Divorce Decree Records in Kittitas County

Kittitas County divorce decree records are filed with the Superior Court Clerk in Ellensburg. The clerk's office keeps all dissolution case files for the county, going back to the 1890s. You can search records in person, by mail, or online through the statewide case search. This page explains how to access Kittitas County divorce decree records, what fees apply, and what resources are available for people going through the process.

Kittitas County Superior Court Clerk

The Kittitas County Clerk holds all dissolution records for the county. The office is at the courthouse in Ellensburg. Staff can look up dissolution cases, provide copies, and handle records requests. The clerk keeps both current and older records, with dissolution files on record from the 1890s to the present.

Digital records are available for cases filed from 2015 forward. Older records are held physically at the clerk's office or at the Washington State Archives Central Regional Branch, also located in Ellensburg. If you are looking for a case from before 2015, call ahead so staff can confirm where the records are stored and how long it will take to pull them.

The Washington State Courts directory for Kittitas County has current contact details and links to the clerk's office and related court resources. This is a useful starting point if you are new to the process.

The Washington State Courts directory page shown below provides up-to-date contact details for Kittitas County courts and the clerk's office.

Searching Kittitas County Divorce Decree Records

The statewide Washington Courts Case Search is a free online tool for looking up dissolution cases across all Washington counties, including Kittitas. You can search by party name or case number. The system shows case status and docket entries. It does not provide full document images, but it gives you the case number so you can then request copies from the clerk.

For in-person searches, go to the clerk's office at 205 W. 5th Ave. in Ellensburg. Bring the full names of both parties and the approximate year the case was filed. Staff can search by name, case number, filing date, or record type. In-person requests are usually handled the same day.

Mail requests are also accepted. Write a letter stating what you need, include the names of both parties, and send it with payment for the copy fees. Mail requests typically take 1 to 2 weeks. The clerk will send copies back by mail once they locate the records and process payment.

The Washington State Digital Archives holds Kittitas County records from 2015 to the present. The Central Regional Branch of the State Archives in Ellensburg holds older records. For historical records going back to the 1890s, the archives are the best place to check.

Note: Access to some records in Kittitas County may be limited. Courts restrict access to certain records involving minors or where a seal was ordered. In general, dissolution records are public, but check with the clerk if you run into access issues.

Kittitas County Divorce Record Copy Fees

Kittitas County follows the standard Washington fee schedule for records. Uncertified copies cost between $0.25 and $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Certified copies carry the court seal and are needed for legal purposes like name changes, title transfers, or showing proof of dissolution to government agencies.

Access to some dissolution records is limited under county rules. Parties to the case, immediate family members, law enforcement, and genealogical researchers may access records that the general public cannot. If you are requesting records as a family member or researcher, let the clerk know your relationship to the case when you make the request.

Fee waivers for court costs are available to eligible low-income filers. If you cannot afford the filing fee when starting a dissolution, you can ask the court to waive the fee. Forms are on the Washington Courts forms page. You will need to fill out a financial declaration showing your income and household size.

Kittitas County Historical Divorce Records

Kittitas County has kept dissolution records since the 1890s. Marriage records go back to 1884. These records are among the oldest in central Washington. The clerk's office has kept most records on a permanent basis, so older cases should still be accessible if they were properly filed and retained. Historical records from before digital systems were kept in paper form and may take longer to retrieve.

The Washington State Archives Central Regional Branch is located in Ellensburg, making it easy to access archived records without traveling far. The branch holds a range of county court records, including dissolution cases that have been transferred out of the active clerk's files. For genealogical research, the archives are an especially useful resource.

Birth and death records from 1891 to 1907 are held by the County Auditor in Kittitas County, not the clerk's office. If you are looking for vital records that overlap with a dissolution case from that era, you may need to contact both offices. The Washington State Department of Health handles vital records for the state from later periods.

Probate records from the 1890s are also at the clerk's office. If your research involves a dissolution that was connected to a probate case, the clerk can help you find both types of records in one place.

Dissolution of Marriage Process in Kittitas County

To file for dissolution in Kittitas County, one spouse must be a Washington State resident or active military member stationed in the state. There is no minimum time you have to live in Kittitas County specifically. You file the Petition for Dissolution at the clerk's office on W. 5th Ave. in Ellensburg.

Washington uses a no-fault system under RCW Chapter 26.09. The only ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. No one has to prove fault. After the petition is served, there is a mandatory 90-day waiting period under RCW 26.09.030 before the court can enter a final decree.

Once the judge signs the Decree of Dissolution, it is filed with the clerk and becomes a permanent public record. The decree sets out property division, any parenting plan, child support, and spousal maintenance. Certified copies of the decree are available from the clerk's office after the case is closed.

Legal Resources for Kittitas County Residents

If you need legal help with a dissolution in Kittitas County, the Northwest Justice Project offers free services to income-eligible residents. Call the CLEAR line at 1-888-201-1014 or visit nwjustice.org. They handle family law cases including dissolution, custody, and support across Washington State.

WashingtonLawHelp.org has free self-help guides for people who want to handle their own dissolution case. The WSBA attorney directory can connect you with a licensed attorney in the Ellensburg area. Official court forms are free to download at courts.wa.gov/forms.

Cities in Kittitas County

Kittitas County's county seat is Ellensburg, where the Superior Court is located. Other communities in the county include Cle Elum, Roslyn, South Cle Elum, and Kittitas. All dissolution cases for county residents are filed at the Superior Court in Ellensburg.

Nearby Counties

Kittitas County borders several central Washington counties. File in the county where you or your spouse lives at the time of filing.