Lewis County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Lewis County occupies approximately 2,403 square miles of land area, making it Washington's sixth-largest county. It was created in 1845 as Vancouver County but renamed in 1849 to honor Meriwether Lewis, a famous American explorer. About 82,663 people live in the county. Centralia is the county's largest city, while the county seat is Chehalis. The Lewis County trial court system comprises Superior, District, and Municipal Courts.

The Lewis County Superior Court is a general jurisdiction trial court. It handles all felony criminal proceedings in the county. Civil cases tried at the apex court include marriage annulment, probate matters, domestic relations, and insolvency proceedings. Legal proceedings involving minors are exclusive to the Juvenile Division of the Superior Court. Lewis' Superior Court also handles appeals from the District and Municipal Courts. The District Court hears criminal cases related to misdemeanors and traffic violations. Other legal matters in the District Court include name changes, small cases involving no more than $10,000, general civil suits below $100,000, domestic violence protection orders, and search warrant applications. Lewis County has Municipal Courts tasked with handling city ordinance violations that occur within their jurisdictions. Municipal Courts are in Winlock, Centralia, Chehalis, and Napavine.

Lewis County typically witnesses about 4,000 crimes each year. According to Washington's CrimeStats Online, the county's crime rate is usually above 2,000 crimes per 10,000 residents. In 2023, the Superior Court completed about 752 felony-related criminal cases and 1,067 civil cases. Other lower courts in the county resolved about 17,000 cases completely in 2023. The Lewis County Clerk is the county's official court record custodian. Anyone can contact the Clerk to obtain public court records filed in the Superior Court. Individuals may also search the Washington State Odyssey Portal for court records online. The District Court also provides access to court records via mail or online. Court records involving cases such as adoptions, juvenile dependencies, and adult mental health are not open to the public.

In summary, the Lewis County judiciary is dedicated to administering justice across a wide spectrum of legal matters through its District, Superior, and Municipal Courts. Transparency is a key priority for the Lewis County judiciary. They provide online access to public case files and court proceedings to achieve this. This enhances public trust and allows residents to stay informed and actively engage with the legal system