Find Civil Court Records in Garfield County
Garfield County civil court records are kept by the Superior Court Clerk at 789 Main Street in Pomeroy, with the office open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM for in-person access to case files and copies.
Garfield County Court Quick Facts
- County Seat: Pomeroy
- Clerk Phone: (509) 843-3731
- Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
- Copy Fee: $0.50 per page (non-certified)
- Certified Copy: $5.00 first page + $1.00 each additional page
- Electronic Copy: $0.25 per page
- Address: 789 Main Street, Pomeroy, WA 99347
Searching Garfield County Civil Court Records
The Washington Courts statewide case search at dw.courts.wa.gov is the best place to start for Garfield County civil records. This free tool covers civil, criminal, and family law cases from Garfield County alongside records from other Washington counties. No account is needed for a basic search. You'll see party names, case numbers, filing dates, and current status. It covers both Superior Court and District Court records at once.
The statewide Odyssey Portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov is another option. Create a free public account to search by name, case number, or attorney. Garfield County is a small rural court, so online access may be more limited than larger counties. For records not appearing in either online system, contact the clerk at (509) 843-3731 directly.
Note: Garfield County is a small rural court with limited online access. Contacting the clerk directly at (509) 843-3731 is often the most reliable way to confirm whether a record is available and in what format.
Superior Court Clerk Office, Pomeroy
The Garfield County Superior Court Clerk maintains all civil case files for the county. The office is at 789 Main Street in Pomeroy. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Staff can help you look up case numbers, check on filing status, and retrieve documents from the file room. Walk-in visits are welcome during those hours.
You can request records in person, by phone, or by mail. For mail requests, include the case number or the full names of the parties, a list of the specific documents you need, and a check or money order made out to Garfield County Clerk. If you aren't sure how many pages a document runs, call the clerk's office first to get the page count and figure out the right payment to send.
Viewing records in person at the courthouse is free under Washington General Rule 31. You pay only when you want copies to take with you. Garfield County is one of the smallest counties in Washington by population, so the clerk's office handles a modest caseload. Response times for mail requests can vary, and calling ahead is a good idea.
The court maintains records from Garfield County's formation to the present. For very old records, some files may be in paper form or on microfilm. The clerk can confirm what format a specific record is in and whether it can be mailed or needs to be viewed in person.
What Civil Court Records Contain
Garfield County Superior Court handles civil matters where the dispute exceeds $100,000. It also handles domestic relations cases such as divorce, legal separation, and child custody modifications. Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianships are handled here. Felony criminal cases go through Superior Court too, though they are a separate category from civil records.
Each civil case file typically holds the original complaint or petition, responses and counterclaims from the other side, all motions filed during the case, signed court orders, final judgments, and any appeal notices. Family law cases include financial disclosure statements as well. Some documents in a file can be restricted or sealed if a judge grants a motion to do so, but most civil case materials are open to the public.
Smaller civil disputes go through District Court, not Superior Court. District Court handles cases up to $100,000, small claims up to $10,000, misdemeanor criminal matters, and traffic infractions. District Court records are kept separately from Superior Court records. The statewide courts search at dw.courts.wa.gov covers both at once if you're not sure which court handled a given case.
Note: Adoptions, juvenile non-offender matters, mental illness commitments, and cases that have been sealed are restricted from public access under Washington court rules.
GR 31 and Court Record Access
Washington General Rule 31 (GR 31) controls public access to court records, including those held by Garfield County. Under this rule, most civil court records are open to the public. You can view them at the courthouse at no charge. You can also search them online through the state's case search systems. The rule is separate from the Public Records Act, which covers executive branch agencies, not courts.
GR 31 spells out which record types are restricted by default. These include adoptions, mental health proceedings, and records involving minors in certain case types. For ordinary civil cases, such as contract disputes, personal injury actions, or civil judgments, the full file is typically available without restriction. If a party believes a record has been wrongly sealed or restricted, there is a process under the court rules to challenge that decision.
Requesting Copies and Fees
Garfield County charges the standard Washington court copy fees. Paper copies of non-certified documents are $0.50 per page. Electronic copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. Certification adds an official court seal and a deputy clerk signature. Certified copies are needed for some legal transactions, court filings in other jurisdictions, and certain government applications. Plain copies are fine for most personal research purposes.
Pay in person by cash, check, or money order. Mail requests need a check made out to Garfield County Clerk. Calling ahead to confirm the page count helps you avoid sending too little. Requests with insufficient payment are held until the full amount arrives.
- Non-certified paper copy: $0.50 per page
- Electronic copy: $0.25 per page
- Certified copy: $5.00 first page + $1.00 each additional
- Viewing records in person: Free
Court Forms and Legal Help
Washington State provides free court forms for most civil case types. The forms page at courts.wa.gov/forms has packets for divorce, guardianship, name changes, small claims, landlord-tenant matters, and civil protection orders. Each packet includes instructions written for people without attorneys.
If you need help making sense of a civil court record or figuring out what to file, two free resources can assist. Washington Law Help at washingtonlawhelp.org covers most civil legal topics with guides written in plain language. The Northwest Justice Project at nwjustice.org provides free legal help to low-income Washington residents and can assist Garfield County residents with civil matters, court filings, and record access questions.
Washington State Digital Archives
The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov holds older Garfield County court records that predate online case management systems. The archive is maintained by the Washington Secretary of State and includes civil case files, judgment records, and other court documents from earlier years. These records are free to browse and view online.
For records that fall between the digital archive and the current online portal, the clerk's office in Pomeroy is the right contact. Some older files may exist only on paper or microfilm. The clerk can tell you what's available and whether a file can be copied or needs to be reviewed in person at the courthouse.
Nearby Counties
Garfield County borders Asotin, Columbia, and Whitman counties in southeastern Washington. Each has its own Superior Court Clerk and courthouse.