Longview Probate Court Records
Probate court records for Longview are filed and maintained at Cowlitz County Superior Court in Kelso, which has jurisdiction over all estate administration, wills, and guardianship cases for Longview residents under RCW Title 11.
Longview Overview
Where Longview Probate Cases Are Filed
Cowlitz County Superior Court handles all probate and estate matters for Longview residents. Longview is the largest city in Cowlitz County, but the county seat is Kelso, and the courthouse is located there. Kelso is directly adjacent to Longview, separated mainly by I-5. The drive from Longview to the Kelso courthouse is typically under 10 minutes.
Longview Municipal Court handles city ordinance violations, traffic infractions, and misdemeanors within city limits. It has no jurisdiction over probate or estate matters. All estate and guardianship filings for Longview residents go to Cowlitz County Superior Court at 312 SW First Avenue in Kelso.
| Office | Cowlitz County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 312 SW First Avenue, Suite 250 Kelso, WA 98626 |
| Phone | (360) 577-3085 |
| Online Search | Odyssey Portal |
The Kelso courthouse is at 312 SW First Avenue, Suite 250. Kelso and Longview are essentially one continuous urban area along the Columbia River and Cowlitz River confluence. For Longview residents, this is a short trip across the river on either the Lewis and Clark or Ocean Beach Highway bridges.
How to Search Longview Probate Records
Cowlitz County probate records can be searched online through the statewide Odyssey Portal. Enter the decedent's name or case number to find probate filings in Cowlitz County Superior Court. The portal shows case type, party names, case status, and docket entries.
For in-person access to current records, visit the clerk's office at 312 SW First Avenue, Suite 250 in Kelso during business hours. Bring the decedent's full name and approximate year of filing. Staff can search by name or case number. Viewing records in person is free.
The Washington State Digital Archives holds historical Cowlitz County court records. Use the Detailed Search feature and select Superior Court Cases. For older materials, the Southwest Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives in Olympia serves Cowlitz County.
Longview Probate Filing Fees
The probate filing fee in Cowlitz County is approximately $290 for a standard estate case per RCW 36.18.020. Contact the clerk at (360) 577-3085 to confirm the current fee. Copy fees follow the standard Washington State schedule. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Non-certified copies are $0.50 per page. Letters testamentary and letters of administration each cost $5.
What Longview Probate Records Contain
Probate case files document estate administration from the opening petition through final distribution. Standard documents include the original will if one exists, the probate petition, the personal representative's oath, notice to creditors, estate inventory and appraisement, creditor claims, court orders, and the final decree of distribution.
Longview estates may include industrial and commercial real estate along the Columbia River, residential property in Cowlitz County, and financial accounts. Longview has significant industrial history as a planned city built around the timber and paper industries, and estates from that industrial era can have complex asset structures.
Washington allows a Small Estate Affidavit for estates not exceeding $100,000 under RCW Chapter 11.62. These affidavits are not filed with Superior Court and do not appear in public records. Personal identifiers are redacted from public records under Washington Court Rule GR 31(e).
Probate Resources in Longview
Free official probate forms are at courts.wa.gov/forms. Online case search is at the Odyssey Portal. Historical records are at the Washington State Digital Archives. Full Washington probate law is at RCW Title 11.
Lower Columbia Legal Assistance Program serves southwest Washington counties. Northwest Justice Project serves residents at (888) 201-1014. Washington State Bar Association directory is at wsba.org. Self-help guides are at washingtonlawhelp.org.
Cowlitz County Probate Court Records
Longview is served by Cowlitz County Superior Court in Kelso for all probate matters. For more information on the court and records access, visit the Cowlitz County probate records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Longview file probate cases through their respective county courts.