Snohomish County Divorce Decree Records
Snohomish County divorce decree records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Everett. You can search dissolution cases online through the Odyssey Portal or visit the clerk's office in person. Snohomish County is the third most populous county in Washington, covering Everett, Marysville, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Bothell, and many other communities north of King County. The clerk handles copy requests, certified copies of decrees, and research for historical records going back to 1950 in the digital archives.
Snohomish County Overview
Snohomish County Superior Court Clerk
The Snohomish County Superior Court Clerk maintains all dissolution case files for the county and is located at the Snohomish County Campus in Everett. The clerk's office processes copy requests, issues certified copies of decrees, and manages access to case records. Staff can be reached by phone, email, or in person. Routine requests can often be handled remotely without making the trip to Everett.
Snohomish County is a large and active court system. It covers communities from the King County border in the south to the Skagit County line in the north. Everett is the county seat, but the court system serves all residents throughout the county. If you or your spouse lives anywhere in Snohomish County, you file for dissolution at the Superior Court in Everett.
| Office | Snohomish County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address |
3000 Rockefeller Avenue, M/S 605, Room M206 Everett, WA 98201 |
| Phone | (425) 388-3466 |
| contact.clerk@snoco.org | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (closed 12:00 PM to 12:45 PM) |
| Website | snohomishcountywa.gov/Access-Court-Records |
The Snohomish County Access Court Records page has information on how to search and request court records including divorce decrees. The screenshot below shows that page.
The Access Court Records page explains how to search records online through the Odyssey Portal and how to submit a request to the clerk for copies of specific documents.
Search Snohomish County Divorce Decree Records
Snohomish County uses the Odyssey Portal for online case searches. You can search by party name or case number. The portal shows case details, docket entries, and status information. It covers dissolution cases including "Dissolution with Children," "Dissolution without Children," "Legal Separation," and "Declaration of Invalidity." The search is free to use. You do not need to create an account to view basic case information.
To narrow your search in Odyssey, select Snohomish County from the location dropdown and choose the family case type. You can filter by case status, filing date range, and judicial officer assigned to the case. If you know the case number, that is the fastest search method. If you are searching by name, use last name first. The system has a smart search feature for more advanced filtering.
For records filed before 2004, the Odyssey Portal may only show docket information rather than the full case file. The Washington State Archives - Northwest Branch holds older Snohomish County records. For cases from 1950 to 2026, digital archives case files may be available at digitalarchives.wa.gov. Contact the Northwest Branch at (360) 650-3125 or nwbrancharchives@sos.wa.gov for historical research help.
The statewide Washington Courts case search is another option that covers Snohomish County alongside all other Washington counties. It is a good starting point if you are not sure exactly where a case was filed.
The Odyssey Portal is the main online tool for Snohomish County dissolution records. The screenshot below shows how the portal looks.
The Odyssey Portal lets you search by name, case number, and filing date. Select Snohomish County from the location filter to limit results to local cases.
Note: Records involving adoptions, parentage, mental illness, and juvenile dependency are restricted. You cannot access those through standard public records searches.Snohomish County Divorce Decree Copy Fees
Non-certified copies in Snohomish County cost $0.25 per page when ordered online or by email. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page plus $1 for each additional page. The certified copy is needed for legal purposes like name changes, updating identification, or proving marital status. For certified copies by mail, processing takes about 5 business days.
The dissolution filing fee in Snohomish County is $364. Modifying a decree that was originally entered in Snohomish County costs $56. If you need to modify a decree from another county, the fee is $310. The Family Court Facilitator charges $25 per session by appointment. These are separate from copy fees and apply to different parts of the dissolution process.
Fee waivers are available under GR 34 for people who cannot afford to pay. You file a motion and declaration explaining your financial situation. If you receive public assistance or your income falls below 200% of the federal poverty level, you are likely to qualify. Court forms for the waiver process are available at the courthouse and through the Washington Courts forms page.
