Bellingham Court Docket Search
Bellingham court docket records are maintained by two separate court systems: Bellingham Municipal Court for city ordinance violations and traffic infractions, and Whatcom County courts for more serious matters. Both offer public access to case information, though the process for requesting records differs between them. This guide explains how to search dockets and request records from each court serving Bellingham.
Bellingham Overview
Bellingham Municipal Court Docket Records
The Bellingham Municipal Court handles city ordinance violations, misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and parking cases within Bellingham city limits. The court is located at 2014 C Street, Bellingham, WA 98225. Its public office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Phone lines are available from 10:00 a.m. to noon and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The court also streams all hearings live for public viewing, which is a notable feature not available at every municipal court in Washington.
Court files and records at Bellingham Municipal Court are exempt from the Washington Public Disclosure Act under a Washington Supreme Court decision. However, local court rules provide that most court files are open for public inspection and copying. To request records from Bellingham Municipal Court, you can email court@cob.org, fax (360) 778-8151, mail a request to the court at 2014 C Street, Bellingham, WA 98225, or visit the clerk's window in person during office hours.
A Request for Court Records form (PDF) is available on the Bellingham Municipal Court website. The form asks whether you are requesting records for yourself or another party. It was last revised in March 2016 and is still the standard form for formal requests submitted by mail, email, or fax. Staff at the clerk's window can also assist with requests in person.
The screenshot below shows the Bellingham Municipal Court records page where the request form and contact details are listed.
This page at cob.org/gov/court/files is the starting point for requesting court files from Bellingham Municipal Court and contains links to court contacts and the Find My Court Date tool.
Whatcom County District Court Records for Bellingham
Whatcom County District Court handles criminal, civil, infraction, and miscellaneous cases that fall outside Bellingham Municipal Court's jurisdiction. The District Court is located at 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 401, Bellingham, WA 98225. To request records from this court, fill out the Whatcom County District Court Records Request Form and submit it by email, fax at (360) 778-5401, or mail to the address above.
The Whatcom County District Court hears criminal misdemeanor cases, which carry a maximum penalty of up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Gross misdemeanor cases carry a maximum of one year in jail and a $5,000 fine. The District Court also handles civil matters, infractions, and miscellaneous case types. Requestors are responsible for forwarding their own records after receiving them from the court.
The screenshot below shows the Whatcom County District Court records request page, which also handles cases from the Bellingham area.
This page provides the records request form and contact information for District Court records covering cases in and around Bellingham.
For Superior Court cases in Whatcom County, such as felonies, civil cases over $100,000, family law, and probate, the Odyssey Portal and the statewide DW Case Search are the primary search tools. Both are searchable by party name or case number and return case summaries with docket entries.
General Public Records Requests in Bellingham
General city records in Bellingham that are not court records can be requested through the City of Bellingham Public Records page. The city provides access to records in several ways. Many public records, including city databases and meeting materials, are accessible directly on the website without submitting a request. If a record is not available online, an online request form can be submitted. The city's Public Records Officer, Kelley Goetz, can be reached at publicrecords@cob.org or (360) 778-8156. Initial responses to requests are provided within five business days.
It is important to understand that general city public records and Bellingham Municipal Court records are handled through separate processes. City records go through the public records portal and are governed by RCW 42.56. Court records go directly to the Municipal Court and are governed by Court Rule GR 31. Submitting a court records request to the city clerk's office will result in a referral to the court, which adds time to the process.
Online Search and Legal Resources
For a quick free search of Bellingham court cases, the Washington State DW Case Search covers cases in Whatcom County Superior Court and District Court. The statewide case search updates daily and does not require an account. It returns party names, case numbers, case type, status, and docket entry lists. It does not show document images. For documents, contact the relevant court directly or use the Odyssey Portal if you have a subscription or single-use access.
Legal aid resources in the Bellingham area include Northwest Justice Project, which serves Whatcom County with free civil legal help for income-qualified residents. The Washington Courts self-help center at courts.wa.gov also offers forms and plain-language guides for traffic infractions, small claims, and other matters that appear on Bellingham court dockets. The live-streaming of Bellingham Municipal Court hearings is a unique resource for members of the public who want to observe proceedings before their own court date.
Whatcom County Court Docket Records
Bellingham is the county seat of Whatcom County. Superior Court and District Court records for Bellingham cases are maintained by the Whatcom County court system.
Nearby Cities
Other northwest Washington cities with court docket pages are listed below.