Records of divorce in Thurston County, Washington, are available through several channels. ThurstonCourt.us allows you to quickly find publicly available information about divorce cases in the county. Additionally, you can contact the court that issued the decision, the county clerk's office, or the Washington State Department of Health — Office of Vital Records. Online tools, in-person visits, and mail requests — all these methods work depending on the type of document you need.
Thurston Divorce Records Search
In Thurston County, divorce cases are handled by the Superior Court. The clerk's office of this court maintains complete case files: divorce decrees, property settlement agreements, child custody orders, and all related procedural documents.
The Washington State Department of Health maintains a separate registry — divorce certificates. These certificates confirm the fact of divorce but do not contain details of property settlement or custody. To search for court cases, use the Washington State Courts case search system — it will show basic information about the case, although copies of documents will need to be ordered separately.
Historical divorce records may also be available through the Washington State Digital Archives, especially for older cases.
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Thurston
The structure of divorce record storage in Washington State is divided between the court and the state registration authority. Understanding this difference will help you contact the correct institution.
Superior Court — Complete Case Files
Thurston County Superior Court is the only court of general jurisdiction that handles divorce cases in the county. Once a decision is made by a judge, the decree is stored in the court clerk's office. Here you can obtain:
- A copy of the divorce decree
- A settlement agreement
- Child custody and support orders
- Any other documents from the case
Department of Health — Divorce Certificate
If you only need official confirmation of the fact of divorce — for example, for remarriage or changing documents — contact the Department of Health's Office of Vital Records. This office issues certified divorce certificates. For records from 2023 and later, the Department of Health recommends first contacting the county court where the divorce was filed.
In short: if you need case details, go to the court clerk's office. If you need a certificate as a document for another institution, order through the Department of Health.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Thurston
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of divorce certificate (Department of Health) | $25.00 | 2–6 weeks by mail |
| Copy of court document (Superior Court Clerk) | $0.50 per page | Usually on the day of the request during an in-person visit |
| Document certification (Superior Court Clerk) | $5.00 per document | 1–3 business days |
| Expedited certificate order (Department of Health, online via VitalChek) | $25.00 + additional processing fee | 5–7 business days |