The court system of Kitsap County, Washington, encompasses several levels of courts, each maintaining its own case records. The site KitsapCourt.us helps quickly navigate publicly available information about county court records. Official records of the Superior Court are maintained by the County Clerk, while District Court records are available through a separate electronic portal. Additionally, you can use the Washington State court case search, the clerk's portal, and a personal visit to the court office in Port Orchard.
Kitsap Court System Overview
Kitsap County Superior Court is a court of general jurisdiction with original and appellate jurisdiction under the Washington State Constitution. The county is part of a judicial district serving exclusively Kitsap County. The Superior Court handles serious criminal cases, civil lawsuits without monetary limits, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The District Court deals with limited jurisdiction cases — misdemeanors, small claims, and traffic violations. Both courts are located in Port Orchard.
Kitsap County Courthouse
Kitsap County Clerk receives, processes, and stores all Superior Court documents. For District Court records, contact this court's office directly.
Courts Serving Kitsap
| Court | Address and Contacts |
|---|---|
| Kitsap County Superior Court | 614 Division Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366 |
| Kitsap County District Court | 614 Division Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366 |
| U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington | 700 Stewart Street, Suite 13128 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Washington | 700 Stewart Street, Suite 6301 |
| Bremerton Municipal Court | 545 Park Avenue, Bremerton, WA 98337 |
| Port Orchard Municipal Court | 216 Prospect Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366 |
| Poulsbo Municipal Court | 200 NE Moe Street, Poulsbo, WA 98370 |
| Bainbridge Island Municipal Court | 280 Madison Avenue N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 |
What Types of Cases Kitsap Courts Hear
Kitsap County courts hear a wide range of cases. The Superior Court has unlimited jurisdiction, while the District Court focuses on limited jurisdiction cases. Municipal courts handle violations of city ordinances.
- Criminal cases: felonies, misdemeanors, infractions
- Civil cases: lawsuits without monetary limits (Superior Court) and up to $100,000 (District Court)
- Small claims — up to $10,000
- Family law: divorce, custody, alimony, parentage
- Probate cases: wills, guardianship, conservatorship
- Juvenile cases and child protection matters
- Traffic violations and DUI
- Adoptions and termination of parental rights
District Court Cases in Kitsap
Kitsap County District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction. It handles misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, civil lawsuits up to $100,000, small claims up to $10,000, and traffic violations. The court also conducts preliminary hearings in felony cases before they are transferred to the Superior Court.
Cases are initiated through police reports, civil lawsuits, or complaints. A District Court judge is assigned to a case according to the internal schedule. Attorneys and self-represented parties can file documents through the District Court electronic portal. Appeals from District Court decisions are filed with the Superior Court.
Magistrate Court Cases in Kitsap
In Washington State, there are no separate magistrate courts at the county level — their functions are performed by the District Court. The District Court conducts arraignments, preliminary hearings in felony cases, and also hears:
- Misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors — punishable by up to 364 days in jail
- Civil cases up to $100,000 under RCW 3.66.020
- Small claims up to $10,000 under RCW 12.40.010
- Traffic violations and infractions
- DUI hearings and arraignments
- Protection orders of certain categories
High-volume cases, such as traffic violations, often have separate hearing days on the court schedule.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Kitsap
Family law. Divorce, child custody, alimony, parentage establishment, protection orders, and termination of parental rights are all handled by the Superior Court. Parties file petitions through the County Clerk's office. Certified copies of marriage or divorce records can also be ordered through the Washington State Department of Health.
Probate cases. Probate, guardianship, conservatorship, and trust matters are handled by the Superior Court. The clerk retains all case documents indefinitely.
Juvenile cases. Cases under the Juvenile Justice Act and Child Protective Act also fall under the jurisdiction of the Superior Court. Juvenile case records are confidential under RCW 13.50 and are not subject to public disclosure without a court order. For inquiries regarding juvenile cases, contact the clerk's office at (360) 337-7164.
How Cases Move Through the Kitsap Court System
- Case initiation. A criminal case begins with a complaint or prosecutor's information; a civil case begins with the filing of a complaint or petition. Documents are filed through the clerk's office or electronic portal.
- Judge assignment. A case is assigned to a specific judge according to the court's internal rules.
- Initial hearings. In criminal cases — arraignment (charge announcement and bail setting). In civil cases — scheduling conference.
- Pre-trial phase. Parties exchange evidence (discovery), file motions. In criminal cases, plea negotiations may occur.
- Trial or resolution. A case concludes with a jury verdict, plea, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-decision. In criminal cases — sentencing. In civil cases — judgment enforcement. Appeals from District Court decisions are filed with the Superior Court; from Superior Court decisions — with the Court of Appeals.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Kitsap
The administrative management of county courts is carried out by the Trial Court Administrator under the guidance of the presiding judge. Local rules for the Superior Court and District Court are published on the Washington State Courts portal.
Public access to records. Under the Washington Public Records Act (RCW 42.56), most court records are public. Exceptions include juvenile cases, sealed cases, and certain family records. County public records requests can be submitted through the Kitsap County public records portal or according to the public records request procedure.
Attending hearings. Hearings in Kitsap County courts are open to the public, except for cases closed by a judge's order. Some hearings are held remotely — schedules and links are available on the respective court's website.
For inquiries regarding Superior Court records, contact the clerk's office:
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Kitsap
- State court case search. Search by name and case number on the Washington State Courts portal is updated daily. The official record is maintained in the court where the case was filed.
- Requesting copies of court records. Through the clerk's record copy request page, you can order Superior Court documents. Historical records from 1973 are available in the Washington State Digital Archives.
- Criminal history. The WATCH system of the Washington State Patrol allows checking criminal conviction data. For a full fingerprint-based check, contact the WSP Criminal History unit.
- County inmate roster. The Web Jail Viewer provides information on individuals in the Kitsap County Sheriff's jail. A list of those booked in the last 72 hours is available separately.
- State inmate search. The Department of Corrections search shows individuals serving time in state correctional facilities.
- Warrant check. If you suspect an arrest warrant, contact your attorney or use the Kitsap County Prosecutor's instructions. The DOC warrant search covers Department of Corrections warrants.
- Property records. The Kitsap County Auditor's document search includes records of deeds, mortgages, and other property-related documents since 1987.
- County sheriff. The Kitsap County Sheriff's Office accepts requests for police reports. The request form can be downloaded in PDF format.
- Court assistance. The clerk's office provides resources for self-represented individuals, including information on legal aid. Details are on the Kitsap County Clerk's page.