Search Lewis County Civil Court Records

Lewis County civil court records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk at the Law and Justice Center in Chehalis, with cases from 1996 to the present searchable online through the Odyssey Portal.

Lewis County Superior Court Clerk

The Lewis County Superior Court Clerk's office is the official keeper of all Superior Court records in the county. Scott Tinney serves as the elected clerk. The office sits inside the Law and Justice Center at 345 W. Main Street, Chehalis, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

You can reach the clerk's office by phone at (360) 740-2704. For specific records questions, you may also email staff directly. Ruth Allison handles general clerk inquiries at Ruth.allison@lewiscountywa.gov. Susie Eck is reachable at caril.eck@lewiscountywa.gov. Both can assist with case lookups, copy requests, and filing questions.

The clerk files and indexes all Superior Court documents. That includes civil lawsuits, domestic relations cases, probate proceedings, and guardianship matters. Every paper filed in Superior Court goes through the clerk's office and is assigned a case number. That number stays with the case for its entire life.

Note that as of July 27, 2025, a $50 surcharge was added to most Superior Court filing fees in Lewis County. If you are filing a new civil case, be sure to check the current fee schedule before you submit any documents.

How to Search Lewis County Civil Court Records

The fastest way to search Lewis County civil court records is through the Washington State Odyssey Portal. The portal is free to use for basic case lookups. You can search by name, case number, or filing date.

• Odyssey Portal: odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov - covers cases from 1996 to present. Lewis County's Odyssey code is 21.
• Washington Courts Public Search: dw.courts.wa.gov - statewide case index with basic case details.

The online portals show case status, party names, filed documents, and hearing dates for most public civil cases. Keep in mind that documents are not available for direct download through the portal. If you need copies of actual court documents, you must contact the clerk's office or visit in person.

For in-person searches, public access terminals are available at the Law and Justice Center. Staff can help you find a case if you know the names of the parties or have a case number. Older records that predate the 1996 digital cutoff may only exist as paper files, and you will need to request those directly through the clerk.

Lewis County District Court

Lewis County also has a District Court that handles civil cases up to $100,000. That includes small claims disputes, minor civil matters, and traffic infractions. District Court records are separate from Superior Court records. If your case involves a smaller civil claim or you are not sure which court handled it, you may need to search both systems.

District Court contact details and case information may be available through the county website at lewiscountywa.gov. The Washington Courts search tool at dw.courts.wa.gov also indexes many District Court cases alongside Superior Court matters.

Types of Civil Records in Lewis County Superior Court

Lewis County Superior Court handles a wide range of civil matters. Knowing the type of record you need can help you narrow your search and request the right documents.

• Civil Lawsuits: Contract disputes, personal injury claims, property disputes, and other civil actions where the amount at issue exceeds $100,000.
• Domestic Relations: Divorce filings, legal separation, paternity cases, child custody orders, and modifications to existing family court orders.
• Probate: Estate proceedings after a death, including wills, administration of estates, and related filings.
• Guardianship: Cases where a court appoints a guardian for a minor or an incapacitated adult.
• Protection Orders: Civil anti-harassment orders, domestic violence protection orders, and stalking protection orders.
• Juvenile Matters: Dependency cases and related proceedings handled through the court's juvenile division.
• Name Changes: Petitions to legally change a name are filed as civil cases and become part of the public record.

Most of these case types are public record unless a judge has sealed them. Sealed cases do not show up in online searches. If you believe a case exists but cannot find it online, contact the clerk's office directly.

Copy Fees and How to Request Records

Lewis County charges standard Washington State copy fees for court records. Fees apply to both in-person and mail requests.

• Standard paper copies: $0.50 per page
• Electronic copies: $0.25 per page
• Certified copies: $5.00 for the first page, plus $1.00 for each additional page

Documents are not available for direct online download. You must request copies through the clerk's office. You can do this in person at the Law and Justice Center, or you can call or email the clerk to ask about mail-in requests. Payment is typically required before copies are released. Call (360) 740-2704 to confirm current accepted payment methods and any specific requirements for your request.

If you need records for a pending legal matter, allow enough time for processing. Routine requests may take a few days. Older cases or large document sets may take longer to pull and copy.

Legal Help and Resources

Court clerks can tell you what is in a case file, but they cannot give legal advice. If you need help understanding a court record or filing a case, these resources can assist.

• Northwest Justice Project: Free civil legal aid for low-income residents. Call (888) 201-1014 or visit nwjustice.org.
• Washington Law Help: Free legal information and self-help guides at washingtonlawhelp.org.
• Washington Courts Forms: Official court forms for civil cases, family law, and more at courts.wa.gov/forms.
• Lewis County Superior Court website: lewiscountywa.gov/offices/superior-court
• Lewis County Clerk website: lewiscountywa.gov/offices/clerk

If you cannot afford a lawyer, the Northwest Justice Project may be able to match you with free or reduced-cost legal help. Washington Law Help has plain-language guides on many common civil legal issues, including divorce, eviction, and small claims.

Cities in Lewis County

No cities in Lewis County meet the population threshold for a dedicated civil court records page. Chehalis is the county seat and the location of the Lewis County Superior Court. Residents of Chehalis, Centralia, and other communities in Lewis County all file civil cases through the same Superior Court Clerk's office in Chehalis.

Nearby Counties