Lewis County, established in 1845, has a population of over 80,000 residents and is located in Southwestern Washington. Named after Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, it covers an area of about 2,436 square miles, making it the sixth-largest county in the state. Its seat is Chehalis, which is known for its agriculture and logging industries.

Courts in Lewis County

Lewis County court system comprises Superior, District, and Municipal Courts. The Lewis County Superior Court has general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases, including felonies and civil claims for monetary compensation. The court presides over family law matters, including divorce and child visitations, and probate matters, such as estates, wills, and trusts. The Juvenile Division of the Superior Courts deals with lawsuits involving minors, including delinquency, emancipation, and foster care.

The Lewis County District Court adjudicates misdemeanor cases, small claims for amounts under $8,000, civil disputes for claims below $100,000, and traffic infraction lawsuits. The court presides over preliminary hearings for felony cases and issues arrests and search warrants.

The Municipal Courts in Lewis County handle violations of city ordinances, minor offenses within municipalities, and traffic infractions. The court presides over misdemeanors, zoning violations, fire code violations, public smoking, and noise infractions.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Lewis County

Public records are documents from judicial proceedings accessible to the general public. Interested persons can find Lewis County public court records online using the Washington Courts Online Case Search. Additionally, record seekers may visit the courthouses to use the self-service terminals to look up public court records or mail requests for the documents.

Types of Public Court Records in Lewis County

Except sealed by the courts, the following types of court records are publicly accessible in Lewis County:

• Civil Court Records: Boundary disputes, foreclosures. Landlord-tenant disputes, personal injury claims, and medical malpractice records
• Criminal Court Records: Felonies, such as arson and homicide. Misdemeanors, including vandalism and public intoxication
• Probate Records: Guardianships, conservatorships, estates, trusts, and wills
• Family Court Records: Legal separation, annulments, divorce, child visitation, child custody, and spousal and child support
• Traffic Records: Stop sign violations, illegal parking, over-speeding, driving with a suspended license, and red light violations

Confidential Court Records in Lewis County

Confidential court records are documents generated during legal proceedings that are closed to the general public. Confidential court records are sealed to safeguard sensitive information and maintain the safety and privacy of the persons named on the court document. Confidential court records in Lewis County include:

• Mental health records
• Witness protection program records
• Crime and confidential informant's personal information
• Adoption records
• Juvenile court records

Personal identifiers on court records are confidential and restricted from the public. Redacting personal identifying information from public court records helps minimize the risk of identity theft, discrimination, and misuse of personal information. Personal data excluded from court documents include:

• Social Security number
• Birthdates and home address
• Financial account information
• Health insurance identification number
• Passport number

Juvenile Delinquency in Lewis, WA

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Lewis County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Washington often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 497 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Lewis County. Of that total, 65% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 321 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Lewis County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Lewis County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Lewis County, WA

https://access.wa.gov/

County Seat:	Chehalis
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1845
Total Square Miles:	2,436
2019 Population:	78,200
Persons/Square Mile:	0.03
County Contact:	360 Nw North St County Courthouse Chehalis , WA 98532-1925 http://lewiscountywa.gov/

Lewis County, WA Courts