King County WA Court Records Search: Use KC Script, District Court, Seattle Municipal, Washington Courts & PACER Correctly
King County court records are not stored in one single public database. Superior Court records use KC Script, District Court records use the KCDC e-Filing and Case Access portal, Seattle Municipal Court has its own route, Washington appellate records use state portals, and federal records use PACER.
Public-Court-Records.us is independent. This website is not King County, the King County Superior Court Clerk’s Office, the Department of Judicial Administration, King County District Court, Seattle Municipal Court, Washington Courts, Washington State Patrol, PACER, a courthouse, a law firm, a government agency or a Consumer Reporting Agency. This page provides general record-access information only.
Responsible-use warning: a matching name does not prove identity. A complaint, petition, charge, citation, arrest, warrant, judgment or docket entry does not prove guilt, liability or final outcome. Court records may be incomplete, delayed, sealed, confidential, restricted, corrected later or available only through the official custodian.
King County court records start with the correct court system
Washington Courts provides a statewide search page, but King County is special: King County Superior Court is routed to KC Script, and King County District Court is routed to the District Court e-Filing and Case Access portal. For city-level matters, Seattle Municipal Court and other municipal courts may use separate records systems.
Seattle courthouse, Kent MRJC and Children and Family Justice Center.
Many viewable online Superior Court records start with cases filed on or after November 1, 2004.
KCDC serves civil, infraction and criminal cases across county divisions.
KC Script lists $0.25 per page for online viewing/download of eligible records.
King County court-record route finder
Select the record type you are trying to locate. This tool runs in your browser, does not send information anywhere and does not ask for a name, date of birth, case number or address.
Use KC Script for Superior Court case search, docket information, document viewing, document requests, purchases and certified-copy verification. Search by exact case number when available; otherwise search by name and verify the case type, court location, party role, filing date and docket details.
Choose the correct King County court route before searching
King County has Superior Court, District Court, city municipal courts, appellate courts and federal courts. A no-result in one system does not mean no case exists.
| Need | Correct court or system | Best starting route |
|---|---|---|
| Felony, major civil, family, probate, guardianship or juvenile Superior Court case | King County Superior Court / Superior Court Clerk’s Office | Use KC Script. For official copies, contact the Superior Court Clerk’s Office / Department of Judicial Administration. |
| Superior Court case number lookup | KC Script Case Search | Use exact case number when available. KC Script states case-number search requires an exact match, with or without dashes. |
| District Court civil, infraction, criminal, warrant, judgment or protection-order status | King County District Court | Use KCDC e-Filing and Case Access. Search by case number, person name/date of birth, company name or filing date where available. |
| Small claims | King County District Court | Use the District Court small-claims route. Natural-person claims are limited to $10,000; business or other non-natural-person claims are limited to $5,000. |
| Traffic ticket or infraction | King County District Court or city municipal court | Check the ticket to identify the court. KCDC handles many county and contracted-city cases; Seattle Municipal Court has a separate route. |
| Seattle ordinance, Seattle traffic or Seattle misdemeanor matter | Seattle Municipal Court | Use Seattle Municipal Court’s official case-information, records and calendar portal, not KC Script or KCDC unless the case is actually filed there. |
| Washington appellate case | Washington Court of Appeals or Washington Supreme Court | Use Washington Courts case search and the Appellate Court Public Document Portal. Official appellate records come from the appellate clerk. |
| Criminal-history conviction check | Washington State Patrol WATCH | Use WATCH for statewide Washington conviction criminal-history records. Do not treat a court docket as a background-check report. |
| Recorded document, deed, mortgage, lien or name-change order copy | King County Recorder’s Office / Archives when older | Use the Recorder’s online records search for most documents recorded after August 1, 1991; older recorded documents may require King County Archives. |
| Federal district or bankruptcy case | Western District of Washington / PACER | Use PACER, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington or the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington. |
How to use KC Script for King County Superior Court records
The King County Superior Court Clerk’s Office, also called the Department of Judicial Administration, maintains the official records of Superior Court cases. KC Script is the portal for searching case docket information and for viewing, requesting, purchasing and verifying Superior Court records.
This avoids unofficial background-check websites and confirms you are using the current King County Superior Court Clerk route.
KC Script says the case-number search requires an exact match to an existing Superior Court case number, with or without dashes.
KC Script provides first-name, last-name and middle-name fields. A name result should be verified with the case type, filing date, party role, docket entries and disposition.
