Franklin County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Franklin County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Franklin County, Washington, may access publicly available case information through several official channels. FranklinWARecords.org provides a directory of resources related to court records and other public records maintained by government agencies in Franklin County. The information available through official sources may include records from civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic proceedings, subject to applicable access restrictions under Washington State law.
Court records in Franklin County may be searched through the following methods:
1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office The Franklin County Superior Court Clerk maintains the official record for superior court cases. Members of the public may submit requests in person during business hours. Providing the full case number, party name, or filing date assists staff in locating records efficiently. Fees may apply for copies.
Franklin County Superior Court Clerk
1016 N 4th Ave, Room 203
Pasco, WA 99301
Phone: (509) 545-3535
Franklin County Superior Court
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public access computer terminals are available at the Franklin County Courthouse. These terminals allow members of the public to search case index information without charge during regular courthouse hours.
3. Online Court Search The Washington State Courts system provides an online case search portal that includes Franklin County Superior Court records. Users may search by party name or case number to retrieve docket-level information.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Washington Courts statewide case search system allows searches across multiple court levels, including Franklin County Superior Court. This tool returns docket entries and case status information but does not provide access to full document images.
5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public who are unable to appear in person may submit written requests to the Franklin County Superior Court Clerk. 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.
Are Court Records Public In Franklin County
Court records in Franklin County are subject to the public disclosure requirements established under the Washington Public Records Act, codified at RCW § 42.56. Under current law, judicial records maintained by the clerk of court are presumptively open to public inspection unless a specific statutory exemption or court order restricts access.
Records that are accessible to the public include:
- Case dockets and docket entries
- Party names and case numbers
- Hearing dates and courtroom assignments
- Filed motions, complaints, petitions, and answers
- Court orders and final judgments
- Sentencing entries and probate orders
Records that may be confidential, sealed, redacted, or restricted include:
- Juvenile court records, which are protected under RCW § 13.50
- Adoption records and related proceedings
- Mental health commitment records
- Sealed filings pursuant to court order
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth, which are subject to redaction under Washington General Rule 22
As the Washington State Courts note, "The official court record is maintained by the court of record." A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access: while docket-level information may be available through online search tools, full document images are not available remotely and must be ordered directly from the clerk's office.
What Are Court Records in Franklin County?
Court records are the official documents and entries created and maintained by a court of law in connection with a legal proceeding. In Franklin County, court records are generated from the moment a case is filed and are updated throughout the life of the case, from initial pleadings through final disposition and any subsequent appeal.
The following distinctions apply to court records:
- Docket entries vs. full case files: A docket is a chronological index of all filings and proceedings in a case. A full case file includes the actual documents filed, such as complaints, motions, orders, and exhibits.
- Civil vs. criminal court records: Civil records arise from disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity. Criminal records arise from prosecutions brought by the state against an individual for alleged violations of criminal law.
- Filed pleadings vs. final judgments: Pleadings are documents filed at the outset of a case that define the claims and defenses. Final judgments are the court's ultimate resolution of the matter.
- Public filings vs. sealed or restricted filings: Most filings are public, but certain documents may be sealed by court order or restricted by statute.
- Trial court records vs. appellate records: Trial court records are maintained by the superior court clerk. Appellate records are maintained by the Washington Court of Appeals or the Washington Supreme Court.
The Franklin County Superior Court Clerk is the custodian of superior court records. District court records are maintained by the Franklin County District Court. The Washington Courts statewide system provides index-level access to records across multiple court levels.
What's Included in a Franklin County Court Record?
A court record in Franklin County may contain a range of documents and data entries depending on the case type and applicable public-access rules. The following categories of information may appear within a court record:
- Case identification: Case number, court name and division, and filing date
- Party information: Names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and other named parties
- Case type and status: Classification of the proceeding and current disposition status
- Docket entries: A chronological log of all filings, hearings, and court actions
- Hearing information: Scheduled and past hearing dates, courtroom assignments, and continuances
- Filed documents: Motions, complaints, petitions, answers, notices, declarations, and supporting materials
- Court orders and judgments: Temporary orders, final judgments, decrees, and appellate decisions
- Outcome information: Dismissals, pleas, convictions, sentencing entries, custody rulings, and probate orders
- Financial and administrative data: Filing fees, assessed costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly shown
Records that are excluded or restricted include sealed filings, expunged matters, juvenile files, adoption records, protected personal data subject to redaction under Washington General Rule 22, and certain exhibits admitted under seal.
Types of Courts in Franklin County
Franklin County is served by a multi-tiered court structure under the Washington State judiciary system. The courts currently operating in Franklin County include:
- Franklin County Superior Court: A court of general jurisdiction that hears felony criminal cases, civil matters involving amounts over $75,000, family law proceedings, probate matters, juvenile cases, and appeals from courts of limited jurisdiction.
