Jefferson County Public Records
Jefferson County public records are held by the Superior Court Clerk, Auditor, Sheriff, Assessor, and other elected offices based in Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula. This page covers where to find Jefferson County public records, how to request court case files and property documents, what fees apply, and which online databases give free access to Jefferson County records.
Jefferson County Overview
Jefferson County Superior Court Clerk Records
The Jefferson County Superior Court Clerk handles records for all Superior Court cases filed in the county. That includes civil cases, criminal felonies, family law, probate, and other matters at the Superior Court level. All documents and filings go through the Clerk's office at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Port Townsend. The Clerk also handles naturalization records dating back to 1852.
You can search Jefferson County court cases through the Washington State Courts Odyssey Portal by name or case number. For civil and criminal cases from 2010 to present, the Washington State Digital Archives also holds over 359,000 Jefferson County Superior Court case files. Those archives are searchable for free and cover civil, criminal, divorce, and probate cases. Older historical records including naturalization files from 1852 to 1974 are also available through the Digital Archives.
| Office | Jefferson County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 1820 Jefferson Street Port Townsend, WA 98368 |
| Phone | (360) 385-9125 |
| superiorcourtclerk@co.jefferson.wa.us | |
| Website | co.jefferson.wa.us |
The Jefferson County records at the Washington State Digital Archives provide searchable access to case files without a formal request.
The Digital Archives hold over 359,000 Jefferson County case file records. Case documents are not previewable online. Sealed or confidential documents cannot be purchased. Contact the county clerk before ordering if you have questions about document content.
Standard copy fees for Jefferson County court records are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Restricted records including adoption and parentage files, mental illness proceedings, and juvenile dependency cases require a court order for access.
Jefferson County court records are subject to Washington Court Rules GR 31 and GR 31.1, not the Washington Public Records Act. Contact the Clerk directly for all court record requests.
Jefferson County Auditor and Property Records
The Jefferson County Auditor maintains recorded land documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, and marriage licenses. The Auditor's recording office handles the permanent land record for the county. If you need copies of recorded documents, contact the Auditor's office in Port Townsend.
| Office | Jefferson County Auditor |
|---|---|
| Address | 1820 Jefferson Street Port Townsend, WA 98368 |
| Phone | (360) 385-9115 or (360) 385-9116 |
The Auditor and Clerk both share the main courthouse address at 1820 Jefferson Street. Property assessment records are handled by the Jefferson County Assessor. Contact the main county office for Assessor inquiries or visit the Jefferson County website at co.jefferson.wa.us.
How to Request Jefferson County Public Records
For general Jefferson County government records that are not court files, the county follows RCW 42.56, the Washington Public Records Act. You can contact departments directly through the Jefferson County official website at co.jefferson.wa.us. The county is required to respond to requests within five business days.
That response will either provide the records, acknowledge the request with an estimated timeline, ask for clarification, or issue a written denial with the legal reason for withholding. Standard copy fees are $0.15 per page under RCW 42.56.120. Electronic files typically cost less. For large requests, ask for a fee estimate before the county begins copying.
The Jefferson County Sheriff handles law enforcement records including incident reports and arrest records. Contact the Sheriff's Office through the main county website for requests involving law enforcement documents. Some law enforcement records may be exempt under RCW 42.56.240 if nondisclosure is essential to an active investigation.
Note: Superior Court records go through the Clerk's office, not the general county records process. Contact superiorcourtclerk@co.jefferson.wa.us for court documents.
Online Search Tools
The Washington State Courts Odyssey Portal covers Jefferson County Superior Court cases and lets you search by name or case number without a login or fee. The Washington State Digital Archives provides free access to over 359,000 Jefferson County court case files, plus historical naturalization records dating to 1852. The Digital Archives are one of the most accessible ways to find older Jefferson County court records without contacting the Clerk's office directly.
For vital records including birth and death certificates, contact the Washington State Department of Health Vital Records office. Marriage licenses in Jefferson County are issued by the Auditor at the Port Townsend courthouse. Records from other state agencies may be requested through those agencies directly.
Cities in Jefferson County
Jefferson County includes Port Townsend, Quilcene, Brinnon, and other communities on the Olympic Peninsula. None of the cities in Jefferson County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated public records page on this site. For city-level records in Port Townsend, contact the Port Townsend City Clerk directly.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Jefferson County on the Olympic Peninsula and Kitsap area. Check which county holds the records you need based on where the event occurred or where a case was filed.