KC Script states that docket information can be searched without an account, but viewing or requesting court records through the portal requires an account.
Online viewing is limited by filing date and case type. Some records can be viewed in person or requested even when they are not viewable online.
The KC Script public-access terms state that online information is not the official record. Use the Clerk’s access instructions for certified records, mail requests and official copies.
What King County Superior Court records can and cannot be viewed online
King County Local General Rule 31 and KC Script portal notices create an important online-access limit. Remote access does not equal complete courthouse access, and some records cannot be viewed online even when a case exists.
| Category | Online access note | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Filing date | Records viewable online are generally for cases filed November 1, 2004 and forward, subject to LGR 31 and case type. | For older records, use pre-1979/microfiche guidance, request records from the Clerk or visit a records-access location. |
| Adult criminal | Adult criminal records are listed among record types viewable online when otherwise eligible. | Confirm the docket, charge history and disposition. A charge or warrant entry is not a conviction. |
| Civil | Civil cases may be viewable online except domestic violence and antiharassment protection order cases. | Use KC Script for case search and request copies if documents are not viewable online. |
| Family law and paternity | Family law cases and unsealed portions of paternity cases are listed as viewable online when eligible. | Avoid publishing sensitive family information and contact the Clerk if a document is sealed or restricted. |
| Probate / guardianship | Probate and guardianship records are listed among online-viewable case categories when eligible. | Confirm whether the document is public before ordering copies, especially for guardianship-related records. |
| Not viewable online | Sealed documents or cases, domestic violence and antiharassment protection order cases, adoption cases, mental illness cases, juvenile cases and judgment cases are not viewable online through KC Script. | Use the Clerk’s official sealed/confidential access process. Do not try to bypass restrictions. |
How to search King County District Court records
King County District Court hears civil, infraction and criminal cases at multiple locations throughout the county. Its e-Filing and Case Access portal can show case information such as upcoming hearing dates, judgment information, criminal sentence conditions, warrant status, protection order status and an index of filed documents.
- Case number.
- Person’s name or date of birth.
- Company name.
- Filing date.
- Criminal and infraction search by name.
- Civil search by first/last name or company name.
- The portal does not publish addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth or other personal-identifying information.
- Online case-document access is limited to eligible attorneys, government users and parties with assigned tokens.
- Parties can request a token by contacting KCDC.
- Ticket payment online does not require an account.
| Division / location | Official clue | Record-search note |
|---|---|---|
| East Division | Bellevue, Issaquah and Redmond are listed in the East Division. | Some cities receive municipal court services through KCDC; use the portal and location page to confirm venue. |
| South Division | Auburn, Burien, MRJC in Kent and Vashon are listed in the South Division. | South King County civil and small-claims filing areas can route to Burien or other listed locations depending on city. |
| West Division | Seattle and Shoreline are listed in the West Division. | Seattle city cases can still belong to Seattle Municipal Court rather than KCDC, so check the ticket or notice. |
| Small claims | KCDC lists small claims as money-only cases, capped at $10,000 for natural persons and $5,000 for non-natural persons. | Small-claims judgments may require later collection steps. The court does not collect the money for the winning party. |
| Traffic and criminal tickets | KCDC explains that a dollar amount in the “BAIL” box indicates a traffic infraction, while a checked “MANDATORY” box indicates a criminal charge. | A citation is not a conviction. Verify the court, charge, plea, warrant status and final disposition. |
King County court records search by name: avoid false matches
Name search is useful, but King County has a large population, many court systems, multiple case types and common personal or business names. A same-name result should never be treated as identity proof.
- Finding a Superior Court docket in KC Script when the case number is unknown.
- Finding a District Court civil, infraction or criminal case in the KCDC portal.
- Searching a company name in District Court or a business party in Superior Court.
- Finding a case before requesting certified copies or court documents.
- Common names, initials, suffixes, aliases or changed names.
- Seattle Municipal Court cases that are not in KC Script or KCDC.
- Sealed, juvenile, adoption, mental illness, protection-order or confidential cases.
- Using a docket result as a background-check report.
Official King County court-record links and what to do after opening each one
Each official link below includes next steps so this page works as a practical guide, not just a list of links.
Use this for King County Superior Court case search, record viewing, document requests, purchases and certified-copy verification.
- Read and accept the portal terms if you continue.
- Use case number first when available.
- Create an account if you need to view or request records.
