Search Yakima County Civil Court Records
Yakima County civil court records are kept by the Superior Court Clerk at the courthouse in downtown Yakima and are open to the public online and in person.
Yakima County Court Quick Facts
- County Seat: Yakima
- Clerk Phone: (509) 574-1430
- Office Hours: Monday-Friday
- Non-Certified Copy: $0.50 per page (min. $1.00)
- Electronic Copy: $0.25 per page (min. $1.00)
- Certified Copy: $5.00 first page + $1.00 each additional
- Research Fee: $20 per hour of clerk staff time
- Address: 128 North 2nd Street, Room 323, Yakima, WA 98901
Yakima County Superior Court Clerk
The Yakima County Clerk is located at Room 323 in the county courthouse at 128 North 2nd Street in Yakima. The clerk maintains records for all civil cases filed at the Superior Court level, including lawsuits, probate matters, domestic relations cases, guardianship proceedings, and other civil filings. Call (509) 574-1430 with questions about specific cases or records requests.
Civil court records in Yakima County include case numbers, party names, docket entries, orders, motions, filings, judgments, and exhibits. Most records are available to the public. Restricted records include sealed cases, certain juvenile matters, and adoption proceedings.
| Office | Yakima County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 128 North 2nd Street, Room 323 Yakima, WA 98901 |
| Phone | (509) 574-1430 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday |
How to Search Civil Court Records in Yakima County
Yakima County participates in the statewide Washington Courts public case search. The free search tool at dw.courts.wa.gov is updated every 24 hours and requires no registration. You can search by name, case number, or business name. You can also narrow results by case type, filing date, and court name.
Yakima County also uses the Odyssey Portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov for online case access. This system provides case summaries, party information, and docket entries. Full document access may require an in-person visit or records request.
For in-person access, visit the clerk's office at 128 North 2nd Street. You can view public court records on site at no charge. Staff can look up cases by name or case number. To get copies, fill out a Copy Request Form. For audio recordings from court hearings, use the Court Hearings Request form.
A records request typically needs:
- Full name of one or both parties
- Case number if you have it
- Year the case was filed
- The specific documents you need
Copy Fees
Paper copies cost $0.50 per page with a $1.00 minimum order. Electronic or email copies cost $0.25 per page with a $1.00 minimum. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page plus $1.00 for each additional page. If clerk staff must spend time researching to locate records, a research fee of $20 per hour applies.
Court hearing CDs are available at tiered rates: 1 to 2 CDs cost $3.00, 3 to 4 CDs cost $6.00, and 5 to 6 CDs cost $9.00. For historical records, the Washington State Digital Archives holds older Yakima County Superior Court documents.
District Court
Yakima County District Court handles civil cases where the amount in dispute is $100,000 or less, small claims cases up to $5,000, traffic infractions, and misdemeanor criminal cases. The main District Court location is at 128 North 2nd Street, Yakima, WA 98901, phone (509) 574-1804. A second location in Grandview is at 1313 West Wine Country Road, phone (509) 574-2192.
District Court accepts records requests with valid photo ID. Records are generally filed within 48 hours of submission. Copy fees at District Court are similar to Superior Court rates.
Types of Civil Records
Yakima County Superior Court handles a full range of civil case types. Civil lawsuits between private parties are filed here when the amount exceeds $100,000. The court handles family law cases including dissolution, legal separation, and parenting plan modifications. Probate proceedings for estates and guardianship cases are civil matters filed at Superior Court as well.
Protection orders and name changes can also go through the Superior Court. Most civil records are open to the public. Sealed and confidential records are not accessible without a court order. If you are unsure whether a specific record is available, contact the clerk's office before making a trip.
Legal Help in Yakima County
Northwest Justice Project provides free civil legal assistance for low-income Washington residents. Call (888) 201-1014 or visit nwjustice.org. Washington Law Help at washingtonlawhelp.org has free guides for common civil issues. Court forms are available at courts.wa.gov/forms. For a private attorney referral, contact the Washington State Bar Association at (206) 443-9722.
Cities in Yakima County
The city of Yakima is the county seat and the largest city in the county. All civil cases for residents of the city and surrounding unincorporated areas are filed at Yakima County Superior Court.