Custer, Washington Public Records

Whatcom County District Court, located at the same address at 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225 (phone: 360-778-5960), has jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases up to $100,000, small claims cases up to $10,000, protection orders, and traffic infractions. District Court also handles preliminary hearings for felony cases before they move to Superior Court. Washington State provides online access to court records through the statewide case search portal at https://www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts, which links to individual county systems. Whatcom County Superior Court case records can be searched online, though some confidential cases such as juvenile matters, certain family law cases, and sealed records are not publicly accessible. The court charges fees for certified copies of documents: $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page of a certified document. Electronic copies may be available for lower fees. File copies and exemplified copies have different fee schedules. Requests for bulk records or historical case files may require in-person visits to the Clerk's Office or formal public records requests under RCW 42.56. Court records are generally public unless sealed by court order or protected by statute, and remote access has expanded significantly in recent years, though some older records require in-person research at the courthouse in Bellingham.

The Assessor's website offers a free online property search tool at https://www.whatcomcounty.us/2139/Property-Search where Custer residents and researchers can search by owner name, parcel number, or property address. The database includes current and historical assessment data, building characteristics, sales history, and tax information. The Assessor's Office also maintains property maps and conducts annual property valuations for tax purposes. The Whatcom County Auditor's Office, located at 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225 (phone: 360-778-5005, website: https://www.whatcomcounty.us/147/Auditor), serves as the official recorder of land documents for all of Whatcom County including Custer. The Auditor records deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, plats, and other real property documents. Recorded documents can be searched online through the Auditor's Recording Search portal, which provides free access to scanned images of recorded documents dating back several decades. Users can search by grantor/grantee name, document type, recording date, or parcel number. The county also maintains a sophisticated GIS mapping system accessible at https://www.whatcomcounty.us/1672/GIS-Maps-Data, which provides parcel viewers, zoning maps, and interactive property research tools. Most property research for Custer can be completed entirely online at no cost, though certified copies of recorded documents require fees ($5 for first page, $1 per additional page) and can be ordered through the Auditor's Office.

Because Custer lacks incorporated status and maintains a small population, it has limited commercial development and few major employers within its immediate boundaries. Most Custer residents commute to nearby communities for employment, particularly Blaine (approximately 5 miles west), Lynden (approximately 8 miles east), and Bellingham (approximately 15 miles south). The proximity to the Canadian border influences Custer's economic character, with some residents working in cross-border trade, customs, or border-related services. The nearby Peace Arch border crossing and Blaine's port of entry are significant employers in the region. Agriculture, retail trade, healthcare, and education dominate employment sectors for Whatcom County overall. Major employers in the broader region include the Blaine School District, Peace Health St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, Western Washington University, BP Cherry Point Refinery, and various agricultural processors. Median household income for rural Whatcom County areas including Custer is estimated between $60,000 and $75,000, somewhat below the county average due to the agricultural and rural residential character of the community. Recent trends have seen modest population growth as families seek more affordable rural housing while maintaining access to employment centers in Blaine and Bellingham. The area benefits from Whatcom County's overall economic diversity, outdoor recreation tourism, and proximity to both Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. markets.

Custer, Washington is an unincorporated community and does not have its own police department. Law enforcement services for Custer are provided by the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office, located at 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (360) 778-6600, and their website is https://www.whatcomcounty.us/sheriff. The Sheriff's Office handles all police services including patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, and emergency response for Custer and other unincorporated areas of Whatcom County. To request police reports or incident records involving Custer, residents must contact the Sheriff's Office Records Unit at (360) 778-6636 or submit a public records request through the county's online portal. Washington's Public Records Act, codified in RCW 42.56, governs access to law enforcement records, requiring agencies to respond to requests within five business days and provide records unless exempted by law for ongoing investigations or personal privacy.

Arrest and jail booking records for individuals detained in or near Custer can be searched through the Whatcom County Jail roster, available online at https://www.whatcomcounty.us/1328/Inmate-Roster. The online roster is updated regularly and displays current inmates' names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and booking photographs when available. The Whatcom County Jail is located at 311 Grand Avenue in Bellingham. For historical arrest records or detailed booking information, residents may contact the jail at (360) 778-6680 or submit a formal public records request. The Sheriff's Office also maintains daily arrest logs and incident reports that can be requested under RCW 42.56, though certain investigative records and juvenile information may be exempt from disclosure. Processing times for records requests typically range from several days to several weeks depending on the complexity and volume of records requested.

