Common Questions About Spokane County Court Records
How do I search Spokane County court records online?
Start with the official county Search Portal or the Court Viewer. Pick Superior Court or District Court, then choose a case-number, name, or hearing-date search. A name search needs at least a last name and a first initial. The viewer is reference data only, and the official record stays with the court of record. For the full walkthrough and the search-field details, see our Spokane County court records page.
Where do I get official Superior Court copies?
Contact the Clerk of the Superior Court at 1116 W Broadway Avenue, Room 300, Spokane, WA 99260, phone 509-477-2211. Non-certified copies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each added page. The clerk does not take cards for copy fees, so plan to pay by check or money order. More on the office and its request steps is on the Clerk of the Superior Court page.
Can I request court records through the county GovQA portal?
No, not for court case records. The county states that court records cannot be obtained through its online Public Records Request portal. Superior Court filed documents go to the County Clerk, and District Court filed documents go to the District Court Clerk. The GovQA portal is for non-court agency records. To see what that portal does cover, visit our Spokane County public records page.
What is the difference between Superior Court and District Court?
Superior Court is the general-jurisdiction trial court. It hears felony, divorce, probate, guardianship, juvenile, adoption, major civil, and civil commitment cases. District Court is limited jurisdiction. It handles misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, traffic and non-traffic infractions, small claims, name changes, and protection orders. Knowing the split tells you where to search. Read more on the Superior Court and District Court pages.
How do I find my court date?
Use the Court Viewer hearing searches by date, case number, or name. The Superior Court hearing page warns that trial dates can change, and it lists Superior Court Administration at 509-477-5790 for confirmation. Dependency, Becca, and juvenile offender dates are not posted online. Calendar and docket detail is covered on our Spokane County court dockets page.
Are documents before January 2005 online?
No. The Superior Court case-number page states that court documents filed before January 2005 are not available online. The case may still appear, but the document images will not. Those older files can be viewed in person at the Clerk's Office or requested by mail. Contact the clerk for the page count and copy cost first. See the court records page for how older files are handled.
How do I search the jail roster?
Use the Detention Services inmate roster online. It has tabs for Current Inmates, Recent Bookings, and Recent Releases, and you can filter by the first letter of a last name or view all. Results show the inmate name, book number, status, bondable status, and total bond. Full steps and the roster search fields are on our Spokane County inmate records page.
What information appears on an inmate detail page?
An inmate detail record shows the name, County ID, booking number, intake date and time, case numbers and case-added dates, case bonds, the bond-setting court, charge descriptions with RCW links, report numbers, and report agencies. It also links to VINELink registration. The inspected page did not show a mugshot. For a field-by-field breakdown, see the inmate records page.
How do I get jail records beyond the roster?
Jail records are held in confidence under RCW 70.48.100. To get specific inmate information past the public roster, you need a signed waiver from the inmate or a court order signed by a judge, plus valid identification. This is stricter than ordinary court records. Our inmate records page explains what the public roster shows and what stays confidential.
How do I know if someone was released from jail?
Check the roster's Recent Releases tab, or see if the person is gone from the Current Inmates list. You can register with VINELink for alerts, or call Detention Services at 509-477-2278. If the person may have moved to state or federal custody, also check the state DOC or federal BOP locators. Our released inmates page covers each of these tools.
How do I post money for an inmate?
Spokane accepts postal money orders, Western Union money orders, US Treasury checks, tribal or correctional-facility checks, and cashier's checks under $500 by mail. Do not mail cash. Cash must be deposited at the cashier window or a kiosk in the jail lobby or Geiger visitation area. The inmate records page has the mailing format and account details.
How do I recall a District Court bench warrant?
The District Court FAQ says you or your attorney must appear at District Clerk windows 7, 8, or 9 and ask for a bench warrant recall hearing for a case in Bench Warrant Status. The warrant stays active until you appear at the court date and a judge decides whether to quash it. Steps and the recall form are on our Spokane County warrant records page.
Do Spokane courts call people to demand warrant money?
No. The Superior Court has warned about a jury-duty scam. Residents get fraudulent calls claiming a failure to appear and a warrant fine. The court and the Sheriff's Office do not call people asking for money over a warrant. If you get such a call, treat it as a scam and verify any real case yourself. The warrant records page covers how to check an actual warrant safely.
Where do I apply for a marriage license?
Apply through the Spokane County Auditor's Recording and Marriage License Office. Each spouse fills out a separate application. Mailed applications need notarized signatures and payment sent to Spokane County Auditor - Marriage, PO Box 2353, Spokane, WA 99210. The fee, the waiting period, and the ceremony window are all explained on our marriage and divorce records page.
Where are divorce records kept?
Divorce records are Superior Court domestic records, and the County Clerk maintains them. You can search Superior Court case information in the Court Viewer or request official certified copies from the clerk. Some family-law materials are restricted under General Rule 22, so not every page is open. Our marriage and divorce records page covers the search and copy steps.
Where are probate records kept?
Probate is handled in Spokane County Superior Court. Search Superior Court case information by case number or by a Civil, Domestic, or Probate name search. The Clerk fee schedule lists probate items such as Will Only, Will Repository, Nonjudicial Probate Agreement, Letters, and a Will Contest Petition. For the fees and how to search, see our Spokane County probate records page.
Are juvenile records public?
Juvenile access is restricted by Washington law and court rules. The Superior Court hearing search states that Dependency, Becca, and Juvenile Offender case and court-date information is not available online. Access may be limited to parties, attorneys, agencies, or those with a court order. Contact the court about eligible access. The court records page lists what is open and what is sealed.
How do I request District Court records?
The District Court offers three form types: a General Defendant or Case Request, an Other Court Statistics Request, and an Administrative Records Request. Fill the form on screen, print and sign it, then mail, deliver, or fax it to the District Court Public Records Officer, PO Box 2352, Spokane, WA 99210-2352, fax 509-477-6445. See the District Court page for the request categories and fees.
How do I search federal cases from Spokane County?
Federal cases are not in the county viewer. They sit with the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Washington. Use PACER for the official federal dockets. The federal courthouse is the Thomas S. Foley U.S. Courthouse in Spokane. Our court records page notes how the federal track differs from county cases.
Can I clear or vacate a Washington conviction?
Washington has statutory vacation processes. Felony vacation is under RCW 9.94A.640, and misdemeanor or gross-misdemeanor vacation is under RCW 9.96.060. Eligibility depends on the offense, a completed sentence, waiting periods, pending charges, and other conditions. You file in the court of conviction. For criminal traffic convictions, our traffic court records page covers the same vacation rules.
Still Have Questions About Spokane County Records?
For the right office, see the Clerk of the Superior Court. For broader access rules, see public records. To browse records by topic, try criminal records, inmate records, warrant records, marriage and divorce, or probate.