Skagit County, Washington State Court Records
Skagit County court records are documents created, filed, or maintained as part of court proceedings. They inform citizens on how the judiciary works and also serve as a repository of case histories that guide future cases. Under the Washington Public Records Act, court records are classified as public and are open to the public unless specifically restricted by law.
The Skagit County Superior Court and the Skagit County District Court are the custodians of court records in the county, and where a court record is kept depends on what type of record it is. The Superior Court maintains civil, felony, family law, probate, and juvenile cases, while the district courts maintain misdemeanors, traffic, and civil dispute case records. Examples of court records managed by these courts include dockets, judgments, pleadings, motions, and court transcripts.
Court records may also be expanded to include vital records, arrest information, and federal case files, depending on the legal process being handled by the court at the time, but these documents are handled by other public agencies. Vital records, which include birth, death, and marriage certificates, are maintained by the Washington State Department of Health, while arrest records are handled by law enforcement agencies, including the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington handles all federal case files, not the county court. It makes them available through PACER, the federal court record repository in the U.S.
Are Skagit County Court Records Public?
Yes. Skagit County court records are public unless specifically restricted by state, federal, or local laws. Individuals can also get information on jurors by sending a request to the trial court. The request should indicate why that information is required. The General Rule 31 (GR 31) regulates access to court records and specifies the records that are open or restricted by law. Court records that are public according to this law include:
- Civil case records
- Adult criminal case records
- Some family case records
- Probate court records
- Traffic case records
- Court dockets
- Orders
- Judgements
Restricted and confidential records include court-sealed records, juvenile non-offender records, drug treatment cases, mental and other health records, paternity records, adoption records, and expunged records. Under GR 22 (e), some family court records also have additional restrictions on them and are not available to the public. Examples include financial documents, retirement plan records, protection orders, vital statistics forms, detailed guardianship reports, etc. Restricted records may be made available to a requester with a court order (Motion and Declaration to Allow Access to Records Under GR 22 (c)(2)).
What Information is Available in Skagit County Court Records?
Skagit County court records typically contain information such as
- Case number, case type, and status.
- Names of parties involved in the case (plaintiff, defendant, attorney, judge)
- Court filing dates
- Case filings (petitions, motions, orders, declarations)
- Charges
- Bail or bond information
- Warrant information (if applicable)
Skagit County Court Records Search
Interested individuals can perform a Skagit County Court Records Search and access court records in different ways. This includes online, in person, by phone, and by mail, depending on the court that serves as the custodian of the record and the type of record.
In Person: Depending on whether the record custodian is a district or municipal court, individuals can visit the clerk’s office and follow the clerk’s onsite procedures for accessing records. Court processes differ from court to court. The state keeps a directory of its county courts, including aSkagit County directory, which can help individuals find county courts and their contact information. Some courts may have computer terminals available on-site for performing record lookups.
Online Access: Washington state has a search engine for finding all cases filed in the courts in the state. Individuals can perform a case search, person search, attorney search, or find their court dates using this tool. To perform a search for a Skagit County Superior Court record, an individual can use the Odyssey Portal - Washington Courts Online Case Search.
Mail and Phone: Individuals can contact the Clerk of the court acting as custodian for the record they require by mail or email to make a record request. Mail requests are typically sent in a self-addressed envelope with payment for the record enclosed (cheque or money order). Court records are not available over the phone, but individuals can call the court to confirm the availability of a record, status, and fees.
Fees for Court Records in Skagit County
It is free to look up court records onsite at the court, but costs apply to make a copy of the record. Washington Courts also require paid access (subscription) to their remote search engine. The breakdown of costs is available through the Skagit County Court Clerk’s Office Fee Schedule and is as follows:
- $0.25 for Uncertified copies of electronic records prepared by staff (per page).
- $0.50 for Uncertified copies of records or instruments on file (not electronic) (per page)
- $5 for Certified Copies of court records (Faxed Copies, Abstracts of Judgments, etc) with an additional $1 per extra page.
