Search Thurston County Probate Court Records

Thurston County probate court records are maintained at the Thurston County Superior Court in Olympia. The County Clerk handles all estate cases, guardianship orders, will filings, and probate records for the county under RCW Title 11. Olympia is the state capital and home to many state government offices including the Washington Administrative Office of the Courts. Thurston County residents can search probate records online through the Odyssey Portal or request records in person at the courthouse. The clerk's office expanded its online services significantly in early 2026.

Thurston County Superior Court Clerk

The Thurston County Clerk is Linda Myhre Enlow. The clerk's office is the official keeper of all Superior Court records including probate cases, estate filings, guardianship records, and wills. Staff can search records by case number or name and provide certified copies of court documents. The office manages two locations, one for civil and criminal matters and one for family and juvenile court.

Starting January 20, 2026, Thurston County expanded online services and adjusted in-person customer service counter hours. Starting March 16, 2026, Ex Parte services were suspended with adjustments to lobby hours. Call the office before visiting to confirm current hours and services, as the county has been updating its procedures. The Civil/Criminal location handles all probate matters.

Thurston County Superior Court is located at 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW in Building 2. The Family and Juvenile Court is at 2801 32nd Ave SW in Tumwater. For probate matters, go to the main courthouse in Building 2. The District Court is in Building 3 at the same Lakeridge Drive address with its own phone at (360) 786-5450.

The Thurston County Clerk page provides current contact information, office hours, and notice of recent changes to in-person service availability effective in early 2026.

Thurston County expanded its online services in 2026, allowing more probate record access without requiring in-person visits to the courthouse in Olympia.

Search Thurston County Probate Records

Thurston County probate records are searchable online through the statewide Odyssey Portal. Enter the decedent's name or case number to find the probate case. The portal shows case status, party information, docket entries, and scheduled hearings. This is the fastest option for finding current and recent probate cases in the county.

The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is useful for historical Thurston County probate records. You can search by collection type including Superior Court cases. Select Thurston County and enter the name or case number. Older records from earlier decades that have been digitized are available for free download.

In-person record access is available at the main courthouse at 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW. Staff can search records and assist with certified copy requests. Mail requests go to the clerk at the same address. Include the decedent's full name, approximate filing year, and a return envelope. Fees apply for copies per the standard Washington State schedule.

Historical Thurston County probate records are also held at the Southwest Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives in Olympia. Contact the State Archives main office for access to pre-1980s records. For current cases, the Odyssey Portal is the primary online tool.

The Thurston County District Court handles limited jurisdiction matters, while the Superior Court handles all probate, estate, trust, and guardianship matters for Thurston County residents.

Probate matters in Thurston County are always heard by the Superior Court, not the District Court. The Superior Court at Lakeridge Drive in Olympia has exclusive jurisdiction over estate administration and guardianship proceedings.

Thurston County Probate Filing Fees

The probate filing fee in Thurston County is approximately $290 for a standard estate case. This fee is set under Washington State law at RCW 36.18.020. Guardianship filings carry the same fee. Thurston County updated its fee schedule effective July 27, 2025, so call the clerk at (360) 786-5430 to confirm the current fee amount before filing.

Copy fees follow the standard Washington State schedule. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page per document. Non-certified copies are $0.50 per page. Letters testamentary and letters of administration cost $5.00 each under RCW 36.18.016(9). The clerk accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards.

The Washington State Courts website provides the official court fee schedule at courts.wa.gov/forms. This is useful if you want to review the statewide standard before contacting the county clerk. Local fees can sometimes differ slightly from state minimums due to county surcharges.

Thurston County Probate Record Contents

Thurston County probate case files document every aspect of estate administration. The case opens with a petition and court order. The file grows as the personal representative works through the estate, filing required notices, inventories, and accountings. Each document is stamped with the case number and filing date and becomes part of the permanent court record.

Standard documents in a Thurston County probate file include original wills and codicils submitted at case opening, probate petitions and orders, the personal representative's oath, notice to creditors publication records, the estate inventory and appraisement, creditor claims and court responses, any court orders entered during administration, the final report and petition for distribution, and the final decree of distribution. Guardianship files include annual accountings, reports on ward care, and termination orders.

Thurston County is home to many state government employees and state agency records. This makes the county's probate records an important resource for genealogical researchers tracing family histories of long-time Olympia residents. For records dating to the county's earliest years through the 1970s, the Southwest Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives in Olympia maintains historical court and probate case files.

Probate Resources in Thurston County

Free official probate forms are at courts.wa.gov/forms. Since Thurston County is home to the Administrative Office of the Courts, state-level court resources are particularly accessible here. The full text of Washington probate law is at RCW Title 11. For online case searches, use the Odyssey Portal. For historical records, use the Washington State Digital Archives.

Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services at (360) 352-0703 provides free civil legal help for qualifying residents including probate assistance. The Washington State Bar Association has a lawyer referral service at (206) 443-9722 and directory at wsba.org. WashingtonLawHelp at washingtonlawhelp.org offers plain-language guides on estate handling. Northwest Justice Project serves Thurston County at (888) 201-1014.

Cities in Thurston County

Thurston County includes Olympia and several surrounding communities. All probate matters for these cities are handled by the Thurston County Superior Court.

Other communities in Thurston County include Yelm and Rainier. All probate matters go through the Thurston County Superior Court in Olympia.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Thurston County. Verify the decedent's county of residence to determine the correct court for the probate case.