiting period applies after service of the petition. The court cannot finalize the dissolution before that 90 days is up, no matter what both parties agree to.

The Klickitat County Auditor's recording page also has some information relevant to related records. The screenshot below shows that page.

The Klickitat County Auditor records marriage licenses, community property agreements, and name change orders. Some of these documents may be relevant in connection with a dissolution of marriage case.

Cities in Klickitat County

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

Communities in Klickitat County include Goldendale, White Salmon, Bingen, Lyle, Klickitat, and Trout Lake. Dissolution filings for residents of all these communities go through the Superior Court in Goldendale.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Klickitat County. File your dissolution case in the county where you reside. Klickitat County is in south-central Washington along the Columbia River, bordered by Skamania to the west and Clark County to the southwest.