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Cowlitz County, Washington State Court Records

Cowlitz County court records are generated and maintained by the local District and Superior Courts in the course of normal judicial business. Some records, including petitions, answers, motions, and appeal notices, are filed by the parties in a case. Others, such as warrants, summonses, judgments, and dockets, are issued or created by the court.

Court records play a critical role in the justice system by documenting how legal rights are asserted and disputes resolved in accordance with the law. The records may connect with other public records. For example, a criminal case file may include related records, such as warrants, arrest reports, and probation records, and the case disposition often becomes part of a person's permanent criminal history record.

Are Cowlitz County Court Records Public?

Yes. Under the Washington Public Records Act, the public has the right to review or copy any government record unless access is blocked by another law or a court order. Courts are not subject to this Act. Instead, this right of access is provided under Wash. Gen. R. 31, which declares it court policy to facilitate access to judicial records.

Wash. Gen. R. 31, however, makes it clear that the right of access is not absolute but must be balanced against a reasonable expectation of personal privacy. For example, Social Security or bank account numbers, and other personal identifiers, are off-limits for public disclosure. Entire files related to juvenile matters, mental health proceedings, and adoption cases are also typically sealed from public view.

Except when making formal records requests, which may require providing contact information for processing, members of the public can generally view or copy open court records in Cowlitz County without identifying themselves or stating their purpose.

What Information is Available in Cowlitz County Court Records?

The following information is typically viewable when accessing a Cowlitz County court record:

  • Case numbers and court jurisdiction
  • Party names (plaintiff/petitioner, defendant/respondent)
  • Arrest and charging information (in criminal cases)
  • Docket entries and case timelines
  • Pleadings (complaints, petitions, answers)
  • Motions
  • Court orders and rulings
  • Judgments and sentencing information
  • Hearing and trial dates, and the outcomes
  • Evidence listings and filed exhibits
  • Case disposition (dismissed, convicted, settled, etc.)

Cowlitz County Court Records Search

People searching Cowlitz County court records need to prepare the necessary information to ensure a successful search. It is crucial to have essential details about the record in question, such as the parties, when the case was filed, the court that heard it, and the case number. Knowing the type of case is also essential, as availability often hinges on case type. For example, certain family law documents (e.g., adoption) are unavailable online or unavailable to the general public.

It is also important to know which court houses what type of records. The District Court maintains records in civil cases valued at less than $10,000, small claims, traffic infractions, and misdemeanors. The Superior Court, meanwhile, is the record custodian for civil cases above $10,000 and for family law, probate, and felony cases.

Here are the primary ways to find Cowlitz County court records:

Online Access

Cowlitz County courts do not have a self-hosted online portal for general access to court records. They rely on systems maintained at the state level.

  • Superior Court Case Management System: As the name indicates, SC-CMS is the primary public court case search portal used by the Superior Court in Cowlitz County. The basic case number or name search produces statewide results. Thus, users can click the "Advanced Filtering Options" link and select "Cowlitz" as the location under "General Options" to transform the portal into a county-level search system. From there, one can select either Civil, Criminal, Family, or Probate under "Case Type" to further narrow results. Searches by party name, date, and case status are also available.

In addition to searching for case records, users can also look up court hearing dates and court judgments using the case management system.

While the portal displays basic case information for free, document access is restricted to registered users, who must sign up through the Clerk of the Superior Court.

  • Washington Court Records Search: Unlike the previous resource, this website provides access to various tools for locating records maintained at both the District and County Courts. Person Searchallows users to quickly look up the case number and filing date associated with a name and often features PDFs of judgments in Superior Court cases. Case Search, meanwhile, allows users to search by name, case number, or business name, and filter by court level, court name, case type, and filing date.
  • Daily Court Dockets: This resource allows interested parties to select a date and view that day's dockets. People can use it to discover past hearings and future court schedules. The names are arranged alphabetically, and each entry includes the date of hearing, the type of appearance, the charge or complaint, the presiding judge, the attorney, the courtroom location, and related information.

In-Person Access

Individuals who prefer to retrieve court records in person may visit the clerk of the custodian court. The Cowlitz County court clerks are on the second floor of the main courthouse complex in Kelso. The Superior Court Clerk's official suite is in Room 233, while the District Court Clerk occupies Room 207.

Mail and Email Requests

Interested parties may submit the Request for Court Records form to the Cowlitz County Superior Court in person, by mail, or by email, and will receive a response via the chosen delivery method within at least 2 weeks. However, the requester can pay a $30 fee to expedite the process.

For records that involve searching the archives, the clerk's office requires a separate $15 deposit before processing. Electronic requests exceeding 100 pages incur a $30 service charge. Requesters who want delivery by mail should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope and the applicable payment in the form of a cashier's check or money order.

