Washington Divorce Records

Sourcing Divorce Records in Washington

Since the early 1900s, Washington divorce records have been kept for every divorce that occurred. Often they are requested to verify that a divorce has taken place or for genealogical reasons. The states maintain its records since the states mandate the granting of divorces.

In Washington, the State Office maintains divorce records since January 1968. However, certified copies must be requested from the county where the divorce was finalized, since certified copies are not available at the state level.

Fees for requested searches and copies of divorce records vary across states and even across counties. Therefore, the following number is available to acquire the cost in a particular county in Washington: 360-236-4300. This number can be used to request fees for other types of official record searches and copies in Washington. Fees are small amounts designed to recover the cost of the search and copy.

In Washington, written requests for divorce records should be made to the County Clerk in the county where the divorce was finalized. All divorce records are filed by the husband�s last name. If the name isn�t available in full, you can conduct a search of past and present spouses to get it. This type of search can be also be used to locate the name of the county since the addresses of all spouses will be listed.

Official record searches take between two to ten days. It depends upon the amount of information provided with the request. Genealogical searches take longer for a variety of reasons including the year of the divorce, the availability of pertinent information, the urgency of the request, and the availability of courthouse staff and resources.

Follow the guidelines here to produce a more efficient search.

1. Print or type each complete name and address clearly to avoid confusion. This includes the full name of both the husband and the wife. The maiden name should be included for the wife.
2. Keep your request brief and to the point.
3. Limit your request to one document.
4. Include the full names of the individuals, including nicknames and alternate spellings that may have been used.
5. Include the full address of the individual at the time of the divorce, including street, city or town, and state. If you know the county in which the divorce took place, include that as well.
6. Include the date that the divorce was finalized. If you do not have this piece of information available, include a time frame for the search. Generally, it is best to specify a short span of years for an unknown year search. You can always expand the number of years that you search, and a shorter span will lead to a shorter search. You can expect to pay an additional fee for searches such as this that require more effort.
7. Include contact information where you can be reached in the event that more information is required. Include a daytime telephone number, as well as, an evening telephone number. You may also include a fax number or an e-mail address.
8. Include your relationship to the individual�s listed in your search request.
9. Include the purpose of your request.
10. Print your name clearly and sign your request. Some states may also require additional identifying information on you as well, including a driver�s license number.
11. Include a SASE, or self addressed stamped envelope with your request for a speedier delivery.
12. Include the date that you mail your request with your correspondence.

A list of the local county courthouses for Washington is provided below in alphabetical order. Telephone and fax numbers have been provided when available, but should be used for informational purposes only.

State of Washington
Washington Dept. of Health
Center for Health Statistics
P.O. Box 9709
Olympia, WA 98507-9709
Telephone: (360) 236-4300 Info
(360) 236-4313 orders
Fax: (360) 352-2586

Adams County
Adams County Health District
103 West Main
Ritzville, WA 99169-1860
Telephone: (509) 659-0090 Ext 206

Asotin County
Asotin County Courthouse
135 2nd Street
Asotin, WA 99402
Telephone: (509) 243-4181

Benton County
Benton County Health District
506 McKenzie
Prosser, WA 99350-0190
Telephone: (509) 943-2614

Chelan-Douglas County
Chelan-Douglas County Health District
200 Valley Mall Parkway
East Wenatchee, WA 98801
Telephone: (509) 886-6400

Clallam County
Clallam County Dept of Health & Human Services
223 East 4th Street
Port Angeles, WA 98362-3098
Telephone: (360) 417-2303

Clark County
Clark County Clerk's Office
1200 Franklin Street
Vancouver, WA 98660-2872
Telephone: (360) 397-2292

Columbia County
Columbia County Clerk
341 E. Main St.
Dayton, WA 99328-1361
Telephone: (509) 382-4321

Cowlitz County
Cowlitz County Clerk
312 SW First Street
Kelso, WA 98626-1724
Telephone: (360) 577-3016

Douglas County
Douglas County Health District
316 Washington Street
Waterville, WA 98858-0516
Telephone: (509) 664-5306

Ferry County
Ferry County Clerk
P.O. Box 498
Republic, WA 99166-0498
Telephone: (509) 775-3161

