Washington County
Situated in northeastern Oklahoma, Washington County was formed in 1907 and named after George Washington. The county has a land area of 415.5 square miles and a population of over 52,000 residents. Its government seat is Bartlesville City.
Washington County's judicial system comprises a District Court and four Municipal Courts. The District Court has general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases, including torts, contractual disputes, land matters, monetary claims, small claims, felonies, and misdemeanors. The court also exercises jurisdiction over family, juvenile, and probate cases. Additionally, cities in Washington County, including Bartlesville, Copan, Ramona, and Dewey, operate municipal courts with limited jurisdictions. These courts adjudicate parking violations, traffic offenses, municipal ordinance violations, and certain misdemeanors.
The courts in Washington County ensure that details of cases handled are maintained and archived. Examples of such details are parties' information, legal arguments, pleadings, court orders, case numbers, and exhibits. Documents containing these details constitute Washington County public court records. Interested persons may access several types of court records within the county, including the following:
- Civil records
- Small claims records
- Misdemeanor records
- Felony records
- Probate records
- Family law records
- Traffic records
Washington County court records may be accessed via the Internet through the On-Demand Court Records portal. For District Court case records, individuals may visit the District Court Clerk's office at the courthouse or send in a request via email. Interested persons may also obtain municipal court records by contacting the records office at the courthouse where the case was heard. However, certain records are exempt from public access in Washington County. These restricted records are accessible only to authorized individuals and government agencies. Examples of confidential records include those related to juvenile matters, guardianships, adoptions, and mental health cases.
To facilitate the search, requests should include details such as the names of the parties involved, case type, case number, and year. Requesters may also be required to pay applicable fees to obtain copies of court records.
