Kittitas County Public Records /Kittitas County Court Records

Kittitas County Court Records

What Is Kittitas County Court Records

Court records in Kittitas County encompass the official documentation generated by judicial proceedings within the county's court system. These records constitute the formal written history of a case from initiation through final disposition and any subsequent post-judgment activity.

Court records include, but are not limited to, the following document types:

Case files — the complete collection of documents filed in a particular matter
Dockets — chronological indexes of all filings and proceedings in a case
Pleadings — complaints, answers, counterclaims, and other initiating documents
Motions and supporting briefs — written requests submitted to the court for rulings
Orders and judgments — official decisions issued by the presiding judge
Transcripts — verbatim written records of oral proceedings
Exhibits — physical or documentary evidence admitted during hearings or trials
Sentencing records — documents reflecting criminal penalties imposed by the court
Warrants and summonses — judicial directives requiring appearance or action

Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained by Kittitas County. Property records are held by the County Assessor and Auditor; vital records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates are maintained by the Washington State Department of Health and the County Auditor. Court records are specifically generated through the judicial process and are custodied by the respective court clerk.

The courts that maintain records in Kittitas County include the Kittitas County Superior Court, the Kittitas County District Court, and municipal courts operating within incorporated cities such as Ellensburg. These courts collectively handle civil, criminal, family law, probate, traffic, and small claims matters. Under RCW 2.32.050, the clerk of each court is charged with the custody and maintenance of all official court records.

Are Court Records Public In Kittitas County

Court records in Kittitas County are presumptively open to the public under Washington State law. The Washington Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, establishes a broad right of public access to government records, and this principle extends to judicial records maintained by county courts. Additionally, Washington's court system operates under General Rule (GR) 31, which governs access to court records and affirms that most court documents are available for public inspection.

The following categories of records are generally accessible to members of the public:

Most civil case files, including complaints, responses, and supporting documents
Criminal case files following the filing of formal charges
Judgments and court orders in both civil and criminal matters
Docket sheets reflecting the procedural history of a case
Hearing schedules and calendars
Probate filings and estate inventories
Small claims judgments

It is important to note that Washington State courts are distinct from federal courts. Federal cases involving Kittitas County parties are filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington and are accessible through the federal PACER system, not through county or state portals. Certain state court records are subject to restriction under GR 31 and related rules, including records sealed by court order, juvenile offender records, adoption proceedings, and mental health commitment records.

How To Find Court Records in Kittitas County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Kittitas County court records through several methods, depending on the type of case and the court in which it was filed.

In-Person Requests

The most direct method of accessing court records is to visit the Kittitas County Clerk's Office in person. Staff at the public counter can assist with locating case files, providing copies, and directing requestors to the appropriate records custodian. Requestors should bring identifying information about the case, such as the case number, party names, or approximate filing date.

Written or Email Requests

Members of the public may submit written requests for court records by mail or email. Requests should include the full names of the parties involved, the case number if known, the type of case, and the approximate year of filing. Copy fees may apply pursuant to applicable fee schedules.

Online Access

Washington State provides several online platforms through which court records may be searched remotely. The Washington Courts Case Search portal allows members of the public to search case information by party name or case number across multiple courts, including Kittitas County Superior Court.

Archived Records

Historical case files from Kittitas County Superior Court, with the bulk of records dating from 2016 to the present, are accessible through the Washington State Digital Archives. Case types available in the archive include civil, criminal, divorce, and probate matters.

How To Look Up Court Records in Kittitas County Online?

Several official online portals currently provide remote access to Kittitas County court records.

Washington Courts Case Search Portal

The statewide case search tool maintained by the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts allows users to search records from Kittitas County Superior Court and District Court. To conduct a search:

Navigate to the Washington Courts Case Search portal
Accept the terms of use
Select "Kittitas County Superior Court" or the applicable court from the court selection menu
Enter the party's last name, first name, or case number
Review the list of matching results and select the relevant case

Odyssey Portal

The Washington Courts Odyssey Portal provides access to court documents for registered users. Elevated access by specific role is authorized through the County Clerk. Members of the public may register for a standard account to view available case documents online.

Washington State Appellate Courts Filing Portal

For cases that have proceeded to the appellate level, the Washington State Appellate Courts Filing Portal provides access to appellate case records, including briefs, opinions, and orders issued by the Court of Appeals and the Washington Supreme Court.

Washington State Digital Archives

The Kittitas County Superior Court case files collection hosted by the Washington State Digital Archives contains digitized records from 2015 through the present, with the bulk of materials from 2016 onward.

How To Search Kittitas County Court Records for Free?

Washington State law guarantees members of the public the right to inspect public court records at no charge. Under RCW 42.56.080, agencies may not charge a fee for the inspection of public records; fees may only be assessed for the production of copies. This principle applies to court records accessible through the Kittitas County Clerk's Office public counter.

The following online resources are currently available at no cost:

The Washington Courts Case Search portal provides free case index searches, including party names, case numbers, hearing dates, and disposition information
The Washington State Digital Archives offers free online access to digitized Kittitas County Superior Court case files
The Odyssey Portal provides free registration and basic document viewing for eligible case types
In-person inspection at the Kittitas County Clerk's Office public counter is available at no charge during regular business hours

Fees are assessed when physical or electronic copies of documents are requested. Copy fees are established by the court and are subject to change; requestors should confirm current rates with the Clerk's Office prior to submitting a copy request.

What's Included in a Kittitas County Court Record?

The contents of a court record vary by case type, but generally include the following categories of documents:

Civil Case Records

Complaint or petition initiating the action
Summons and proof of service
Defendant's answer or response
Motions, oppositions, and supporting memoranda
Discovery-related filings (where entered into the record)
Pre-trial orders and scheduling orders
Trial exhibits admitted into evidence
Verdict forms or findings of fact and conclusions of law
Final judgment and any post-judgment orders

Criminal Case Records

Charging documents (information or indictment)
Arraignment records and plea entries
Bail and conditions of release orders
Pre-trial motions and rulings
Trial transcripts (where prepared)
Sentencing memoranda and sentencing orders
Probation or supervision conditions

Family Law Records

Petitions for dissolution of marriage or legal separation
Parenting plans and child support worksheets
Temporary and final orders
Domestic violence protection order filings (subject to applicable restrictions)

Probate Records

Petition for appointment of personal representative
Inventory and appraisement of estate assets
Final accounting and order of distribution

Traffic and Infraction Records

Notice of infraction or citation
Hearing request and disposition
Payment records and license suspension notices

How Long Does Kittitas County Keep Court Records?

Kittitas County courts retain records in accordance with retention schedules established by the Washington State Archives and applicable court rules. Retention periods vary by record type and case classification.

Under the Washington State Records Retention Schedule for courts, the following general retention periods currently apply:

Felony criminal case files — retained permanently
Gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor case files — retained for a minimum of 10 years following case closure
Civil case files — retained for a minimum of 10 years following final disposition
Small claims records — retained for a minimum of 7 years
Probate case files — retained permanently
Juvenile offender records — subject to specialized retention rules under RCW 13.50
Traffic infraction records — retained for a minimum of 3 years

The Washington State Digital Archives serves as the repository for historical court records transferred from Kittitas County Superior Court. Records that have met their active retention period and have been designated for permanent preservation are transferred to the State Archives for long-term custody and public access.

Types of Courts In Kittitas County

Kittitas County's judicial system is organized in a hierarchical structure, with cases originating in courts of limited jurisdiction and proceeding upward through the superior court and appellate courts.

Kittitas County Superior Court

The Superior Court is the court of general jurisdiction in Kittitas County, handling felony criminal matters, civil cases exceeding the jurisdictional limits of the District Court, family law proceedings, probate, and juvenile matters.

Kittitas County Superior Court 205 W 5th Ave, Suite 213, Ellensburg, WA 98926 (509) 962-7531 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM Kittitas County Superior Court

Kittitas County District Court

The District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction handling misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters up to $100,000, small claims, and traffic infractions.

Kittitas County District Court 205 W 5th Ave, Suite 101, Ellensburg, WA 98926 (509) 962-7518 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM Kittitas County District Court

Ellensburg Municipal Court

The Ellensburg Municipal Court handles violations of city ordinances, including traffic infractions and misdemeanor offenses occurring within city limits.