Franklin County
Franklin County Clerk
1016 North Fourth Avenue
Pasco, WA 99301-3706
Telephone: (509) 545-3525

Garfield County
Garfield County Clerk
P.O. Box 915
Pomeroy, WA 99347-0915
Telephone: (509) 843-3731

Grant County
Grant County Clerk
P.O. Box 37
Ephrata, WA 98823-0037
Telephone: (509) 754-2011

Grays Harbor
Grays Harbor County Clerk
102 W. Broadway, Room 203
Montesano, WA 98563
Telephone: (360) 249-3842

Island County
Island County Clerk
P.O. Box 1317
Coupville, WA 98239-1317
Telephone: (360) 679-7359

Jefferson County
Jefferson County Clerk
P.O. Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Telephone: (360) 385-9115

King County
King County Courthouse
Vital Statistics -- Birth Records & Death Records
King County Administration Bldg., Rm 214
500 4th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
Telephone: (206) 296-4768

Kitsap County
Kitsap County Clerk
614 Division St.
Mail Stop 34
Port Orchard, WA 98366-4614
Telephone: (360) 337-7164

Kittitas County
Kittitas County Clerk
Auditor's Office
205 W. 5th Ave.
Ellensburg, WA 98926-2887
Telephone: (509) 962-6811

Klickitat County
Klickitat County Clerk
205 S. Columbus Ave.
Mail Stop CH-2
Goldendale, WA 98620-9286
Telephone: (509) 773-4001

Lewis County
Lewis County Clerk
344 West Main
Chehalis, WA 98532-1922
Telephone: (360) 748-9121

Lincoln County
Lincoln County Clerk
450 Logan Street, P.O. Box 68
Davenport, WA 99122
Telephone: (509) 725-1401

Mason County
Mason County Clerk
Fourth and Alder, P.O. Box 400
Shelton, WA 98584
Telephone: (360) 427-9670, ext. 467 or 468

Okanogan County
Okanogan County Clerk
P.O. Box 72
Okanogan, WA 98840-0072
Telephone: (509) 422-3650

Pacific County
Pacific County Clerk
P.O. Box 67
South Bend, WA 98586-0067
Telephone: (360) 875-6541

Pend Oreille County
Pend Oreille County Clerk
P.O. Box 5000
Newport, WA 99156-5000
Telephone: (509) 447-3185

Pierce County
Pierce County Clerk
County-city Building
930 Tacoma Ave South, Rm-110
Tacoma, WA 98402-2177
Telephone: (253) 798-6418

San Juan County
San Juan County Clerk
P.O. Box 638, Courthouse
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Telephone: (360) 378-2163

Skagit County
Skagit County Clerk
P.O. Box 837
Mount Vernon, WA 98273-0837
Telephone: (360) 336-9311

Skamania County
Skamania County Clerk
P.O. Box 790
Stevenson, WA 98648-0790
Telephone: (509) 427-5141

Snohomish County
Snohomish Health District
3020 Rucker Ave.
Everett, WA 98201-3900
Telephone: (425) 339-5290

Spokane County
Spokane County Vital Records
1101 W College Ave
Spokane, WA 99210
Telephone: (509) 324-1522

Stevens County
Stevens County Auditor
Attention: Recording
215 South Oak Street
Colville, WA 99114
Telephone: (509) 684-3751

Thurston County
Thurston County Clerk
2000 Lakeridge Dr. SW, Bldg. 1
Olympia, WA 98502-6045
Telephone: (360) 754-3800

Wahkiakum County
Wahkiakum County Clerk
P.O. Box 116
Cathlamet, WA 98612-0016
Telephone: (360) 795-3558

Walla Walla County
Walla Walla County Clerk
315 West Main Street, P.O. Box 1856
Walla Walla, WA 99362-2838
Telephone: (509) 527-3221

Whatcom County
Whatcom County Clerk
311 Grand Ave.
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
Telephone: (360) 676-6777

Whitman County
Whitman County Clerk
P.O. Box 390
Colfax, WA 99111-0390
Telephone: (509) 397-4622

Yakima County
Yakima County Clerk
Second and East B Street
Yakima, WA 98901
Telephone: (509) 575-4120

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