The process for requesting District Court records by mail, email, or fax is similar. However, requesters must utilize a separate form.

  • Mailing address: 312 Southwest First Avenue, Room 207, Kelso, WA 98626
  • Email address: dctcourt@cowlitzwa.gov
  • Fax: (360) 577-3132

Fees for Court Records in Cowlitz County

The Cowlitz County courts set out the fee schedule for document copying or certification largely in accordance with Wash. Rev. Code § 36.18.

  • 50 cents per page for a standard copy
  • $5 for the first page of a certified document and $1 for each subsequent page
  • $9 for the first page of an authenticated document and $1 for each subsequent page
  • $30 per request to expedite a request
  • $15 search fee per manual search
  • $20 electronic storage charge for records delivered on a CD or flash drive

These costs relate to reproduction and labor, not to the public's ability to access records. Actual records are free, but disseminating them involves paper, printers, CDs, flash drives, and staff time, all of which cost money and need to be paid for. Hence, the existence of these charges is designed to help offset the cost of maintaining court records systems.

Cowlitz County Courthouse Locations

Superior, district, juvenile, and municipal courts operate in Cowlitz County. However, the municipalities of Castle Rock, Kalama, Kelso, Longview, and Woodland have consolidated their courts into the district court, leaving the county with only three distinct courts.

Cowlitz County Superior Court

312 Southwest First Avenue

Second Floor

Kelso, WA 98626

Phone: (360) 577-3085

Cowlitz County District Court

312 Southwest First Avenue

Room 207

Kelso, WA 98626

Phone: (360) 577-3073

Cowlitz County Juvenile Court

1725 First Avenue

Longview, WA 98632

Phone: (360) 577-3100

Criminal Records Access in Cowlitz County

How to access Cowlitz County criminal records depends on the type of record required: arrest or detention records, criminal prosecution records, or criminal history records.

The general public may submit a formal records request at the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) or a municipal police department to obtain arrest or incident reports, subject to statutory restrictions. Copying costs at the CCSO are 15 cents a page for electronic records, 10 cents for scanned copies, and 5 cents for every 4 electronic pages delivered electronically.

Once an arrest or indictment becomes a criminal case, the court of jurisdiction maintains the relevant records, including the indictment, hearings, plea agreements, and sentencing orders. Interested persons can request the case files from the clerk of the relevant court or view case information on official online portals.

However, state-level criminal history checks are handled by the Washington State Patrol (WSP), rather than the local courts or police departments. According to Wash. Rev. Code § 10.97.050, the public may request an individual's conviction data, including information on ongoing criminal cases less than one year old. The WSP maintains the Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) portal for this purpose. Each name search costs $11, with an additional $4 for a notarized copy.

Cowlitz County Probate Records

Cowlitz County probate records are Superior Court documents concerning the administration of a deceased person's (decedent's) estate or the protection of the rights and assets of incapacitated individuals. Wills, trusts, and related arrangements set out how property should be divided or transferred upon a person's death. The Superior Court also handles guardianships and conservatorships, which help settle the affairs of people who are too young or too ill to handle their own affairs.

Probate records are generally public, but access to certain probate court proceedings is restricted. For example, guardianship and conservatorship records are exempt from public disclosure under Wash. Rev. Code § 11.130, although the public may know that a guardianship or conservatorship arrangement exists.

The Superior Court Clerk maintains probate records and will typically respond to formal requests made in person or by mail.

Cowlitz County Family Court Records

Like with probate matters, family law cases in Cowlitz County are under the jurisdiction of the Superior Court. The clerk's office manages and provides access to domestic relations records involving dissolution, child support or custody, adoption, parentage, and relocation proceedings.

Family law matters, while also presumed open to the public, feature more confidentiality protections than standard civil cases. The entire file in an adoption case is sealed under Wash. Rev. Code § 26.33.330, while financial documents, health reports, and evaluations are redacted from other family law files before access is granted.

Interested parties can review family law case information through the SC-CMS Portal or submit a formal request in person or by mail to the clerk's office. Certification fees are $5 for the first page and $1 for each extra page. Standard uncertified copies of a family law filing or judgment cost 50 cents per page.

Federal Court Records in Cowlitz County

A federal court record emanates from a case heard in federal court. It may involve civil rights matters, constitutional questions, bankruptcy, interstate civil contract disputes, patent or copyright, or federal crimes.

The Tacoma Division of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington has jurisdiction over federal cases in Cowlitz County. Record seekers may visit the clerk of court at 1717 Pacific Avenue, Room 3100, Tacoma, WA 98402-3200 during business hours to inspect or copy public federal court records. Online access is available through the federal judiciary's PACER database. It requires a registered account and quarterly search fees, though payment can be waived in certain instances.

Cowlitz County Court