How Do I Get A Single Status Letter
To request a single status letter:
- Pay the applicable fee. Fees start at $25 per single status letter, which covers a 10 year search period. Other fees may apply depending on how many years need searching, ordering, or shipping method.
A vital records customer service representatives may contact you to verify information.
How Much Do Washington Divorce Records Cost
The cost of accessing certified copies of divorce records in Washington vary depending on how they are ordered. For walk-in service, the Department of Health accepts fees paid with cash, checks, money order, MasterCard and Visa. Ordering by mail requires a check or money order. All checks and money orders should be made out to the Department of Health. Ordering these records by phone necessitates an electric payment using MasterCard or Visa. The cost of walk-in services and ordering records by mail is $20.00. When ordering divorce records over the phone, requesting parties will be charged $31.50.
Surveys Plats And Condos
All recorded Plats, Short Plats, Condominiums and Planned Unit Developments in King County are available for viewing and printing at the Recorder’s Office or at the King County Archives.
The Recorder’s Office has images of approximately 70,000 maps in digital format available online. When using our online search to find maps, from the Legal search type, select Advanced Legal.
Images are available for:
1973 – present |
Public recording services end at 3:30
Recommended Reading: Can You Receive Disability And Alimony At The Same Time
King County Wa Birth Death Marriage Divorce Records
King County, formed in 1852, is the most populous county with the largest city. Record copies for births and deaths are available from the King County Public Health Department in Seattle, with records since 1907 available from the Department of Health Center for Health Statistics in Olympia or VitalChek. For records before 1907, inquiries should be directed to the Washington State Archives. Requests for marriage records go to the King County Recorders Office or the King County Archives for divorce certificates, to the Superior Court Clerk or to the state Center for Health Statistics.
Ordering Washington Divorce Records Online

Washington provides the option of searching for and ordering divorce records online through their case records page using the names of the parties and the case number. It has been reported that this portal may periodically not function properly. Washington Courts also provides alternatives to their own record search program, but suggested portals may be third party websites, and as such, record availability is not guaranteed. To find records finalized within King County, requesting parties must visit the King County Clerkâs Record Access Portal.
You May Like: New York State Council On Divorce Mediation
Find King County Divorce Records
King County Divorce Records are legal documents relating to a couple’s divorce in King County, Washington. They include the divorce papers that the couple files in King County Court, as well as any records created during the divorce procedure, and a divorce certificate. Washington State also collects and indexes divorce filings to help people perform public divorce record searches.
Learn about Divorce Records, including:
- Where to get King County Divorce Records online
- How to get a copy of your divorce decree
- Which divorce filings are King County public records
- If Divorce Records appear on background checks
- Which government agencies issue divorce certificates
How Much Does It Cost
The cost will depend on how many years we need to search for records to confirm that you have never been married or that you are divorced. A single status letter costs $25 for each ten-year range of records searched. A customer service representative will provide you with the total cost when you order the letter.
Read Also: Alimony In Florida How Many Years
How Long Does It Take
It depends on the way you order and the shipping method you select. The time listed is from when we receive full payment and all required documentation. Missing information or documentation will delay orders.
- Review the or Divorce Certificate section for more details, as it can take up to five months for the Department to receive these records.
- VitalChek online or by phone orders process and ship within 3-7 business days, depending on the shipping option you select.
-
It may take up to five months from the date of marriage for a marriage record to be sent to the Department of Health. For marriages within the past five months, you can obtain a county certified white copy of your marriage license from the county auditor’s office where you obtained the marriage license. You can use the county auditor’s copy of your marriage license to add your spouse to your insurance, and in most cases changing the last name on a driver license. Check with the agency or organization requesting the marriage record to determine the document they will accept. Most federal agencies do not allow for use of the county auditor’s copy of your marriage license.
- List of auditors by county:
How Do I Find Divorce Records In King County Wa
For court records requested from the King County Superior Court Clerk, case file numbers can be found at the office.If you want to search for divorces dating from 1935 up to 1967, use the General CIVIL index.In the context of divorces between 1968 and 1979, it is best to search the Domestic index.
Don’t Miss: How Is Alimony Calculated In Utah
King County Superior Court
Below are operational summaries for each department and please view each departments home page, using the left menu bar, for additional information.
Translated content can be found here: COVID-19 Court Operations, Video Hearing Resources, FAQs, and Family Court.
Take This Survey to Help Improve Wheelchair-Accessible For-Hire Transportation in Seattle and King County
SPECIAL NOTICE for Juror Candidates summoned to the Superior Court for service. Click Here.
What Do I Need To Get Married Outside The United States
Before you can get married in some countries, that country may require a document stating you are not currently married. This is known as a single status letter. Visit the Single Status Letter page for more information.
Divorce certificates are also known as a certificate of dissolution. It may take up to five months from the date of divorce for a divorce record to be sent to the Department of Health. If you were divorced within the past five months, you need to contact the county superior court clerk where the divorce was finalized. The Department of Health does not have divorce decrees.