Birth certificates cost $25 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time; death certificates cost $25 each. Expedited service is available for additional fees. Online ordering is available through VitalChek at https://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/BirthDeathMarriageandDivorce for an additional processing fee. Standard processing takes approximately 3-4 weeks, while expedited service can deliver within 7-10 business days. Birth records are restricted to the person named (if 18 or older), parents, legal representatives, or others with a direct and tangible interest; death certificates have broader accessibility but still require identification and relationship documentation. Marriage licenses for Custer residents are issued by the Whatcom County Auditor's Office at 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225 (phone: 360-778-5005). Marriage licenses cost $66.00 and require both parties to appear in person with valid photo identification. There is a three-day waiting period between license issuance and the ceremony. Marriage certificates (copies of the completed and recorded license) cost $10 for a non-certified copy or $25 for a certified copy. Divorce records are not maintained by the Auditor but are court records accessible through Whatcom County Superior Court at 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225. Divorce decrees and dissolution records can be searched through the court's case management system, though access may be restricted for privacy reasons. Washington State maintains vital records centrally, with birth records available from 1907 forward and death records from 1907 forward at the state level.

Home-based businesses in Custer may require home occupation permits depending on the scope and impact of the business activity. Fictitious business name registrations (also called assumed names or DBAs) in Washington are filed with the county auditor. Custer business owners operating under a name other than their legal name must register with the Whatcom County Auditor at 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225 (phone: 360-778-5005). The current fee for DBA registration is approximately $50, and renewals are not required as Washington DBAs do not expire. Searches of existing business name registrations can be conducted through the Auditor's office. Washington State business entity searches, including corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and nonprofit organizations, are conducted through the Washington Secretary of State Corporations & Charities Division. The online business search is available free at https://www.sos.wa.gov/corps, where users can search by business name, Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number, or registered agent. The database shows entity status (active, inactive, dissolved), formation date, registered agent information, principal office address, and filing history. UCC financing statement searches (secured transactions and liens against business assets) are also conducted through the Washington Secretary of State at https://www.sos.wa.gov/corps/ucc. Commercial property owners in Custer can research property tax assessments through the Whatcom County Assessor's online property search at https://www.whatcomcounty.us/2139/Property-Search, which includes both residential and commercial parcels with assessed values, tax history, and ownership information.

Custer voters are served by the Whatcom County Elections Division (Auditor's Office), located at 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225. The Elections Office can be reached at (360) 778-5102, and their website is https://www.whatcomcounty.us/159/Elections. Washington is a vote-by-mail state, and all Whatcom County voters, including Custer residents, automatically receive ballots by mail for every election. The Elections Office manages voter registration, ballot distribution, ballot processing, and election results reporting for all county residents.

Custer residents can register to vote online through the Washington Secretary of State at https://voter.votewa.gov/WhereToVote.aspx. Online registration is available up to 8 days before Election Day. Washington offers same-day voter registration at vote centers and county elections offices through Election Day. To register, applicants must be U.S. citizens, Washington State residents, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and not disqualified due to felony conviction unless voting rights have been restored. No photo ID is required for registration, though signature verification is used to validate ballots.

Because Custer is an unincorporated community, it has no municipal government and therefore no mayoral or city council elections. Custer residents vote in Whatcom County, state legislative district, and federal elections. They participate in elections for Whatcom County Council (five districts), Whatcom County Executive, County Assessor, County Auditor, County Sheriff, County Prosecutor, and other county offices. Custer falls within Washington State Legislative District 42, electing two state representatives and one state senator.

Custer residents can find their assigned ballot drop box locations, vote centers, and registration status through the Washington Secretary of State voter portal at https://voter.votewa.gov or by contacting the Whatcom County Elections Office. Because Washington conducts all elections by mail, traditional polling places are not used; instead, voters return ballots by mail (postage-paid) or to official drop boxes located throughout the county. Several ballot drop boxes are available in northern Whatcom County, including locations in Blaine and Lynden convenient to Custer residents.

Washington public records law (RCW 42.56) makes certain election records publicly accessible. Voter registration lists are available for purchase for political and election-related purposes. Campaign finance reports are searchable through the Washington Public Disclosure Commission at https://www.pdc.wa.gov, showing contributions and expenditures for candidates and political committees. Candidate filing information and ballot measure text are available through the Elections Office and Secretary of State websites. Precinct-level election results are published by the Whatcom County Elections Office after each election.

In the November 2024 general election, Whatcom County reported approximately 68% voter turnout, with over 120,000 ballots cast out of approximately 177,000 registered voters. Turnout in presidential election years typically exceeds off-year elections in Whatcom County.

The November 3, 2026 general election will feature numerous races important to Custer voters. Washington's U.S. Senate seat held by Maria Cantwell is up for election in 2024, not 2026; however, the other U.S. Senate seat (currently Patty Murray) will be on the ballot in 2028. The 2026 ballot will include all U.S. House of Representatives seats, including Washington's 2nd Congressional District which includes Custer. State-level races will include all 49 Washington State Senate seats (District 42 for Custer) and all 98 State House positions (two representatives for District 42). Whatcom County executive and council positions may also be on the ballot depending on the election cycle, along with various county offices, judicial positions, and local ballot measures. Primary elections occur in August, with the general election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.