Thurston County Court
Thurston County Divorce Records

Thurston County, Washington Divorce Records

Thurston County divorce records are legal documents that contain information about the dissolution of marriages. Such records may include the case parties’ personal information, case-identifying details, case events, and judicial actions.

Such records are vital in various legal and financial processes. Concerned parties may use the record as a reference in family law or probate cases. For example, divorce decrees and agreements are important in name changes, inheritance disputes, and child support and custody cases. The records are also important in negotiating mortgage rates and adjusting taxes after a marriage dissolution.

Thurston County Divorce Rate: An estimated 13.8% of Thurston County residents 15 years and above were divorced as of 2024. Based on gender, male and female residents had divorce rates of 10.3% and 17.2%, respectively.

Are Divorce Records Public in Thurston County?

Divorce records are mostly accessible to the public under state laws. The Revised Code of Washington (RCW 70.58A) and the Washington Court Rules (GR) 31 and 31.1 govern access to divorce decrees and case files. Under these laws, the public can inspect and obtain copies of records from designated public agencies. The agencies are required to release records upon receiving requests from record seekers that meet the legal requirements.

Washington laws may restrict or redact access to specific divorce records. The law generally restricts access to records that may expose concerned parties to danger. For example, personal financial statements and crime reports are typically exempt from publicly accessible divorce records.

Note: Concerned parties may also petition the court to redact or withhold specific information, such as the child custody and spousal support agreements.

How to Find Divorce Records in Thurston County

Record seekers may find divorce records in Thurston County by following these steps:

Gather the necessary information for looking up divorce records: Record seekers may provide case party names, numbers, and divorce year to look up divorce records in Thurston County. For example, the county clerk’s Odyssey portal requires users to provide the case number or party name.
Identify the agencies in charge of maintaining the records: Thurston County divorce records are obtainable via local and state-level agencies. The Thurston County Clerk’s Office keeps records of divorce cases heard at the superior court. In contrast, the Washington State Department of Health (WSDH) maintains a statewide record of divorce cases from 1968 until the present date.
Choose a preferred option for obtaining the records: Record seekers may obtain Thurston divorce records by using the following options:

Online searches: Record seekers can conduct searches for divorce records via the county clerk’s Odyssey platform. The platform allows name- or number-based searches for divorce records.
Email-based request for divorce records: To use this option, record seekers must submit a request via email to tcclerk@co.thurston.wa.us. The email must include the case party name, number, and other relevant search information. Upon receiving the mail, the clerk’s office will send a response stating the estimated cost of obtaining the record and a payment link. Record seekers will receive the requested document via mail or email after paying the required fees.
Mail-in requests for divorce records: Record seekers may submit a mail request to the Thurston County Clerk’s office at this address:

Thurston County Clerk's Office

2000 Lakeridge Drive Southwest

Building 2

Olympia, WA 98502.

The request must include these details:
A written request form that contains specifics about the required document.
A self-addressed, stamped envelope.
The required fee as a money order or cashier’s check.

For mail-in requests to the WSDH, record seekers must follow these steps:

Fill out an application for a divorce order.
Attach a $25 money order or check.
Include a copy of a valid ID if the request is for a confidential divorce record.

Department of Health

P.O. Box 9709

Olympia WA 98507-9709.
Pay the required fees: The Thurston County Clerk’s Office charges different fees based on the document type and format. Record seekers must pay $0.25 and $0.50 for non-certified electronic and hard copies, respectively. However, certified divorce records cost $5 for the first page and $1 per additional copy.

Method	Where to Go	Info Needed	Cost	Processing Time
Online	Thurston County Clerk’s Odyssey portal	Full name, number	Free	Instant.
Email	Thurston County Clerk’s Office	Valid ID	Varies	Same day
By Mail	Thurston County Clerk’s Office; WSDH	Request form, payment	$25 (WSDH). $0.50 and $5 for uncertified and certified hard copies, respectively.	6 to 8 weeks for requests made to the WSDH.

Overview of the Thurston County Court System

The Thurston County Superior Court’s Family and Juvenile Division oversees divorce cases. Concerned parties may find the courthouse at this location:

Thurston County Superior Court - Family & Juvenile

Physical:

2801 32nd Avenue Southwest

Tumwater, WA 98512

Mailing:

2000 Lakeridge Drive Southwest

Building 2

Olympia, WA 98502

Phone: (360) 709-3260

Record seekers may find Thurston family court divorce filings along with other case files in the custody of the county clerk’s office. To obtain records, interested parties may submit a request to the clerk’s office at this address:

2000 Lakeridge Drive Southwest

Building 2

Olympia, WA 98502.

Online Access to Thurston County Divorce Records

Record seekers may find Thurston divorce records online by using the county clerk’s Odyssey platform. To find divorce records, interested parties must enter the case party name or number in the allocated search box in the platform.

Third-party search websites also provide free access to Thurston County divorce records. Record seekers may access records on these platforms by providing basic information, such as the case party name, number, or divorce year. Some websites may also allow users to freely download court documents. Nevertheless, third-party websites are not government regulated and may not provide accurate information.

What’s Typically Included in a Thurston Divorce Record

Thurston County divorce records typically reveal the following information:

Petitioner’s and respondent’s names.
Reasons for the divorce.
Case document identifiers, such as case number, hearing date, and judgment year.
Filed documents, such as the divorce petition, police reports, and bank statements.
Names of the attorneys representing the case parties.
Judicial actions, including the divorce decree and agreements.

Public divorce records in Thurston County may not include statutorily exempt information. For example, the records may not include personal bank statements and crime reports that may expose concerned parties to harm. Case parties may petition the court to remove specific details from publicly accessible divorce records.

Information	Available to the Public?
Names of spouses	Yes
Divorce date	Yes
Case number	Yes
Custody arrangements	Sometimes restricted
Financial disclosures	No

How to Get Certified Copies of Thurston Divorce Records

The Thurston County Clerk’s Office issues certified copies of divorce records. Record seekers may obtain such records by submitting an email or mail-in request to the clerk’s office. For email requests, record seekers must submit the case number and party name to tcclerk@co.thurston.wa.us. Upon receiving the mail, the clerk’s office will submit an estimated fee for the requested document. Record seekers will obtain requested documents via mail after completing the required documents.

In contrast, record seekers may request certified divorce records by sending a request via mail to the clerk’s office at this address:

2000 Lakeridge Drive Southwest

Building 2

Olympia, WA 98502.

The clerk’s office charges $5 for the first certified copy and $1 per additional copy.

Note: Thurston County certified divorce records are not the same as informational copies. The former bears the clerk’s official seal and is crucial in most legal processes. For example, concerned parties need certified divorce records in remarriage applications and probate-type cases.

Type of Copy	Use Case	Who Can Request	Legally Valid?
Certified Copy	Remarriage, legal proceedings	Spouse, attorney, court	Yes
Informational Copy	Genealogy, general info	Anyone (if public)	No

Thurston Divorce Records Summary

Custodian	Available Record Type	Access Method	Fees & Notes
Thurston County Clerk’s Office.	Full case files, judgments	Public Portal / Mail / Email	$0.25 to $0.5/ page; $5 for the first certified copy.
Washington State Department of Health	Certificate of Record (1968 until the present date)	Mail-in via form	$25 per copy; includes only summary info (names, date, case number)