Court records for Lewis County, Washington, are maintained by the County Clerk's Office and the District Court Clerk's Office. Public information about court cases in this county can be found on the LewisCourt.us website. Additionally, records are available through the Washington State Court Case Search Portal, directly at the Lewis County Clerk's Office, and through other government resources.
Lewis Court System Overview
The Lewis County court system consists of two levels: Superior Court (general jurisdiction) and District Court (limited jurisdiction). The county is part of the Washington State Superior Court judicial district. The Superior Court handles criminal felony cases, civil cases with no claim amount limit, family law, probate cases, and appeals from the District Court. The District Court focuses on misdemeanors, small claims, and traffic violations.
The courthouse is located in Chehalis, the county seat. The District Court operates at the Law & Justice Center on the 3rd floor at 345 West Main Street, Chehalis, WA 98532-4802. General county phone: 360-748-9121.
Courts Serving Lewis
Residents of Lewis County are served by several courts of varying jurisdiction levels:
Lewis County Superior Court
Lewis County District Court
U.S. District Court — Western District of Washington (Tacoma Division)
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Western District of Washington
Some cities in the county, such as Centralia and Chehalis, may have municipal courts to handle city violations. For municipal court contact details, contact the respective city directly.
What Types of Cases Lewis Courts Hear
Lewis County courts hear a wide range of cases:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Infractions, including traffic
- Civil claims of any amount (Superior Court) and limited amounts (District Court)
- Small claims
- Family law: divorce, custody, child support
- Probate, guardianship, conservatorship
- Juvenile matters and child protection cases
- Adoption
A detailed distribution between the courts is described in the following sections.
District Court Cases in Lewis
In Washington State, the term "District Court" refers to a court of limited jurisdiction — it is not the same as a federal district court. Lewis County District Court handles misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, traffic violations, and civil cases with claims up to $100,000. This also includes small claims, anti-harassment orders, and DUI cases.
Superior Court, on the other hand, is a court of general jurisdiction. It handles felonies, civil cases without monetary limits, and hears appeals from the District Court. Felony cases usually start with a preliminary hearing in a lower court before being transferred to the Superior Court. A Superior Court judge, appointed or elected according to state law, presides over these cases.
Magistrate Court Cases in Lewis
In the Washington State court system, there is no separate magistrate court as an independent structure. The functions that a magistrate would perform in other states are carried out by the District Court. This court conducts preliminary hearings in felony cases, handles misdemeanors, and infractions.
The jurisdictional limit for civil cases in the District Court is $100,000. For small claims, the limit is $10,000 according to Washington State law. The District Court also handles traffic violations, DUI arrests, and issues certain types of protective orders. If a civil claim exceeds the jurisdictional limit or involves a felony, it is transferred to the Superior Court.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Lewis
Family Law. Divorce, child custody, child support, paternity establishment, protective orders, and termination of parental rights are all handled by the Lewis County Superior Court. Necessary forms for family cases are available on the Washington State Courts website. Some counties have facilitators to assist with document preparation.
Probate Matters. Probate, guardianship, conservatorship, and trusts also fall under the jurisdiction of the Superior Court. The court clerk maintains a register of all documents filed in probate cases.
Juvenile Matters. Proceedings under the Juvenile Justice Act and child protection cases (Child Protective Act) are heard in the Superior Court. Juvenile case records are confidential under Washington State law and are not publicly accessible without special court permission.
How Cases Move Through the Lewis Court System
- Filing / Initiation. A criminal case begins with the filing of an indictment by the prosecutor, a civil case with the filing of a complaint, and a family or probate case with the filing of a petition.
- Judge Assignment. The case is assigned to a judge according to the court's internal rules.
- First Hearing. In criminal cases, this is the arraignment (announcement of charges and defendant's plea). In civil cases, it is a scheduling conference.
- Pretrial Phase. Parties exchange evidence (discovery), file motions. In criminal cases, plea negotiations may occur.
- Trial or Resolution. The case concludes with a trial, plea, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment. In criminal cases, sentencing. In civil cases, judgment enforcement. Parties may appeal: from District Court to Superior Court, from Superior Court to Court of Appeals.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Lewis
The administration of Lewis County courts is carried out by the court administrator under the supervision of Superior Court judges. Local court rules for Lewis County Superior Court are available on the Washington State Courts website.
Regarding public access to records: under state law, the Clerk's Office as part of the judicial branch is not subject to the Public Records Act. However, court records are generally public, except for cases sealed by the court, juvenile cases, and certain confidential documents. Access to public records is governed by Washington State's General Rule 31.
Hearings can be attended in person at the courthouse. Some hearings are held remotely — check with the court clerk for specific cases.
Lewis County Superior Court Clerk's Office
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Lewis
- State Court Case Search. The Washington State Courts Name and Case Search allows searching for cases by name or case number in all state courts. Data is updated daily.
- Court Date Search. The Find My Court Date portal provides scheduled hearings in Washington State courts.
- Clerk's Records. The Lewis County Clerk's Office maintains and archives all documents filed with the Superior Court, including criminal, civil, and family cases.
- Court Forms. Washington State Courts Forms contain templates for family cases, guardianship, and other proceedings.
- Criminal History. A request for a criminal history check can be submitted through the Washington State Patrol. The WATCH system provides online access to criminal records.
- County Jail Roster. The Lewis County Jail Roster and new bookings log are available online.
- State Inmate Search. The Department of Corrections publishes data on individuals in state correctional facilities. A separate warrant search is also available.
- Property Records. The Lewis County Auditor's online database contains recorded documents from 1848, including deeds, mortgages, and liens.
- Vital Records. The Washington State Department of Health issues certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates. To obtain marriage or divorce records, you can also contact the county where the license was issued.
- County Public Records. For sheriff's records and other county department records requests, the GovQA system is used. Requests to the sheriff can also be sent to publicrecords@lewiscountywa.gov or by phone at (360) 740-2674.
- State Digital Archives. The Washington State Digital Archives preserves digitized historical records, including Lewis County Auditor's land records from 1965.