San Juan County Probate Court Records
San Juan County probate court records are maintained at the San Juan County Superior Court in Friday Harbor, the county seat. The Superior Court Clerk handles all estate cases, wills, guardianship filings, and probate records under RCW Title 11. San Juan County consists of the San Juan Islands in the northwest corner of Washington, accessible only by ferry or air. All probate matters for island residents go through the Superior Court in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Records can be searched online through the Odyssey Portal or in person at the courthouse.
San Juan County Overview
San Juan County Superior Court Clerk
The San Juan County Clerk is at (360) 378-2163 for official court record requests. The physical address for the court is at Friday Harbor, WA 98250. The mailing address for judicial administrative records is San Juan County Superior Court, 350 Court Street No. 7, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Superior Court Administration can be reached at (360) 370-7480 or (360) 370-7481. The Presiding Judge is Kathryn C. Loring.
San Juan County Superior Court has general jurisdiction with exclusive jurisdiction over certain case types including probate, trust, and guardianship matters. Remote Court Appearance is available via Microsoft Teams at phone (360) 726-3293 with Conference ID 106 642 703#. For residents on Orcas Island, Lopez Island, or other San Juan islands, the remote appearance option avoids the ferry trip to Friday Harbor for routine hearings. Contact the court to confirm whether remote appearance is available for a specific matter.
| Office | San Juan County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Court Address | 350 Court Street No. 7 Friday Harbor, WA 98250 |
| Clerk Phone | (360) 378-2163 |
| Court Admin | (360) 370-7480 |
| Website | sanjuancountywa.gov |
Under Washington law, the County Clerk's Office is not subject to the Public Records Act per the court records exemption established in Nast v. Michels and City of Federal Way v. Koenig. However, many court records are available for public inspection and requests should go directly to the court. Probate and guardianship records, divorce decrees, and judgments are among the case types available for public inspection. Submit requests to the clerk at (360) 378-2163.
The San Juan County Superior Court Administration page provides contact information, remote appearance details, and information on case types handled by the Superior Court including probate, trust, and guardianship matters.
San Juan County Superior Court in Friday Harbor handles all estate administration and guardianship cases for residents of the San Juan Islands, with remote appearance available via Microsoft Teams for routine hearings.
Search San Juan County Probate Records
San Juan County probate records can be searched online through the statewide Odyssey Portal. Enter the decedent's name or case number to find probate filings. The portal shows case type, party names, case status, and docket entries. For island residents this online search is especially useful given the ferry access required to reach Friday Harbor in person.
The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov has historical San Juan County court records. Use the Detailed Search feature and select "Superior Court Cases" as the collection type. This free resource includes records that have been digitized. For requests involving older materials, the Northwest Regional Branch in Bellingham maintains San Juan County historical records.
Historical San Juan County probate records are maintained at the Northwest Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives in Bellingham. The branch is at 808 25th Street, Bellingham, WA 98225 on the Western Washington University campus. Phone is (360) 650-3125. The Northwest Branch serves San Juan County along with other northwest Washington counties. Research appointments are available Wednesdays through Fridays. Contact the branch to confirm available San Juan County materials and time periods covered.
For in-person access to current records, you can submit requests by email to the Superior Court Public Records officer, by mail to San Juan County Superior Court, 350 Court Street No. 7, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, or by fax to (360) 370-7485. Viewing records at the courthouse is free. The administrative records fee schedule includes copies and scanning at $0.15 per page, fax at $1.00 per page (8.5 x 11 only), and research at $30 per hour after the first hour. Call the clerk at (360) 378-2163 for questions about specific records.
San Juan County Probate Filing Fees
The probate filing fee in San Juan County is approximately $290 for a standard estate case under Washington State fee schedules per RCW 36.18.020. Guardianship filings carry the same base fee. Contact the clerk at (360) 378-2163 to confirm the current fee before filing. Given the island logistics, confirm all details before making the trip to Friday Harbor.
The administrative records fee schedule for San Juan County includes scanning and copies at $0.15 per page, fax at $1.00 per page, USB at $25, and research at $30 per hour after the first hour free. Postage is at the current rate. Envelopes are $1.00 each. Standard certified copy fees per the Washington State schedule also apply for court filings. Letters testamentary and letters of administration each cost $5.00 and are needed to act on behalf of the estate.
San Juan County Probate Record Contents
Probate case files in San Juan County document estate administration from start to finish. The Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over probate, trust, and guardianship matters for all island residents. Standard documents include the original will (if one exists), probate petitions and court orders, the personal representative's oath, notice to creditors, estate inventory and appraisement, creditor claims, court orders during administration, and the final decree of distribution.
San Juan County estates often include island real property, waterfront land, and maritime assets in addition to standard financial accounts. Real property appraisements may be needed for island parcels. The clerk handles all documentation regardless of asset type. Given the county's unique geography, some personal representatives manage estate business remotely or by mail. The court accommodates this with mail filing and remote appearance options.
General Rule 31.1 governing administrative records took effect January 1, 2016. Submit requests using the Request for Administrative Records Form. For court case records (as opposed to administrative records), contact the clerk directly. Sealed and confidential documents including adoption, dependency, and juvenile records are not publicly accessible. All standard probate records are open to public inspection by request.
Probate Resources in San Juan County
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 Northwest Regional Branch in Bellingham at (360) 650-3125. Full Washington probate law is at RCW Title 11.
Northwest Justice Project serves San Juan County at (888) 201-1014. The Washington State Bar Association referral service is at (206) 443-9722 and directory at wsba.org. WashingtonLawHelp at washingtonlawhelp.org has plain-language guides. Many island residents use remote legal consultations for estate planning and probate matters given the ferry access required for in-person meetings.
Nearby Counties
These counties are near San Juan County in northwest Washington.