Don’t Miss: Can You Get Alimony After 5 Years Of Marriage
What Does The Single Status Letter Contain
The single status letter will say we do not have any record that you are currently married. We can only provide the confirmation from the time you are 18 or from the time of a previous divorce.
For example:
- If you request a letter in 2013 and you married in 2004 and divorced in 2006 in Washington, the letter will state that we do not have any marriage on record from 2006 to the current date.
- If you request a letter in 2013 and have never been married and you turned 18 in 2004, the letter will state that we do not have any marriage on record from 2004 to the current date.
How To Obtain Washington Family Court Records

In order for a member of the public to access a divorce record that is held in the state of Washington:
Government public record search portals and third party public record websites both may provide court records search tools, which can help find divorce records, though record availability usually varies widely. Divorce records in particular may simply not be available through either source. Although Washington provides search portals for many state records, it may still be necessary to submit a request in person or by mail as divorce records can prove difficult to acquire due their personal nature and tendency to involve minors, financial information, or abuse. The fee for these records vary depending on if they are requested over the phone, by mail, or in-person.
Read Also: Legal Separation Vs Divorce In California
Ordering Washington Divorce Records By Mail
To order a divorce certificate in Washington using the mail, it is necessary to submit a request form with all necessary identification and fees associated with the request. Each document requested requires a separate request form. For divorces filed after 1968, mail the request form to:
Center for Health StatisticsPO Box 9709Olympia WA 98507-9709
If the record was filed before1968, mail in the request to the address of the clerk of court in the county where the divorce occured. Turnover time for ordering by mail is 6-8 weeks.
Search Our Free Online Database Of King County’s Official Records
Most documents recorded on or after August 1, 1991 are available online. Documents that were recorded prior to August 1, 1991 are on microfilm and are only available from the King County Archives. If you do not find a marriage license on our site, you may want to check Washington State Digital Archives.
Search results are based on the indexing standards used at the time the document was recorded and indexing standards change over time. If you do not find a document on your first try, please adjust your search criteria. Results load one page at a time to ensure the fastest response time, so any sorting or filtering you do on one page of results need to be re-applied to each page of results you view.
Review our frequently asked questions for a list of document types that are not viewable online.
Also Check: How Does Alimony Work In Ny
How To Search For Recorded Documents
Our Landmark Records Search system allows you to search by name, document type, book and page number, consideration , parcel ID, recording date, recording number, legal description, or Torrens.
- Search by Name: Enter last name comma first name, “Doe, John”. Tutorial video
- Search by Parcel: Enter the first ten digits in the “Parcel ID” field next to the “Starts With” field. Searching by parcel ID will only pull up recorded documents from 1997 to current. If you do not know the parcel ID, first visit the King County Assessor’s Parcel Viewer to obtain the parcel ID by searching for the property address. Tutorial video
- To search for surveys, plats, and condos, select the Legal search: After selecting the “legal” option from the Home search page, on the following screen click “Advanced Legal” on the left-side menu. Tutorial video
Tip: You may see the terms “grantor” and “grantee” used in our system – a grantor is the giving party, while a grantee is the receiving party.
Why Do I Have To Call To Get A Single Status Letter
Single status letters require different information depending on your circumstances. A trained customer service representative will ask you the right questions to get you the information you need.
Please be prepared to answer the following questions:
- Are you a current resident of Washington state?
- If yes, how many years have you been a resident of Washington state?
- Years married?
You May Like: Is Spousal Support The Same As Alimony
What Are Washington Divorce Records
Divorce records are a more detailed document than both a divorce certificate and a divorce decree. The parties who were involved in the divorce may use these records to challenge any of the agreements listed within them, so it is often suggested that they keep them for personal record to use when filing for a change. A divorce record not only holds all the same information as the two previous documents, but also every file, report, and transcript produced during the case. Divorce records can be accessed and viewed by members of the public because they are considered family court cases, but only the two participants in the divorce, along with their attorneys, can obtain certified copies.
Warning: Superior Court Clerk Phone Scam Reported
Telephone calls have been received that appear to be coming from the King County Superior Court Clerk’s Office customer service phone number: 296-9300.
The callers have claimed that the call recipient is under investigation and have attempted to obtain personal information from the recipient.
This is a scam. Please hang up and treat the call as you would any unauthorized, fraudulent phone call.
The Superior Court Clerk’s Office will never contact a customer directly from our customer service phone number.
You May Like: File For Divorce In Sc
What Are Washington Divorce Certificates
A divorce certificate is the simple statement that a divorce occurred, containing the names of the two parties who have been divorced as well as when and where the divorce was concluded. Often, this form of divorce record is requested when one of the parties wishes to change their name. It is also required when one of the parties wants to acquire a new marriage certificate. Washington considers these records public and, unless sealed by the court judge, they are accessible by the public to search for and view.
