St. Evens County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in St. Evens County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in St. Evens County may access publicly available case information through StEvensRecords.us, which aggregates data drawn from official court and government sources. The site may provide access to information related to a range of court record categories, including:
- Civil case filings and judgments
- Criminal case dockets and dispositions
- Family law matters, including divorce and custody proceedings
- Probate filings and estate records
- Traffic and infraction case information
- Small claims court outcomes
Access to complete case documents, certified copies, or sealed materials is not guaranteed through any third-party aggregator. Official court records are maintained by the clerk of the relevant court, and the methods below reflect the primary channels through which members of the public may search and obtain those records.
Method 1 – Clerk of Court or Court Records Office. The Stevens County Superior Court Clerk maintains the official record for superior court cases. Members of the public may visit the clerk's office in person to request case files, review dockets, or obtain copies. Providing the full case number, party name, or filing date assists staff in locating records efficiently. Fees apply for copies and certified documents.
Method 2 – Courthouse Public Access Terminals. Public access computer terminals are available at the Stevens County Courthouse. These terminals allow members of the public to search case indexes and review docket entries without charge during regular business hours.
Method 3 – Online Court Search. The Washington State Courts Name and Case Search portal provides index-level case information for superior, district, and municipal courts statewide. As noted by the Washington State Courts, "the official court record is maintained by the court of record. Copies of case file documents are not available on the search site and will need to be ordered."
Method 4 – State-Level Judicial Search Tools. The Find My Court Date tool serves as a statewide search engine for cases filed in municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts across Washington. Users may search by name or case number to locate scheduled hearings and case status information.
Method 5 – Written or Mail Requests. Members of the public who are unable to appear in person may submit written requests to the clerk's office. Requests should include the case number or party name, the type of record sought, and a return address. Applicable copy fees must be included or arrangements made in advance.
Stevens County Superior Court Clerk
215 S. Oak Street, Room 209
Colville, WA 99114
Phone: (509) 684-7586
Washington State Court Directory: Stevens County
Are Court Records Public In St. Evens County
Court records in Stevens County are public under current Washington State law. Pursuant to RCW § 2.32.070, court clerks are required to keep records of all judicial proceedings and to make those records available for public inspection. The Washington State Public Records Act, RCW § 42.56, further establishes the public's right to access government records, including those maintained by judicial offices.
Records that are public and available for inspection include:
- Case dockets and indexes
- Party names and case numbers
- Hearing dates and courtroom assignments
- Filed pleadings, motions, and responses
- Court orders and judgments
- Sentencing entries and probation terms
- Civil judgments and decrees
Records that may be confidential, sealed, redacted, or restricted include:
- Juvenile court records
- Adoption proceedings
- Mental health commitment records
- Records sealed by court order
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth in certain filings
- Certain domestic violence protective order details
A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While members of the public may inspect most case files in person at the clerk's office, not all documents are available through online portals. The Washington State Courts system provides index-level data online, but full document images may require an in-person visit or a formal records request.
What Are Court Records in St. Evens County?
Court records are the official documents, filings, and entries created and maintained by a court in connection with judicial proceedings. In practical terms, a court record encompasses everything generated from the moment a case is filed through its final disposition, including any appeal.
The distinction between a docket and a full case file is significant. A docket is a chronological index of all actions taken in a case — it lists filings, hearings, orders, and status changes but does not contain the full text of documents. A case file, by contrast, includes the actual pleadings, motions, exhibits, orders, and judgments filed with the court.
Civil court records document disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, covering matters such as contract claims, personal injury actions, landlord-tenant disputes, and family law proceedings. Criminal court records document the prosecution of individuals charged with violations of state law, from arraignment through sentencing or acquittal.
Filed pleadings are the initial documents that establish the claims and defenses in a case. Final judgments are the court's conclusive rulings on those claims. Public filings are accessible to any member of the public, while sealed or restricted filings require a court order to access and are not available through standard inspection.
Trial court records are maintained by the clerk of the trial court — in Stevens County, this is the Superior Court Clerk for felony, family, civil, and probate matters, and the District Court for misdemeanors and infractions. Appellate records are maintained by the Washington Court of Appeals or the Washington Supreme Court, depending on the level of review.
Records are created at the time of filing and updated continuously as the case progresses. Each filing, hearing, and order generates a new docket entry. Upon final disposition, the record is closed but remains accessible subject to applicable retention and access rules.
What's Included in a St. Evens County Court Record?
A court record in Stevens County may include a range of documents and data points depending on the case type and applicable public-access rules. The following categories of information are present in court records:
- Case identification: Case number, court name and division, and filing date
- Party information: Names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and other named parties
- Case classification: Case type (civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic) and current status
- Docket entries: A chronological log of all filings, hearings, rulings, and administrative actions
- Scheduled proceedings: Hearing dates, trial dates, and continuances
- Filed documents: Complaints, petitions, answers, motions, responses, notices, declarations, and supporting exhibits where not restricted
- Court orders and rulings: Temporary orders, preliminary injunctions, final orders, judgments, decrees, and minute entries
- Outcome information: Dismissals, verdicts, pleas, convictions, sentencing entries, custody rulings, probate orders, and appellate decisions
- Financial and administrative data: Filing fees, assessed costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly shown
Records commonly excluded or restricted from public access include sealed filings, expunged matters, juvenile case files, adoption records, protected personal identifiers, and certain exhibits containing sensitive information. The presence of any particular document within a case file depends on the nature of the proceeding and any orders limiting access.
