Yakima County, Washington Divorce Records
Yakima County divorce records are official files that reveal information about divorce events within the county. Such records reveal the divorced parties’ personal information, case events, and the court’s decisions. Divorce records are vital documents in various legal processes. Case parties and their legal representatives may use the record as a reference in family law and probate case proceedings. The records are also important in tax readjustment and mortgage renegotiations.
Yakima County divorce rate: An estimated 10.5% of Yakima residents were divorced as of December 31, 2024. By gender, male and female residents had divorce rates of 9.1% and 11.9%, respectively.
Are Divorce Records Public in Yakima County?
Most divorce information in Yakima County is accessible to the public. Under the Washington General Rule 22, public members can inspect and obtain copies of divorce court documents from designated agencies. These agencies are legally required to disclose divorce records to record seekers who meet the legal requirements. The requirements for accessing divorce records may include providing relevant search details or valid IDs.
The state laws may, however, prevent public access to some information in divorce records. For instance, the law restricts access to personal bank statements and crime reports filed during divorce case proceedings. Divorced parties may also petition the court to remove specific details from publicly accessible divorce proceedings.
How to Find Divorce Records in Yakima County
Record seekers may find Yakima County divorce records by following these general steps:
- Gather the necessary information for looking up divorce records: To find divorce records in Yakima County, record seekers must provide the case party names, number, birthdate, and divorce judgment year. Record seekers may also need to provide their personal information along with a valid ID when requesting records.
- Identify the agencies in charge of maintaining the records: Yakima divorce records are under the purview of local and state-level agencies. At the local level, the Yakima County Clerk’s Office keeps records of divorce case proceedings, including filed documents and court orders. However, the Washington State Department of Health maintains divorce records from 1968 until the present date.
- Select a preferred option for looking up Yakima divorce records: Record seekers may view and obtain Yakima divorce records by using any of the following options:
- Online searches for divorce records: The Washington case search platform maintains online records of divorce cases heard in the Yakima Superior Court. Record seekers must provide the case number or obtain it to retrieve relevant information on the platform.
- Offline requests for divorce records: The Yakima County Clerk’s Office allows in-person and mail-in requests for divorce court records. To obtain records, requesters must follow these steps:
- Complete the record request form.
- Attach relevant fees. For mail-based requests, the required fees must be in the form of a money order or check made payable to the Yakima County Clerk.
- Include a valid ID or court order if the requested document contains confidential information.
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Submit the form via mail or in-person to the clerk’s office at this address:
Yakima County Clerk
128 North 2nd Street
Room 323
Yakima, WA 98901.
Phone: (509) 574-1430
The clerk’s office charges different fees based on the record type and format. Based on format, paper and electronic copies are $0.25 and $0.5 per page, respectively. However, certified copies are $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page.
Likewise, record seekers may submit a mail-in request for divorce records to the Washington Department of Health at this address:
Department of Health
P.O. Box 9709
Olympia WA 98507-9709.
The request must include the following:
- A completed divorce order form.
- A $25 money order or check made payable to the Department of Health.
- Photocopy of a valid ID if the requested document includes sensitive or confidential information.
| Method | Where to Go | Info Needed | Cost | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Washington Courts search platform. | Case party name or number | Free | Instant |
| In Person | Yakima County Clerk’s Office | Request form, valid ID | $0.25 and $0.5 per page of electronic and paper copies, respectively; $5 per certified divorce document and $1 per additional copy. | 5 to 7 days after payment. |
| By Mail | Washington Department of Public Health; Yakima County Clerk’s Office | Request form, payment | $25 | 6-8 weeks (for requests made to the State’s Department of Health). |
Overview of the Yakima County Court System
The Yakima County Superior Court, via the Family Court Division, oversees family law cases, including divorce case proceedings. Interested parties may find the court at this location:
128 North 2nd Street
Yakima, WA 98901
Phone: (509) 574-2710
Yakima family court divorce filings and related case files are under the purview of the county clerk’s office. The clerk may release such information upon receiving mail or in-person requests from interested parties. Record seekers must submit their request to this address:
Yakima County Clerk
128 North 2nd Street
Room 323
Yakima, WA 98901.
Phone: (509) 574-1430
Online Access to Yakima County Divorce Records
Record seekers may find Yakima divorce records online by using the Washington Court’s search platform. To find records on the platform, record seekers must enter the case party name or number in the allocated search box.
Likewise, third-party search websites provide free access to divorce records in Yakima County. Record seekers may view records on such platforms by providing basic search details, such as the case party name, number, or divorce judgment year. Some third-party websites allow users to freely download court documents to their devices. Despite these perks, these sites operate outside government jurisdiction and, as such, are not reliable sources of obtaining court records.
What’s Typically Included in a Yakima Divorce Record
Yakima County divorce records typically reveal the following information:
- Petitioner’s and respondent’s personal information.
- Names and contact information of their legal representatives.
- Case identification details, including the case number, status, and docket number.
- Filed court documents, such as the divorce petition form, police report, and marriage certificates.
- Case transcript.
- Court orders, including divorce decrees and child custody arrangements.
Note: Public divorce records may not include information that is exempt under state laws. For example, the public is unable to access personal information on minors and abused victims.
| Information | Available to the Public? |
|---|---|
| Names of spouses | Yes |
| Divorce date | Yes |
| Case number | Yes |
| Custody arrangements | Sometimes restricted |
| Financial disclosures | No |
How to Get Certified Copies of Yakima Divorce Records
Record seekers may obtain certified Yakima divorce decrees by submitting a request to the county clerk’s office at this address:
128 North 2nd Street
Room 323
Yakima, WA 98901.
Phone: (509) 574-1430
The request must include a completed request form, valid ID, and the required fees. Record seekers may only provide valid ID when requesting confidential divorce records.
Note: Certified divorce records are quite distinct from informational copies. The former contains the official seal of the clerk’s office and is important in various legal processes. For example, government agencies may demand certified divorce decrees when processing name changes and remarriage applications.
| Type of Copy | Use Case | Who Can Request | Legally Valid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Copy | Remarriage, legal proceedings | Spouse, attorney, court | Yes |
| Informational Copy | Genealogy, general info | Anyone (if public) | No |
Yakima Divorce Records Summary
| Custodian | Available Record Type | Access Method | Fees & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima County Clerk’s Office | Full case files, judgments | Mail / In person | $0.25 and $0.5 per page of electronic and paper copies, respectively; $5 per certified divorce document and $1 per additional copy. |
| Washington Courts | Divorce case files | online | Free |
| County Clerk-Recorder | Divorce certificates and decrees | Mail-in via form | $25 per copy. |
| Third-Party Websites | Aggregated records | Online search (paid) | Convenience at cost; accuracy may vary |