King County Washington Court Directory

The Washington trial court system consists of Superior Courts, District Courts, Municipal Courts, Traffic Violations Bureaus, and Toll Courts. For more information on which types of cases each court oversees, compare Washington courts.
Below is a directory of court locations in King County. Links for online court records and other free court resources are provided for each court, where available. If youre not sure which court youre looking for, learn more about the Washington court system.
You May Like: Who Has To Pay Alimony
It’s A New Day As Secrecy Fades
Seattle Times staff reporters
King County Court Commissioner Kimberley Prochnau says courts will no longer seal documents just because the parties want secrecy. JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES James Degel retrieves an order to unseal a file from Court Commissioner Kimberley Prochnau. Degel, a Seattle lawyer and professional guardian, has asked the court to open nearly 50 cases he previously had gotten sealed. He says recent court decisions and Times articles on secrecy changed his mind. Principal Ed Young was accused of ignoring warnings about a teacher. Judge James Doerty agreed to black out details before a file was unsealed. |
Related |
In King County Superior Court, requests to seal records used to get approved casually. Often, all the parties had to do was ask. The defendant wanted to avoid embarrassment? The judge said OK.
Snubbing rules established years ago, judges and court commissioners approved even the most extreme secrecy: sealing an entire file. At least 420 civil suits were sealed in their entirety since 1990, a Seattle Times investigation found. Those sealing orders kept the public from knowing about wrongdoing or alleged negligence by local schools, hospitals, lawyers, churches, state agencies, manufacturers and others.
Instead of being hidden away, files are being opened up.
Files sealed: then and now Between 1990 and 2005, King County judges and commissioners sealed in their entirety:
420 civil cases
What Is A Single Status Letter
A single status letter states that you are not currently married to anyone in Washington state. Before you can get married in some countries, the country will require a document stating you are not currently married. You should contact the country where you will get married to find out if they require confirmation of single status.
Read Also: Divorce In The United States
King County Town & City Halls
Get Marriage & Divorce Records from 21 Town & City Halls in King County, WA
Auburn City Hall25 West Main StreetAuburn,WA98001Directions
Bellevue City Hall450 110th Avenue NortheastBellevue,WA98004Directions
Black Diamond City Hall24301 Roberts DriveBlack Diamond,WA98010Directions
Bothell City Hall18305 101st Avenue NortheastBothell,WA98011Directions
Carnation City Hall4621 Tolt AvenueCarnation,WA98014Directions
Duvall City Hall15535 Main Street NortheastDuvall,WA98019Directions
Federal Way City Hall33325 8th Avenue SouthFederal Way,WA98003Directions
Issaquah City Hall1775 12th Avenue NorthwestIssaquah,WA98027Directions
Kirkland City Hall12421 Northeast 103rd PlaceKirkland,WA98033Directions
Maple Valley City Hall22035 Southeast Wax RoadMaple Valley,WA98038Directions
Medina City Hall501 Evergreen Point RoadMedina,WA98039Directions
Mercer Island City Hall9611 Southeast 36th StreetMercer Island,WA98040Directions
North Bend City Hall211 Main Avenue NorthNorth Bend,WA98045Directions
Pacific City Hall100 3rd Avenue SoutheastPacific,WA98047Directions
Redmond City Hall15670 Northeast 85th StreetRedmond,WA98052Directions
Renton City Hall1055 South Grady WayRenton,WA98057Directions
Sammamish City Hall801 228th Avenue SoutheastSammamish,WA98075Directions
Seattle City Hall600 4th AvenueSeattle,WA98104Directions
Skykomish City Hall119 4th Street NorthSkykomish,WA98288Directions
Snoqualmie City Hall38624 Southeast River StreetSnoqualmie,WA98065Directions
How To Find A Divorce Record In Washington
Divorce occurs when two married people decide to reverse their decision to be married. Divorce is also known as marriage dissolution. In the State of Washington, divorces cases are typically a matter of Family Court or Civil Court, which is a division of the Washington Superior Court system, which is also known as general jurisdiction courts. Records of Washington divorce cases filed after 1968 are held in and maintained by the Washington Department of Health . Divorce cases finalized prior to 1968 are kept by the county clerk of the Washington county in which the divorce was concluded. Members of the public who wish to access these records should be aware that this action is recorded in three ways, and their purpose varies. This knowledge will help accelerate the process of obtaining the correct form of divorce record.
Divorce records are considered court records. They may therefore be searched on third party public record websites. Divorce records can offer personal information on minors, finances, and sensitive criminal information like domestic abuse. Because of this, divorce record, certificate, and decree availability is usually much lower than other types of public records because of the personal nature of divorces. Simply put, divorce records are significantly harder to obtain and search for than other types of public records.
Don’t Miss: Divorce Lawyer Las Cruces Nm