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Not sure what agency has the record you need?
A public record is document information created, received, or maintained by a government entity that relates to the conduct of public business. Public records can include records in many formats such as:
Washington government records are maintained by the agency that creates or receives them. The Office of the Secretary of State does not maintain records for every state or local government agency.
Popular Records Table
| If you're looking for... | Go to... |
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Driver’s license Driving record Sales and transfers of motor vehicles License plates Professional licenses |
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Certified birth certificate Certified death certificate Marriage certificate Divorce certificate Hospital and provider records |
Department of Health |
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Police reports Police investigations Arrest records Bodycam footage |
The responding local city or county law enforcement agency or |
| Background check | Washington State Patrol |
| Property and real estate | Your local County Assessor or Recorder/Auditor’s office |
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Superior Court records District Court records County Court records |
Washington State Superior Courts Washington State District Courts County courthouse |
| Wills and Estates | County court in which the records were filed |
| Incarceration records | Department of Corrections |
| Public Works records |
Department of Enterprise Services or local/county government public works offices (depending on what agency created or maintains the record) |
| Highway, road, and bridge construction | Department of Transportation |
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Adult protective custody Domestic violence Case management |
Department of Social and Health Services |
| Child welfare, custody, and/or abuse reports | Department of Children, Youth, and Families |
| K-12 school records | Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction |
| Personnel or employment records | State agency in which the individual was employed |
| Doing Business As (DBA)/trade name, and business license | Department of Revenue |
Records available from the Office of the Secretary of State
Elections
- Candidates and Candidate filings Initiatives and referenda
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Election results
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Election data, reports, and statistics
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Voter registration information and forms
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Voter outreach and educational materials
Browse Elections Records
Corporations, Charities & Trademarks
Find:
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Business entity filings
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Annual reports
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Registered agents
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Articles of incorporation
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Charities records
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State trademarks
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Certified copies of business records
Browse Corporations and Charities Records
Washington State Archives
Find:
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Birth, death, and marriage filings
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Historic Court Records
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Historic Land and Property Records
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Historic maps, plats, and aerial images
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Historic military records
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Naturalization records
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Historic administrative records
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Historic photographs, audio and other materials
Still not sure where to look?
Is the record about the work of the Washington Secretary of State?
Yes → Search our online records or submit a public records request.
No → Contact the state or local agency that created and maintains the record.
Not sure → Use Washington’s State Government Agency Directory to identify the agency most likely to maintain it.