Clerk's Office
The Benton County Clerk's Office supports Superior Court operations and provides several public-facing court services, including court document filing, case record management, hearing calendars, collections, jury administration, passport application processing, civil protection order filing, and access to certain court information systems. This article explains which matters belong with the Clerk's Office, how filing and court-information systems work, what information to prepare before using common services, and which procedures require special attention to avoid rejected documents or missed court deadlines.
Clerk's Office Responsibilities
The Benton County Clerk's Office serves as the official custodian and administrative office for records associated with Benton County Superior Court. Its responsibilities include managing court documents and case files, maintaining calendars and dockets for hearings and trials, issuing writs and bench warrants when ordered by the court, and handling trust funds held under court orders.
The office also performs several functions that may not immediately appear to be court-record services. It processes passport applications as an acceptance agent for the federal government, manages collections involving legal financial obligations assessed against criminal defendants, and administers the jury system for both Superior Court and District Court.
The Clerk's Office provides administrative court services and legal information, but it does not provide legal opinions or legal advice. Court filings, forms, deadlines, hearing procedures, and case-specific decisions can have legal consequences, so users should distinguish between information supplied by the clerk and advice about what legal action a person should take.
Cases the clerk does not handle
A common source of confusion is the difference between Superior Court and District Court. The Benton County Clerk's Office does not handle District Court cases such as traffic infractions, misdemeanors, and gross misdemeanors. People seeking records, payment information, or other assistance for those matters should contact Benton County District Court rather than attempting to process them through the Superior Court Clerk.
This distinction also matters when making payments. A payment system intended for Superior Court criminal fines and restitution is not a payment channel for District Court fines. Before submitting money or filing documents, confirm which court has the case and use the case number associated with that court.
Office Hours and In-Person Service
The Clerk's Office provides service through Kennewick and Prosser locations. The Kennewick office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Prosser office is also open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but it closes for lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m.
Passport application cutoffs differ between the offices. The Kennewick office accepts passport applications until 4:00 p.m. The Prosser office accepts them until 3:30 p.m. The county advises passport customers to expect longer waits during afternoon hours, particularly on Fridays.
For court filing deadlines, the normal office hours should not be treated as a guarantee that every filing method will be reviewed immediately. Electronic filings submitted late in the day can be reviewed on the next judicial day, and certain docket deadlines require in-person filing to make sure the documents reach the Clerk's Office in time.
Filing Superior Court Documents
Court documents may be filed through methods supported by the Clerk's Office, including in-person delivery, U.S. Mail, courier service, and an optional electronic filing program. The correct method depends on the document, the type of case, and the deadline involved.
The county's electronic filing instructions explain the requirements for submitting documents electronically. Electronic filing carries additional service fees. People who do not want to pay those additional charges may file by mail, courier, or in person.
New case filing requirements
A completed Case Information Coversheet is required when filing a new case. If that coversheet is missing, the Clerk's Office states that the filing will be rejected. This makes the coversheet one of the first items to verify before submitting a new case electronically or through another filing method.
Case numbers from 2018 to the present are loaded into the electronic filing system. Older case numbers may not yet be available. If an older case number prevents electronic document upload, the Clerk's Office instructs users to email clerk@co.benton.wa.us. The office asks users to allow 24 hours for the case information to be uploaded into the electronic filing system.
Submission is not filing
Sending documents through the electronic system does not mean they have been filed with the Clerk's Office. After submission, the electronic system sends confirmation that the documents were received for review. Clerk's Office staff then review the submission and issue a later notification showing whether the documents were accepted and filed or rejected and not filed.
This difference matters when a deadline is approaching. Documents submitted electronically after 3:00 p.m. will not be reviewed by Clerk's Office staff until the next judicial day. The county also advises people who are concerned about a filing deadline to file in person or use a process server rather than relying on electronic review close to the deadline.
Documents that must meet a noon cutoff for an upcoming docket should be filed in person at the Clerk's Office. The county specifically identifies in-person filing as the method to use when the noon docket cutoff must be met.
Ex Parte filing timing
Documents submitted for Ex Parte action require additional processing time. The Clerk's Office instructs users to allow 48 hours for processing electronic Ex Parte filings. Conformed copies of documents presented for Ex Parte action through electronic filing must be ordered separately through the copy request procedure identified by the Clerk's Office.
Questions about documents presented for Ex Parte consideration may be sent to clerk@co.benton.wa.us.
Documents Requiring Paper Filing
Electronic filing is not available for every document. The Clerk's Office identifies several categories that must be filed in paper form. These include:
Documents filed in a sealed case.
Writs of Garnishment.
Writs of Restitution or Execution.
Writs of Habeas Corpus.
Orders for Sale involving sheriff's sales.
Joel's Law petitions.
Documents concerning the Blake Decision.
