Pierce County Probate Court Records
Pierce County probate court records are managed by the Pierce County Superior Court Clerk in Tacoma. The clerk maintains all estate cases, wills, guardianship orders, and probate filings for the county under RCW Title 11. Pierce County is the second-most populous county in Washington. The county offers LINX, its online case management system, for searching probate records without a trip to the courthouse. In-person access and mail requests are also available through the Probate and Court Services division of the clerk's office.
Pierce County Overview
Pierce County Superior Court Clerk
The Pierce County Clerk's Office is divided into six functional areas: Administration, Arbitration, Domestic Violence and Relations, Legal Services, Probate and Court Services, and Fiscal Services. The Probate and Court Services division specifically handles all estate and guardianship matters. This is the division to contact for probate filings, certified copies, and records access questions.
The main clerk's office is at Room 110 in the County-City Building in downtown Tacoma. The building is at 930 Tacoma Avenue South. The office runs along a long hallway on the first floor, Room 110. Ex parte matters are heard in Room 107, immediately right of the Clerk's Office, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
| Office | Pierce County Clerk of Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | County-City Building, Room 110 930 Tacoma Avenue South Tacoma, WA 98402 |
| Phone | (253) 798-7455 |
| Website | piercecountywa.gov |
The Pierce County Clerk maintains records of all cases filed in Superior Court dating back to the 1890s. The clerk serves quasi-judicial functions including issuing various writs, orders, subpoenas, and warrants. Staff at the Tacoma office can assist with probate record searches during normal business hours Monday through Friday.
The Pierce County Clerk of Superior Court page provides contact information, office locations, and details on the Probate and Court Services division that handles all estate case filings for the county.
Pierce County Superior Court has maintained probate records dating back to the 1890s, making it one of the most complete repositories of historical estate records in the Pacific Northwest region.
Search Pierce County Probate Records
Pierce County uses the LINX online case management system for court record access. LINX is available at linxonline.piercecountywa.gov. You can search Superior Court cases by case type, party name, attorney bar number, or case cause number. The LINX Help Desk is at (253) 798-7757 if you have technical questions about using the system. Court calendars in LINX are updated every two hours.
The statewide Odyssey Portal also covers Pierce County and provides another search option. The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov has older Pierce County court records available for free online access. For records not found online, the Puget Sound Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives in Bellevue holds Pierce County historical records including wills from 1890 to 1946 and letters of administration and testamentary from 1888 to 1946.
Note: LINX does not display confidential case types. Adoption, paternity, involuntary commitment, dependency, and truancy cases are restricted. Names shown in LINX cannot be definitively associated with individuals without further case research. Contact the clerk directly for restricted record types.
The Pierce County LINX Online system provides access to Superior Court calendars and case information including probate case details, party names, and hearing schedules updated every two hours.
LINX gives you free public access to Pierce County probate case information online without requiring a subscription, and the LINX Help Desk at (253) 798-7757 can assist with technical questions about searching the system.
Pierce County Probate Filing Fees
The probate filing fee in Pierce County is approximately $290 for a standard estate case under Washington State fee schedules. Guardianship filings carry the same fee. No fee is charged for estates with very limited assets. Call the clerk at (253) 798-7455 to confirm the current fee before filing, as fees may change with legislative action.
Copy fees follow the Washington State schedule. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. For mail requests, send your written request to: Clerk of the Superior Court, ATTN Records and Copies, 930 Tacoma Ave S Room 110, Tacoma WA 98402-2177, phone (253) 798-7455. Include a description of the records needed, case number if available, and payment or a request for a cost estimate.
Note: Pierce County probate records are not subject to the Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) per court rulings in Nast v. Michels and related cases. Contact the clerk directly for court records access under applicable court rules.
Pierce County Probate Record Contents
Pierce County probate records document each step of estate administration from the opening petition through the final decree of distribution. The case file begins with the petition and court order. Subsequent filings track the inventory of estate assets, creditor notices and claims, any contested matters, and the final accounting and distribution plan approved by the court.
Typical documents in a Pierce County probate file include original wills, probate petitions and orders, letters testamentary or letters of administration, estate inventories with appraised values, notice to creditors publications and proof of service, creditor claims and responses, final reports and petitions for distribution, and decrees of distribution signed by the judge. Guardianship cases contain annual accountings and reports on the ward's situation.
Historical Pierce County probate records going back to the late 1800s are preserved at the Puget Sound Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives in Bellevue. The branch holds Pierce County record of wills from 1890 to 1946 and letters of administration and testamentary from 1888 to 1946. Contact the branch at (425) 564-3940. In-person research is available Wednesdays through Fridays by appointment only.
The Pierce County Court Records page provides guidance on how to request copies of probate and other Superior Court records, including the mailing address, telephone contacts, and LINX access for online searches.
Pierce County court records requests go directly to the Clerk of the Superior Court at Room 110 in the County-City Building in Tacoma, with LINX providing online access and mail requests accepted for those who cannot visit in person.
Probate Resources in Pierce County
Official probate forms are free at courts.wa.gov/forms. Online case search for current cases is at the Odyssey Portal or Pierce County's LINX system. Historical records are at the Washington State Digital Archives and the Puget Sound Regional Branch. Full probate law text is at RCW Title 11.
Pierce County Volunteer Legal Services provides free civil legal help to low-income residents. Call (253) 272-5657. The Washington State Bar Association referral service is at (206) 443-9722 and directory at wsba.org. Northwest Justice Project serves Pierce County at (888) 201-1014. WashingtonLawHelp at washingtonlawhelp.org has estate and probate guides in plain language.
Cities in Pierce County
Pierce County includes Tacoma and many surrounding communities. All probate matters for these cities are handled by the Pierce County Superior Court.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Pierce County. Verify where the decedent lived to confirm which court has jurisdiction over the estate.