Clark County
Clark County, was established in 1845 and is named after Captain William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The county is an unincorporated community in southwestern Washington along the Columbia River. It is Washington's fifth most populous county with a population of about 504,091 as of 2022. Its county seat and largest city is Vancouver. Clark County is known for its scenic beauty, with attractions like the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and the Columbia River Gorge, making it a blend of suburban life and outdoor adventure.
The Clark County justice system includes a Superior Court, a District Court, and Municipal Counts. The Superior Court has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, including felonies, civil claims exceeding $50,000, and property disputes. This court also oversees probate cases, including the administration of estates, wills, and trusts, as well as guardianship and conservatorship matters. In addition, it hears domestic relations cases like divorce, child custody, child support, and domestic violence. The Superior Court also acts as an appellate court, reviewing decisions from the other lower courts. It has a Juvenile Division, dealing with juvenile delinquency, dependency, and child abuse cases. The District Court deals with misdemeanors criminal cases, traffic offenses, preliminary hearings for all criminal cases, civil claims not exceeding $75,000, small claims cases involving disputes of $5,000 or less, and protection orders. It also processes name changes and cases related to mental health. Municipal Courts in various cities of Clark County, like Battle Ground, deal with misdemeanor offenses and local traffic violations
Clark County public records are generated from case filings, motions, judgments, rulings, and transcripts of hearings from legal proceedings within the county. They include:
- Civil Records
- Criminal Records
- Family Records
- Juvenile Records
- Probate Records
- Traffic Records
The Clerk of the Superior Court maintains Clark County's court records and makes them accessible to the public per Public Records Acts to promote accountability and public trust. Anyone can access the county's public records and docket information through the Odyssey portal, the Washington Courts Case Search using party name, attorney name, case number, or other search criteria. or by contacting the Clerk's office:
1200 Franklin Street
Vancouver
WA 98660
Phone: (564) 397-2292
However, records involving the juvenile court, mental health commitment evaluation, personal information, and other sealed records are restricted from public access due to their sensitive nature.