- Use the Clerk’s access page for official certified records.
Use this for King County Superior Court docket searches by case number or name fields.
- Enter exact case number if known.
- Use first, middle and last name fields carefully if searching by name.
- Confirm the third digit case-type clue.
- Remember online data is not the official certified court record.
Use this for KC Script instructions, documents, recordings, exhibits, pre-1979 records and help contacts.
- Choose Documents, Court Recordings, Exhibits or Pre-1979 Records.
- Check whether online viewing is available.
- Use a courthouse location for free in-person viewing when appropriate.
- Contact the correspondence or customer-service route for record-order help.
Use this for online, in-person and mail document-request instructions.
- Use KC Script for online viewing, download and requests.
- Visit one of the three records-access public areas to view documents for free during business hours.
- Use the records request form for mail requests.
- Do not request sealed or confidential documents by mail.
Use this before purchasing copies, requesting certified records or estimating research fees.
- Open the fee schedule listing.
- Check non-certified, certified, exemplified, search and shipping fees.
- Confirm payment method for online, mail or in-person requests.
- Verify current fees before mailing payment.
Use this before visiting for records access, copies or courthouse viewing.
- Choose Seattle, Kent MRJC or CCFJC.
- Check hours and limited-service windows.
- Confirm whether the record type belongs at that location.
- Bring identification if a confidential-access question may apply.
Use this for King County District Court civil, infraction, criminal and ticket-related case access.
- Register or sign in when the portal requires it.
- Use Case Search for records.
- Search by case number, person name, date of birth, company name or filing date where available.
- Use ticket/citation tools for online response or payment when appropriate.
Use this for District Court case records, administrative records and name-change record routing.
- Use the online portal for case records when possible.
- Visit a District Court location for public terminals or clerk help.
- Email the completed Request for Court Records form when needed.
- Do not use administrative-record forms for case records.
Use this to identify KCDC divisions, courthouse locations, emails and filing areas.
- Check East, South or West Division.
- Confirm whether the city uses KCDC municipal court services.
- Use the listed courthouse email for location-specific questions.
- Confirm civil and small-claims filing area before filing or visiting.
Use this statewide guide to understand case search, person search, court dates, court directory and appellate documents.
- Use the statewide case search for general Washington routing.
- Follow the special King County Superior Court link to KC Script.
- Follow the special King County District Court link to KCDC.
- Contact the court of record for complete official records.
Use this for Seattle Municipal Court case information, records and courtroom calendars.
- Confirm the ticket or notice says Seattle Municipal Court.
- Use the Seattle Municipal Court Portal for case information.
- Use the public-records request route for records not available online.
- Do not search KC Script or KCDC if the case is only a Seattle Municipal Court matter.
Use this for Washington conviction criminal-history information, not ordinary court docket lookup.
- Read WATCH’s scope before ordering.
- Understand that court records and criminal-history records are different systems.
- Use fingerprint verification when positive identification is required.
- Do not treat this article as a screening report.
King County court-record copies, certifications and fee traps
Copy fees differ by court. Superior Court records are handled by the Superior Court Clerk’s Office / Department of Judicial Administration. District Court records are handled through KCDC. Municipal court records are handled by the city court that filed the case.
| Record route | Published fee example | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court online non-certified copy | $0.25 per page for online viewing/download of eligible LGR 31-compliant cases | Use KC Script. Online viewing coverage is limited by case type and filing date. |
| Superior Court Clerk-assisted non-certified copy | $0.50 per page | Use when Clerk assistance or records-access purchase is needed. |
| Superior Court certified copy | $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 per page thereafter | Request certified copies when an agency, court, immigration office or other formal recipient requires certification. |
| Superior Court exemplified copy | $9.00 for the first page and $1.00 per page thereafter | Ask the receiving agency whether certified or exemplified copy is required. |
| Superior Court research request | $30.00 per hour and any portion thereof | Use the case number when possible to avoid research charges. |
| Superior Court mail request | $10.00 shipping and handling unless a self-addressed stamped envelope is included | Sealed or confidential documents cannot be requested by mail. |
| District Court non-certified copy | $0.25 per page | Use KCDC records request instructions and verify whether case-document access requires a token or eligible account. |
| District Court certified copy | $5.00 for first page and $1.00 for each additional page | Confirm current fees and whether certification is required before ordering. |
Superior Court copy-cost estimator
This browser-only estimator is for planning. The Clerk’s official quote, receipt or fee schedule controls the actual charge.
