Find San Juan County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

San Juan County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the County Clerk and Superior Court in Friday Harbor. San Juan County is made up of islands in the northern Puget Sound, and all dissolution of marriage cases for county residents are filed and stored at the courthouse in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. If you need to look up a dissolution case or get a certified copy of a Decree of Dissolution from San Juan County, the clerk's office is your primary contact. This page explains how to search, what records are available, what it costs, and where to get legal help.

San Juan County Superior Court Clerk

The San Juan County Clerk handles court cases, jury duty, passports, and bail bonding information, according to the county's clerk page. The clerk's office manages court records for the Superior Court, which in San Juan County handles felony crimes, family law cases, civil disputes over $100,000, real estate title disputes, probate, trust and guardianship, juvenile law, and dependency cases. Dissolution of marriage falls under family law.

San Juan County Superior Court is a court of general jurisdiction. Kathryn C. Loring serves as Presiding Judge. The court has remote appearance procedures via Microsoft Teams for some proceedings, though this does not change how you request records. For records requests, contact the clerk's office directly.

The San Juan County Public Records page notes that the clerk's office, as part of the judiciary, is not subject to the Public Records Act under Chapter 42.56 RCW. However, many court records including divorce decrees, child support and custody orders, probate records, and judgments remain available for public inspection and copying under applicable law and court rules. Contact the clerk to ask about access to a specific file.

San Juan County Superior Court in Friday Harbor handles all judicial administrative records, including dissolution of marriage cases filed by county residents.

How to Search San Juan County Dissolution Records

The statewide Washington Courts portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov is a free public tool for searching dissolution of marriage cases throughout Washington, including San Juan County. You can search by party name or case number. Results show case status, filing date, and party names. This is a good starting point to confirm whether a dissolution case was filed in San Juan County.

Electronic filings received after 4:30 PM are processed and filed the next court day. Fax filings over 10 pages are not accepted without prior approval. These rules apply to people filing cases, not records requesters. If you are looking up a past case, call the clerk during office hours.

For records requests, official recordings of court proceedings can be obtained from the San Juan County Clerk at (360) 378-2163. The county's records request instructions page at sanjuancountywa.gov explains the process. Questions about remote court appearance can be directed to Superior Court Administration at 360-370-7480 or 360-370-7481, though this is different from records requests.

Getting to Friday Harbor requires a ferry ride. If you live on another island or on the mainland, plan ahead if you intend to visit the clerk in person. Mail and phone requests may be more practical for most people. The Washington State Digital Archives can help with older records and is accessible online without travel.

San Juan County Superior Court serves residents of the islands in the county and handles dissolution of marriage and other family law cases out of Friday Harbor.

Fees and Costs

Filing for dissolution of marriage in San Juan County costs approximately $280. Washington State establishes the base filing fee, and San Juan County adds local surcharges. The petitioner pays this when filing the Petition for Dissolution. Because getting to Friday Harbor requires a ferry trip for most residents, it is worth calling ahead to confirm the current fee before making the trip.

Certified copies of the Decree of Dissolution typically cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Plain photocopies are less expensive. Call the clerk at (360) 378-2163 to ask about the current fee schedule for copy requests. Mail requests are a practical option for many San Juan County residents given the island geography.

Credit card payments are accepted for fees and fines, though you need your case number. The clerk's office handles payments for fees tied to court services. For a mail-in copy request, send a check or money order along with a self-addressed stamped envelope and the details of your request.

Fee waivers are available if you cannot afford the filing fee. File a motion and financial declaration showing your income. People receiving public assistance or with household income below 200% of the federal poverty level often qualify. Get fee waiver forms at courts.wa.gov/forms.

What Records Are Available

San Juan County dissolution of marriage records held by the clerk include the Petition for Dissolution, the Summons, proof of service, financial declarations, all motions and court orders from the case, the parenting plan if children were involved, child support orders, property and debt agreements, and the final Decree of Dissolution. These are part of the official Superior Court record and are maintained by the clerk.

Many dissolution records remain available for public inspection under applicable law and court rules, even though the clerk's office is not formally subject to the Public Records Act as a judicial body. Divorce decrees, custody and support orders, and probate records are generally accessible. Restricted records include adoption files, mental health records, and juvenile dependency cases. The clerk can confirm what is available in a specific case.

Washington State also has a divorce certificate database through the Department of Health. These certificates cover dissolutions granted since 1968 and provide simplified proof of the dissolution without the full terms. Order from the DOH vital records office if a certificate is what you need.

Getting Copies

To get copies of San Juan County dissolution records, visit the clerk's office in Friday Harbor or submit a request by mail or phone. Call (360) 378-2163 during office hours, which run Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with a lunch break from 12:00 to 1:00 PM. The county's records request instructions page at sanjuancountywa.gov explains the process.

Include the names of both parties, the approximate year of the dissolution, and the case number if you have it. Specify whether you need a certified or plain copy. Send payment by check or money order for mail requests, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Credit card payments are accepted for some transactions if you have the case number.

Because San Juan County involves island geography, planning ahead is important. If you need to visit in person, check ferry schedules before you go. For many requests, mail or phone is the most practical option.

San Juan County's records request instructions provide guidance for residents seeking dissolution of marriage records and other court documents from the Friday Harbor courthouse.

Legal Help in San Juan County

Legal resources in San Juan County are limited given its rural island setting, but statewide organizations can help. Northwest Justice Project serves low-income Washington residents with free civil legal assistance including dissolution, custody, and support matters. Call (888) 201-1014 or visit nwjustice.org to ask about services and eligibility. They serve clients throughout the state, including island communities.

San Juan County Superior Court offers a courthouse facilitator who can help with paperwork on domestic and custody cases. This is a court-based service, not legal advice. Ask the clerk's office about facilitator availability. The court also notes a passport application service is available through the clerk.

WashingtonLawHelp at washingtonlawhelp.org has free online guides on dissolution and family law. All official court forms are at courts.wa.gov/forms. The Washington State Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service at (206) 443-9722. Find attorneys at wsba.org. Washington dissolves marriages under RCW Chapter 26.09, with a mandatory 90-day waiting period after filing and service per RCW 26.09.030.

Cities in San Juan County

San Juan County communities are spread across the islands, including Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, Eastsound on Orcas Island, and Lopez Village on Lopez Island. All dissolution of marriage cases for San Juan County residents go through the Superior Court in Friday Harbor.

No cities in San Juan County meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site. All dissolution filings are handled by the San Juan County Superior Court Clerk in Friday Harbor.

Nearby Counties

These counties are closest to San Juan County. File for dissolution in the county where you live. For San Juan County island residents, that means filing in Friday Harbor.