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