Search Skagit County Divorce Decree Records
Skagit County divorce decree records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Mount Vernon. If you need to find a dissolution case, get a copy of a final decree, or look up a family law filing from Skagit County, the clerk's office handles all of those requests. You can search by case number or party name. For records filed before 1996, the clerk charges a research fee paid in advance. The office is open weekdays and can handle requests by phone, email, and mail in addition to walk-ins.
Skagit County Overview
Skagit County Superior Court Clerk
The Skagit County Superior Court Clerk manages all dissolution case files for the county. The office is at the Skagit County Courthouse in downtown Mount Vernon. Staff process records requests and can help you locate cases by name or case number. The office is also the place to go for certified copies of final decrees, parenting plans, and other family law documents.
Skagit County sits between the more populated King and Snohomish counties to the south and Whatcom County to the north. The county covers communities including Mount Vernon, Burlington, Anacortes, and Sedro-Woolley. All residents of Skagit County file dissolution cases at the Mount Vernon courthouse.
| Office | Skagit County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address |
205 W Kincaid St, Room 103 Mount Vernon, WA 98273 |
| Phone | (360) 416-1200 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | skagitcounty.net/Departments/Clerk |
The Skagit County Superior Court Clerk's office is the primary source for divorce decree records in the county. The screenshot below shows the clerk's department page.
The clerk's page includes contact information, forms, and guidance on how to submit records requests for dissolution cases.
How to Find Skagit County Divorce Decree Records
You can search Skagit County dissolution records using the statewide Washington Courts case search. That tool lets you search by party name or case number and covers most counties. It shows basic case information like filing dates and docket entries. For copies of the actual divorce decree or other case documents, you need to contact the Skagit County clerk's office directly.
When contacting the clerk, provide as much detail as you can. The full names of both parties, an approximate filing date, and the case number if you have it all help narrow the search. For pre-1996 cases, the clerk recommends including the date of birth of the parties as well. That helps distinguish between people with similar names in older records that may not be fully indexed.
Email requests have a 72-hour turnaround. Be specific in your request about whether you need certified or non-certified copies. If you order documents and do not claim them within 30 days, you will need to reapply and prepay again. There is one thing the clerk's office cannot provide: copies of exhibits that were marked or admitted into evidence during the case.
The Washington Courts directory page for Skagit County shows all courts operating in this county.
The state courts directory confirms which courts serve Skagit County and links to their contact information.
Note: Large records orders must specify at the time of request whether copies should be certified or non-certified. You cannot change the certification type after the order is processed.Skagit County Divorce Decree Copy Fees
For dissolution records from 1996 to the present, the fee is $0.50 per page for regular copies. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page plus $1 for each additional page. The certification seal is required for legal and official uses. These are standard Washington State rates.
Pre-1996 dissolution records come with an additional cost. The clerk charges a minimum $30 research fee that must be paid in advance. If the search takes more than an hour, the rate is $30 per hour after the initial deposit. These older records may not be as fully indexed, which is why searches take longer and cost more. Plan ahead if you need records from before 1996.
Mail requests include a $3 USPS postage surcharge. Keep that in mind when calculating your total cost. You can pay fees by check or money order made out to the Skagit County Clerk. Contact the office at (360) 416-1200 to confirm accepted payment methods and current fees before sending a request.
Fee waivers are available through the GR 34 process for people who cannot afford to pay. You file a motion and declaration with the court. If you qualify based on income or receipt of public assistance, the court may waive the fees. Forms are available at the courthouse or through the Washington Courts forms page.
Filing for Divorce in Skagit County
Dissolution cases in Skagit County follow Washington State law under RCW Chapter 26.09. The process starts when one spouse files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage at the Superior Court Clerk's office in Mount Vernon. Under RCW 26.09.030, either spouse must be a Washington State resident or serving in the military here. The only ground for dissolution is that the marriage is irretrievably broken.
The Skagit County Family Court Facilitator at (360) 416-1900 helps people who are handling their own cases. The facilitator can answer procedural questions and help with forms. This is not legal advice, but it can save you time and help you avoid common mistakes. If you need legal advice, the Law Library at 205 W Kincaid St, Room 204 (phone: (360) 416-1290) has resources to help you research your situation.
Property division in Washington follows community property rules under RCW 26.09.080. Property acquired during the marriage is generally community property and gets divided equitably. The final Decree of Dissolution is the court order that ends the marriage and lays out what each party owns, owes, and is responsible for going forward.
90-Day Waiting Period: Washington requires a 90-day waiting period after the petition is filed and served. The dissolution cannot be finalized before that period ends, regardless of the circumstances.
What Skagit County Divorce Decrees Contain
A Skagit County divorce decree identifies both parties by full legal name, states the case number, and includes the date the decree was entered by the court. It covers property and asset division, debt allocation, spousal maintenance if ordered, and the parenting plan and child support orders if children are part of the case. The decree ends with the judge's signature and the court seal. That seal is what makes a certified copy valid for official purposes.
The full dissolution case file also contains the Petition for Dissolution, service documents, financial declarations, and any settlement agreements. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law are included if the case was contested. Name restoration provisions may be included if one party is taking back a former name. Most documents in the case file are public records. Exhibits that were admitted into evidence are not available as copies from the clerk's office.
Dissolution records in Skagit County are permanently retained. Records date back many decades. For historical cases, contact the clerk's office to find out what is available and what the research fee will be for pre-1996 records.
Legal Resources in Skagit County
The Skagit County Law Library at 205 W Kincaid St, Room 204 provides access to legal research tools, court forms, and reference materials. You can reach them at (360) 416-1290. Library staff can help you find what you need but cannot give legal advice. The Family Court Facilitator at (360) 416-1900 is a better contact for procedural help with your specific case.
Northwest Justice Project provides free legal services to low-income residents across Washington. CLEAR, their telephone intake line, is available at 1-888-201-1014. Family law, including dissolution, is one of the areas they cover. You can also find information about services at nwjustice.org.
WashingtonLawHelp at washingtonlawhelp.org has self-help resources for dissolution cases. All official court forms are free to download on the Washington Courts forms page. For attorney referrals, the Washington State Bar Association's directory at wsba.org is a good starting point. The Washington Department of Health at doh.wa.gov handles requests for vital records that may be related to your case.
Cities in Skagit County
All dissolution cases in Skagit County are filed at the Superior Court in Mount Vernon, regardless of which city or community you live in.
Other communities in Skagit County include Burlington, Anacortes, Sedro-Woolley, and Burlington. All file dissolution cases through the Skagit County Superior Court in Mount Vernon.
Nearby Counties
If you are uncertain which county has jurisdiction over your dissolution case, the county where you or your spouse lives at the time of filing is the right place. These counties border Skagit County.