Clark County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Clark County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Clark County may access publicly available case information through ClarkWARecords.us, a directory resource that aggregates publicly available information related to court records, criminal history, and related judicial filings. Court records in Clark County, Washington, are maintained by the Clark County Superior Court Clerk's Office and the Clark County District Court, and may include case filings, docket entries, hearing schedules, judgments, and orders across a range of case types. The information available through public channels may reflect:
- Civil case filings and judgments
- Criminal case records, including charges, pleas, and sentencing entries
- Family law matters such as dissolution, custody, and protection orders
- Probate and estate filings
- Traffic infractions and misdemeanor citations
- Small claims proceedings
- Juvenile court records, subject to statutory restrictions
Court records in Clark County may be searched through five primary methods:
-
Clerk of Court or Court Records Office — The Clark County Superior Court Clerk's Office maintains the official record for superior court cases. Members of the public may submit requests in person or in writing, providing the case number, party name, or filing date to assist staff in locating the record. The Clerk's Office is located on the first floor of the Clark County Courthouse.
-
Courthouse Public Access Terminals — A public computer terminal is available at the Clark County Courthouse for in-person case lookups. No fee is charged for viewing records at the terminal, though copies incur a per-page charge.
-
Online Court Search — The Washington State Courts Name and Case Search provides statewide case lookup by party name or case number. The database is updated every 24 hours at 3:00 a.m.
-
State-Level Judicial Search Tools — The Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts operates Find My Court Date, which allows individuals to locate upcoming hearing dates and case locations across participating courts.
-
Written or Mail Requests — Individuals who cannot appear in person may submit written requests to the Clerk's Office. Requests should include the full name of a party, approximate filing date, and case type. Fees for copies and certified documents apply.
Are Court Records Public In Clark County
Court records in Clark County are public records under Washington State law. Pursuant to RCW § 2.32.070, the clerk of the superior court is required to keep records of all court proceedings, and those records are open to public inspection. Washington's Public Records Act, codified at RCW § 42.56, further establishes a broad presumption of public access to government records, including judicial filings.
Records that are public and available for inspection include:
- Case docket entries and hearing schedules
- Party names and case numbers
- Filed pleadings, motions, and responses
- Court orders and judgments
- Sentencing entries and probation terms
- Civil judgments and decrees
Records that may be confidential, sealed, redacted, or restricted include:
- Juvenile court records, which are subject to restricted access under RCW § 13.50.010
- Adoption records, which are sealed by statute
- Mental health commitment proceedings
- Records sealed by court order following a motion and judicial finding
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth, which are redacted from public filings under Washington's General Rule 22
A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While the full case file may be inspected in person at the Clerk's Office, not all documents are available through online search portals. Sealed filings, exhibits, and certain restricted attachments are not accessible through public terminals or statewide search tools regardless of the method used.
What Are Court Records in Clark County?
Court records are the official documents and entries created and maintained by a court in connection with a legal proceeding. In Clark County, court records are generated from the moment a case is filed and continue to be updated through each stage of litigation, including hearings, motions, orders, and final disposition.
The distinction between a docket entry and a full case file is significant. A docket is a chronological index of all filings and proceedings in a case, listing dates, document titles, and event descriptions. The full case file includes the actual documents referenced in the docket, such as complaints, petitions, motions, responses, exhibits, and orders.
Civil court records document disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, covering matters such as contract claims, personal injury actions, landlord-tenant disputes, and family law proceedings. Criminal court records document the prosecution of individuals charged with violations of state law, including misdemeanors and felonies, and contain charging documents, plea entries, trial records, and sentencing information.
Filed pleadings are the initial documents submitted to open or respond to a case, while final judgments represent the court's conclusive resolution of the matter. Public filings are accessible to any member of the public, while sealed or restricted filings require a court order or statutory authority to access.
Trial court records are maintained by the clerk of the court in which the case was heard. In Clark County, the Superior Court Clerk maintains records for superior court proceedings, and the District Court maintains records for district court matters. Appellate records, including briefs and decisions from the Washington Court of Appeals or the Washington Supreme Court, are maintained by the appellate court clerk and are accessible through the Washington Courts website.
Clark County Superior Court Clerk's Office
1200 Franklin Street
Vancouver, WA 98660
Phone: (564) 397-2090
Access to Records | Clark County
What's Included in a Clark County Court Record?
A court record in Clark County may contain a range of documents and data entries depending on the case type, the stage of proceedings, and applicable public-access rules. The following categories of information may appear within a publicly accessible court record:
- Case identification information: case number, court name and division, filing date, and case type designation
- Party information: names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and other named parties
- Case status: open, closed, on appeal, or transferred
- Docket entries: a chronological log of all filings, hearings, and court actions
- Hearing dates and continuances: scheduled and past court appearances
- Filed documents: complaints, petitions, answers, motions, responses, declarations, notices, and stipulations
- Court orders and judgments: temporary orders, final judgments, decrees of dissolution, restraining orders, and sentencing orders
- Outcome information: dismissals, verdicts, guilty pleas, convictions, acquittals, custody rulings, probate orders, and appellate decisions
- Financial and administrative entries: filing fees, assessed costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly shown
Records that are excluded or restricted from public access include sealed filings, expunged matters, juvenile case files, adoption records, protected personal data redacted under General Rule 22, and certain exhibits that contain sensitive or confidential material. The presence of a docket entry does not guarantee that the underlying document is available for public inspection.
