Washington Court Records: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 10:24, 9 December 2022

Washington Wiki Topics

Beginning Research

Record Types

Washington Background

Cultural Groups

Local Research Resources

Online Resources[edit | edit source]

Major courts[edit | edit source]

Major Washington courts that have kept records of genealogical value were established as follows:

Probate Courts

Probate courts were the primary courts for probate matters until 1891, when this responsibility was assumed by the superior courts. In some areas, the probate court had concurrent civil and criminal jurisdiction with the district courts.

Superior courts

Superior courts have had county wide jurisdiction over criminal cases and major civil cases, juvenile matters, and probate matters.

District courts

District Courts have district wide jurisdiction with the superior courts over misdemeanors, preliminary hearings for felony cases, and minor civil cases.

The Washington State Archives has online guides to the district court records of Washington Territory.

Supreme Court

The Supreme court has statewide appellate jurisdiction.

Availability

The FamilySearch Library does not have copies of Washington court records. They are available at the county courthouses, or some courts have transferred their records to the Washington State Archives.

Record Content[edit | edit source]

For specialized courts see: Divorce • Naturalization • Probate Records

Civil Cases[edit | edit source]

Criminal Cases[edit | edit source]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Washington|Washington]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Washington Court Records|Court Records]]''
+{{WA-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
+| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]]
+| link2=[[United States Court Records|U.S. Court Records]]
+| link3=[[Washington, United States Genealogy|Washington]]
+| link4=
+| link5=[[Washington Court Records|Court Records]]
+}}
+=== Online Resources ===
+*[http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Collections#RSID:26 Washington Digital Archives Court Records]
+*[http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Collections#RSID:13 Frontier Justice, Courts 1854-1889] index
+*[http://www.blacksheepancestors.com/usa/washington.shtml Washington Black Sheep Ancestors]<br><br>
+== Major courts  ==
 Major Washington courts that have kept records of genealogical value were established as follows:
-== Probate courts  ==
+'''Probate Courts'''
+:Probate courts were the primary courts for probate matters until 1891, when this responsibility was assumed by the superior courts. In some areas, the probate court had concurrent civil and criminal jurisdiction with the district courts.
+'''Superior courts'''
+:Superior courts have had county wide jurisdiction over criminal cases and major civil cases, juvenile matters, and probate matters.
+'''District courts'''
+:District Courts have district wide jurisdiction with the superior courts over misdemeanors, preliminary hearings for felony cases, and minor civil cases.
+*The Washington State Archives has online guides to the [http://sos.wa.gov/archives/FrontierJusticeGuidestotheDistrictCourt.aspx district court records] of Washington Territory.
+'''Supreme Court'''
+:The Supreme court has statewide appellate jurisdiction.
-were the primary courts for probate matters until 1891, when this responsibility was assumed by the superior courts. In some areas, the probate court had concurrent civil and criminal jurisdiction with the district courts.
+'''Availability'''
-== Superior courts  ==
+:The FamilySearch Library does not have copies of Washington court records. They are available at the county courthouses, or some courts have transferred their records to the [http://www.secstate.wa.gov/archives/ Washington State Archives].
-have had county wide jurisdiction over criminal cases and major civil cases, juvenile matters, and probate matters.
+== Record Content  ==
-== District courts  ==
+For specialized courts see: [[Washington Vital Records#Divorce_Contents|Divorce]] • [[Washington Naturalization and Citizenship#Record_Content|Naturalization]] • [[Washington Probate Records#Record_Content|Probate Records]]
-have district wide jurisdiction with the superior courts over misdemeanors, preliminary hearings for felony cases, and minor civil cases.
+=== Civil Cases  ===
-=== Supreme Court has statewide appellate jurisdiction.  ===
+=== Criminal Cases  ===
-The Family History Library does not have copies of Washington court records. They are available at the county courthouses, or some courts have transferred their records to the Washington State Archives at:
+<br>{{Washington|Washington}}
-*http://www.secstate.wa.gov/archives/
+[[Category:Washington, United States]][[Category:Court records by U.S. state]]
-{{Washington|Washington}}
-[[Category:Washington|Court]]