Snohomish County Probate Court Records

Snohomish County probate court records are filed and maintained at the Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett. The Superior Court Clerk handles all estate cases, guardianship orders, and probate filings for the county under RCW Title 11. Snohomish County is the third-largest county in Washington by population, with a major court campus at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue in Everett. Online access is available through the Washington State Digital Archives and the statewide Odyssey Portal. In-person viewing of records is free during business hours.

Snohomish County Superior Court Clerk

The Snohomish County Clerk is Heidi Percy. The clerk's office is responsible for all Superior Court records including probate, guardianship, civil, criminal, and family law cases. Staff at the main Everett location can help you find a case, pull a case file, and provide certified copies of probate documents. Viewing records in person is free during business hours.

Snohomish County also has a Juvenile Court location separate from the main courthouse. For probate matters, the main Superior Court location at Rockefeller Avenue is the right place. The clerk's office accepts in-person requests, mail requests, and online record searches. Fees apply for copies but not for viewing records at the courthouse.

The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The office closes for lunch from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Plan your visit accordingly. If you are coming in to search records, bring the full name of the decedent or ward and the approximate year of the case filing.

The Snohomish County Superior Court access to court records page describes how to search probate case records, order certified copies, and use the Digital Archives and Odyssey Portal for online access.

Snohomish County Superior Court probate records are available online for one-time users through the Washington State Digital Archives and for frequent users through the Odyssey Portal subscription service.

Search Snohomish County Probate Records

Snohomish County offers two main online options for searching probate records. For one-time searches, the Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is free and does not require an account. Search by case type "Superior Court Cases" and enter the case number or the decedent's name. For more frequent access, the Odyssey Portal requires a subscription but gives you deeper search capability and faster access to case documents.

In-person record access is available at the main courthouse at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue in Everett. Records viewing during business hours is free. You need to bring the name of the person whose case you are looking for. Staff can look up cases by name or case number. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. Exemplified copies cost $9.00 for the first page plus $1.00 per page after that.

Mail requests go to the clerk's office with a Copy Request Form. Include payment for copies, a flash drive if you want electronic files ($20.00 plus $0.25 per page plus $2.50 mailing), or a postage-paid envelope for paper copies. For audio recordings of court hearings, there is a $25.00 per hearing date fee.

Note: Case records in Snohomish County are not subject to the Public Records Act per the ruling in Nast v. Michels. Court records are governed by court rules, not the PRA. Contact the clerk's office directly for records access questions.

The Snohomish County Public Records page explains the distinction between court records and other public records, and provides contact information for the Records Division handling non-court public records requests.

Court records in Snohomish County are handled by the Superior Court Clerk, while non-court public records go through the County Public Records Office at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Everett.

Snohomish County Probate Fees

The probate filing fee in Snohomish County is approximately $290 for a standard estate case under Washington State fee schedules. Guardianship filings carry the same base fee. These fees are collected by the clerk's office when you open the case. Payment methods accepted include cash, check, money order, and credit card.

Copy fees at Snohomish County Superior Court: regular copies are $0.25 per page, certified copies are $5.00 for the first page plus $1.00 per additional page, and exemplified copies are $9.00 for the first page plus $1.00 per additional page. If you want records on a flash drive, there is a $20.00 charge plus $0.25 per page plus $2.50 for mailing. Audio recordings of hearings are $25.00 per hearing date.

Letters testamentary and letters of administration are issued by the clerk at $5.00 each. You will need these letters to handle estate assets with banks, brokerages, and other financial institutions. Request a sufficient number when you open the probate case to avoid making additional trips to the clerk's office.

What Snohomish County Probate Records Contain

Probate court records in Snohomish County document the complete administration of a decedent's estate. The case file starts with the petition and court order opening the probate. As the process moves forward, documents are added including the personal representative's oath, notice to creditors, the estate inventory and appraisement, creditor claims, and any orders entered during administration.

Near the end of the case, the file contains a final report and petition for distribution, the decree of distribution, and receipts from beneficiaries. If real property was involved, you may also find title-related documents. Guardianship cases have their own set of documents including annual accountings and reports on the ward's welfare.

Historical Snohomish County probate records going back to the late 1800s are held at the Northwest Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives in Bellingham. The branch is at 808 25th Street, Bellingham, WA 98225, phone (360) 650-3125. In-person research is available Wednesdays through Fridays by appointment only. Online access to some older records is available at the Washington State Digital Archives.

Probate Resources in Snohomish County

Free official court forms for probate matters are at courts.wa.gov/forms. The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov provides free access to historical records. The statewide case search at the Odyssey Portal covers current cases. Full text of RCW Title 11 is at the Washington State Legislature site.

Volunteer Legal Services of Snohomish County provides free legal help for qualifying residents. Call (425) 258-6903 for eligibility information. The Washington State Bar Association has a lawyer referral service at (206) 443-9722 and a searchable directory at wsba.org. WashingtonLawHelp at washingtonlawhelp.org has plain-language guides for probate and estate matters.

Cities in Snohomish County

Snohomish County includes Everett and many surrounding communities. All residents file probate cases at the Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett.

Nearby Counties

These counties are adjacent to Snohomish County. Confirm where the decedent lived to determine which court handles the probate case.