Yakima County Public Records

Yakima County public records are maintained by elected offices including the Superior Court Clerk, Auditor, Sheriff, and Assessor, all based in Yakima in Central Washington. This page covers how to access and request Yakima County court case files, property records, and government documents, including what's available online and how to reach the right office for each record type.

Yakima County Superior Court Clerk Records

The Yakima County Superior Court Clerk maintains all case records for Superior Court proceedings in the county. That covers civil matters, criminal felonies, family law, probate, guardianship, and juvenile cases. The Clerk's office at the Yakima County Courthouse is the primary point of contact for all Superior Court records. Public services are accessible on the 4th floor of the courthouse.

You can search Yakima 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 or fee. For document images or certified copies, contact the Clerk's office at the Yakima County Courthouse.

The Yakima County Clerk portal provides information on accessing Superior Court records and requesting copies of case documents.

Yakima County court records are subject to Washington Court Rules GR 31 and GR 31.1 rather than the Public Records Act. Submit all court case file requests directly to the Clerk's office rather than through the general county records process.

Yakima County Sheriff Records

The Yakima County Sheriff's Office handles incident reports, arrest records, and other law enforcement documents. For public records requests involving Sheriff records, contact the Sheriff's Office through the county website. The Sheriff can be reached by phone at 509-574-2300. Include dates, case or report numbers, and the names of people involved when submitting a request. Specific requests move faster than broad or vague ones.

Some law enforcement records are exempt from disclosure under RCW 42.56.240 if nondisclosure is essential to an active investigation. The Sheriff's Office must still respond within five business days to acknowledge the request, provide a timeline, or issue a written denial with the legal reason for withholding.

Yakima County Property Records

The Yakima County Assessor maintains property records for all parcels in the county. Property search is available online through the county website. The online tool lets you look up assessed values, ownership information, and parcel data without a login or fee.

The Yakima County Property Search tool provides free access to parcel data, assessment information, and sales history for properties throughout the county.

The property search tool covers all parcels in Yakima County. You can search by address, parcel number, or owner name to find current assessment data and property characteristics.

Recorded land documents including deeds, mortgages, and liens are maintained by the Yakima County Auditor. For copies of recorded documents or marriage licenses, contact the Auditor's office through the main county website. The Auditor handles the permanent land record for all of Yakima County.

Yakima County Public Records Requests

For general Yakima County government records that are not court files, the county follows RCW 42.56, the Washington Public Records Act. Each department has a designated public records officer who must respond within five business days. That response will either provide the records, give a timeline for large requests, ask for clarification, or issue a written denial with the specific legal basis.

Standard copy fees are $0.15 per page under state guidelines. Electronic files typically cost less. Contact the specific department through the county website to submit your request to the right office. The Yakima County official website lists all departments and their contacts.

The county website covers all elected offices and departments with contact information, addresses, and phone numbers for each records request.

Online Search Tools

The Washington State Courts Odyssey Portal provides online access to Yakima County Superior Court case information. Search by name or case number. The Washington State Digital Archives holds historical records from Yakima County including older court files and other government documents, free to search.

Property records are available through the county's online property search at yakimacounty.us/228/Property-Search. For vital records including birth and death certificates, contact the Washington State Department of Health Vital Records. Marriage licenses are issued by the Yakima County Auditor locally.

Cities in Yakima County

Yakima County includes Yakima, Selah, Union Gap, Wapato, Grandview, Sunnyside, and other communities. Yakima is the county seat and maintains its own city-level public records separate from county records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Yakima County in Central Washington. Check which county holds the records you need based on where an event occurred.