Grant County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

With over 99,100 people, Grant County comprises the Moses Lake, Micropolitan Statistical Area, also part of the Moses Lake-Othello, Combined Statistical Area. Its county seat is in Ephrata. Superior, District, and Municipal Courts make up the Grant County trial court system. All cases that are not under the sole jurisdiction of another court fall under the general jurisdiction of the Superior Courts. Certain categories of criminal, traffic, and civil cases are within the limited jurisdiction of District Courts. Every District Court has a division dedicated to small claims. Most cases involving violations of ordinances and some criminal charges fall under the limited jurisdiction of Municipal Courts.

The Grant County Superior Court has exclusive authority over felony crimes, some misdemeanors, land disputes, probate matters, divorces, and cases not assigned to a lower court. Additionally, they hear immigration cases and special legal writs. Within the Superior Court, is the Juvenile Department. This department has authority over most juvenile delinquency cases, child dependency issues, and foster care. Grant County District Courts handle a less serious range of cases. They deal with misdemeanors, traffic violations, and some city ordinance violations depending on local agreements. In civil matters, they have jurisdiction over cases under a certain dollar amount, typically including contract disputes, property damage claims, and some personal property fraud cases. Certain civil cases may be transferred to Superior Court if necessary. Both Superior and District Courts have Small Claims departments for handling minor civil cases with very limited amounts in dispute, typically under $5,000. These cases usually involve recovering money.

The 4,465 cases that the Grant County court system handles each year are evidence of the county's developing judicial system. With a crime rate of 4,510 per 100,000 people, the county is a prime illustration of the importance of having an effective legal system. Court records in Grant County are maintained by its courts' respective clerks. To request copies of District or Superior Court case records, contact the Clerk's office or fill out a request form.

In summary, the Grant County court system is an essential part of the county government and is dedicated to maintaining justice in a variety of legal matters. The Superior, District, and Municipal Courts make up the county's legal system, which enables it to manage the variety of cases it hears. The public has more faith in the Grant County judicial system because of the computerized system that is used to manage court data and guarantees accessibility and transparency.