Save the case number, court, party names, filing year and exact document title.
Use the Superior Court Clerk for Superior Court records, District Court for KCDC records, Seattle Municipal Court for Seattle cases, and the Recorder for recorded documents.
Say whether you need an online non-certified copy, Clerk-assisted copy, certified copy, exemplified copy, recording, docket sheet or a specific filed document.
Sealed or confidential Superior Court documents cannot be requested by mail. Use the official access process and identification review if required.
King County courthouse and records-access locations
Choose the courthouse by court type and record need. Superior Court Clerk records-access areas are not the same as every courtroom location, and juvenile or family matters may require a different location.
516 Third Avenue, Room E-609, Seattle, WA 98104. Clerk hours listed: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday, with limited services from 8:30–9:00 a.m. and 12:15–1:15 p.m.
401 Fourth Avenue N, Room 2C, Kent, WA 98032. This is a major South King County Superior Court and District Court location.
1211 East Alder Street, Room 3015, Seattle, WA 98122. This location houses Juvenile Court, Juvenile Detention and related programs.
Court records are not jail, criminal-history, recorder or vital records
King County has several public-record systems. They look similar in search results, but they answer different questions.
| Need | Use this route | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court case, docket, filing, document or certified copy | KC Script / Superior Court Clerk | The Clerk maintains official Superior Court case records. |
| District Court civil, infraction, small claim, misdemeanor, warrant or ticket record | KCDC e-Filing and Case Access / District Court records request | District Court has a separate portal and separate document-access limits. |
| Seattle city court case | Seattle Municipal Court Portal | Seattle Municipal Court records are not automatically the same as KC Script or KCDC records. |
| Washington conviction criminal-history check | Washington State Patrol WATCH | WATCH is the state criminal-history conviction route; a local docket is not a background-check report. |
| Deed, mortgage, lien, recorded judgment or recorded name-change order | King County Recorder’s Office or Archives | Recorded documents are land and official-document records, not ordinary court dockets. |
| Federal civil, criminal or bankruptcy record | PACER / Western District of Washington | Federal cases are not stored in King County state or municipal court portals. |
Why some King County court records or documents may not appear online
A missing online result does not always mean no case exists. The case may belong to another court, be too old for online access, be restricted by law, require a case-number search, require an account, require a party token, or be available only at a courthouse or through a records request.
- Searching KC Script when the case is District Court or Seattle Municipal Court.
- Searching KCDC when the case is Superior Court, Seattle Municipal or federal.
- Wrong spelling, alias, middle name, business punctuation or suffix.
- Case number entered with missing digits, wrong dashes or wrong court code.
- Searching for document images without the required account, token or case-type eligibility.
- Sealed or confidential cases.
- Juvenile, adoption, mental illness or protection-order matters.
- KC Script online viewing limited by LGR 31 and November 1, 2004 coverage.
- District Court document access limited to authorized accounts, government users, attorneys or case parties with tokens.
- Federal cases that belong in PACER.
King County federal court records use PACER, not KC Script or KCDC
Federal civil, federal criminal and bankruptcy records are separate from King County state and municipal records. King County is in the Western District of Washington. The U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington serve the area west of the Cascade Mountains and have courthouses in Seattle and Tacoma.
- Confirm the case is federal, not King County state or municipal court.
- Use PACER or CM/ECF for federal docket and document access.
- Use Seattle or Tacoma courthouse information when location matters.
- Contact the federal clerk for official federal copy questions.
- Use this for Chapter 7, 11, 12, 13 and adversary bankruptcy matters.
- Use PACER for online bankruptcy dockets and documents.
- Use VCIS or court resources for limited bankruptcy case information when available.
- Contact the bankruptcy clerk for copy, discharge, archive and claims-register questions.
- Search the national index if the federal court is unknown.
- Use a specific federal court for the most current docket access.
- Save the court, case number and party names.
- Review PACER charges before opening documents.
Current PACER access is $0.10 per page, with a $3 cap for many single documents and case-specific reports. Current quarterly fees are waived at $30 or less. A temporary change is scheduled for January 1, 2027, increasing the per-page charge to $0.12 and the quarterly waiver threshold to $40.
What to do if your King County court-record search returns no result
- Wrong portal: KC Script, KCDC, Seattle Municipal Court, Washington Courts, Recorder or PACER.
- Wrong case-number format or missing dashes, digits or court code.
