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Washington Public Records

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State of Washington Most Updated Online Public and Criminal Records Portal

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Statewide public records directory

Washington Official Records, Agencies & Answers

Jump into the four biggest statewide record categories, review the refreshed Washington overview pulled from the live database, and open only direct government sources from the directory below.

Top topic Criminal Records Criminal history tools, sheriff links, and related justice records.
Top topic Court Records Civil, criminal, and court access resources.
Top topic Expungements Record-clearance and expungement guidance.
Top topic Inmate Search Custody, jail, and inmate lookup resources.
WA

Washington public records, redesigned

State of Washington Most Updated Online Public and Criminal Records Portal

Updated March 31, 2026

Washington index of public records of divorces, lawsuits, criminal records. Request death records, birth records, marriage search and other vital information. Access courts for bankruptcies file in the state's courts. Link to official sites that will provide property records and fictitious business names filings and registration data search of other personal assets. Liens, judgments, juvenile and probate records, updated cour…

Official sources 49 Direct state links currently rendered on this page
Counties County coverage 38 County-level public records coverage tied to Washington
FAQ / Q&A 9 Live statewide answers surfaced from the database
Bonus cities 5 Standalone city record pages currently shown

About Washington

Open the dedicated background page for a deeper history, civic overview, and statewide public-records context beyond the agency directory.

Open about page

Explore cities & counties County links 🗺️ Local map

Move deeper into the state structure with the city directory, county access page, and location-specific record hubs without losing the statewide view.

Browse cities
✨ County picks County directory: open county access
Hub → sub pages

Explore every linked Washington specialty page

The hub now links directly to every live state-topic page we found for Washington. Use the cards below to jump straight into each specialty area.

13 sub pages linked
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Criminal Records Criminal history tools, sheriff links, and related justice records.
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Court Records Civil, criminal, and court access resources.
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Expungements Record-clearance and expungement guidance.
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Inmate Search Custody, jail, and inmate lookup resources.
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Most Wanted Wanted-person and fugitive resources.
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Police Police department and public-safety resources.
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County Sheriff County sheriff and detention access points.
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Background Checks Background screening and identity research resources.
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Asset Search Asset, ownership, and locator resources.
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DMV Driver, vehicle, and DMV resource links.
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Vital Records Birth, death, marriage, and health-record links.
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Genealogy Family-history and genealogy research tools.
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Missing Children Missing-child alerts and support resources.
Fresh database content

About Washington public records

This panel now uses the newer statewide heading content from the database instead of the old generic filler copy.

DB-backed content live

Washington index of public records of divorces, lawsuits, criminal records. Request death records, birth records, marriage search and other vital information. Access courts for bankruptcies file in the state's courts. Link to official sites that will provide property records and fictitious business names filings and registration data search of other personal assets. Liens, judgments, juvenile and probate records, updated cour…

Washington gained statehood in 1889, making it the 42 state in the U.S. The state's economy benefits greatly from the Columbia river and the largest hydroelectric dam and the biggest hydropower plant in the U.S.,the Grand Coulee dam. Today's economy includes Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon and electronics. The state also produces natural products such as lumber and aluminum. Washington has a monopoly over all liquor and spirits sales in the state (known as an Alcoholic Beverage Control State) only state-run or state-contracted stores can sell these items, 17 other states share the same law. With over 71,000…

State snapshot Did you know? In Washington, arrest searches usually work best from city police to county jail and superior or district court records, so local and county pages often surface the trail first. Bonus tip: superior or district court pages often become the next key stop after county jail records appear.
Frequently asked questions

About Washington public records

Clearer question cards, modern spacing, and the same live statewide answers from the database.

