Spokane Probate Court Records
Probate court records for Spokane are filed and maintained at Spokane County Superior Court, located in Spokane, which has jurisdiction over all estate administration, wills, and guardianship cases for Spokane County residents under RCW Title 11.
Spokane Overview
Where Spokane Probate Cases Are Filed
Spokane County Superior Court handles all probate and estate matters for Spokane residents. Spokane is the county seat of Spokane County and the location of the courthouse at 1116 W Broadway Avenue. The clerk's office is on the third floor of the courthouse. There is no separate probate court in Spokane.
Spokane 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 go to Spokane County Superior Court at (509) 477-2211. Clerk Timothy W. Fitzgerald maintains all Superior Court records for Spokane County.
| Office | Spokane County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Timothy W. Fitzgerald |
| Address | 1116 W Broadway Avenue, Room 300 Spokane, WA 99260 |
| Phone | (509) 477-2211 |
| Online Search | Odyssey Portal |
The Spokane Municipal Court page covers city-level court matters. Probate and estate cases are handled entirely separately at Spokane County Superior Court at 1116 W Broadway.
Spokane Municipal Court handles city-level violations only. Probate and estate records for Spokane residents are filed and maintained at Spokane County Superior Court at 1116 W Broadway Avenue, Room 300.
How to Search Spokane Probate Records
Spokane 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 Spokane County Superior Court. The portal shows case type, party names, case status, and docket entries. The search is free.
For in-person access, visit the clerk's office at 1116 W Broadway Avenue, Room 300 in Spokane 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 Spokane County court records. Use the Detailed Search feature and select Superior Court Cases. For older historical materials, the Eastern Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives in Cheney serves Spokane County. Spokane County probate records go back to the 1880s.
Spokane Probate Filing Fees
The probate filing fee in Spokane County is approximately $290 for a standard estate case per RCW 36.18.020. Contact the clerk at (509) 477-2211 to confirm the current fee before filing. 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 Spokane 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.
Spokane is Washington's second-largest city and the commercial and cultural center of eastern Washington. Estates may include residential and commercial real estate, business interests, agricultural land in surrounding Spokane County, and financial accounts. Spokane County probate records date to the 1880s, giving the historical archive substantial depth.
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 Spokane
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 and the Eastern Regional Branch in Cheney. Full Washington probate law is at RCW Title 11.
Spokane County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service can connect you with local probate attorneys. 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.
Spokane County Probate Court Records
Spokane is the county seat of Spokane County and the location of the Superior Court handling all probate matters. For more information on the court and records access, visit the Spokane County probate records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Spokane file probate cases through their respective county courts.