Find Divorce Decree Records in Tacoma
Tacoma divorce decree records are filed and maintained at the Pierce County Superior Court Clerk's office, located at 930 Tacoma Avenue South in downtown Tacoma. As the county seat of Pierce County and the third-largest city in Washington, Tacoma is where all dissolution cases for the county are processed. Whether you need to look up an existing case, get a certified copy of a Decree of Dissolution, or file a new petition, the Pierce County Clerk handles all of it. Pierce County uses the LINX online system for case searches, which is available at no cost and covers cases from 1991 to the present.
Tacoma Overview
Tacoma Divorce Court Location
All dissolution cases for Tacoma residents go to the Pierce County Superior Court. The courthouse sits in the heart of downtown Tacoma. The County Clerk's office in Room 110 manages all case filings, stores the records, and handles copy requests. Tacoma Municipal Court is a separate court that handles only misdemeanors and city ordinance violations. It has no jurisdiction over dissolution matters.
Pierce County is one of the most populous counties in Washington, covering Tacoma and many surrounding communities including Lakewood, Puyallup, University Place, Parkland, South Hill, Spanaway, and Federal Way. If you or your spouse lives anywhere in Pierce County, you file your dissolution case here.
| Office | Pierce County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 930 Tacoma Avenue S, Room 110 Tacoma, WA 98402 |
| Phone | (253) 798-7455 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | piercecountywa.gov/161/Clerk |
The courthouse is accessible by bus from most parts of Tacoma. There is paid parking nearby. You will go through a security checkpoint when you enter. Bring a photo ID. The Clerk's staff can help you find your case, request copies, or point you to the right forms if you are filing.
Tacoma City Resources for Divorce Records
The City of Tacoma provides municipal services and general information through its official website. Court and dissolution matters, however, are handled at the county level.
Visit the Tacoma City Website for general city services and public information. For dissolution records, the Pierce County Superior Court Clerk is the correct office.
Tacoma Municipal Court (reachable through the city site) handles only traffic and misdemeanor matters. It does not maintain dissolution records and cannot help with divorce decree requests. All dissolution filings and records are exclusively with the Pierce County Superior Court.
How to Search Tacoma Divorce Decree Records
Pierce County uses the LINX system for online case searches. LINX stands for Legal Information Network Exchange. It covers dissolution records from 1991 to the present. The search is free and available through the Pierce County court records portal. You can search by party name, case number, or a combination. Results show case status, party names, hearing dates, and docket entries.
LINX does not show the actual documents. It tells you that a case exists and gives you the case number. Once you have that number, you can request copies from the Clerk's office. You can also visit the courthouse and review the file in person. Staff can print copies while you wait.
To search, you need at least one party's full name. A year range helps if the name is common. Case numbers follow a standard format that includes the year and a sequence number. The statewide Washington Courts Case Search also covers Pierce County and can be useful if you are searching across multiple counties at once.
Note: For dissolution records before 1991, contact the Clerk's office directly at (253) 798-7455. Staff can search older records manually and let you know what is available.
Divorce Filing Process in Tacoma
Tacoma residents file for dissolution under Washington State law, governed by RCW Chapter 26.09. Washington is a no-fault state. The only recognized ground for dissolution is that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." You do not need to prove misconduct or assign blame. One spouse stating the marriage cannot be saved is enough.
To file, at least one spouse must be a Washington State resident or an active duty service member stationed here. There is no minimum time you must live in Pierce County. As long as one of you lives in Washington, you can file at the Tacoma courthouse.
The process starts when the filing spouse submits a Petition for Dissolution and a Summons. Both documents go to the Clerk's office with the filing fee. The other spouse must be served with copies of those papers or sign a Joinder. After service, the mandatory 90-day waiting period under RCW 26.09.030 begins. No dissolution decree can be entered until those 90 days have passed.
Agreed cases move faster. If both spouses agree on property, debts, and custody, they can sign an agreed final decree and submit it to the judge for signature after the waiting period ends. Contested cases may require hearings, mediation, or a full trial before the court resolves disputed issues.
The Family Court Resource Center at 930 Tacoma Ave S provides self-help assistance for people going through dissolution in Pierce County. Call (253) 798-3627 for appointments and information about their services.
Tacoma Divorce Decree Fees
The filing fee at Pierce County Superior Court is approximately $364. This figure includes mandatory state and county surcharges. Fees can change, so confirm the current amount with the Clerk before filing. You pay the fee when you submit the petition.
Other costs you may face include:
- Service of process by sheriff: approximately $40 to $60
- Private process server: typically $50 to $100
- Certified copy of the decree: $5 first page, $1 each additional page
- Parenting seminar (required when children are involved): $35 to $75
- Family Court Resource Center paperwork assistance: $20 per session
If you cannot pay the filing fee, you can ask the court to waive it. File a motion with a declaration showing your income and expenses. People who receive public assistance or whose income falls below 200% of the federal poverty level generally qualify. Waiver forms are available at the courthouse and on the Washington Courts website.
DOH divorce certificates (a summary document separate from the court decree) cost $25 per copy. Order through the Washington State Department of Health vital records office.
Legal Help for Tacoma Divorce Cases
Several legal aid organizations serve Tacoma and Pierce County. Northwest Justice Project takes family law cases for qualifying low-income residents. Call (888) 201-1014 or visit nwjustice.org to check eligibility. They can help with filling out forms, understanding your rights, and in some cases providing direct legal representation.
WashingtonLawHelp at washingtonlawhelp.org provides free self-help guides for dissolution, including step-by-step instructions for agreed cases and cases involving children. All official court forms are available at courts.wa.gov/forms. The WSBA Lawyer Referral Service at wsba.org can connect you with a private family law attorney if you need one.
The Pierce County Law Library at Room 100 in the courthouse (253) 798-3250 offers legal research resources for the public. They have public computers, form packets, and reference staff who can point you to the right materials for a family law case.
Tacoma Dissolution: Property and Children
Washington is a community property state. Under RCW 26.09.080, assets and debts acquired during the marriage are generally treated as jointly owned and divided equally. The court can adjust that if equal division would be unfair given the circumstances, but equal is the default starting point.
If your case involves minor children, a parenting plan is required. It sets residential schedules, holiday arrangements, and decision-making rules. Pierce County requires both parents to complete an approved parenting seminar before the decree is entered. Child support follows the state schedule under RCW Chapter 26.19, which uses a formula based on both parents' income and the amount of time the child spends with each parent. The Family Court Resource Center can explain how the calculation works.
The Washington Digital Archives holds older dissolution records from 1968 to 1999 and may be useful if you are researching a historical Pierce County case.
Pierce County Divorce Records
Tacoma is the county seat of Pierce County. All dissolution filings for Tacoma and surrounding communities go through the Pierce County Superior Court at 930 Tacoma Avenue South. For more information on Pierce County's court system, LINX records search, and resources available to filers, visit the Pierce County divorce records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Tacoma also file dissolution cases through the Pierce County Superior Court system.