Pierce County, Washington Court Records
Pierce County court records are documents, information, exhibits, or other materials that a court maintains in connection with judicial proceedings it handles. Examples of court records include, but are not limited to, indexes, orders, dockets, calendars, judgments, decrees, and minute entries. These records are typically created by or filed with courts during judicial proceedings.
Pierce County does not have a central court records custodian. Instead, each court clerk’s office or its equivalent is responsible for maintaining court records generated by its respective court. For instance, court records of cases heard by Pierce County Superior Court are maintained by the Clerk of the Superior Court. Meanwhile, Pierce County District Court records are maintained by the District Court Clerk. Unlike other government records, such as vital records and arrest information, Pierce County court records are not subject to Washington’s Public Records Act (RCW 42.56). Rather, the Washington General Rule (GR) 31 governs access to court records.
Are Pierce County Court Records Public?
Washington’s General Rule (GR) 31 establishes the public right to access Pierce County court records, except where federal law, state law, court rule, court order, or case law restricts access. As a result, most Pierce County court records are available, albeit with certain exemptions. Examples of court records that are exempted from public access include, but are not limited to;
- Adoption records
- Family law document
- Sealed or expunged records
- Confidential name change records
- Mental illness commitment records
- Paternity records (except final orders)
- Alcohol and drug treatment commitment records
Additionally, personal identifiers, such as Social Security Numbers, financial account numbers, and driver’s license numbers, are usually redacted from public court records pursuant to GR 31 (e).
What Information is Available in Pierce County Court Records?
Information typically available in Pierce County court records includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Case number
- Docket information
- Case party names and their attorneys’ details (if applicable)
- Generated or filed case documents, such as pleadings, motions, orders, decrees, judgments, and transcripts
Pierce County Court Records Search
In Pierce County, individuals who wish to conduct a court record search must first determine which court handled the sought-after case to direct their request appropriately.
Interested persons can request Pierce County Superior Court records through the County’s Clerk of the Superior Court office in person, by mail, or online. Depending on the type of record (i.e., certified or non-certified copies), certain fees are usually charged per copy requested. Certified copies cost $5 for the first document page and $1 per additional document page, while noncertified copies cost $0.50 per page for in-person or mail requests and $0.25 per page for online requests. Accepted forms of payment include cashier’s checks or money orders for mail-in requests, and cash or debit cards for in-person requests.
Requesters can draft a written request containing their name, contact information, case number, and the name of the sought-after document, and submit in person or by mail, along with the appropriate fees and a self-addressed envelope with/ postage to;
Pierce County Clerk
ATTN Records & Copies
930 Tacoma Ave S, Room 110
Tacoma, WA 98402-2177
On the other hand, an online request can be made through the Legal Information Network Exchange (LINX) website. Note that users must have a LINX account to use the website.
Record seekers can request District Court case records using the court’s dedicated online request form. On the form, they must provide their name, date of birth, case number (if known), and the incident date (if applicable). Additionally, they must specify the document they want and how they would prefer to receive the record (i.e., by mail, email, or pickup). After providing the required information, they would receive a response with details on the applicable fees and payment instructions. They may also submit requests by mail or in person at:
Pierce County District Court
Attn: Public Records Officer
930 Tacoma Ave S, Rm 239
Tacoma, WA 98402
PHONE: (253) 798-7487
FAX: (253) 798-6310
Municipal Court Records
Most municipal courts provide instructions on how individuals can request
court records from their clerk’s office on their official website. In most
cases, they provide a dedicated request form for interested parties to submit
their requests. For instance, record seekers can request court records from
the
Puyallup and Milton Municipal Courts
using the
electronic court request form
or by completing the case records request form and submitting it to the
appropriate court. Note that requesters would be required to pay necessary
fees for copies of the documents they request according to the court’s
fee schedule.
Fees for Court Records in Pierce County
The fees for obtaining court records in Pierce County vary by court.
Superior Court Records
- Certified copy: $5 for the first document page and $1 per additional document page
- Uncertified copy: $0.50 per page for in-person or by mail requests and $.25 per page for online requests via LINX
- LINX Subscription Fees: range between $10.00 to $25.00 per case or month, and $200 per year
District Court Records
- Certified copies: $5.00 per copy (in addition to paper/electronic/CD fees)
- Exemplified copies: $11.00 per copy (in addition to paper/electronic/CD fees)
- Electronic copies: $0.25 per page sent by fax/email
- Paper copies: $0.50 per page
- CD copies: $10.00 per CD (electronic copy/certification charges will be added)
- Transcripts: $20.00
Municipal Court Records
Fees may vary by court. For instance, Tacoma Municipal Court charges the following fees;
- Photocopy of paper document: first 10 pages are free, and additional pages cost $0.5 per page
- Certified copy: $5.00 per document
- CD/audio (court recording): $10.00
Meanwhile, the Puyallup Municipal Court charges the following fee:
- Copies of electronic records (CD or USB): $20
- Paper copy (electronic format): $0.25
- Photocopy of paper document: $0.5 per page
- Certified copy of first page per instrument: $5 and $1 for additional pages.
