Start with the systems most likely to change your read of a person. Then cross-check custody, registries, and paper-trail sources before you go wider.
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01 · The docket layer
Start with courts
2 sources
Run county and statewide court portals first. Civil, criminal, family, and lower-court systems are often separate, so this is where most missed records happen.
Two complementary portals: (1) Washington Courts statewide name search at dw.courts.wa.gov — free name search across all WA courts including King County, updated daily. (2) King County Superior Court own portal at dja-prd-ecexap1.kingcounty.gov — most current data for King County Superior cases (felony, civil, family, probate). Also: King County District Court at kcdc-efiling.kingcounty.gov/ecourt/ (misdemeanors, infractions). Seattle Municipal Court at courtrecords.seattle.gov for city-level cases.
Washington has a free statewide name search that covers all courts — start there. For the most current King County Superior Court data (criminal felonies, family, civil), the county's own portal has more up-to-date information. King County's court system is large and fragmented — Superior handles felonies and family, District handles misdemeanors, and Seattle has its own municipal court for city ordinance violations.
Statewide name search engine for cases filed in Washington municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts. Updated daily at 3am. IMPORTANT EXCEPTIONS: King County Superior Court uses its own portal (dja-prd-ecexap1.kingcounty.gov) and Pierce County Superior uses LINX (linxonline.co.pierce.wa.us) — neither is fully covered here. For all other WA Superior Courts, use the Odyssey portal (odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov). Shows case filings and hearing dates only — not outcomes or convictions. WSP maintains criminal history records separately.
Washington's statewide court search covers most courts but explicitly excludes King County and Pierce County Superior Courts — those need their own portals. Best used for district and municipal court cases across WA, and for Superior Court cases in all counties except King and Pierce.
02 · Current risk signals
Check custody and registries
3 sources
Use jail, corrections, and registry systems to catch records that do not show up in a normal court search.
Name-searchable inmate locator for King County's two adult detention facilities: King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) at 500 5th Ave, Seattle WA 98104 and Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) at 620 W James St, Kent WA 98032. Search by name, date of birth, race, or gender. Shows charges, booking number, bail/bond, court case information, and custody status. Alternate portal: dajd-jms.powerappsportals.us/public/subject-lookup/ (PowerApps version). Phone backup: 206-296-1234 (24/7).
King County's jail lookup covers both downtown Seattle and the Kent facility. It shows real-time custody status and the booking number — useful if you need to send money, arrange a visit, or know which facility someone is in. 206-296-1234 is the 24/7 info line.
Washington Department of Corrections public search for individuals currently incarcerated in WA state prisons (distinct from county jails). Name-searchable statewide. Shows current facility, offense, and sentence information. Applies to all 39 WA counties — anyone serving longer sentences will have moved from county jail to DOC custody.
If someone isn't showing up in a county jail roster, check here next. Longer sentences mean transfer to state DOC. This search covers all state prison facilities statewide and shows current location, offense, and projected release information.
Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs maintains the public sex offender search for Washington State. Searchable by name, zip code, or address. Covers Level II (moderate risk) and Level III (high risk) registered sex offenders — those whose risk assessment determined community notification is warranted. Level I offenders are registered but not publicly listed. Applies statewide across all 39 counties.
Washington's sex offender registry is name-searchable and shows address, photo, and offense details for notifiable offenders. Only Level II and III are publicly listed — Level I (lowest risk) are registered but not disclosed online. This is one of the highest-value sources in the directory for the GR audience and covers the entire state.
03 · Context and corroboration
Pull the paper trail
3 sources
Recorder, assessor, prosecutor, records-request, and licensing sources help verify addresses, liens, ownership, agency records, and local context.
Property assessment records for King County via the eReal Property portal. Search by address or parcel number — owner name is displayed on the property report once a parcel is located. Parcel Viewer (gismaps.kingcounty.gov/parcelviewer2/) also shows ownership. Covers Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Renton, Kent, Auburn, and all King County cities and unincorporated areas. Office at 201 S Jackson St, Seattle WA 98104 (206-296-3920).
King County's assessor portal requires an address or parcel number to start — it doesn't have a direct owner-name search field. But once you pull a parcel, the owner name is right there. Use the Parcel Viewer if you have an address; use the Auditor's Landmark system if you want to search by name directly.
Recorded real property documents for King County via the Landmark online system. Search by grantor/grantee name, parcel ID, or recording number. Documents from 1991–present viewable online. Records 1976–1991 available at County Archives (in-person or by appointment). Covers deeds, deeds of trust, liens, mortgages, reconveyances, easements, and marriage records. Office at 201 S Jackson St Suite 204, Seattle WA 98104 (206-477-6620). Hours: M-F 8:30am–4:30pm; recording ends at 3:30pm.
King County's Auditor is where you search for deed and lien records by name — the grantor/grantee search in Landmark is the direct name lookup. Deeds back to 1991 are online. If you're tracing ownership of Seattle-area real estate or looking for liens and judgments, this is the tool. The county recorder is called the "Auditor" in Washington — same function, different title.
Washington Secretary of State Corporations Division business entity search. Searchable by business name, registered agent name, or UBI number. Shows LLC members, registered agents, filing dates, and current status for all WA-registered businesses. Useful for identifying ownership structures behind LLCs that appear on property records.
When a property deed or lien lists an LLC as the owner, this is how you find out who is behind it. Washington's business registry shows registered agents and sometimes members — the trail from an LLC to an individual often runs through here.
04 · Outside the county
Run the federal backstop
3 sources
Federal court and incarceration systems sit outside local portals. Run them before you decide the search is clean.
Federal District, Appeals, and Bankruptcy courts. Over 1 billion documents filed. $0.10/page (capped at $3.00/document); free if quarterly charges under $30. Account required for search. Confirmed live 2026-05-03.
PACER catches federal cases the state DOC and state courts will not. Account required, small per-search fees. Worth using for white-collar, federal drug, immigration, and bankruptcy.
All federal prison inmates, current and historical from 1982. Search by name (with race/sex/age filters) or inmate number. Note: search backend showed intermittent error during 2026-05-03 verification — likely temporary. If main tool is down, try https://www.bop.gov/mobile/find_inmate/byname.jsp as fallback.
All 50 states aggregated, plus DC, US territories, and tribal nations. Search by name or location. DOJ-operated. Named after Dru Sjodin. Also links to abuse reporting resources. Confirmed live 2026-05-03.