Washington Court Records

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Court Records

Online Resources

• Washington Digital Archives Court Records
• Frontier Justice, Courts 1854-1889 index
• Washington Black Sheep Ancestors
  
  

Major courts

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

For specialized courts see: Divorce • Naturalization • Probate Records