Pierce County Courthouse Locations
Pierce County’s court system consists of three types of courts: Superior Court, District Court, and Municipal Courts. Pierce County Superior Court is a general jurisdiction court that has no limits on the types of criminal and civil cases it handles. It also hears domestic relations, juvenile matters, and appeals from courts of limited jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, the Pierce County District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction that hears cases involving misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor offenses, including traffic and non-traffic offenses. It also has original jurisdiction over traffic and non-traffic infractions, as well as civil cases involving damages for injury to individuals or personal property and contract disputes for amounts of up to $75,000. Municipal Courts are also courts of limited jurisdiction that handle violations of municipal or city ordinances. It also has jurisdiction over gross misdemeanors, misdemeanors, and infractions, similar to the district court. Listed below are the addresses and contact information of Pierce County Courthouses:
Pierce County Superior Courts
County-City Building
930 Tacoma Avenue S, Room 110,
Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone: 253-798-7455
Fax: 253-798-3428
Pierce County Superior Court - Juvenile
Remann Hall
5501 6th Avenue,
Tacoma, WA 98406
Phone: 253-798-7900
Fax: 253-798-7649
Pierce County District Court
County - City Building
930 Tacoma Avenue S, Room 239,
Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone: 253-798-7487
Fax: 253-798-6310
Municipal Courts in Pierce County
Justice & Municipal Center
9002 Main Street E, Suite 100,
Bonney Lake, WA 98391
Phone: 253-862-6606
Fax: 253-862-3053
811 Main Street,
PO Box 1452,
Buckley, WA 98321
Phone: 360-829-2118
Fax: 360-234-0994
Carbonado Municipal Court
811 Main Street, PO Box 1452,
Buckley, WA 98321
Phone: 360-829-2118
Fax: 360-234-0994
DuPont Municipal Court
6000 Main Street SW,
Lakewood, WA 98499
Phone: 253-512-2258
Fax: 253-512-2267
Justice & Municipal Center
9002 Main Street E, Suite 100,
Bonney Lake, WA 98391
Phone: 253-862-6606
Fax: 253-862-3053
3737 Pacific Hwy E,
Suite 100
Fife, WA 98424
Phone: 253-922-6635
Fax: 253-926-5435
City Hall
115 Ramsdell Street,
Fircrest, WA 98466
Phone: 253-564-8922
Fax: 253-564-3645
3510 Grandview Street,
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
Phone: 253-851-7808
Fax: 253-853-5483
6000 Main Street SW,
Lakewood, WA 98499
Phone: 253-512-2258
Fax: 253-512-2267
929 E Main Street,
Suite 120,
Puyallup, WA 98372
Phone: 253-841-5450
Fax: 253-770-3365
401 Washington Avenue SE,
PO Box 489,
Orting, WA 98360
Phone: 360-893-3160
Fax: 888-491-2202
929 E Main Street,
Suite 120,
Puyallup, WA 98372
Phone: 253-841-5450
Fax: 253-770-3365
216 McNaught Street S,
PO Box 700,
Roy, WA 98580
Phone: 253-843-0463
Fax: 253-843-0279
City Hall 115 Ramsdell Street,
Fircrest, WA 98466
Phone: 253-564-8922
Fax: 253-564-3645
South Prairie Municipal Court
Justice & Municipal Center
9002 Main Street E, Suite 100, Bonney Lake, WA 98391
Phone: 253-862-6606
Fax: 253-862-3053
6000 Main Street SW,
Lakewood, WA 98499
Phone: 253-512-2258
Fax: 253-512-2267
9002 Main Street E, Suite 100,
Bonney Lake, WA 98391
Phone: 253-862-6606
Fax: 253-862-3053
County-City Building
930 Tacoma Ave S, Room 841,
Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone: 253-591-5357
Fax: 253-591-5301
University Place Municipal Court
6000 Main Street SW, Lakewood, WA 98499
Phone: 253-512-2258
Fax: 253-512-2267
Wilkeson Municipal Court
540 Church Street, PO Box 409,
Wilkeson, WA 98396
Phone: 360-829-0171
Fax: 360-829-0898
Criminal Records Access in Pierce County
In Pierce County, state-level criminal history record information (CHRI) is available through the Washington State Patrol (WSP). A CHRI contains an individual’s fingerprint-based records and disposition information that law enforcement agencies and courts across Washington, including those in Pierce County, have submitted to the WSP. These records are not entirely public.
