Pend Oreille County Civil Court Records

Civil court records in Pend Oreille County are held by the Superior Court Clerk in Newport, Washington. Cases filed since 1996 are available online or at the clerk's office in person.

Pend Oreille County Superior Court Clerk

The Pend Oreille County Superior Court Clerk keeps all civil court records for the county. The clerk's office is in the Hall of Justice in Newport. Staff can help you look up cases, view documents, and order copies. The clerk handles civil matters, domestic cases, probate, and criminal filings. If you need a certified copy of a judgment or decree, this is the office to contact.

Tammie Ownbey serves as County Clerk. You can also reach Carrie Chancellor as an alternate contact. Both can assist with records requests and general questions about court filings. The office closes for lunch each day from noon to 1:00 PM, so plan your visit accordingly.

Types of Records the Clerk Maintains

The Pend Oreille County Superior Court Clerk maintains a wide range of case files. Civil and domestic violence cases are included, along with domestic relations matters such as dissolution, legal separation, and custody. Probate and guardianship cases are on file here as well. Juvenile offender cases and judgment records are also kept by the clerk.

Some records have restricted access. Adoptions and paternity files are restricted by state statute. Mental illness and alcohol dependency cases are also restricted. Juvenile dependency matters are sealed. You need a court order or statutory authority to view these types of files. For all other civil records, access is generally open to the public during office hours.

Record types the clerk maintains include:

• Civil and domestic violence cases
• Domestic relations (dissolution, legal separation, custody)
• Probate and guardianship matters
• Juvenile offender cases
• Judgment records and liens
• Restricted: adoptions, paternity, mental illness, juvenile dependency

How to Search Pend Oreille County Court Records

You have two main ways to search civil court records in Pend Oreille County: online through the state portal or in person at the clerk's office in Newport. Cases from January 1, 1996 to the present are available as computer images, either online or on the clerk's workstation. Older cases that predate 1996 are held on microfiche or in paper format at the clerk's office and are not available remotely.

For online searches, Pend Oreille County uses the Washington State Odyssey Portal. Go to odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov and search by party name or case number. Select Pend Oreille County from the court location list. The portal shows docket entries, case status, and party information at no cost. You can view documents listed in the docket directly through the portal for many cases.

You can also use the statewide Washington Courts public access search at dw.courts.wa.gov to look up case records across all Washington counties, including Pend Oreille.

To search in person, visit the Hall of Justice at 229 S. Garden in Newport. Viewing records at the courthouse is free. Staff can pull files and help you locate documents. You cannot separate documents or do partial copies of a file; if you need copies, the full page must be copied. Call the office at (509) 447-2435 to order documents by phone.

To run a search, you typically need:

• Full name of one party (last name, first name works best)
• Approximate filing year if you have it
• Case number, if known

Copy Fees and Costs

Pend Oreille County charges set fees for copies of court records. Viewing records at the courthouse is free. Fees apply when you need physical or electronic copies. The fee schedule is as follows:

The search fee applies when staff must conduct a manual search of records on your behalf. If you do your own search at a public terminal or online, no search fee applies. For mailed requests, include a check or money order along with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call the clerk's office first to get an estimate of the total cost before submitting your request.

Online Access and Digital Archives

Pend Oreille County offers two online tools for searching civil court records. The Odyssey Portal covers cases from 1996 to present. The Washington State Digital Archives covers historical records and can be a useful supplement for older cases.

The Washington State Digital Archives, at digitalarchives.wa.gov, holds records from many counties going back over 100 years. Search by selecting "Superior Court Records," then pick Pend Oreille as the county. You can browse by case number or title. Some archived documents can be downloaded directly; others require a small fee to purchase through the site's cart system.

Remote hearing information, such as Zoom links for scheduled court hearings, is also available on the Pend Oreille County website. If you need to attend a hearing remotely, check the court's site for the current hearing schedule and connection details.

Pend Oreille County Records Portal

Legal Help in Pend Oreille County

If you need help with a civil case in Pend Oreille County, several resources are available. The Northeast Washington Legal Services provides low-income residents in eastern Washington with civil legal aid. Northeast Washington falls under the service area covered by several legal aid groups.

Northwest Justice Project handles civil legal matters across Washington, including cases in Pend Oreille County. Their statewide hotline is (888) 201-1014. For family law self-help forms and guides, visit washingtonlawhelp.org. Official court forms are available free at courts.wa.gov/forms. The Washington State Bar Association lawyer referral service can be reached at (206) 443-9722 or through wsba.org.

The clerk's office staff can tell you where to find forms but cannot give legal advice. If your case is complex, or if the other side has an attorney, getting legal help of your own is a good idea.

Nearby Counties

Pend Oreille County borders several other eastern Washington counties. If you need records from a neighboring jurisdiction, use the links below.