Spokane County Court Records Lookup

Spokane County Courts, WA *

Spokane County courts play a significant role in resolving legal matters affecting residents, visitors, and even businesses in the area. Its courts process legal issues, including traffic tickets and infraction cases, small claims, felony trials, family disputes, probate, and substantial civil cases. People with closed or ongoing cases may seek court records for various reasons, such as confirming court orders or case details and preparing for an upcoming hearing. Employers and landlords often use court records to perform criminal background checks and review eviction proceedings. Therefore, understanding how the county's court system works and where to obtain court records may help minimize frustrations and delays with legal processes.

How to Access Spokane County Court Records

Online Access

Court records in Spokane County are accessible online through the Spokane County Court Viewer, which provides case information and hearing dates for the Superior Court, District Court, and the City of Spokane Municipal Court. Residents can also use the Washington Courts Online Case Search Odyssey Portal to access Spokane County court records. Before starting the search, one should gather as much information about the case in question (such as the party's full name, case number, and type of court) as possible to narrow down searches.

Alternative Online Options

Sometimes searching official court websites can be frustrating if one has incomplete information or is unsure which court handled a case. CourtCaseFinder offers an alternative method for searching a large number of cases aggregated from public-record sources and may be particularly helpful when one needs to expand a search beyond a single court website or to browse cases across multiple jurisdictions. They should use this tool to locate relevant cases before visiting the court that handled the case for confirmation or official copies.

In-Person Requests

Residents seeking physical files, certified copies, or any records unavailable online should visit the relevant clerk's office to submit their requests in person. Documents from the Superior Court can be accessed through the Spokane office of the County Clerk, while records from the District Court are available through the District Court Clerk. Providing names and case numbers can help staff locate files more quickly.

Archived Records

Some older court records may not be accessible via the current online viewer. Individuals seeking archived court records should contact the relevant clerk of court for assistance. Microfilm versions of older records may be accessible through the office of the County Clerk, which oversees the county's courthouse archives. Individuals can also search for Spokane County historical records in the Washington State Archives Digital Archives.

Overview of the Spokane County Court System

The state of Washington has a unified state court system comprising trial courts, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of Washington. Spokane County falls under Division III of the Court of Appeals, which is located in Spokane and covers all of Eastern Washington, and hears appeals from the Superior Courts. The highest court in Washington is the Washington Supreme Court (the court of last resort). The trial courts are the Superior Courts, District Courts, and Municipal Courts.

Spokane County courts include the Superior Court, the District Court, and the municipal courts. The Superior Court of Spokane County manages a variety of civil lawsuits, felonies, probate proceedings, cases involving juveniles, guardianship, and domestic relations matters through its various divisions. The District Court of Spokane County manages misdemeanors, traffic infractions, small claims, and county ordinance violations. There are also municipal courts in Spokane County, namely, the Spokane City Municipal Court, Airway Heights Municipal Court, and Cheney City Municipal Court, that handle local city violations and some traffic offenses within the limits of the city they serve.

Types of Courts in Spokane County, Washington

Superior Court

The Superior Court is the highest primary court in Spokane County with general jurisdiction. This court hears serious crimes, major civil lawsuits, domestic relations matters, and cases involving juveniles. The court also manages probate proceedings in the county. This court is divided into several divisions, including Civil Court, Criminal Court, Family Court, Juvenile Court (focusing on the safety and well-being of children), Guardianship monitoring program, and Ex Parte (for court orders). There is also the treatment courts division (a pretrial treatment program for criminal defendants) under the Superior Court.

The Superior Court's jurisdiction covers:

• Felony criminal cases (Criminal Court)
• Civil lawsuits (Civil Court)
• Marriage dissolution or separation cases (Family Court)
• Child custody and support cases (Family Court)
• Minor guardianships (Family Court)
• Paternity cases (Family Court)
• Probate and estate proceedings
• Guardianships and conservatorships
• Juvenile dependency proceedings (Juvenile Court)
• Juvenile delinquency matters involving children under 18 (Juvenile Court)
• Becca Bill petitions, including truancy, Children in Need of Services petitions, and At-Risk Youth petitions (Juvenile Court)

Primary location: Spokane County Courthouse, Spokane

District Court

The Spokane County District Court handles numerous cases affecting residents daily. This court hears misdemeanors, traffic offenses, civil lawsuits, protection orders, and mental health cases in the county.

Jurisdiction includes:

• Criminal gross misdemeanor and traffic misdemeanor cases
• Traffic infractions, such as speeding and wrong parking
• Small claims of up to $5,000
• Civil actions with a $100,000 maximum claim
• Mental health proceedings
• Civil protection orders involving domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault

Primary location: Public Safety Building and Broadway Center Building, Spokane

Municipal Courts

Spokane County has three municipal courts: the Spokane City Municipal Court, the Airway Heights Municipal Court, and the Cheney Municipal Court. Municipal courts have limited jurisdiction and handle cases within the city's jurisdiction.