Generally, only certified criminal justice agencies are entitled to receive unrestricted CHRI from the WSP for criminal justice purposes. Meanwhile, the public can obtain limited CHRI for non-justice purposes. However, it will only contain conviction information, arrest records less than one year old with pending dispositions, and registered sex/kidnapping offenders’ information.
Interested persons can request CHRI from the WSP online through the Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) portal for a $11.00 fee. They may also request CHIR based on an individual’s name and date of birth by completing the Request for Conviction Criminal History Form and submitting it, along with the applicable fee ($32.00), to the WSP Identification and Background Check Section. Alternatively, a CHRI may be requested by submitting a full set of a subject’s fingerprints, along with applicable fees ($58.00 for fingerprint card processing), to the WSP Identification and Background Check Section. Submission may be made in person or by mail to;
Washington State Patrol, Identification and Background Check Section
106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300
PO Box 42633,
Olympia, WA 98504-2633
Note that acceptable forms of payment for in-person CHRI requests include cash, checks, or credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express). Meanwhile, check, money order, or a completed Bankcard Authorization form are accepted for mail-in requests.
On the other hand, Pierce County criminal court records are available through either the county Superior or District Court, depending on the type of case and where it was heard. These courts provide different ways for record seekers to request or access the criminal case records they maintain. Superior court criminal case records are accessible online through the Legal Information Network Exchange (LINX) website. They may also be requested in person or by mail from the Superior Court Clerk’s Office for a fee. Conversely, interested persons can obtain District Court case records using the court’s online request form or by submitting a request in person or by mail to the District Court clerk.
Pierce County Probate Records
Pierce County probate records are legal filings that document the probate of wills and the administration of a decedent’s estate. Some examples of probate filings include wills, estate executors or administrators’ oaths, estate inventories, letters of administration or testamentary, probate petitions, creditor claims, and final accountings. These filings are generally subject to Washington’s GR 31. As a result, most probate filings are considered public with certain exceptions.
The Pierce County Superior Court is responsible for hearing and handling all probate matters that arise in the county. Therefore, interested persons can obtain probate filings through the Pierce County Superior Court Clerk’s office. They may use the court’s LINX website to search for public probate records online. Alternatively, they can visit the Pierce County Superior Court Clerk’s Office to search or request wills and other probate filings in person.
Pierce County Family Court Records
Pierce County Family Court is a division of the Superior Court that is responsible for handling family law cases. These include, but are not limited to, the following types of cases;
- Modification of custody
- Minor Guardianships
- Petition for parenting plan/residential schedule
- Marriage dissolutions with children
- De facto parentage petitions
- Relative visitation petitions
Similar to other types of cases, court records of family law cases are subject to Washington’s GR 31. However, some documents are considered confidential and are inaccessible to the public. Some examples of such documents include:
- Confidential information form
- Sealed financial source documents
- Sealed personal health care records
- Retirement plan orders
- Notice of intent to relocate
- Foreign protection order information form
- Portions of certain family law and guardianship reports, such as sexual abuse evaluations, domestic violence records, risk assessment and CPS reports, guardian ad litem reports, and parenting evaluations,
Record seekers may access some public family court records online through the Pierce County Superior Court’s LINX website. Meanwhile, confidential family court records are generally available only to eligible individuals, such as parties named in the record or those authorized by a court order. These eligible parties may obtain these records by submitting a record request in person or by mail to the Superior Court Clerk’s office.
Federal Court Records in Pierce County
The United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, specifically its Tacoma Courthouse, serves Pierce County. This court has jurisdiction over nearly all categories of federal civil, criminal, and bankruptcy cases that arise in Pierce County. It also hears appeals from federal cases.
Record seekers can search and obtain case and docket information from Pierce County federal court cases online through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) portal. Users must sign up for an account or log in to use PACER. Furthermore, they would be charged $0.10 per page to access court documents on PACER. These fees are capped at $3.00 for a single document, and relevant fees may be waived for individuals whose usage does not exceed $15 in a quarter.
Alternatively, interested persons may request copies of Pierce County Federal Court records using the Copy Request Form. The form may be completed and submitted by email, mail, or in person to the Clerk’s Office at:
U.S. District Court Clerk’s Office
700 Stewart Street, Suite 2310
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 370-8400
Email: questions@wawd.uscourts.gov
Note that the following fees may apply
- 10 cents per page to electronically search and print from a public terminal at the clerk’s office
- 50 cents per page if the clerk’s staff prints electronic copies, provided the document image is unavailable electronically or is on microfiche.
- $12.00 per document for certification and an additional 50 cents per page.
