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Records at other agencies
This page contains information about records that are not held by King County Archives and how to access to records.
King County Archives holds many county records, but not all of them. Search below for records that are held by other county or state government offices and how to access them.
Vital Records
Marriage Certificates, pre-1990
For marriage certificates recorded in King County before 1990, order a certified copy one of two ways.
Digitally certified, downloadable copy: Order online through the Washington State Digital Archives. (You may also download an uncertified copy for free.)-
Note: many federal government offices or local government agencies outside of Washington state won't accept a digitally certified copy.
Physically certified copy: Order from the King County Recorder’s Office.
Marriage Certificates, post-1990
For marriage certificates recorded in King County after 1990, order a certified copy on the King County Recorder’s Office app Landmark.
Marriage Applications, 2013 - present
For marriage applications recorded in King County from 2013 to the present, order a certified copy on the King County Recorder’s Office app Landmark.
Marriage Applications, 1989 - 2012
Contact King County Archives to order a certified copy of a marriage application recorded in King County between 1989 and 2012.
Marriage Applications, before 1989
Prior to 1989, the State of Washington did not designate marriage applications as permanent archival records, so anything filed before 1989 no longer exists. Contact King County Archives if you need a letter stating this information.
Divorce Decrees and Case Files, 1853 - present
Order from the King County Superior Court Clerk's Office.
Divorce Certificates, 1968 - present
Order from the Washington State Department of Health.
Birth Certificates
Order from King County Vital Statistics.
Death Certificates
Order from King County Vital Statistics.
Name change documents, 1992 - present
For name change records filed in King County after 1992, order a certified copy on the King County Recorder’s Office app Landmark.
Name change documents, 1853 - 1990
Order from the King County Superior Court Clerk's Office.
Name change documents, 1991 - 1992
Contact King County Archives. We hold a few name change records from this time period that were filed with the King County District Court.
Naturalization records, 1853 - 1906
Request a copy from the King County Superior Court Clerk's Office.
Naturalization records, 1906 - present
Beginning September 27, 1906, the U.S. Federal Government took over the responsibility of overseeing naturalization and maintaining naturalization records. Currently, those records are managed by the the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency. More information about this topic is available on the USCIS website.
Naturalization records, 1906 - 1956
Contact USCIS to order a naturalization “certificate file.”
Naturalization records, 1957 - present
Submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
Naturalization records, Declaration of non-existence
Fill out and submit Form G-1566 to USCIS.
- Note: USCIS is the only entity in the United States that can provide a declaration of non-existence of naturalization records.
Some historical Washington state census records are available online through Ancestry.com (requires paid subscription) and FamilySearch.org (free). Some census records are available from the following government agencies:
Census Records, 1857-1910
Access territorial and county census records for King County, as well as federal census records, for various years between 1857 and 1910 on the Washington State Digital Archives.
- Puget Sound Regional Archives holds microfilmed copies of territorial and Washington state census records for various years between 1857 and 1892.
Census Records, 1860-1930
Access microfilmed copies of federal census records that were created every ten years from 1860 to 1930 at the National Archives and Records Administration at Seattle.
Census Records, 1880-1892
Access some original bound territorial and county census volumes for various years between 1880 and 1892 at King County Archives. The Genealogy Research Guide lists which volumes we hold.
Court and legal records
Frequently requested Superior Court records
- Divorce decrees (1853 - present)
- Name changes (1853 - 1990)
- Criminal cases (1853 - present)
- Judgements (1853 - present)
Case Files, 1853 to the present
King County Superior Court Clerk's Office holds court case files from 1853 to the present. Some of these files are available to search and order copies online.
- If you can't locate a case file through the online portal, microfilmed copies are available. Contact the Clerk's Office for more information.
Additional locations
Duplicates of some Superior Court case files are also available on microfilm at Puget Sound Regional Archives, including:
- Civil case files, 1853-1972. (A small sampling of paper records from 1889 to 1983 is also available in the series.)
- Divorce case files, 1968-1971. Earlier divorce case files (before 1968) interfiled with civil case files.
- Criminal case files, 1889-1972. Indexes are available for files dated 1890-1902 and 1962-1977.
- Some naturalization case files and some restricted or partially restricted case files (mental illness, adoption, probate w/ guardianship or adoption, etc.). Dates of coverage vary.
Superior Court Case File Indexes
The easiest way to locate a Superior Court case file is with the case file number. Depending on the date of the case, there are several ways to obtain a file number.