Mail requests take 2 to 3 weeks. In-person requests are usually processed the same day. Online searches through Odyssey are instant. Confirm current fee amounts with the clerk before sending payment, as fees can change.
Filing for Divorce in Snohomish County
Dissolution cases in Snohomish County follow Washington State law under RCW Chapter 26.09. Every document filed in the case goes into the permanent case file held by the clerk. The process starts with the petitioner filing a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage along with a summons. Under RCW 26.09.030, either spouse must be a Washington resident or stationed in the state with the military. The only ground for dissolution is that the marriage is irretrievably broken.
Snohomish County offers DiSCO classes, which stands for Divorce in Snohomish County. These classes run on the second Monday and fourth Friday of each month. They are educational sessions that help people understand the dissolution process, what to expect, and how to complete paperwork. While not always required, they can be useful for people handling their own case.
The Snohomish County Family Law Facilitator is available by appointment at 3000 Rockefeller Ave M/S 502. The fee is $25 per session. Call (425) 388-3795 to schedule. The Facilitator can help with forms and procedural questions but does not provide legal advice. The Law Library at the same address (phone: (425) 388-3337) has legal research resources.
Property division follows community property rules under RCW 26.09.080. The court divides community property in a just and equitable way. The final Decree of Dissolution is the court order that ends the marriage. It covers all terms including property, debt, support, and parenting.
90-Day Waiting Period: Washington requires a mandatory 90-day waiting period after the petition is filed and served. The dissolution cannot be finalized before that time passes.
What Snohomish County Divorce Records Contain
A Snohomish County divorce decree is the final court order ending the marriage. It names both parties, states the date it was entered, and lays out the full terms of the dissolution. Property and debt division, spousal maintenance if ordered, and the parenting plan and child support orders for cases with children are all included. The judge's signature and court seal on the decree make it the official record of the dissolution.
The full case file contains additional documents. These include the Petition for Dissolution, the summons, service documents, the Confidential Information Form, the Vital Statistics Form, any financial declarations (which may be sealed from public view), property and debt listings, the parenting plan, child support worksheets, and the final Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law. A name change order is also part of the file if one party requested a name restoration. Most case documents are public. Financial declarations and a few specific record types have restricted access.
The Snohomish County government website has more information about the court system and available services.
The county website links to the clerk's office, family law facilitator, auditor, and other departments you may need during a dissolution case.
The Washington Courts directory page for Snohomish County shows all courts in the county.
The directory confirms which courts serve Snohomish County residents and links to their contact pages.
Legal Help for Snohomish County Divorce Cases
Several organizations provide legal help to Snohomish County residents handling dissolution cases. Snohomish County Legal Services at snocolegal.org provides civil legal services to eligible residents including family law matters. Northwest Justice Project's CLEAR line at 1-888-201-1014 also covers Snohomish County residents. You can find more at nwjustice.org.
The Family Law Facilitator at (425) 388-3795 helps self-represented parties with forms and procedural questions. Appointments are required and the session fee is $25. The Law Library at (425) 388-3337 has legal research tools, statutes, and court form guides. Both offices are at 3000 Rockefeller Ave in Everett.
WashingtonLawHelp at washingtonlawhelp.org has free self-help guides covering every stage of a dissolution case. Court forms are available free of charge at the Washington Courts forms page. The Washington State Bar Association provides attorney referrals through their directory at wsba.org. If you need vital records, the Washington Department of Health handles statewide requests at doh.wa.gov.
The Snohomish County Auditor at (425) 388-3483 handles marriage license records at 3000 Rockefeller Ave M/S 204. That is separate from the clerk's office and handles different types of records.
Note: The DiSCO class, held the second Monday and fourth Friday of each month, can help people new to the dissolution process understand what to expect and how to prepare their case documents.Cities in Snohomish County
All cities in Snohomish County file dissolution cases at the Superior Court in Everett. The links below go to city-specific pages with local resource and courthouse information.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Snohomish County. If you are unsure which county has jurisdiction over your dissolution case, the address where you or your spouse lives at the time of filing determines the correct county.