How to Look Up Eviction Records in Washington 2026

Where to Search Washington Eviction Records

In Washington, an eviction record is created when a landlord files an unlawful detainer action in the District Court or Superior Court for the county where the rental sits. That filing, and everything that follows it, lives in that county's case file. There is no statewide eviction portal: Washington runs court records at the county level, so you search them through each county's court clerk rather than one central database. That means the answer to "what's on this address or tenant?" depends on which county you check, and a record in King County tells you nothing about a separate case in Spokane or Pierce.

Because access is county-by-county, finding a Washington eviction record is a local errand: identify the right county, then query its court system. Certified copies run $0.50 per page. The other half of the picture is that Washington does let certain unlawful detainer records be vacated, a real difference from states with no sealing law at all, and one that changes how landlords should screen.

How to look up a Washington eviction record

Start by pinning down the county where the rental property is located. Washington has no statewide search, so the case lives only in that county's court. Most unlawful detainer matters begin in District Court or Superior Court, so you'll query the clerk for that county's courts. Search by the tenant's name or the property address, and confirm you're looking at the right person before drawing conclusions; common names produce false matches.

Once you locate a case number, you can request the file and pull the documents that matter. Certified copies cost $0.50 per page, so if you only need to read the disposition you can often review the docket without paying for certified prints. Pull the actual case, not just an index hit, an index line shows that something was filed, not how it ended.

Reading the result: a filing is not a judgment

The single most important habit when reading a Washington unlawful detainer record is to check the disposition, not just the existence of a case. A filed eviction case is not the same as a judgment against the tenant. Cases get dismissed, settled, decided for the tenant, or withdrawn, and a docket that opens with a filing may close with the landlord losing or walking away.

Look for how the case actually resolved: was there a judgment, a dismissal, a finding for the tenant, or a stipulated agreement? In Washington those outcomes carry real legal weight, because the state's vacatur law keys off them, records where the tenant prevailed or the case was dismissed are exactly the ones eligible to be cleared. Treating every filing as a 'loss' misreads the file and, as below, can also expose a landlord to screening liability.

Expungement and what it means for landlord screening

Washington does allow certain unlawful detainer records to be vacated. Under RCW 59.18.367 (2021 SHB 1236), courts may vacate certain unlawful detainer records, this applies where the tenant prevailed or the case was dismissed, or where the tenant is low-income under the statute's criteria. That is a meaningful protection that many states lack, and it directly affects screening.

For landlords, two duties stack. Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), tenant-screening reports must be accurate and you must follow adverse-action procedures when you deny based on one. On top of that, Washington's sealing law means some records have been vacated and should no longer surface. Do not base a denial on a record that has been vacated or that shows a dismissal or tenant win. Verify the disposition against the court file before acting.

The tenant's side: getting a record vacated

If you're a Washington tenant, the path to clearing an eviction record runs through RCW 59.18.367. The law lets courts vacate certain unlawful detainer records, and eligibility turns on the outcome or your circumstances: cases where you prevailed or that were dismissed, and cases where you meet the statute's low-income criteria, are the candidates the law is written to reach.

Because Washington keeps records by county and has no central portal, you pursue vacatur in the same District Court or Superior Court that handled the original case. Start by getting your own copy of the file so you know exactly how it was disposed, certified copies are $0.50 per page, then ask that court to vacate the unlawful detainer record under the statute. A vacated record is one a compliant screener should no longer report or act on.

Step-by-Step: How to Search Washington Eviction Records

1. Identify the county court. Find the District Court or Superior Court website for the county where the property is located.
2. Search by party name. Enter the prospective tenant's full legal name (last name, first name) as a defendant/respondent. Try name variations including maiden names.
3. Filter by case type. Select eviction, forcible detainer, unlawful detainer, or summary possession as the case type depending on the court's terminology.
4. Review the disposition. Identify whether the case resulted in a judgment for the landlord (eviction), dismissal (tenant won or case settled), or is still pending. A filing alone does not mean the tenant was evicted.
5. Check the filing date. Important: Washington has eviction record protections, RCW 59.18.367 (Wash. SHB 1236, eff. May 2021). Do not make adverse screening decisions on sealed, expunged, or protected records.
6. Request certified copies if needed. For a certified copy of the court record, contact the District Court or Superior Court clerk's office directly. Fees are typically $0.50/page.

Eviction Record Expungement in Washington

Landlords and screening companies may not use sealed or expunged eviction records as a basis for adverse tenant-screening decisions in Washington. Tenants who believe their records have been improperly used may have a civil claim under the applicable statute. If a tenant discloses an expunged eviction, you may ask for context but cannot deny housing based solely on the expunged record.

This page was prepared by the Eviction Risk Map research team, drawing on Washington's court structure (cases heard in District Court or Superior Court, administered by the county clerks under the Washington Courts / Administrative Office of the Courts) and the state's record-vacatur statute, RCW 59.18.367 (2021 SHB 1236, eff. May 2021). Last reviewed June 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; for a specific case, consult a licensed Washington attorney or the relevant county court.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I look up an eviction record in Washington?

There is no statewide portal in Washington, so you search county-by-county. Identify the county where the rental is located, then query that county's District Court or Superior Court clerk by the tenant's name or the property address. Once you find the case number you can review the docket and request documents; certified copies cost $0.50 per page.

Are Washington eviction records public?

Yes. Unlawful detainer cases filed in Washington's District Court or Superior Court are court records and are generally open to the public at the county level. There is no single statewide database, so the same person's cases may appear in different counties. Records that have been vacated under RCW 59.18.367, however, should no longer surface.

Can a tenant expunge or seal an eviction in Washington?

Yes. Washington allows certain unlawful detainer records to be vacated. Under RCW 59.18.367 (2021 SHB 1236), courts may vacate records where the tenant prevailed or the case was dismissed, or where the tenant is low-income under the statute's criteria. You request vacatur from the same District Court or Superior Court that handled the case.

How much does a certified copy of a Washington eviction record cost?

Certified copies of court records in Washington run $0.50 per page. If you only need to read how a case was decided, you can often review the docket and disposition without paying for certified prints, and pay only for the certified pages you actually need.

Related Washington Landlord Guides

Court portal information sourced from the Washington court administrative office official website. Expungement laws from published Washington statutes (see citations above). Last updated August 28, 2026. For informational purposes only, not legal advice.