Vital records (birth certificates, death certificates, etc) are available with the Skagit County Public Health Department at $25 per certified copy, with available records dating back from 2011 to the present. To request a record, individuals can fill out a Skagit County order form and mail it to the Public Health Department along with the application fee, proof of identification, and their signature. Vital records can also be ordered online from the Washington State Department of Health or its third-party online platform for online records.
Skagit County Courthouse Locations
Washington State maintains a court directory of all county courthouses, including Skagit County. Key Courthouses in the County and their contact information are as follows:
Skagit County Superior Court
205 W Kincaid Street, Rm 202
Mount Vernon, WA 98273-4225
Phone: (360) 416-1200
Fax: (360) 416-1210
Skagit County Office of Juvenile Court - Juvenile Court
611 South 2nd Street
Mount Vernon, WA 98273-3820
Phone: (360) 416-1230
Fax: (360) 416-1240
Skagit County District Court
600 S 3rd Street
Mount Vernon, WA 98273-3800
Phone: (360) 416-1250
Fax: (360) 416-1251
Municipal Courts (Anacortes)
1218 24th Street
Anacortes, WA 98221-2565
Phone: (360) 293-1913
Fax: (360) 293-4224
Municipal Court (Burlington)
311 Cedar Street, Suite A
Burlington, WA 98233
Phone: (360) 755-0492
Fax: (360) 755-2391
Municipal Court (Mount Vernon)
1805 Continental Place
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Phone: (360) 336-6205
Fax: (360) 336-6254
Municipal Court (Sedro-Woolley)
Sedro-Woolley City Hall
325 Metcalf Street
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
Phone: (360) 855-0366
Fax: (360) 855-1526
Criminal Records Access in Skagit County
The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office and the Skagit County Superior Court are the custodians of criminal records in the county. An in-person visit can be made to the courthouse or the Sheriff’s office, and a request can be made as long as information about the case is known. This includes the arrestee’s name and booking ID.
To request criminal records, a written records request can be made to the Sheriff’s office. For requests like these, copies of the first six pages are free while payment is required for subsequent records. For state criminal records, individuals can also use the Washington State Patrol’s Criminal History (WATCH) service, especially for state background checks. It costs $11 to retrieve criminal records using WATCH.
Skagit County Probate Records
Skagit County probate records are legal documents on the administration of an estate of a decedent, will, conservatorship, or guardianship court case. Estate records, wills, and probate filings are maintained by the Skagit County Superior Court Clerk and are publicly available upon request unless otherwise restricted. Individuals can access probate records online through theOdyssey Portal - Washington Courts Online Case Search, by mail using a request form, and in person at the Superior Clerk’s Office.
Probate records available online are usually recent, while the more dated records require an in-person request to the Clerk. Although probate records are public, probate records containing financial information, medical information, or detailed information on minors are not public. The Superior Clerk’s Office is responsible for giving certified copies of probate filings.
County | Court Name | Address | Phone Number | Office Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Skagit County | Skagit County Superior Court | 205 West Kincaid Street Room 103 Mount Vernon, WA 98273 | (360) 416-1800 | Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. |
Skagit County Family Court Records
Skagit County family court records include case records on divorce, child support, child custody, adoption, and paternity. As the county does not have a dedicated family court, the Skagit County Superior Court has jurisdiction over family law cases and records, so record requests can be made to the Superior Court clerk’s office.
It is important to note, however, that some family court records, such as adoption records and juvenile records, are restricted from unauthorized public access. A record request can be made to the court clerk by email, phone, or in person at the courthouse. Statewide family court records are also available online using the Washington Courts’ Odyssey Portal.
Federal Court Records in Skagit County
The Washington Western District Court contributes to PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records), which manages and gives online access to federal court records in Skagit County and all over the U.S. Registration is required to access records online through PACER, or they can visit the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle or Tacoma for in-person access to federal records.