Contact Information |
Adams County Clerk P.O. Box 187 Legal Newspaper |
Catherine R. Sloan, Clerk
JURY INFORMATION | |
UPDATE - A trial has been set to begin April 23, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. If you received a letter confirming you for jury service, please report for Jury Duty. Thank you. Haley Anderson, Jury Administrator (509)659-3258 Jury Information Line (509)659-3228 This information line will be updated with the newest information as soon as it becomes available. |
The Clerk's Office is prohibited by law from giving legal advice.
- Fee Schedule
- Local Superior Court Rules
- Self Help - Legal Information
- Court Forms
- Passport Information
- Community Resource List
- Protection Orders
Please call 509-659-3257 to set up an appointment.
The County Clerk is an elected official created by the state constitution and
is the administrative and financial officer of the Superior Court. The office is technical and the duties are, in some instances, quasi-judicial.
As Ex-officio Clerk of the Superior Court, the County Clerk must keep a record of all appearances and the date of filing of pleadings, a calendar for all scheduled proceedings and a daily record of those proceedings. An execution docket must be maintained to record judgments of the court. The Clerk assures that all records are accurately kept and that court transactions are performed in a timely manner in order to maintain the integrity
of the judicial process. Case filings include:
- Criminal
In criminal cases, the clerk issues warrants of arrest and summonses. The clerk registers all witnesses, is responsible for safeguarding all exhibits, and also records all jury appearances.
- Domestic relations, civil and paternity
The clerk issues writs of garnishment and execution and provides forms and assistance to the public in domestic violence and anti-harassment cases. Certificates for the dissolution of marriage are transmitted to the Department of Heath, and all litigants in civil and domestic cases that have been without action for one year must be notified.
- Probate/guardianship
The clerk keeps a record of wills and bonds, and issues letters testamentary, letters of administration or letters of guardianship authorizing representatives to act on behalf of persons who are deceased or incapacitated. In probate, the clerks issue forms for the transfer of title to mobile homes and vehicles.
- Adoption
Adoption decrees and re-registration forms go directly from the clerk's office to the Department of Health.
- Mental Illness, adult and juvenile
Responsibility lies with the clerk for maintaining the confidentiality of involuntary commitment cases.
- Juvenile Dependency
The clerk maintains confidential court records pertaining to children who have been abandoned, abused, neglected and are in the custody of the court. The clerk is responsible for issuing notice and summons. Dependency cases also require the clerk to perform special duties with regard to shelter care and "at risk" youth matters.
- Juvenile Offender
Upon a charge filed by the prosecuting attorney in a situation involving a juvenile, the clerk must issue a summons and warrant of arrest. Juvenile cases are subject to numerous special statutes, but have the same requirements as adult cases where record keeping and exhibit control are concerned.
- Miscellaneous Duties
The county clerk accepts applications for passports serving as an agent for the Federal government.