Jurisdiction includes:

• City ordinance violations
• Local traffic infractions
• Municipal misdemeanors
• Non-traffic infraction matters contained in the municipal jurisdiction

How to File a Case in Spokane County

Initiating a case in Spokane County requires careful attention to detail and adherence to the general filing procedure. Filing errors, such as the wrong court or missing information, may cause setbacks, including case dismissal, delays, and additional costs. The best course of action for someone unsure about where to submit documents is to contact the relevant court clerk for assistance, rather than submitting them incorrectly.

Step 1: Choose the Correct Court

First, filers need to determine which court has jurisdiction over the case. The Superior Court is the appropriate court for civil lawsuits, including evictions, cases involving children and families, probate proceedings, and criminal felony cases. District Court hears small claims, misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and civil cases with claims not exceeding $100,000. Violation of city ordinances, municipal misdemeanors, and traffic infractions and non-traffic infractions within city boundaries are handled by the municipal courts. It's advisable to file with the correct court from the outset to avoid delays and additional court costs from transfers.

Step 2: Complete Required Forms

The next step is to obtain the necessary forms for that specific case and complete them. Spokane County offers all Superior Court forms and District Court Forms through each court's website. These documents must be completed in full and accurately, and all required supporting documents, such as contracts, should be attached. The court clerk will be able to advise on the procedures and direct filers to the specific forms they may need to submit, but cannot provide legal advice.

Step 3: File the Case

Once the documents are ready, they should be submitted to the appropriate court clerk. Spokane County Superior Court cases can be filed in person at the County Clerk's Office or electronically through the TrueFiling portal. Individuals filing with the District Court can submit the documents in person at the District Court Clerk's office at the Broadway Center Building or by emailing them to the clerk. Civil protection order petitions under the District Court are filed by emailing them to the court's clerk.

Step 4: Pay Filing Fees

There are filing fees that must be paid when submitting the filing documents, and the amount varies by case type and court. Filers should check the Spokane County District Court fee schedule and the Superior Court fee schedule before making any payment, depending on the court where they are filing. Individuals who cannot afford the required court costs may apply for a fee waiver. They should be prepared to provide proof of financial difficulties, and this application is subject to court approval.

Step 5: Serve the Other Party

Once the case has been filed, the other party must be officially notified of the lawsuit. In Spokane County, service may be effected through the sheriff, an authorized private process server, or any other adult who is not involved in the case. Service may also be done through publication and certified mail. Proof of service must be filed with the court for the clerk to verify that service of process was properly completed.

Step 6: Monitor the Case

Parties in the case should track the case for new motions, hearing dates, deadlines, court orders, or any other new developments after filing and service. It's a good idea to keep the case number, as it is useful for accessing the case's docket. Spokane County provides online access to the Superior and District Courts through the Court Viewer portal. One can also use the Washington Courts Online Case Search Odyssey Portal. Case scheduling and deadlines may change; check with the relevant court clerk when the online sources are uncertain.

Spokane County Courthouse Directory

Legal and Self-Help Resources

Legal help in Spokane County is available to everyone dealing with legal issues and requiring assistance, whether they need a lawyer or just want a hand navigating a complex process. Researchers, veterans, seniors, persons with disabilities, self-represented litigants, and others in complex civil or family law matters may all benefit from expert legal consultation.

• The Inland Empire Legal Aid Association (IELA) offers low-income residents legal education, clinics, and volunteer legal support on family law, consumer law, and life planning. IELA offers court forms, legal clinics, and advice.
• The Gonzaga University School of Law Elder Law Clinic offers no-cost legal services to individuals aged 60 or older who are residents of Spokane County with low or moderate incomes. It covers the following areas: basic estate planning, probate, public benefits, Medicaid, wills, housing, Social Security, real property, and family law.
• Service members and veterans have the option to receive civil legal assistance through the Washington Attorney General's Office of Military and Veteran Legal Assistance (OMVLA). OMVLA provides free civil legal assistance to veterans, active service members, and their families by offering services such as self-help resources and referrals to pro bono attorneys for those who need legal representation, and to a legal aid organization
• Washington Law Help provides free legal information and self-help services. It's a statewide legal information library offering legal resources, including court forms and guides on topics such as housing, family law (divorce, custody, guardianships, and child support), small claims, and protection orders.
• The WSBA Moderate Means Program, in partnership with the Washington State Bar Association, provides low-cost legal assistance to qualified middle-income residents. It provides services in areas like family law, housing matters, unemployment, and consumer law. It links participating attorneys with eligible individuals who require legal representation but cannot afford full-rate legal fees.

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