Q What is included in a Washington background check?
In Washington, background checks are governed by the Washington Public Records Act (PRA) (Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Chapter 42.56). They may include criminal history, sex offender status, court filings, arrest records, and vital statistics. Agencies must respond within 5 business days to respond with records, a denial, or a reasonable estimate of w. The law is administered by Washington Attorney General's Office, Open Government Division; Washington State Auditor for oversight complaints; (360) 753-7974.
Q Where can I find police reports in Washington?
Police reports in Washington are public records under the Washington Public Records Act (PRA). Submit your request to the agency that generated the report. Who may request: Any person - no residency requirement. Response deadline: 5 business days to respond with records, a denial, or a reasonable estimate of w. If access is denied, you may appeal to district or circuit court.
Q What are the procedures to obtain Washington vital records, and what is included in those records with address, not URLs?
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce) in Washington are maintained by the state Department of Health or Vital Statistics. Standard fees: Actual cost of duplication; $0.15/page for standard copies; no charge for electr. Certified copies carry separate fee schedules. Fee waivers may be available for journalists, nonprofits, and public-interest requesters - always ask.
Q What is the school district and performance data for Washington?
The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is responsible for collecting and reporting school district performance data for the state of Washington. The OSPI provides an online dashboard that allows users to view district-level performance data, including student achievement, graduation rates, and other indicators. The dashboard also provides information on school district demographics, such as student enrollment, staff, and funding.
Q What is the crime statistics for Washington?
Washington crime statistics are compiled by the Washington State Patrol (WSP), Crime Information & Records Section, and published in the annual Crime in Washington report at wsp.wa.gov. FBI UCR data covers Washington. In 2022, Washington reported a violent crime rate of approximately 330 per 100,000 residents. The Washington Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) publishes reports at wsac.wa.gov. Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma police departments publish city-specific crime statistics.
Q If I get arrested in Washington where would I go to jail and court? include address.
If arrested in Washington, you would be taken to the local county jail. Court appearances are scheduled in the county where the arrest occurred. Under the Washington Public Records Act (PRA), arrest records and booking information are generally public. Oversight: Washington Attorney General's Office, Open Government Division; Washington State Auditor for oversight complaints; (360) 753-7974. Appeals go to district or circuit court.
Q Can I find Public records in Washington State Library?
Yes. Washington state and public libraries provide access to public records databases. The Washington Public Records Act (PRA) (Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Chapter 42.56) guarantees public access to government documents. Many libraries offer free access to LexisNexis, court records portals, and vital record indexes. Under the Washington Public Records Act (RCW § 42.56), Washington residents can access public records through state and local libraries. The Washington State Library, 6880 Capitol Blvd S, Tumwater, WA 98501 maintains research collections including historical newspapers, land records, probate files, and legislative archives. Libraries also provide free access to LexisNexis Public Records and other subscription databases not available at home. Reference librarians are available to help navigate Washington government records portals and submit public records requests.
Q Where is the Washington State Library located?
The Washington Library is located at 200 W. 2nd Street, Washington, NC 27889. In addition to its main location, the Washington State Library coordinates resources and services for public libraries statewide. Patrons can access LexisNexis, ProQuest Historical Newspapers, and PACER court records indexes through the library. Under the Washington Public Records Act (RCW § 42.56), government documents are available for public inspection during regular business hours. Reference librarians in Olympia, WA can assist with inter-library loans, records requests, and genealogical research inquiries.
Q Washington State fingerprinting office
Washington fingerprinting services are provided by the Washington State Patrol (WSP), Identification and Criminal History Section, at 453 Harrison Ave NW, Olympia, WA 98502. Phone: (360) 534-2000. IdentoGO (MorphoTrust) operates fingerprinting locations in Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Bellevue, and Olympia - schedule at identogo.com or call 1-888-483-4632. Local police departments and sheriff offices in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties also provide fingerprinting services.
Did you know?

Some Washington cities have standalone record pages

Fun fact: some Washington cities skip the county layer entirely. They have their own public record hubs—go straight to them below.

city

La Crosse

Open the local page for focused public-record links and a quicker statewide sweep into this city.

Open La Crosse records
city

Mc Cleary

Open the local page for focused public-record links and a quicker statewide sweep into this city.

Open Mc Cleary records
City

Normandy

Open the local page for focused public-record links and a quicker statewide sweep into this city.

Open Normandy records
city

Sedro Woolley

Open the local page for focused public-record links and a quicker statewide sweep into this city.

Open Sedro Woolley records
city

Zilah

Open the local page for focused public-record links and a quicker statewide sweep into this city.

Open Zilah records
Last reviewed: Mar 25, 2026 Updated: Mar 25, 2026