- Wrong spelling, alias, maiden name, business punctuation or suffix.
- Searching by name when exact case number is required or safer.
- Searching for a document image when only docket information is public online.
- KC Script online viewing is limited to qualifying case types and filing dates.
- District Court document access may require an account, token or authorized status.
- Sealed, confidential, juvenile, adoption, mental illness or protection-order matter.
- Case belongs in Seattle Municipal Court or another city court.
- Case is federal and belongs in PACER.
Use King County court records responsibly
- A filing is not proof that an allegation is true.
- A charge, citation, warrant or arrest is not a conviction.
- A judgment may not show whether it was paid, satisfied, appealed or vacated.
- An online docket may not show the newest filing or the complete court record.
- Do not harass, threaten, shame or retaliate against anyone named in records.
- Do not publish unnecessary addresses, children’s names, financial numbers or sensitive family details.
- Do not bypass sealing, confidentiality, juvenile, adoption or protection-order restrictions.
- Contact the official custodian for corrections, copy requests, sealing, vacating or expungement questions.
Frequently asked questions about King County court records
How do I search King County court records by name?
Use the correct official portal first. For King County Superior Court, use KC Script. For King County District Court, use the District Court e-Filing and Case Access portal. For Seattle Municipal Court, use the Seattle Municipal Court Portal. Search by exact case number when available, and verify name matches with court, case type, party role, filing date and docket details.
Is KC Script the official King County Superior Court record portal?
KC Script is the King County Superior Court Clerk portal for Superior Court case search, record viewing, document requests, purchases and certified-copy verification. The portal states that online information does not constitute the official court record and may take up to three court days from filing or hearing receipt to appear online.
Can I search King County Superior Court case numbers by name?
Yes, KC Script provides name fields for first name, last name and middle name, and it also supports case-number searching. The case-number search requires an exact match to an existing King County Superior Court case number, with or without dashes.
What King County Superior Court records can be viewed online?
KC Script states that records viewable online are limited to cases filed November 1, 2004 and forward, including adult criminal, civil except domestic violence and antiharassment protection order cases, probate, family law and unsealed portions of paternity cases. Sealed documents or cases, domestic violence and antiharassment protection order cases, adoption cases, mental illness cases, juvenile cases and judgment cases are not viewable online.
How do I search King County District Court records?
Use the King County District Court e-Filing and Case Access portal. District Court case information can include civil, infraction and criminal cases, upcoming hearing dates, judgment information, sentence conditions, warrant status, protection order status and an index of documents filed. Searches may use case number, person’s name or date of birth, company name or filing date.
Are Seattle Municipal Court records included in King County District Court search?
Not always. Seattle Municipal Court is a separate city court system with its own portal for case information, records and courtroom calendars. Some King County cities use King County District Court for municipal court services, but Seattle Municipal Court records should be searched through Seattle’s official court route.
How much do King County Superior Court record copies cost?
KC Script lists non-certified online viewing or download at $0.25 per page for LGR 31-compliant cases, Clerk-assisted non-certified copies at $0.50 per page, certified copies at $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 per page thereafter, exemplified copies at $9.00 for the first page and $1.00 per page thereafter, a research fee of $30.00 per hour and shipping and handling at $10.00.
Are King County court records the same as Washington criminal-history records?
No. Court records are maintained by courts and clerks, while Washington criminal-history conviction records are provided through Washington State Patrol WATCH. A docket can show case activity, but it should not be treated as a statewide criminal-history report or background-check product.
Where do I search King County appellate and federal cases?
Washington appellate case records use Washington Courts appellate resources and the Appellate Court Public Document Portal. Federal district and bankruptcy cases are separate from King County court portals and are searched through PACER, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington.
Can I use this page for employment, tenant, credit or insurance screening?
No. Public-Court-Records.us is not a Consumer Reporting Agency, and this article is not an FCRA-regulated background-check product. Do not use this page to make employment, tenant, housing, credit, insurance or eligibility decisions.
Publication review checklist
This guide was reviewed for official-source accuracy, KC Script routing, King County District Court portal routing, Seattle Municipal Court separation, Washington Courts statewide routing, LGR 31 access limits, copy and certification fees, courthouse access, WATCH distinction, Recorder distinction, appellate and federal separation, responsible-use warnings, mobile layout, accessibility, Yoast-safe schema and low-value-content risk. Verification date: September 1, 2026.