Garfield County Public Records
Garfield County public records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk, the County Auditor, and other offices in Pomeroy, Washington. Garfield is one of Washington's smallest counties by population, which means the offices are small too, but they still hold the same range of court filings, land records, and government documents as larger counties. Most public records fall under the Washington Public Records Act, and court records are governed by Washington Court Rules GR 31 and GR 31.1. This page explains where to request Garfield County public records and how to find them online.
Garfield County Overview
Garfield County Superior Court Clerk
The Garfield County Clerk of Superior Court handles all Superior Court case records for the county, including felony criminal cases, civil disputes, family law matters like divorce and custody, probate, and juvenile cases. The clerk's office is at 789 Main Street, PO Box 329, Pomeroy, WA 99347-0329. The clerk is Marie Gormsen, reachable at mgormsen@co.garfield.wa.us. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
| Office | Garfield County Clerk of Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 789 Main Street, PO Box 329 Pomeroy, WA 99347-0329 |
| Phone | (509) 843-3731 |
| mgormsen@co.garfield.wa.us | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | co.garfield.wa.us/superiorcourt |
Garfield County uses the Odyssey Portal (Odyssey Code No. 12) for online case access. Search by name or case number at the statewide Washington State Courts Odyssey Portal. The portal shows case summaries, party information, docket entries, and hearing status. Not all older records may be in the portal. For anything you cannot find online, contact the clerk's office directly.
Court records requests in Garfield County can be submitted by mail, email, or fax. Official records are sent only by mail, not email. A Court Records Request form is available on the clerk's website. Some records may be sealed or confidential under court rules and cannot be released to the public. If you have questions about whether a specific record is available, contact the clerk before submitting a formal request.
Note: Garfield County court records are governed by Washington Court Rules GR 31 and GR 31.1, not the Public Records Act, so request procedures differ from standard county agency records.
Garfield County District Court
The Garfield County District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic infractions, civil matters within its jurisdiction, and protection orders. District Court is at the same address as the courthouse in Pomeroy. A Court Records Request Form is available online at garfieldcountywa.gov/districtcourt/page/court-records-request. Processing times follow statutory requirements, and fees apply for copies.
Garfield County Auditor Records
The Garfield County Auditor serves as the county's records custodian and handles recording of deeds and other legal instruments. The Auditor's office is at 789 Main St., PO Box 278, Pomeroy, WA 99347. Phone is (509) 843-1411. The Auditor is McKenzie Lueck, with Shanda Wolf serving as Chief Deputy and Nikki Smith handling payroll and benefits.
The Auditor also serves as the agent for all tort claims against the county. A Standard Tort Claim Form Packet is available through the Auditor's office. All documents recorded with the Auditor become part of the permanent public record and are indexed so they can be found and copied on request. For property assessments and parcel data, contact the Garfield County Assessor, also based in Pomeroy.
The county website at garfieldcountywa.gov provides contact information for all county departments. If you are not sure which office holds the records you need, the Auditor's office is often a good starting point since it manages the county's overall records custodian function.
Historical Records and Digital Archives
The Washington State Digital Archives holds several Garfield County collections that are free to search online. These include Garfield County Auditor birth returns from 1891 to 1907, death records from 1891 to 1907, and marriage records from 1882 to 1979. These collections are a strong resource for genealogical research or finding documents that predate modern electronic record systems.
The Digital Archives platform lets you search by name, date, and record type without a login or fee. Over 21 million records from Washington state and local governments are available. For Garfield County, this is particularly valuable because the county's small size means fewer local digital tools compared to larger urban counties.
The Washington State Digital Archives is free to search and includes Garfield County birth, death, and marriage records going back to the late 1800s.
Historical Garfield County government records, including vital records and auditor filings, are searchable through the Digital Archives without any charge.
Note: For current vital records such as birth and death certificates, contact the Washington State Department of Health at doh.wa.gov rather than the county.
Requesting Garfield County Public Records
To request records from Garfield County departments, contact the office that holds what you need. Each agency has a designated public records officer. Under RCW 42.56, that officer must respond within five business days. The initial response might deliver the records, set a timeline, ask for more information, or issue a written denial citing the legal reason for withholding. You may inspect records in person at no charge before deciding what to copy. Paper copies cost up to $0.15 per page.
If you are unsure which department holds a specific record type, start with the Auditor's office since it has a broad custodian role for county records. For court matters, go directly to the Superior or District Court clerk. For law enforcement records, contact the Garfield County Sheriff's Office. The Washington State Attorney General's office provides guidance on the Public Records Act at atg.wa.gov/open-government.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Garfield County in Southeast Washington. Records for events near county lines may be held in an adjacent county depending on the address of the event or the court that handled the filing.