- Franklin County District Court: A court of limited jurisdiction that handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters up to $75,000, small claims, traffic infractions, and landlord-tenant disputes.
- Pasco Municipal Court: Handles traffic infractions, misdemeanors, and code violations arising within the City of Pasco.
The Franklin County Superior Court Clerk maintains the official record for superior court proceedings. The Franklin County District Court maintains its own records for cases within its jurisdiction. The Washington Courts website provides a comprehensive explanation of the state's court structure and jurisdiction.
Franklin County District Court
1016 N 4th Ave
Pasco, WA 99301
Phone: (509) 545-3535
Franklin County District Court
Pasco Municipal Court
525 N 3rd Ave
Pasco, WA 99301
Phone: (509) 545-3485
City of Pasco Municipal Court
Franklin County Superior Court hears felony prosecutions, civil litigation, dissolution of marriage, child custody, adoption, guardianship, probate, and appeals from district and municipal courts. Franklin County District Court handles misdemeanor criminal matters, civil claims within its jurisdictional limit, small claims, and traffic cases. Municipal courts handle violations of city ordinances and state traffic laws occurring within city limits.
How to Search Franklin County Court Records for Free?
Members of the public may access certain Franklin County court records at no cost through the following methods:
| Method | Cost |
|---|---|
| In-person inspection at clerk's office | Free |
| Courthouse public access terminals | Free |
| Washington Courts online case search | Free |
| Standard paper copies | Per-page fee applies |
| Certified copies | Fee applies |
| Electronic document images (if available) | Fee may apply |
In-person inspection of court records at the Franklin County Superior Court Clerk's office is available at no charge during regular business hours. Members of the public may review case files and docket entries without payment. The Washington Courts statewide name and case search tool is available online at no cost and returns docket-level information for cases across participating courts.
Fees are assessed for paper copies, certified copies, and certain research services. Under Washington law, clerk fees are governed by RCW § 36.18, which establishes the schedule of fees that county clerks may charge for copies and related services. At present, standard copy fees in Washington superior courts are set at $0.15 per page for paper copies, with additional fees for certification.
How Long Does Franklin County Keep Court Records?
The retention of court records in Franklin County is governed by the Washington State Archives retention schedules applicable to judicial records. Retention periods vary by case type and record category.
Under the Washington State Archives judicial records retention schedule, the following retention periods apply:
- Felony criminal case files: Retained permanently or for a minimum of 75 years
- Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor case files: Retained for a minimum of 10 years
- Civil case files: Retained for a minimum of 10 years after final disposition
- Family law and dissolution records: Retained for a minimum of 75 years
- Probate records: Retained permanently in many instances
- Juvenile records: Subject to separate retention rules under RCW § 13.50
- Traffic infraction records: Retained for shorter periods, subject to the applicable schedule
- Docket books and minute records: Retained permanently in many jurisdictions
Paper files may be destroyed after imaging and transfer to electronic storage, provided that the imaging process meets state archival standards. Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, or county and state archives. A distinction exists between destruction, archival retention, sealing, redaction, and expungement: destruction removes the physical record; archival retention preserves it in a non-active repository; sealing restricts access without destroying the record; redaction removes specific information from a publicly accessible document; and expungement, where authorized by statute, removes or destroys records of certain proceedings.
How To Find a Court Docket in Franklin County
A court docket is a chronological index of all filings, hearings, and official actions taken in a specific case. A docket differs from a full case file in that it records what has occurred in a proceeding without necessarily containing the full text of filed documents. Dockets serve as the official log of a case's procedural history from filing through final disposition.
Members of the public may locate Franklin County court dockets through the following channels:
- Washington Courts Case Search: The Washington Courts case search portal allows users to search for cases by court level, including Franklin County Superior Court. Users may search by party name or case number to retrieve docket entries and case status information.
- Courthouse public access terminals: Terminals located at the Franklin County Courthouse provide access to docket information for cases filed in the superior and district courts.
- In-person clerk requests: Members of the public may request docket information directly from the Franklin County Superior Court Clerk during business hours.
To locate a docket using the Washington Courts online system, a user selects the court level, enters the party name or case number, and reviews the returned case list. Selecting a specific case displays the docket entries associated with that proceeding.
A court docket contains hearing dates, continuances, motion filings, minute entries, and status updates. A docket does not include full document images, sealed entries, confidential attachments, or exhibits admitted under seal. Hearing calendars and motion calendars may be separately available through the clerk's office or posted at the courthouse. 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 directly.