Douglas County Public Records
Douglas County public records are maintained by several elected offices in Waterville, Washington, including the Superior Court Clerk, the County Auditor, and the District Court. Most public records in Douglas County fall under the Washington Public Records Act, which gives residents the right to inspect and copy government documents. Court records follow a separate set of rules under Washington Court Rules GR 31 and GR 31.1. This page explains how to find Douglas County public records, which office to contact, and what online tools are available.
Douglas County Overview
Douglas County Superior Court Clerk
The Douglas County Clerk of Superior Court handles all Superior Court case records for the county. Cases include felony criminal matters, civil disputes above the District Court limit, family law filings such as divorce and custody, probate and guardianship cases, and juvenile matters. The clerk's office is the official custodian of these records and processes requests from the public. You can search case records online through the Odyssey Portal, which is the statewide court case management system used by Douglas County.
The clerk's office is located at 203 S Rainier in Waterville. Staff members can help you find cases and make certified copies. The clerk's contact is MacKenzie Jardine, reachable at 509-745-8529 x6433 or mjardine@co.douglas.wa.us. The general court clerk email is courtclerk@co.douglas.wa.us. Court forms are also available for download through the county website.
| Office | Douglas County Clerk of Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 203 S Rainier, PO Box 488 Waterville, WA 98858 |
| Phone | 509-745-8529 |
| Fax | 509-745-8027 |
| courtclerk@co.douglas.wa.us | |
| Website | douglascountywa.gov/266/Clerk-of-Superior-Court |
The Douglas County Superior Court also has a Courthouse Facilitator who can help self-represented parties find their way through court processes. A Walk-In Legal Clinic through the Chelan-Douglas legal assistance program offers guidance for people handling their own cases. These free resources are separate from the clerk's office but available to Douglas County residents who need help.
Court records under Washington Court Rules GR 31 and GR 31.1 are not subject to the Public Records Act. The clerk sets its own access procedures. Some records may be sealed or marked confidential. If you need access to records you cannot find online, contact the clerk's office to ask about the correct request process. More information is available at douglascountywa.gov/174/Access-to-Court-Records.
Online Case Search and Digital Archives
The Washington State Courts Odyssey Portal provides free online access to Douglas County Superior Court case information. You can search by name or case number to find case summaries, party names, docket entries, and hearing status. Douglas County uses the Odyssey system for its current case records. The portal does not require a login for basic searches, and it covers cases across participating Washington counties.
The Douglas County Superior Court Clerk page also offers a direct case search tool through the county website. The clerk uses both OnBase and the Odyssey system for records management, which means some older records may live in one system while newer filings appear in the other. If you cannot find a case through the online portal, contact the clerk's office directly. Staff can search internal systems and tell you whether a case file is available on-site or has been archived.
The Washington State Digital Archives also covers Douglas County historical records. The archives hold digitized government documents from counties across the state, including older court case files and vital records that predate the Odyssey system.
The Douglas County Clerk of Superior Court page offers online case search access and downloadable court forms for the Waterville courthouse.
Note: Douglas County court records follow Washington Court Rules GR 31 and GR 31.1 rather than the Public Records Act, so some access procedures differ from standard county records requests.
Douglas County District Court Records
The Douglas County District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic infractions, civil matters below the Superior Court threshold, protection orders, and small claims. The court operates two locations in the county. The Bridgeport Branch is at 1206 Columbia Avenue, PO Box 730, Bridgeport, WA 98813, phone 509-686-2034. The East Wenatchee location is at 110 NE 2nd Street, East Wenatchee, WA 98802, phone 509-884-3536.
For most misdemeanor or traffic records, contact the District Court location that handled the case. District Court records are generally public but some records may be restricted. Processing times and copy fees follow state guidelines under RCW 42.56 and Washington court rules.
Douglas County Auditor and Property Records
The Douglas County Auditor handles document recording for the county. Recorded documents include deeds, real estate contracts, liens, and other written instruments required by state law. Once a document is filed, it becomes part of the public record and is indexed accordingly. Historical records are kept permanently. E-recording may be available for certain document types.
To reach the Auditor's office, call 509-745-8527. For recording-specific questions, use the recording line at 509-888-6409. The licensing office is at 509-888-6408. You can also reach the Elections Office at 509-888-6402. The main county website at douglascountywa.gov provides access to department directories and online service options.
Property owners looking to find assessed values, ownership history, or parcel data should contact the Douglas County Assessor. The Assessor maintains parcel records and tax data for all property in the county. Many rural counties like Douglas have moved toward online property databases, though the depth of online information varies. Call the Auditor's office to ask what is available for your specific search.
Note: Documents become public upon filing with the Douglas County Auditor and are indexed so the public can locate and request copies.
How to Request Douglas County Public Records
To request public records from Douglas County departments, contact the specific office that holds the records you need. Each department has a designated public records officer. Under RCW 42.56, the officer must respond within five business days. That response might provide the records, estimate a delivery timeline, ask for clarification, or issue a written denial with the legal reason for any withholding.
You can submit requests in writing by mail, email, or fax. Be specific. Include the type of record, any relevant dates, names, or case numbers, and your preferred format for receiving documents. Vague requests slow things down. Paper copies cost up to $0.15 per page. For large requests, you can ask for a fee estimate before the office begins copying. You also have the right to inspect records in person at no charge before deciding which documents you want copied.
The Washington State Attorney General's office offers resources on open government at atg.wa.gov/open-government. If your request is denied, you may file an appeal with the agency or seek review from the AG's Ofiice of Open Government.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Douglas County. If you are not sure which county holds the records you need, check the address where the event took place or look at the filing location on any existing documents you have.