This Site Is Not a Government Office or Records Custodian. We provide a private reference guide and do not hold official files. We cannot retrieve or certify a record, confirm who lives at an address, or change an agency roll. Direct those requests to the agency that maintains the record.
Where to Direct a Record Request
Use the guide that matches your question, then contact the office responsible for the record:
- Address and parcel research: start with the Washington street directory; property records identify owners and parcels, not necessarily every person living at an address
- Historical directories and former residents: browse the Washington city-directory guide
- One person's public-record trail: follow the Washington resident-lookup steps
- Finding the office responsible: use the Washington records-office guide to identify the relevant state, county, or city custodian
- A record not available online: direct a request under the Washington Public Records Act, chapter 42.56 RCW, to the agency that holds it
Washington's Public Records Act requires an initial response within five business days (RCW 42.56.520). The agency may provide records, give an estimated response date, ask for clarification, or deny access with a cited exemption; it does not have to create a new record. Requests for county and city records must go to the local office that holds them.
Secretary of State records: the Public Records Officer accepts requests by mail at PO Box 40224, Olympia, WA 98504-0224, and by phone at (360) 704-5220. Use the Secretary of State's request page for the online portal and current instructions. That office handles records of the Secretary of State, not every state or local agency.
Historical state and local records: the Washington State Archives Southwest Regional Branch is at 1129 Washington Street SE, Olympia, WA 98504. Its posted public hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except state holidays; call (360) 753-1684 before a visit. The branch holds selected archival series and is not a general records office for all agencies. See the official branch contact and collection information.
Verified official routes:
- For records held by the Secretary of State, use the Washington Secretary of State public-records request portal.
- For county property offices, select the county through the State Treasurer's assessor and treasurer directory.
- For court records, use the Washington Courts directory to identify the court that holds the file.
- For state vital records, follow the contact and ordering routes on the Department of Health's vital-records page.
- For selected digitized or transcribed historical records, search Washington State Archives Digital Archives.