Types of Courts in St. Evens County
Stevens County is served by a multi-tiered court structure under the Washington State judiciary system. The Washington State Court Directory identifies the following courts operating in or serving the county:
Stevens County Superior Court serves as the court of general jurisdiction. It hears felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding the jurisdictional limits of the district court, family law proceedings (including divorce, custody, and adoption), juvenile matters, probate and estate cases, and appeals from courts of limited jurisdiction.
Stevens County District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction. It handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases, civil claims up to $100,000, small claims matters, traffic infractions, and landlord-tenant disputes within its jurisdictional limits.
Municipal Courts may operate within incorporated cities in Stevens County and handle violations of municipal ordinances and certain traffic matters within city limits.
The Washington Court of Appeals, Division III, hears appeals from Stevens County Superior Court. The Washington Supreme Court serves as the court of last resort for the state.
The clerk of each court maintains the official record for cases filed in that court. Superior Court records are maintained by the Stevens County Superior Court Clerk. District Court records are maintained by the Stevens County District Court Clerk.
Stevens County District Court
215 S. Oak Street
Colville, WA 99114
Phone: (509) 684-7520
Washington State Court Directory: Stevens County
How to Search St. Evens County Court Records for Free?
Several methods for searching Stevens County court records are available at no cost. In-person inspection of case files at the clerk's office is free of charge. Members of the public may review dockets and case indexes without paying a fee. Courthouse public access terminals provide free electronic access to case index information during regular business hours.
The Washington State Courts Name and Case Search portal is a free online tool that provides index-level case information. The Find My Court Date tool is also available at no cost for locating scheduled hearings and case status.
Fees apply in the following circumstances:
| Service | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Standard copy (per page) | $0.15–$0.25 per page |
| Certified copy | $5.00 per document (plus per-page copy fee) |
| Exemplified/authenticated copy | Additional certification fee applies |
| Research by clerk staff | Fees may apply for extensive research |
Fee schedules are established under RCW § 36.18.016, which governs clerk fees in Washington superior courts. Members of the public are advised to confirm current fee amounts directly with the clerk's office, as schedules are subject to legislative revision.
How Long Does St. Evens County Keep Court Records?
Retention periods for court records in Stevens County are governed by the Washington State Archives and Records Management Program and the judicial records retention schedules adopted by the Washington State Courts. Retention varies by case type and record category.
Under current Washington judicial records retention schedules:
- Felony criminal case files are retained permanently or for extended periods given the severity of the underlying matters.
- Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor case files are retained for a minimum of ten years following final disposition.
- Civil case files are retained for varying periods depending on the nature of the claim, with judgments often retained for longer periods due to their enforceability.
- Family law and dissolution records are retained for extended periods, with permanent retention applying to final decrees in many instances.
- Probate records are retained permanently in many jurisdictions given their significance to property and estate matters.
- Traffic infraction records are subject to shorter retention schedules.
- Docket books and minute records are retained permanently as the official record of court proceedings.
Paper files may be destroyed after imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the retention schedule permits destruction. Destruction of a record is distinct from sealing or expungement. A sealed record still exists but is restricted from public access. An expunged record is treated as though it does not exist for most purposes. An archived record has been transferred to long-term storage but remains accessible through the appropriate archive.
Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, county archives, or the Washington State Digital Archives. The Washington State Archives Digital Archives preserves electronic records of both state and local government agencies, including historical records from Stevens County.
How To Find a Court Docket in St. Evens County
A court docket is the official chronological index of all actions taken in a case. It differs from a full case file in that it lists entries — filings, hearings, orders, and status changes — without containing the full text of the underlying documents. The docket serves as the navigational record of a case from initiation through final disposition.
Members of the public may locate a Stevens County court docket through the following channels:
Online via the Washington State Courts Name and Case Search. The Washington State Courts Name and Case Search portal allows users to search by party name or case number. Search results display index-level docket information, including case type, filing date, party names, and case status. As the Washington State Courts note, "copies of case file documents are not available on the search site and will need to be ordered" from the court of record.
To locate a docket using this tool:
- Navigate to the Name and Case Search portal.
- Select the court type (superior, district, or municipal).
- Enter the party's last name or case number.
- Review the results for the relevant case.
- Select the case to view available docket entries.
Via the Find My Court Date tool. The Find My Court Date system provides hearing schedule information for cases filed across Washington courts, including Stevens County. This tool is useful for locating upcoming hearing dates and confirming courtroom assignments.
In person at the clerk's office. Members of the public may request docket printouts from the Stevens County Superior Court Clerk or District Court Clerk. Staff can retrieve docket information by case number or party name.
A docket entry reflects the date of each action, a brief description of the filing or proceeding, and any associated order or ruling. Dockets do not include full document images, sealed entries, exhibits, or confidential attachments. Motion calendars and daily hearing rosters may be separately available through the clerk's office or posted at the courthouse.