Washington Court Records: Difference between revisions

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Latest revision as of 11:46, 20 August 2025

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 19: / Line 19: @@
 '''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.
+{{Block indent|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.
+{{Block indent|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.
+{{Block indent|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.
@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 '''Supreme Court'''
-:The Supreme court has statewide appellate jurisdiction.
+{{Block indent|The Supreme court has statewide appellate jurisdiction.}}
 '''Availability'''
-: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 [http://www.secstate.wa.gov/archives/ Washington State Archives].
+{{Block indent|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].}}
 == Record Content  ==