Foreign subpoenas.
Registration of out-of-state custody matters.
Trial exhibits.
Civil Protection Order documents also follow a separate filing process and should not be submitted through the general electronic filing program.
Electronic document standards
Documents submitted electronically should be prepared at 300 dpi for suitable scanned-document quality. Documents and images must be bitonal, meaning black and white. Grayscale and color images are automatically converted to bitonal by the filing system.
If a filing contains grayscale or color images that need to remain intact, the county instructs users to submit the entire document in person or by mail rather than relying on electronic conversion.
Multiple documents must also be separated by document type. Combining different documents in a way that prevents the Clerk's Office from identifying each filing can result in rejection.
Court Forms and Record Requests
The Clerk's Office maintains a collection of forms and request documents for common court-record and administrative needs. The county's Clerk forms and information page includes documents for copy requests, record searches, hearing recordings, motions and orders to disburse funds, fee waiver requests, juror attestations, and requests involving acknowledgments of paternity.
The available materials also include information for self-represented people and links or references to Washington State court forms. When preparing a filing, users should make sure they are working with the form appropriate to the case and procedure rather than assuming that a general request form can be used for every court action.
Orders to disburse funds
When funds are held in the court registry, an order directing the Clerk's Office to disburse them must contain specific information. The order must state the exact amount to be disbursed and provide the name and address where the funds are to be mailed.
If either item is omitted, the Clerk's Office cannot disburse the funds. The office states that users should allow two weeks for processing a qualifying disbursement order.
Court Dockets and Hearing Information
The Clerk's Office publishes Superior Court docket information to help people identify regularly scheduled hearing calendars. The docket information covers recurring calendars for criminal, family law, juvenile, probate, guardianship, civil protection order, minor guardianship, child support, civil motion, and unlawful detainer matters.
The published dockets are provided for general assistance and can change. They do not necessarily show the order in which individual names or cases will be called, and last-minute additions or changes may not appear online.
Typical weekly docket pattern
Regular calendars vary by weekday. Monday includes trial priority or readiness matters, criminal preliminary appearances, and juvenile offender proceedings. Tuesday includes family law calendars, parentage, child support contempt, and criminal preliminary appearances. Wednesday includes criminal, family law, probate or adult guardianship, and juvenile proceedings.
Thursday includes criminal calendars, drug court, juvenile drug court, and civil protection order dockets. Friday includes criminal matters, minor guardianships, civil motions, summary judgment matters, unlawful detainers, and juvenile proceedings.
Because courtroom assignments and daily scheduling can change, a person with a hearing should rely on the current court schedule associated with the hearing rather than treating a recurring weekly docket as a final courtroom assignment.
Odyssey Portal Access
The Benton County Odyssey Portal information page explains how authorized users can register for portal access. Registration requires completion of a portal master registration form and a portal confidentiality agreement.
A confidentiality agreement is required for each individual requesting access. When an organization adds or removes staff access under an existing master registration, the county directs users to complete the portal modification form.
Portal document limitation
Odyssey Portal access should not be confused with electronic access to copies of court documents. Benton County states that it is not currently using Odyssey's document management system, so registered portal access does not provide the ability to view court documents through Odyssey.
This distinction can prevent wasted registration effort. Someone who needs information available through the portal may need Odyssey access, while someone seeking an actual copy of a filed court document should use the Clerk's document or copy request process instead.
Clerk Fees and Payment Rules
Court filing, copy, and other Clerk's Office charges can change. The county maintains a Clerk's Office fee schedule, including a fee schedule identified as effective June 11, 2026.
The Clerk's Office has not accepted personal checks since October 1, 2010. Because payment methods can differ by service, users should review the requirements for the specific transaction before arriving at the counter or mailing payment.
Criminal financial obligations
Adults convicted of crimes in Superior Court may be ordered to pay court costs, restitution, or other legal financial obligations. The Clerk's Office Collections function handles payments associated with those Superior Court obligations.
Defendants are required to report to the County Clerk's Office within 72 hours after release from a correctional facility to discuss legal financial obligations assessed by the court. Monthly payment requirements may be established by the court, the Department of Corrections, or the Clerk's Collection Deputy.
For these obligations, the Clerk's Office accepts cash, money orders, and cashier's checks and does not accept personal checks. Credit and debit card payment options are also available through the payment process described on the county's Superior Court payment information page.
Bail and purge payments
Extra steps apply when a credit or debit card payment is intended as bail or as a purge amount for the release of a person currently in custody. The payer must notify the Clerk's Office Collections Department after making the payment. The Clerk's Office does not automatically treat an electronic payment as bail or a purge payment without that notification.
Payments made after business hours, on weekends, or on holidays are not processed until the next business day. This timing can be especially significant when a payment is connected to release from custody.