Ellensburg Municipal Court 501 N Anderson St, Ellensburg, WA 98926 (509) 962-7240 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM Ellensburg Municipal Court

Washington Court of Appeals, Division III

Appeals from Kittitas County Superior Court are heard by Division III of the Washington Court of Appeals, located in Spokane.

Washington Court of Appeals, Division III 500 N Cedar St, Spokane, WA 99201-1905 (509) 456-3082 Washington Court of Appeals, Division III

Washington Supreme Court

The Washington Supreme Court is the court of last resort for the state, reviewing decisions from the Court of Appeals and exercising discretionary review over significant legal questions.

Washington Supreme Court 415 12th Ave SW, Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 357-2077 Washington Supreme Court

What Types of Cases Do Kittitas County Courts Hear?

Each court within Kittitas County's judicial system handles a defined category of cases based on subject matter and jurisdictional limits.

Kittitas County Superior Court hears:

Felony criminal prosecutions
Civil disputes exceeding $100,000 in controversy
Family law matters, including dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and parenting plan modifications
Juvenile dependency and juvenile offender proceedings
Probate and guardianship matters
Appeals from District Court and Municipal Court decisions

Kittitas County District Court hears:

Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases
Civil claims up to $100,000
Small claims matters up to $10,000
Traffic infractions and traffic misdemeanors
Domestic violence protection order petitions (initial filings)

Ellensburg Municipal Court hears:

Violations of Ellensburg city ordinances
Traffic infractions occurring within city limits
Misdemeanor offenses committed within the city

Washington Court of Appeals, Division III hears:

Appeals from Kittitas County Superior Court final judgments and orders
Discretionary review petitions from lower court interlocutory orders

Washington Supreme Court hears:

Petitions for review of Court of Appeals decisions
Cases involving significant constitutional questions or issues of substantial public interest

How To Find a Court Docket In Kittitas County

A court docket is the official chronological index of all filings, hearings, and proceedings in a given case. Members of the public may access Kittitas County court dockets through the following methods.

Online Docket Search

The Washington Courts Case Search portal provides docket information for cases filed in Kittitas County Superior Court and District Court. Users may search by party name or case number and view the docket entries associated with each case, including filing dates, document types, and scheduled hearing dates.

Steps to locate a docket online:

Access the Washington Courts Case Search portal
Accept the terms and conditions of use
Select the applicable Kittitas County court from the court list
Enter the party name or case number in the search fields
Select the matching case from the results list
Review the docket entries displayed for that case

In-Person Docket Access

Members of the public may inspect dockets in person at the Kittitas County Clerk's Office or District Court Clerk's Office during regular business hours. Staff can assist in locating docket sheets for specific cases upon request.

Appellate Dockets

For cases on appeal, docket information is available through the Washington State Appellate Courts Filing Portal, which provides access to appellate case records and procedural history.

Which Courts in Kittitas County Are Not Courts of Record?

A court of record is a court whose proceedings are officially documented and preserved, whose acts and judicial proceedings are enrolled in permanent records, and whose judgments carry a presumption of validity. Courts not of record, by contrast, do not maintain a verbatim transcript of proceedings as a matter of course, and appeals from such courts typically proceed as trials de novo in a higher court.

Under Washington State law, courts of limited jurisdiction — including district courts and municipal courts — are generally classified as courts not of record unless they have adopted electronic recording procedures that satisfy the requirements of applicable court rules. RCW 3.02.020 addresses the status of district courts in Washington, and GR 33 governs the use of electronic recording in courts of limited jurisdiction.

In Kittitas County, the following courts may operate as courts not of record in certain proceedings:

Kittitas County District Court — proceedings in the District Court are not automatically transcribed verbatim; however, electronic audio recording may be used to create a record of proceedings
Ellensburg Municipal Court — similarly, municipal court proceedings may be recorded electronically rather than by a certified court reporter

When a party appeals a decision from a court not of record, the appeal is typically heard as a trial de novo in the Kittitas County Superior Court, meaning the case is reheard from the beginning rather than reviewed on the basis of a lower court transcript. The county clerk and transcript contacts maintained by the Washington Office of Public Defense provide guidance on obtaining any available audio recordings or transcripts from Kittitas County proceedings.