Burien Court Docket Access
Burien does not have its own municipal court. Court docket records for Burien cases are handled by King County District Court South Division for lower-level matters, and King County Superior Court for felony, family law, and civil cases above the district court threshold. This guide covers how to search for Burien court dockets, how to request records, and where to go in person if you need help with a case.
Burien Overview
No Burien Municipal Court: What That Means
Burien is incorporated but relies entirely on King County courts for judicial services. There is no Burien Municipal Court. When Burien residents or businesses have cases involving traffic infractions, misdemeanors, or civil matters, those cases go to King County District Court South Division. The South Division courthouse is at 601 SW 149th Street, Burien, WA 98166. The phone number is 206-205-9200.
This matters when you are searching for court docket records. If you are looking for a Burien case, you will not find a standalone Burien Municipal Court docket. Instead, search the King County District Court system. You can do that using the District Court's e-Filing and Case Access Portal, which allows searches by case number, defendant name, date of birth, or filing date.
Small claims filings are also handled through the District Court portal. This covers civil disputes up to $10,000. The portal supports both lookups and new filings for qualifying cases.
The image below is from the Burien city homepage, which links to public records, municipal code, and court-related resources at the King County level.
The city website is a useful reference point but all court docket records for Burien are managed at the King County level.
King County District Court South Division for Burien Cases
King County District Court South Division serves the Burien area. Cases handled here include misdemeanors, traffic infractions, small claims, civil actions under $100,000, and preliminary hearings. The e-Filing and Case Access Portal at the King County Script Portal gives you online access to docket entries, court filings, and case summaries.
Public computer terminals are available inside the courthouse during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. These terminals provide free case access. You do not need to set up an account or pay to search for a case at the courthouse. This is a good option if you do not have internet access at home or want help from court staff while you search.
Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Non-certified copies cost $0.25 per page. Sealed or confidential records require identity verification before they can be released.
King County Superior Court for Burien
Felony criminal cases, civil matters over $100,000, family law, probate, and appeals from District Court are all handled in King County Superior Court. For Burien residents involved in those types of cases, the KC Script Portal provides access to docket entries, judgments, and official court filings.
Registered users can view, download, or request documents and audio through the portal. Document images for many cases are available online. For older cases or restricted records, in-person requests at the clerk's office may be required. King County Superior Court is located in Seattle; check their website for the exact address of the clerk's office that handles records for south King County cases.
Note: Searching is free for case summaries. Downloading documents or getting certified copies involves the fees described above.
The screenshot below is from the King County Sheriff page for Burien, which also links to court-related resources and shows how county services serve Burien residents.
Police records from Burien are handled through King County Sheriff or Burien Police Department, separately from court docket filings.
Burien Police Records vs. Court Docket Records
These are two different things. Court docket records come from King County District Court or Superior Court. Police records come from the Burien Police Department. The Burien Police Department is located at 14905 6th Ave SW, Burien, WA 98166. The phone number is (206) 296-3333.
If you need an incident report or collision report, request it from the police department directly. That is not part of the court record system. Court records cover what happened in court: case filings, motions, orders, hearing dates, judgments, and docket entries. Police records cover what law enforcement documented at the scene or during the investigation.
Both types of records may be relevant depending on what you are looking for. Start with the King County court portal for case records. Go to the police department for incident-level documents. The Burien city website can help direct you to the right department if you are unsure.
Statewide Case Search Tools
The Washington Courts DW Case Search is a free statewide tool that covers all courts of limited jurisdiction in Washington. It updates daily and lets you search by name, date of birth, or case number. Results show case summaries and hearing dates but do not include document images. This is useful for quick lookups when you do not know which specific court handled a case.
The main Washington Courts portal at courts.wa.gov provides access to court rules, General Rule 31 guidance on public records access, and links to all county court websites. If you are unsure of your rights when requesting records, GR 31 explains what is accessible to the public and what can be withheld.
King County Court Docket Records
All Burien court docket records are part of the King County court system. The King County page covers Superior Court, District Court, and the full range of court records for south King County including Burien cases.
Nearby Cities
Other south King County cities near Burien also rely on King County courts for case dockets. Check these nearby city pages for more local court information.