Civil Protection Order Filing
The Clerk's Office handles filings for several categories of civil protection orders. The county's civil protection order instructions explain the forms, submission methods, and court-review process.
The current protection-order structure uses a single Petition and Order for Protection covering several types of protection. A petitioner selects the category that applies to the requested order:
Domestic violence.
Sexual assault.
Stalking.
Vulnerable adult protection.
Anti-harassment.
The county states that domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and vulnerable adult protection petitions have no filing fee. An anti-harassment petition has a $53 filing fee.
Minimum initial documents
The minimum documents required to initiate a Civil Protection Order case are the Petition for Protection, the Law Enforcement Confidential Information Sheet, the Temporary Order for Protection, and the final Order for Protection, which is held until the final hearing.
Forms should be completed legibly in black ink. Users should not write on the back of the forms. If additional space is necessary, the county instructs users to use straight-edge 8.5-by-11-inch white paper.
In-person protection order filing
Civil Protection Order documents may be submitted in person, which the Clerk's Office identifies as the preferred method, or through the county's designated electronic submission procedure for protection orders.
For in-person submission, completed documents are brought to the Clerk's Office for filing at 1:00 p.m. so they can be presented for review during the 1:30 p.m. Ex Parte docket. The petitioner must remain present while the court reviews the paperwork.
If the request is granted, the Clerk's Office provides a copy of the Temporary Protection Order and the hearing notice.
Anti-harassment petitions should be filed in person because of the filing fee required to initiate that type of action. Documents filed after the initial anti-harassment petition may use the protection-order electronic submission process.
Protection order e-submissions
The separate electronic submission system for Civil Protection Orders does not carry a submission charge. It is limited to Civil Protection Order documents and follow-up documents and should not be used for unrelated court filings.
Electronic protection-order filings must use standardized state court forms, be submitted as PDF files on 8.5-by-11-inch pages in portrait orientation, contain no embedded videos, and be signed. Electronic signatures are accepted.
Follow-up documents must use proper legal formatting, including the case caption and case number. Random photographs, screenshots, or images cannot be filed by themselves without an appropriate legally formatted coversheet. Multiple documents must be submitted individually rather than combined into one continuous document.
Documents submitted after hours, on weekends, or on holidays are reviewed and processed on the next judicial working day.
Hearings and order changes
A person who receives a Temporary Protection Order must appear on the scheduled hearing date shown on that order. The Clerk's information states that failure to appear means the temporary order is no longer valid and another Order for Protection cannot be issued in that proceeding.
If an existing protection order needs to be terminated, modified, or extended, the person requesting the change may file the appropriate forms with the Clerk's Office and request a hearing. For extensions, the county directs users to begin the process no later than one month before the existing order expires so there is time to update it before expiration.
Family Law Facilitator Services
The Family Law Courthouse Facilitator works through the Superior Court Clerk's Office and provides procedural assistance for selected family law matters. The county's courthouse facilitator information identifies the types of cases the program can address and the information users should prepare before an appointment.
The facilitator may assist with divorce or legal separation, family law motions, child support modifications, restraining orders, child relocation, establishing or modifying parenting plans, invalidity or annulment, and parentage.
The program does not assist with adoptions, juvenile dependency matters, wills, evictions, traffic citations, guardianships, bankruptcy, probate, name changes, or criminal charges. Minor guardianships also fall outside the facilitator's services.
Available facilitator assistance
Services may include information about starting certain family law actions, identifying required legal forms, preparing case-specific documents, reviewing paperwork for completeness, explaining court procedures and schedules, assisting with scheduling hearings, and computing child support.
The facilitator does not create an attorney-client relationship with the person using the service.
Appointments and preparation
Facilitator services are provided by appointment. The Clerk's Office schedules the appointment after payment is received. Appointments are available on Tuesdays only, and the stated fee is $35 for a half-hour appointment. The Clerk's Office also offers dissolution and parenting plan form packets for $25 per packet.
For dissolution or legal separation matters, users are instructed to prepare detailed lists of property, assets, debts, liabilities, and income information. Property details can include real estate addresses and parcel numbers, vehicle information, bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts, life insurance with cash value, inheritances, household property, and other assets.
For child support modification matters, users should bring the most recent child support order. For parenting plan modification matters, they should bring the most recent parenting plan. Copies of those documents can be obtained through the Superior Court Clerk's Office, with the county stating a copy charge of 50 cents per page.
Passport Application Services
The Clerk's Office also acts as an acceptance agent for federal passport applications. The county's passport application page provides document requirements, office processing hours, and the fees shown by the county for various passport services.
Applicants must bring a completed passport application to the office. The county states that application forms are available online. Applicants should complete the form but leave it unsigned until the appropriate point in the acceptance process.
Documents to bring
For each passport application, the Clerk's Office instructs applicants to provide the required identification and citizenship documents, including:
A completed but unsigned passport application.
