Adams County Public Records

Adams County public records are kept by elected offices including the County Clerk, Auditor, Sheriff, Assessor, and Treasurer, all based at the Adams County Courthouse in Ritzville. Whether you need court case files, recorded land documents, or general county records, this page covers how to find and request Adams County public records through the right office, online tools, and in-person visits.

Adams County Superior Court Clerk Records

The Adams County Superior Court Clerk handles case records for all Superior Court filings in the county. That includes civil matters, criminal felonies, domestic relations, probate, guardianship, and juvenile cases. Court case files from January 1, 1996 forward are available as computer images. If you need an older case, the Clerk's office has records on microfiche that you can view at a public access terminal during office hours.

You can search Adams County court cases through the Washington State Courts Odyssey Portal. Adams County uses Odyssey Code No. 01. The portal lets you look up cases by name or case number and see basic case information, party names, and status. For full document images or certified copies, contact the Clerk's office directly. Haley Anderson and Katie Sloan handle records requests at this office.

Adams County court records are not subject to the Washington Public Records Act. Courts operate under Washington Court Rules GR 31 and GR 31.1 instead. Those rules still allow public access to most court documents, but the process differs from a standard public records request. Go directly to the Clerk's office for court records.

How to Request Adams County Public Records

For non-court county records, Adams County follows RCW 42.56, the Washington Public Records Act. The Public Records Officer for the Board of Commissioners is located at 210 W. Broadway, Ritzville, WA 99169. You can call 509-659-3236 to reach that office. The Clerk of the Board serves as the primary public records officer for the commission.

You can submit a request in person, by phone, or in writing. Request forms are available at the county website. Once you submit, the county must respond within five business days. That response will either give you the records, give you a timeline for large requests, ask for clarification, or issue a written denial with the specific legal reason for withholding. Standard copies cost $0.15 per page under RCW 42.17.300.

The county also has a public services building in Othello at 425 E. Main, Othello, WA 99344. Some county services are accessible from that location as well.

Adams County Official Website

The Adams County official website gives access to department contact pages, public records request forms, and information about each county office.

The county website is your starting point for finding the right department, looking up forms, and accessing general county information online.

Each county department has its own staff, contact info, and records process. The Assessor, Auditor, Clerk, Sheriff, and Treasurer all maintain separate sets of records. If you are not sure which office holds the records you want, the main county website can help you find the right department.

Property and Recording Records

The Adams County Auditor maintains recorded land documents including deeds, mortgages, UCC filings, and marriage licenses. The Auditor's office is located at 210 W. Broadway, Ritzville, WA 99169. You can reach them by phone at 509-659-3247.

There is no online portal for property records on the Adams County website at this time. If you need to search recorded documents, you will need to visit the Auditor's office in person or call to ask about options. Recording certified copy fees are $3 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Map copies cost $5 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. Record search fees are $8 per hour with a one-hour minimum.

The Adams County Assessor tracks all parcels in the county. There are 15,049 total parcels, including 6,012 residential and 466 commercial parcels. Property tax assessment records are kept by the Assessor for tax purposes. Contact the Assessor through the main county office at 509-659-3236.

Online Search Tools

The Washington State Courts Odyssey Portal is the main online tool for searching Adams County court cases. Use Odyssey Code No. 01 to filter results to Adams County. You can search by name or case number and see case status, party names, and hearing dates. For older records or document images, contact the Clerk's office directly.

The Washington State Digital Archives holds historical government records from counties across the state, including Adams County. If you need older court records, historical property records, or other archived documents, the Digital Archives is a good place to start. The archives hold over 21 million digitized records and are free to search.

For vital records like birth and death certificates, contact the Washington State Department of Health Vital Records office. Marriage licenses are issued by the Adams County Auditor locally.

Adams County Sheriff Records

The Adams County Sheriff's Office handles incident reports, arrest records, and jail and booking records. Public records requests for law enforcement records go through the main county public records process. Certain law enforcement records may be exempt from disclosure under RCW 42.56.240 if nondisclosure is essential to an active investigation.

Contact the Sheriff's Office through the Adams County main line at 509-659-3236 or visit the courthouse at 210 W. Broadway, Ritzville. Be specific when requesting records. Include dates, case or report numbers, and the names of those involved. Specific requests process faster than broad or vague ones.

Cities in Adams County

Adams County includes the cities of Ritzville (the county seat) and Othello, along with smaller communities. None of the cities in Adams County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page on this site.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Adams County. If you are not sure which county holds the records you need, check the address where the event occurred or the filing location on any documents you already have.