Case file numbers, 1979 - present
Search on Superior Court Clerk's Office online portal. You can also search by type of case and the full name of at least on of the parties named in the case.
Case file numbers, 1854 - 1979
Microfilmed copies of court record indexes are available at the Superior Court Clerk's Office.
Additional locations
Some digitized indexes are available on the Washington Courts online portal including: 1938-1979 (criminal); 1935-1979 (civil, by name of plaintiff); 1966-1979 (civil, by name of defendant); 1968-1979 (domestic); 1940-1975 (name change); and 1954-1977 (probate).
Original index volumes are available at Puget Sound Regional Archives including:
- General defendant indexes, 1890-1976
- General plaintiff indexes, 1888-1975
- Civil case indexes, 1890-1892
- Criminal index, 1890-1902, 1962-1977
- Probate case files index, 1854-1977
- Juvenile index, 1959-1978
- Naturalization index, 1906-1928
- Index of "In the Matter of," 1940-1975
Judgments, 1853 to the present
Final determination regarding rights of parties in an action or proceeding in a civil or criminal court case are available through the King County Superior Court Clerk's Office.
Judgments, 1979 - present
Access online through the Washington Courts online portal.
Recorded judgments, 1878 - 1969
King County Archives holds Superior Court judgments if they were also recorded with the King County Auditor's Office. Contact us for more information.
Case files, 2005 - present
District Court case files dated 2005 and later are available to search and order copies online from the District Court Clerk's Office.
Case files, before 2005
Prior to 2005, District Court case records were maintained by the division and court facility where the case was filed:
- South Division (Kent, Burien)
- East Division (Bellevue, Issaquah, Redmond)
- West Division (Seattle and Shoreline)
Contact the specific court where the case was filed to ask about pre-2005 records. Note: Many older district court records were not retained.
Buildings, property, and environmental history records
Recorded documents, August 1, 1991 - present
Documents recorded with the King County Recorder's Office from August 1, 1991 to present are available on the Recorder’s Office app Landmark. You can search by parcel number, name of buyer / seller, legal description, and document type.
- For assistance navigating Landmark, contact the Recorder’s Office.
Recorded plats, 1853 - present
Recorded plat maps are available on the Recorder’s Office app Landmark. You can search by plat volume and page number or legal description.
- For assistance navigating Landmark, contact the Recorder’s Office.
Recorded surveys, 1973 - present
Surveys are not available for every parcel. Surveys weren't recorded in King County until 1973, and they weren't required to be recorded until 1990.
Recorded surveys are available on the Recorder’s Office app Landmark. You can search by survey volume and page number or legal description.
- For assistance navigating Landmark, contact the Recorder’s Office.
Recorded documents, 1853 - July 31, 1991
Order a copy from King County Archives.
- Note: Excludes recorded marriage certificates, marriage applications, plats, and surveys.
Plats
Recorded plat maps are available on the King County Recorder’s Office app Landmark. You can search by plat volume and page number or legal description.
- For assistance navigating Landmark, contact the Recorder’s Office.
Maps
Interactive map viewers, downloadable maps, map collections and more are available on the King County Geographic Information System (GIS) Center.
Zoning Records and Maps, 1995 - present
Contact the King County Department of Local Services Permitting Division.
Zoning Records and Maps, 1937 - 1994
Contact King County Archives to learn more or check out the Historical Building, Property, and Land Use Records research guide.
Surveys, 1853 - 1972
During this time, surveys were not recorded so they wouldn't be a county government record. You need to know who the surveyor was then try to find out if they’re still in business and ask them if they kept their old records.
Recorded surveys, 1973 - present
Surveys are not available for every parcel. Surveys weren't recorded in King County until 1973, and they weren't required to be recorded until 1990.
Recorded surveys are available on the King County Recorder’s Office app Landmark. You can search by survey volume and page number or legal description.
- For assistance navigating Landmark, contact the Recorder’s Office.
For permitting records, building plans, site plans, construction plans, architectural drawings and blueprints, please contact the following:
Structure in incorporated King County
Contact the city / town your structure is a part of and ask how far back their permitting files go.
Structure in unincorporated King County
Contact the King County Department of Local Services Permitting Division and ask if they have any permitting records for that parcel. Their collection of permitting records starts around the 1980s.
Structures and property in City of Seattle
Contact the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections for records relating to properties within the City of Seattle.