Proof of U.S. citizenship, such as an eligible certified birth certificate, Naturalization Certificate, or previous passport.
A photocopy of the citizenship document, front and back when applicable, on single-sided full sheets of paper.
A copy of the front and back of the driver's license for each application, printed single-sided on full sheets of paper.
A second picture ID when the driver's license was issued less than one year earlier.
One passport photograph meeting federal requirements.
Picture identification.
Children must appear in person. For a child under age 16, the county states that two-parent consent requirements apply. When renewing a passport for a child under 16, the current passport and a certified copy of the child's birth certificate must also be submitted.
Passport payment methods
Passport fees and Clerk processing fees use different payment methods. The passport fee payable to the U.S. Department of State must be paid by check or money order; counter checks are not accepted. The Clerk's processing fee may be paid by cash, credit or debit card, or money order payable to the Benton County Clerk. A processing fee may apply when using a credit or debit card.
The county page lists a $35 Clerk processing fee for applications that require execution by the Clerk's Office. Applicants should review the county's passport page before applying because the required federal and local amounts depend on the type of passport and application.
Passport processing periods
The county reports Department of State processing estimates of four to six weeks for routine service and two to three weeks for expedited service. Expedited processing carries an additional $60 fee per application. Mailing time is separate from these processing estimates.
The application may also take up to two weeks after submission before its federal status shows as “In Process.” Travelers working against a departure date should account for both mailing time and the period before the application appears in the federal tracking system.
Jury Administration and Scam Calls
The Benton County Clerk's Office administers the jury system for both Superior Court and District Court. Jurors should review the county's current jury reporting information for their assigned term because trial needs can change and a juror may be instructed that reporting is not required for a particular date.
The Clerk's Office also warns about fraudulent calls involving jury service. If someone calls about jury service and asks for money, the county instructs recipients not to make any payment and to notify law enforcement and the Clerk's Office immediately.
This warning is especially relevant because legitimate Clerk's Office services do involve payments for certain filings, fines, copies, passport processing, or other transactions. A demand for money during an unexpected jury-service phone call should not be treated as an ordinary Clerk payment request.
Common Clerk's Office Mistakes
Several avoidable errors can delay a filing or cause a person to use the wrong court process. Before submitting documents or payments, confirm the court, case type, case number, filing method, and required form.
Do not take a District Court traffic, misdemeanor, or gross misdemeanor matter to the Superior Court Clerk's Office.
Do not assume an electronically submitted document is filed until the Clerk's Office accepts it.
Do not omit the Case Information Coversheet when opening a new case.
Do not rely on late electronic filing when a same-day or noon docket deadline applies.
Do not electronically file documents that the Clerk requires in paper form.
Do not combine multiple document types into one electronic document when they are required to be separated.
Do not use the general electronic filing system for Civil Protection Order documents.
Do not expect Odyssey Portal registration to provide access to scanned court documents.
Do not send a personal check to the Clerk's Office.
Do not assume an electronic payment intended for bail or a purge amount will be applied for release without notifying Collections.
Clerk's Office Contact
Benton County Clerk's Office
7122 W. Okanogan Place, Suite A210
Kennewick, WA 99336
509-735-8388
509-786-5624 (Prosser)
Clerk's Office FAQs
Where can I check the latest courtroom assignment?
For a specific hearing, use the county's Superior Court Daily Schedule rather than relying only on the recurring weekly docket. Benton County provides separate schedules for today, tomorrow, and holidays, along with WebEx and live-stream information. The county states that today's schedule is updated after 3:00 p.m. daily. Tomorrow's schedule is marked as a draft, so courtroom assignments and other details may still change before the hearing date.
Where can I find the current Superior Court rules?
Before preparing a filing or appearing in court, review the Superior Court Local Court Rules. Local rules can affect court procedures in addition to statewide Washington court rules. Checking the current version is especially useful when you are preparing your own documents, scheduling a matter, or trying to confirm a procedural requirement that is not explained on a basic Clerk service page.
Which newspapers are used for legal notices?
The Benton County Clerk identifies the Prosser Record Bulletin and the Tri-City Herald as legal newspapers for Benton County. If a court procedure requires publication of a legal notice, do not assume that publication in any newspaper will satisfy the requirement. Review the applicable court rule or order first so you know what must be published, how often publication is required, and what proof of publication must later be filed with the court.
Where can self-represented parties find Clerk forms?
The Clerk's forms and information page includes several specialized requests that can be easy to overlook. Available materials include requests for hearing recordings, record searches, fee waivers, juror attestations, confirmation-of-date letters, and copies of acknowledgments of paternity. It also provides self-represented party information, dependency guides, and access to Washington State court forms. Choose the form that matches the exact request instead of using a general court filing form for an administrative records request.