Find Civil Court Records in Spokane

Civil court records in Spokane, Washington are maintained by Spokane County Superior Court, which handles the full range of civil filings for Washington's second-largest city.

Civil Courts Serving Spokane

Spokane has two main courts that handle civil matters: Spokane County Superior Court and Spokane Municipal Court. They handle different types of cases. Knowing which one you need saves time and effort.

Spokane County Superior Court is the court of general jurisdiction. It handles civil cases over $100,000, family law including divorce and child custody, probate, guardianship, and appeals from lower courts. If you have a major civil claim, a property dispute, or a family law matter, this is where you file. The court is located at 1116 W Broadway Avenue in downtown Spokane.

Spokane Municipal Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases within city limits, as well as traffic infractions and parking violations. Civil matters of a smaller scale, including some protection orders, may also start here. For purely civil disputes over money or property, Superior Court or Spokane County District Court is the right venue. All three courts keep public records.

Spokane Municipal Court

Spokane Municipal Court is located at 1100 W Mallon Avenue, Spokane, WA 99260. The phone number is (509) 625-4400. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

This court handles misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and parking violations committed within Spokane city limits. It also has a Violations Bureau for certain types of infractions. Court records from Municipal Court are public and can be requested in person during business hours. The court accepts records requests, offers online services, and has forms available online.

Municipal Court does not handle major civil disputes. If you are looking for records about a civil lawsuit, contract dispute, divorce, or large money judgment, those cases are in Superior Court or District Court, not Municipal Court.

Spokane City Clerk

The Spokane City Clerk maintains city records separate from court records. The City Clerk's office is at City Hall, 808 W Spokane Falls Boulevard, Spokane, WA 99201. If you need records about city council actions, municipal ordinances, or public records requests directed at city agencies, the City Clerk is the right contact.

For court records, go to the clerk's office at the relevant court. The City Clerk and the court clerk are two different offices. Public records requests for court documents go to the court, not City Hall. The City Clerk's office is open Monday through Friday and can be contacted through the city website at my.spokanecity.org/cityclerk.

How to Search Civil Court Records in Spokane

You can search Spokane civil court records online using the Washington State Odyssey Portal. This is the main tool for Spokane County court records. Go to odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov and select Spokane County. You can search by name, case number, or filing date. The portal shows case type, parties, hearing dates, and docket entries for most civil cases.

The statewide Washington Courts search at dw.courts.wa.gov is another free option. It pulls from courts across Washington. This is useful if you need to check multiple counties or are unsure where a case was filed. Both tools are free to use.

For in-person access, go to Spokane County Superior Court at 1116 W Broadway Avenue. The clerk's office can look up cases, pull files, and provide copies. Bring a photo ID. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. If you need a same-day certified copy, going in person is the fastest route.

Mail requests are also accepted. Call (509) 477-3211 first to confirm what information you need to include and what the current processing time is. Some records can take several days to process by mail.

Types of Civil Court Records in Spokane

Civil records in Spokane cover a broad set of case types. Here are the main categories:

• Personal injury and negligence lawsuits
• Contract and business disputes
• Property and real estate disputes
• Landlord-tenant matters and evictions (unlawful detainer)
• Family law cases including divorce, legal separation, child custody, and support
• Probate, wills, and estate administration
• Guardianship and conservatorship
• Small claims up to $10,000
• Civil protection orders and anti-harassment orders
• Debt collection and judgment enforcement

Each case starts with a filing. From there, the court record grows to include responses, motions, hearings, and orders. Final judgments are also public. Most civil filings are open to the public. Courts may seal records in specific circumstances, but that is the exception, not the rule.

Filing Fees in Spokane County

Filing fees at Spokane County Superior Court vary by case type. The base fee for a standard civil case is around $240. Higher-value claims or specific case types may have higher fees. District Court and small claims fees are lower.

• Civil case filing fee (Superior Court): approximately $240 or more
• Small claims filing fee: $14 to $29 depending on claim amount
• Protection order petition: no fee in most cases
• Certified copies: $5 for the first page, $1 per additional page
• Plain copies: $0.25 per page

If you cannot pay the fee, you can ask the court to waive it. You need to file a motion and a financial declaration. People on public assistance or with income below 200% of the federal poverty level often qualify. Get the forms at the courthouse or at courts.wa.gov/forms.

Legal Help in Spokane

If you need legal help and can't afford an attorney, there are free and low-cost options in Spokane.

Northwest Justice Project serves Spokane County residents with free civil legal help. They handle housing, family law, consumer debt, benefits, and more. Call (888) 201-1014 or visit nwjustice.org to see if you qualify.

Washington Law Help at washingtonlawhelp.org offers free guides on civil legal topics in plain language. You can also download court forms for free at courts.wa.gov/forms. The Spokane County Courthouse has a self-help center where staff can help you find forms and understand the filing process, though they can't give legal advice.

Spokane County Civil Court Records

Spokane is the county seat of Spokane County. All major civil filings go through Spokane County Superior Court. For more on the county court and its resources, visit the Spokane County civil court records page.

View Spokane County Civil Court Records

Nearby Cities

These cities near Spokane also use the Spokane County court system or nearby courts.