Septic and on-site sewage records are maintained by Seattle-King County Department of Public Health. Locate digitized septic permitting records and as-builts from the early 1960s to the present using their online search tool.
Certificates of Occupancy, prior to the 1980s
Certificates of occupancy weren't retained by the county.
Certificates of Occupancy, 1980s - present
Contact the King County Department of Local Services Permitting Division.
County Building Codes
Uniform Building Code, 1976 edition (not definitive): King County Ordinance 3647
Uniform Building Code, 1982 edition: King County Ordinance 6328 (modified Ordinance 3647)
Uniform Building Code, other editions: Copies are available in the Seattle Public Library's reference collection or at the King County Law Library. Contact either institution to inquire about access.
Land use hearings, 1996 - present
Access the King County Hearing Examiner's Case Digest for information about County land use hearings.
Land use hearings, 1969 - 1995
Contact King County Archives for more information.
Annexations
Contact the King County Boundary Review Board for general information about annexations.
Contact the King County Department of Local Services Permitting Division for maps and information about annexations.
Zoning Records and Maps, 1995 - present
Contact the King County Department of Local Services Permitting Division.
Zoning Records and Maps, 1937 - 1994
Contact King County Archives to learn more or check out the Historical Building, Property, and Land Use Records research guide.
Business and financial records
Bankruptcy records, 1889 - present
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court - Western Washington District provides online access to bankruptcy records filed in the State of Washington.
- For bankruptcy cases files before 2001, the court obtains copies of the records from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
Statewide corporation filings (digital), 1855 - 2004
Statewide corporation filings from 1855 to 2004 are available online through the Washington State Digital Archives.
Statewide corporation filings (physical), 1869 - 1990
Physical copies of statewide corporation filings from 1869 to 1990 are held by the Washington State Archives regional branches and are organized by county.
King County corporation filings (physical), 1869 - 1971
Physical copies of King County corporation filings from 1869 to 1971 are held by Puget Sound Regional Archives.
- King County Archives holds microfilmed copies of King County corporation filings, 1869-1893.
Property tax records, wills, and estate records
King County Superior Court Clerk's Office holds information about filing and case files from 1853 to the present.
Probate case file indexes
Indexes, 1954 - 1977: Available at the King County Superior Court Clerk's Office.
Indexes, 1979 - present: Available on the Washington Courts online portal.
Historical Probate Records
Puget Sound Regional Archives holds probate case files from 1854 to 1961 and case file indexes from 1854 to 1977.
FamilySearch.org provides online access to probate records from 1861 to 1893.
Contact the King County Board of Appeals and Equalization for information about property tax assessment appeals.
Visit King County's online app Parcel Viewer for online access to tax parcel numbers and detailed parcel information.
Contact the King County Treasurer's Office for information about tax foreclosure and foreclosed property.
Wills can be filed for safekeeping in the King County Superior Court Clerk's Will Repository by the individual who made the will.
After the death of the individual who made the will, wills can be filed with the King County Superior Court Clerk's Office.
Note: Wills are not required to be recorded, but some individuals choose to do so. King County Archives holds wills that were recorded before August 1, 1991.
Criminal and law enforcement records
Seattle Police Department
The Seattle Police Department holds the bulk of its records, including "Individual Files," or "People Files" for both civilian and sworn members of the department back to 1861. You can submit an online Public Disclosure Request requesting access to "individual files" and other records.
Seattle Municipal Archives holds a few Seattle Police Department records such as annual reports, police court documents, and other miscellaneous files, most of which were transferred from the Office of the City Clerk.
Other cities in King County
Contact the police department in the specific city where you were arrested or filed a report.
King County Sheriff's Office
Contact the King County Sheriff's Office Records Unit for information on accessing their records.
Washington State Patrol
Contact the Washington State Patrol for information on accessing their records.
- Note: Criminal case histories are held by the courts.
Visit the Washington State Patrol website to order a motor vehicle collision report.
Contact the King County District Court for information on traffic citations and tickets.
King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention provides online access to current jail booking and release information through the Jail Lookup Service.
Contact the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention for information on how to access current and historical jail records.
Contact the Seattle-King County Public Health Public Disclosure Office for information on how to access jail medical records.
- King County Archives holds historical jail registers dated 1891-1897, 1928-1929, 1931-1937 (women only), and 1943-1978. Some volumes include the names of both male and female prisoners.