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Courts FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions - Courts
In most cases, an 'Yes' marks the spot where you would go to seek an answer to the question indicated.
Multiple 'Yes's' for the same question indicate the location depends on your specific case / jurisdiction.
The county clerk and Superior Court have separate offices and each has its own website with information and links to other resources.
Type of Service
Driving / Traffic
Questions |
County Clerk |
Superior Court |
Juvenile Court |
District Court |
Tacoma Municipal Court |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Where can I file or get a copy of an accident report? |
No |
No |
No |
County Sheriff |
City Police |
2. Where do I get a copy of a police report? |
No |
No |
No |
County Sheriff |
City Police |
3. How do I get an officer to appear in court? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
4. Where can I get information regarding my Bridge Toll Ticket? |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
5. Where can I get a copy of my driver's abstract? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
6. Where do I pay traffic, non-traffic and parking tickets? |
No |
No |
No | Yes |
Yes |
7. Will parking tickets go on my driving record? |
No |
No |
No | No |
Yes |
8. Where do I ask for a mitigation or contested hearing? | No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
9. How do I get a placard and/or handicapped license plates? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
10. Where do I get my car tabs renewed? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Jury Duty
Questions |
County Clerk |
Superior Court |
Juvenile Court |
District Court |
Tacoma Municipal Court |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. How do I get excused from jury duty? |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
2. How do I change the date of my jury duty? |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Family / Marriage
Questions |
County Clerk |
Superior Court |
Juvenile Court |
District Court |
Tacoma Municipal Court |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. How can I make an appointment with a courthouse facilitator / domestic relations facilitator? |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
2. How do I file for a dissolution of marriage? |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
3. Where can I obtain legal forms online? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
4. Where do I get a restraining order? |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
5. Where do I get a marriage license? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
6. Can a judge marry us? |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
7. Where can I get a name changed? |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
8. Where do I get a birth certificate? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
9. Where do I get a copy of a death certificate? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
10. Where do I file a will? |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
11. How do I register a domestic partnership? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Domestic Violence / Protection Orders
Questions |
County Clerk |
Superior Court |
Juvenile Court |
District Court |
Tacoma Municipal Court |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Where do I get a DV protection order? |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
2. Where do I get a protection order for unlawful harassment? |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
3. Where do I get a no contact order? |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
4. How do I lift a no contact order? |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Court Details
Questions |
County Clerk |
Superior Court |
Juvenile Court |
District Court |
Tacoma Municipal Court |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Can I talk to the judge? |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
2. Where do I go to file an appeal from District or Municipal Court? |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
3. Where do I go to file a probate or guardianship action? |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
4. Where do I go to review a court file? |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
5. Where do I go to copy documents in a court file? |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
6. Where can I get a copy of the local court rules? |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
7. What are bench copies and who gets them? |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
8. How do I schedule a trial or hearing date? |
No |
Yes | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
9.Who handles the regularly scheduled calendars? |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
10. How can I find out if I am on the trial calendar? |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
11. I cannot be there for court when I am scheduled. What can I do? |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
I Need An Attorney / Help
Questions |
County Clerk |
Superior Court |
Juvenile Court |
District Court |
Tacoma Municipal Court |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. I do not have an attorney and cannot afford one. I might go to jail. Who can I call? Assigned Counsel |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
2. How do I find an attorney? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
3. Where can I find information on an approved county arbitrator or arbitration forms? |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
4. Where do I get the list of approved Guardians Ad Litem (GAL) or how can I be added to the registries? |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Forms
Questions |
County Clerk |
Superior Court |
Juvenile Court |
District Court |
Tacoma Municipal Court |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Where do I go to obtain or buy forms? |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
2. Where can I obtain legal forms online? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
I Owe Fines, Fees or Assessments
Questions |
County Clerk |
Superior Court |
Juvenile Court |
District Court |
Tacoma Municipal Court |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. How do I make payments for court imposed obligations I owe? |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
In Custody
Questions |
County Clerk |
Superior Court |
Juvenile Court |
District Court |
Tacoma Municipal Court |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Where can I find out if someone was picked up? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
2. Where do I find out if someone is in jail / detention? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
3. Where do I go to post bond / bail? |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Restore Rights
Questions |
County Clerk |
Superior Court |
Juvenile Court |
District Court |
Tacoma Municipal Court |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. How do I get my voting rights back? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No | No |
Property
Questions |
County Clerk |
Superior Court |
Juvenile Court |
District Court |
Tacoma Municipal Court |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Where can I ask about how the value on my property was assessed? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
2. Where do I go to contest the assessed value on my tax statement? |
No | No |
No | No | No |
3. Where do I pay my property taxes? |
No |
No |
No | No | No |
4. Where can I get information on landlord-tenant issues? |
No |
No |
No | No | No |
Employment
Questions |
County Clerk |
Superior Court |
Juvenile Court |
District Court |
Tacoma Municipal Court |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Where can I check for job openings? |
No |
Yes |
Yes | Yes |
Yes |
General Questions
Questions |
County Clerk |
Superior Court |
Juvenile Court |
District Court |
Tacoma Municipal Court |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Where can I report a crime? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
2. How do I schedule an interpreter? |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
3. Where can I get a list of approved county arbitrators? |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
4. Where do I get the list of approved Guardians Ad Litem (GAL)? |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
5. Where can I get a copy of my driver's abstract? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
6. Where do I pay traffic, non-traffic and parking tickets? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
7. Will parking tickets go on my driving record? |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
8. Where do I ask for a mitigation or contested hearing? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
9. How do I get a placard and/or handicapped license plates? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |