Skamania County Divorce Decree Records

Skamania County divorce decree records are kept by the Superior Court Clerk in Stevenson, Washington. This is a small, rural county along the Columbia River Gorge on the Washington side of the border. If you need to look up a dissolution case, obtain copies of a final divorce decree, or confirm that a case was filed in Skamania County, the clerk's office is your starting point. The county has maintained dissolution records since 1890, and the clerk handles requests by phone, email, mail, and walk-in visits.

Skamania County Superior Court Clerk

The Skamania County Clerk manages dissolution records for the county and is the custodian of all family law case files. The office is located in Room 27 of the courthouse in Stevenson. You can reach the clerk by phone, email, or mail. The office keeps non-standard hours compared to most Washington county clerks, so check the schedule before making the trip.

Skamania County is one of the least populated counties in Washington. It is located in the Columbia River Gorge along the southern border of the state. Stevenson is the only incorporated city in the county. If you or your spouse lived in Skamania County at the time of filing, that is where the dissolution records are held.

Note that the clerk's office is closed on Fridays. If you are planning a visit, confirm the schedule in advance by calling (509) 427-3730. The office also closes for a lunch break, so mid-morning or mid-afternoon visits are safest.

Finding Skamania County Divorce Decree Records

The statewide Washington Courts case search is a good first step when looking for a Skamania County dissolution case. You can search by party name or case number. The tool covers most Washington counties and shows basic case details including case status and filing date. For copies of actual documents like the divorce decree, you will need to contact the Skamania County Clerk's office directly.

When contacting the clerk, have the full names of both parties ready. An approximate year the case was filed is also helpful. If you have the case number, include it. The clerk can search records and tell you what is available and how to get copies. Requests by phone, email, and mail are all accepted. Mail requests should go to P.O. Box 790, Stevenson, WA 98648-0790.

The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov may have older Skamania County court records. Historical dissolution records go back to 1890. For cases that old, checking both the clerk and the Digital Archives is a reasonable approach.

The Washington Courts directory for Skamania County shows the courts serving this county. The screenshot below shows that statewide directory page.

The state courts directory shows which courts operate in Skamania County and links to their contact information and resources.

The Washington Courts case search tool covers Skamania County records. You can see what the statewide portal looks like below.

Use the statewide search to find basic case information, then contact the Skamania County Clerk for copies of the actual divorce decree or case documents.

Skamania County Divorce Record Fees

Copy fees in Skamania County follow Washington State standards. Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies of the divorce decree cost $5 for the first page plus $1 for each additional page. The certified copy carries the court seal and is needed for most official purposes, including proving a divorce for name changes, remarriage, or legal proceedings.

The dissolution filing fee in Skamania County is $364 as of 2026. This fee is paid by the petitioner when the case is opened. Fees set by Washington State law can change, so verify the current amount with the clerk's office before filing. The 90-day waiting period is mandatory and applies in Skamania County the same as every other county in the state.

Fee waivers are available for people who cannot afford to pay. You file a motion and declaration under GR 34. If you receive public assistance or your income falls below the state threshold, you may qualify. The court reviews your financial situation and decides on a case-by-case basis. Forms are available at the courthouse and through the Washington Courts forms page.

Dissolution Filing Process in Skamania County

Dissolution cases in Skamania County follow Washington State law under RCW Chapter 26.09. The petitioner files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage at the clerk's office. You must be a Washington State resident or be stationed here in the military. Under RCW 26.09.030, the only legal ground for dissolution is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Washington is a pure no-fault state.

After the petition is filed and served, the 90-day waiting period begins. During that time, both parties may work on a settlement. If they agree on all terms, they can submit an agreed decree. If they cannot agree, the case may go to mediation or a contested hearing. The court will enter a Decree of Dissolution once all issues are resolved and the waiting period has passed.

If children are involved, parents must attend a parenting seminar. This is a statewide requirement and applies in Skamania County the same as everywhere else in Washington. Under RCW 26.09.080, community property is divided in a just and equitable way. The final decree covers all the terms both parties must follow after the dissolution is complete.

What Skamania County Divorce Records Include

A Skamania County divorce decree is a formal court order that ends the marriage. It names both parties, states the date the decree was entered, and covers all terms of the dissolution. Property division, debt allocation, spousal maintenance, child custody arrangements, and child support are all spelled out in the decree. The judge's signature and court seal appear on the final document. Certified copies are needed for most legal and official purposes after the dissolution is final.

The full case file contains other documents as well. The Petition for Dissolution, service proof, any responses filed by the other party, settlement agreements, financial declarations, and Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law are all part of the record. Most of these are public. Some records involving sealed financial information or restricted matters have limited access.

Dissolution records in Skamania County date back to 1890. The county maintains permanent retention of court records. Older records may also be available through the Washington State Digital Archives.

Legal Help for Skamania County Divorce Cases

Skamania County is a small county with limited local legal services. Most residents rely on regional and statewide organizations for help with dissolution cases. Northwest Justice Project provides free civil legal services to eligible low-income residents. Call their CLEAR hotline at 1-888-201-1014. They cover family law cases including dissolution, custody, and support. Their website at nwjustice.org has details on eligibility and services.

WashingtonLawHelp at washingtonlawhelp.org has free self-help guides for people handling their own dissolution cases. All official court forms are available at no cost on the Washington Courts forms page. For attorney referrals, the Washington State Bar Association directory at wsba.org is the best statewide resource.

The Washington Department of Health manages vital records statewide. If you need records related to a marriage or vital event, check the DOH vital records page for information on how to request them. For dissolution cases specifically, the Skamania County Clerk is the right point of contact.

Washington's legal code for dissolution is publicly available. You can read RCW Chapter 26.09 in full on the state legislature website. It covers residency, grounds, property division, parenting plans, and other core aspects of the dissolution process.

Communities in Skamania County

Skamania County has very few incorporated communities. Stevenson is the county seat and the only incorporated city in the county. No communities in Skamania County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All dissolution cases are filed at the courthouse in Stevenson regardless of where in the county you live.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Skamania County. If you are not sure which county handles your dissolution case, confirm the address where you or your spouse lives. That determines where you must file.