Spokane County Public Records

Spokane County public records are maintained by multiple elected offices including the Superior Court Clerk, Auditor, Sheriff, and Assessor in Eastern Washington. This page covers how to find and request Spokane County public records, which agencies handle which record types, how to use the county's online search tools, and how to reach the Sheriff's disclosure unit for law enforcement records.

Spokane County Superior Court Clerk

The Spokane County Superior Court Clerk maintains all case records for Superior Court proceedings in the county. That includes civil cases, criminal felonies, family law, probate, guardianship, and juvenile cases. Spokane County is one of the largest court systems in Eastern Washington, handling a high volume of cases across all case types.

You can search Spokane County court cases through the Washington State Courts Odyssey Portal by name or case number. The portal shows case summaries, party names, docket entries, and hearing dates without a login. For document images or certified copies, contact the Clerk's office at the Spokane County Courthouse.

The Spokane County Clerk portal provides information on court records access, forms, and how to get copies of case documents.

Spokane County court records are governed by Washington Court Rules GR 31 and GR 31.1. The Clerk's office is the correct starting point for all court case file requests, not the general county public records office.

Spokane County Sheriff Records

The Spokane County Sheriff's Office operates a dedicated disclosure portal for law enforcement records requests. Incident reports, arrest records, and other law enforcement documents are handled through that portal rather than through the general county records process. To submit a request for Sheriff records, use the Sheriff's disclosure portal on the Spokane County website.

Law enforcement records are processed under RCW 42.56. Some records may be exempt from disclosure under RCW 42.56.240 if nondisclosure is essential to an active investigation. Note that social media and voicemail requests are generally not accepted by the Spokane County Sheriff's Office. Submit requests through official written channels.

Spokane County Public Records Request Process

Spokane County established a central Public Records Office in 2018 to coordinate records requests across county departments. The county handles general government records under RCW 42.56. You can submit records requests through the county's online search portal and track them online.

The Spokane County Public Records portal is the main access point for general county records requests. The portal provides a search function for existing records and a request submission system. Parcel searches are also available online through the county's property search tool.

The county must respond to any request within five business days by providing records, acknowledging the request with an estimated timeline, asking for clarification, or issuing a written denial with the specific legal basis.

Standard copy fees follow state guidelines at $0.15 per page. Electronic files typically cost less. For large requests, ask the department for a fee estimate before they begin copying. You can also inspect records in person for free before deciding what you need copies of.

The Spokane County official website provides access to each department's contact information and records request procedures.

Each county department in Spokane has its own designated public records officer. The main county website lists each department and their contact information for records requests.

Spokane County Property Records

Spokane County property records including assessed values, ownership information, and parcel data are available through the county's online parcel search. The Assessor maintains these records for all parcels in the county. You can search by address, parcel number, or owner name without a login or fee.

Recorded land documents including deeds, mortgages, and liens are maintained by the Spokane County Auditor. The recording index is searchable online. For questions about specific recorded documents, contact the Auditor's office through the main county website at spokanecounty.org.

Online Search Tools

The Washington State Courts Odyssey Portal provides online access to Spokane County Superior Court cases. Search by name or case number to find case summaries, party information, and hearing dates. For older records, the Washington State Digital Archives holds historical government records from Spokane County going back many decades, all free to search.

For vital records including birth and death certificates, contact the Washington State Department of Health Vital Records office in Olympia. Spokane County does not issue these certificates at the county level. Marriage licenses are issued by the Spokane County Auditor locally. For state court case searches outside of Superior Court, use the Odyssey Portal which covers multiple court levels.

Cities in Spokane County

Spokane County includes several major cities. Spokane and Spokane Valley each maintain city-level public records separate from county records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Spokane County in Eastern Washington. Check where an event occurred to determine which county holds the records you need.