How to Actually Look Up a Court Case in Kitsap County

How to Actually Look Up a Court Case in Kitsap County

Let’s say you need to look up a court case. Maybe it’s your own. Maybe it’s a custody matter. Maybe you heard something about a neighbor and you want to know if it’s public record. Maybe you’re just curious how this works. Here’s the honest version of how to do it — including the parts the county website leaves out.

Step 1: Know what system you need

There are two separate systems for looking up Kitsap County Superior Court records. The county website lists them both without explaining the difference, so let’s fix that. Washington State Digital Archives is for the general public. It’s free to search. You can view and purchase certified or non-certified documents. This is almost certainly the one you want. Odyssey Portal is a subscription service for attorneys and businesses who access court records constantly as part of their work. If you’re an individual looking up a case once, this is not for you. Start with the Digital Archives.

Step 2: Go to the Washington State Digital Archives

The URL is digitalarchives.wa.gov. Note that you’re leaving the county website entirely — that’s normal and expected, just worth knowing. Once you’re there: under “Record Series,” select Superior Court Records. Under “County,” select Kitsap.

Step 3: Search by case number if you have it

If you have a case number, enter it with dashes. Kitsap Superior Court case numbers look like this: 26-2-00000-18. The format is year, case type code, sequence number, and court code. If you don’t know the case number, you can search by name. Results will show the case title (which usually includes both parties’ last names), the case type, and a filing date.

Step 4: What you’ll actually see

Results show a list of documents associated with the case. Each document is listed with a description and a filing date. Before you purchase anything, click the page/magnifying glass icon to preview a portion — this helps confirm you’re looking at the right document before paying. Documents are purchased individually. Most are a few dollars. Certified copies cost more than non-certified.

Step 5: What you won’t find — and why

Not every case is in the Digital Archives. Sealed cases don’t appear. Juvenile files, adoptions, and dependency cases are not public record and won’t show up at all. If you’re looking for an older case and it’s not coming up, it’s possible the records haven’t been digitized. You’d need to contact the Clerk’s office directly at (360) 337-7164 and request a physical records search.

If you need audio from a hearing

That’s a separate process. Audio recordings run $25 per hearing day for standard processing with pickup or digital download in 3-5 business days. Expedited is $45 with 1-2 business days. Mailed copies add $5. Payment goes through a third-party platform called Point and Pay before you submit the request. The fees must be paid before the request is processed. If you choose digital download, the link expires 30 days after it’s sent — download it when you get it. To listen to the audio, you’ll need to download a free player from fortherecord.com. That’s a second third-party site. Yes, really.

If you need a written transcript

That requires its own process through a court transcriber. You may need to purchase the audio first. The Superior Court website has more information, though it’s a separate page from the Clerk’s site, which is a separate page from the Digital Archives. Three websites, two platforms, one question. That’s the current state of things.

The version of this that should exist

One page. Plain language. Clear explanation of which system is for what. A direct link that works. Fees stated upfront. No third-party redirects that look like you’ve left a government site. That’s not a technology problem. It’s a priority problem. I’m running for Kitsap County Clerk because I’ve watched people try to navigate this system — often during some of the hardest moments of their lives — and I know we can do better. A good clerk’s office should make this easy. Right now, it doesn’t.

Brien Kennedy is a candidate for Kitsap County Clerk in the August 4, 2026 primary. He is a current deputy clerk in the office and has direct experience helping residents navigate this process.