Types of Courts in Clark County
Clark County is served by a multi-tiered court system operating under the Washington State judiciary. Each court has defined jurisdiction and maintains its own official records.
Clark County Superior Court exercises general jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding the jurisdictional limit of the district court, family law proceedings, probate and estate matters, juvenile cases, and appeals from courts of limited jurisdiction. The Superior Court Clerk's Office maintains the official record for all superior court proceedings.
Clark County District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction that handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases, civil claims up to $100,000, traffic infractions, small claims matters, and landlord-tenant disputes. The District Court Clerk maintains records for district court cases.
Municipal Courts operating within incorporated cities in Clark County, such as the City of Vancouver Municipal Court, handle violations of city ordinances and certain traffic matters within their respective jurisdictions.
The Washington Court of Appeals, Division II, hears appeals from Clark County Superior Court decisions. Appellate records are maintained by the Court of Appeals clerk and are accessible through the Washington Courts system.
Clark County District Court
1200 Franklin Street
Vancouver, WA 98660
Phone: (564) 397-2050
Daily District Court Docket
How to Search Clark County Court Records for Free?
Several methods for accessing Clark County court records are available at no cost. In-person inspection of court records at the Clerk's Office public terminal is free of charge. Members of the public may view case dockets and available documents without paying a fee during regular business hours.
The Washington State Courts Name and Case Search is a free statewide tool that allows searches by party name or case number across participating courts. The Find My Court Date portal is also available at no cost for locating upcoming hearing dates.
Fees are assessed for the following services:
| Service | Approximate Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard copy (per page) | $0.15–$0.25 per page |
| Certified copy | $5.00 per document + per-page copy fee |
| Exemplified copy | Additional certification fee applies |
| Research by clerk staff | Fees may apply for extensive research |
Fee schedules for the Clark County Superior Court Clerk are established pursuant to RCW § 36.18.016, which governs clerk fees in Washington superior courts. Actual fees are subject to change and should be confirmed with the Clerk's Office prior to submitting a request.
How Long Does Clark County Keep Court Records?
Retention periods for court records in Clark County are governed by the Washington State Archives records retention schedules applicable to judicial records. Retention varies by case type and the nature of the record.
- Felony criminal case files are retained permanently or for extended periods given the severity of the underlying matter.
- Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor case files are retained for a minimum period following case closure, after which they may be eligible for destruction subject to applicable schedules.
- Civil case files are retained based on the nature of the judgment; cases involving permanent injunctions or judgments affecting real property may be retained indefinitely.
- Family law and dissolution records involving minor children are retained for extended periods to preserve custody and support orders.
- Probate records are retained permanently in many instances due to their effect on property and inheritance rights.
- Docket books and minute records are retained permanently as the official chronological record of court proceedings.
- Traffic infraction records are subject to shorter retention schedules.
Paper files may be destroyed following imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the retention schedule authorizes destruction. Destruction of a record is distinct from sealing or expungement. A sealed record continues to exist but is restricted from public access. An expunged record is vacated and removed from public view pursuant to a court order, such as a vacation of conviction under RCW § 9.96.060. Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, or county and state archives maintained by the Washington State Archives.
How To Find a Court Docket in Clark County
A court docket is the official chronological index of all filings, hearings, and proceedings in a specific case. It differs from the full case file in that it lists events and document titles without necessarily providing access to the underlying documents themselves. The docket serves as the navigational record of a case from filing through final disposition.
Dockets for Clark County Superior Court cases may be accessed through the Washington State Courts Name and Case Search, which is updated daily. To locate a docket, a user may enter the party's name or the case number into the search interface. Results display case status, party names, and docket entries where available.
The Daily Court Docket for Clark County Superior Court provides the daily hearing calendar, listing cases scheduled for that day along with courtroom assignments and case locations. This calendar is updated each day and reflects the current schedule of superior court proceedings.
The Daily District Court Docket provides the equivalent calendar for Clark County District Court. Effective May 2, 2022, Clark County District Court implemented a hybrid model of in-person and virtual hearings, and the daily docket reflects current hearing formats.
A docket entry may include:
- Filing date and document title
- Hearing dates and courtroom assignments
- Continuances and rescheduled appearances
- Motion filings and ruling entries
- Minute entries summarizing court proceedings
- Status updates and case disposition entries
A docket does not include the full text of filed documents, sealed entries, confidential attachments, or exhibits that are restricted from public access. Members of the public who require copies of specific documents referenced in a docket must submit a request to the Clerk's Office. In-person access to the public terminal at the Clark County Courthouse allows users to view docket entries and, where available, document images for cases maintained in the court's electronic filing system.