Search Whitman County Dissolution Of Marriage

Whitman County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the County Clerk at the Superior Court in Colfax. The clerk holds all divorce case files, including petitions, decrees, parenting plans, and financial declarations. Whitman County serves about 48,000 residents, many of them connected to Washington State University in Pullman. Dissolution records can be searched online through the Odyssey Portal, requested by email or mail, or obtained in person at the Whitman County Courthouse. Most filings are public records under RCW 42.56, and older case files going back more than 10 years may require advance notice to retrieve.

Whitman County Superior Court Clerk

The Whitman County Clerk is Jill Whelchel. The clerk serves as the record-keeping and financial officer of the Superior Court and is an independent elected official under the Washington State Constitution. According to the official clerk page, the office preserves public access to a fair, accurate, and independently established record of the court's opinions, decisions, and judgments. The clerk is part of the executive branch and provides oversight of the judiciary without legislative or executive interference.

The Whitman County Superior Court, located on the second floor of the courthouse at 400 N. Main Street in Colfax, hears dissolution of marriage and other family law matters. According to the Superior Court page, the court handles adoptions, civil disputes, dissolution of marriage and other domestic relations matters, felony charges, juvenile matters, and probate. All dissolution case files are kept by the clerk's office at Suite 235 in the same building.

The Whitman County Access Court Records page describes the methods available for obtaining dissolution of marriage records from the Superior Court Clerk's office in Colfax.

How to Search Whitman County Dissolution Records

Court records in Whitman County are searchable online through the statewide Odyssey Portal. Search using the case file number or the party's name in Last, First, Middle Suffix format. Select Whitman County from the court location list. Results show case status, party names, and docket entries. Not all documents are available digitally through the portal.

The Odyssey Portal is the primary online case search tool for finding Whitman County dissolution of marriage records by name or case number.

For over-the-counter requests, visit the clerk's office at Suite 235 in the Whitman County Courthouse at 400 N. Main Street in Colfax. In-person requests are handled at no charge for basic lookups. Older case files stored in a secured location require at least 24 hours advance notice before you can view them. If you are looking for a case older than 10 years, call ahead at (509) 397-6240 to give the clerk time to retrieve the file.

The office also accepts email and mail-in requests. Send your request to clerk@whitmancounty.gov or to the mailing address at PO Box 390, Colfax, WA 99111. Include as much information as possible: party names, approximate filing year, case number if you have it, and what documents you need. If you want to listen to previously recorded court proceedings, you can do so at the clerk's office on their equipment.

Fees and Costs

The filing fee for a dissolution of marriage petition in Whitman County is approximately $280. This covers state-mandated surcharges. Confirm the current amount with the clerk's office at (509) 397-6240 before filing, as fees may change from year to year.

Copy fees in Whitman County follow the standard Washington schedule. Non-certified copies typically cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page plus copying costs for additional pages. In-person requests at the counter are processed at no charge for basic lookups. Mail-in and email requests may include additional processing fees. Service of process by the sheriff runs $40 to $60. Parenting seminars for cases with minor children cost $35 to $75 depending on the provider.

Fee waivers are available for qualifying filers. Submit a motion and financial declaration showing income below 200% of the federal poverty level or current receipt of public assistance. Waiver forms are available at the courthouse or from the Washington Courts forms page.

What Records Are Available

Whitman County Superior Court Clerk maintains the complete case file for every dissolution of marriage filed in the county. The Whitman County Superior Court explicitly lists dissolution of marriage and other domestic relations matters among the case types it hears. The full dissolution file includes the Petition for Dissolution, Summons, any responses, financial declarations, parenting plans, all interim orders, and the final Decree of Dissolution.

Most records are public. You do not need to be a party to request copies. Washington's public records law under RCW 42.56 gives broad public access. Sealed documents or records with restricted access require additional authorization. Older records are stored in a secured location and require advance notice to retrieve. The clerk's website at local court rules page provides additional procedural context for the court.

For dissolution certificates from 1968 forward, the Washington State Department of Health maintains a separate registry. Order certified divorce certificates through the DOH vital records page or by calling 1-866-687-1464. For older historical records, the Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov may have digitized materials.

The Whitman County Clerk of Superior Court page explains the role of the clerk and how to access dissolution of marriage records and other court documents.

Getting Copies

You can get copies of Whitman County dissolution records in person, by email, or by mail. For in-person requests, visit Suite 235 at 400 N. Main Street in Colfax during court hours. Bring a photo ID and the case number or names of both parties. Staff can pull the file and provide copies. Non-certified copies run $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page plus copying costs per additional page.

For email requests, contact clerk@whitmancounty.gov with the case number, party names, and a list of the documents you need. For mail-in requests, write to PO Box 390, Colfax, WA 99111, and include payment by check or money order. Allow several business days for processing. For dissolution certificates from 1968 onward, order from the Washington State Department of Health at the DOH vital records page.

The Washington Department of Health allows ordering of certified divorce certificates for Whitman County dissolutions from 1968 to the present, separate from the Superior Court case file.

Legal Help in Whitman County

Whitman County is a rural county with limited local legal services. Northwest Justice Project covers eastern Washington, including Whitman County, and offers free civil legal help to low-income individuals. Call (888) 201-1014 or visit nwjustice.org. The CLEAR hotline provides free telephone legal assistance to qualifying callers statewide.

Self-help guides for dissolution of marriage are available at washingtonlawhelp.org. All official court forms for dissolution are at the Washington Courts forms page. The court's mission in Whitman County is to actively manage cases to provide fair, prompt, and understandable resolution of legal disputes with access to justice for all citizens. For attorney referrals, contact the Washington State Bar Association at (206) 443-9722 or search the directory at wsba.org. Many family law attorneys serving Whitman County are based in Pullman or Colfax.

Cities in Whitman County

All dissolution of marriage cases from Whitman County are filed with the Superior Court Clerk at 400 N. Main Street in Colfax, the county seat.

Other communities in Whitman County include Colfax, Palouse, Garfield, Tekoa, and Uniontown. All dissolution cases from these areas go through the Whitman County Superior Court in Colfax.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Whitman County. Confirm your county of residence to file your dissolution petition in the right place.