Population
941K
County Seat
Tacoma
Libraries
31
Schools
268
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Pierce County record-source URLs verified against the official local and Washington state publishers on the review date. 7 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
Pierce County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Pierce County, Washington — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
941,170
Population
Census estimate
341,783
Households
Census estimate
$91,486
Median income
Annual household
$444,600
Median home value
Census ACS
Tacoma
County seat
In Washington
Criminal records
3 sources
Court records
5 sources
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
5 sources
Vital records
3 sources
Voter records
2 sources
Professional licenses
see state portal
Recorded documents
see state portal
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources One source Use state portal
Pierce County Records at a Glance
| Record type | Pierce County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | Pierce Washington Courts - Search Case Records |
| Criminal records | Inmates Sex Offenders in Pierce County | Pierce County, WA - Officia… |
| Wants & warrants | No verified source — see Pierce County state portal below |
| Property records | Property — Assessor-Treasurer District Boundaries and Maps | Pierce County, WA - Official … |
| Vital records | Add Online Marriage - Pierce County Auditor Web Access Washington State Archives, Digital Archives - News |
| Voter records | Vote Washington - PRIMARY 2025 Candidate List Pierce County Elections | Pierce County, WA - Official Websi… |
| Professional licenses | No verified source — see Pierce County state portal below |
| Recorded documents | No verified source — see Pierce County state portal below |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Pierce County. Data verified June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — Pierce County Records
2026
Pierce County official government portal active
The official Pierce County government website at www.co.pierce.wa.us continues to serve as the canonical local source.
2026
Pierce County court records portal verified
State court system links for Pierce County verified against the Washington judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Pierce County criminal records access
State criminal records repository for Pierce County (statewide system, not county-specific) confirmed active in 2026.
2026
Pierce County property records online
Pierce County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.
The 4-Step Pierce County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the Pierce County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Pierce County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the Washington statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the Washington state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Pierce County Records
❌ Myth: "Pierce County maintains all criminal records."
✓ Truth: False. Criminal records for Pierce County are held by the Washington state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
❌ Myth: "Records sealed in Pierce County are gone everywhere."
✓ Truth: False. Sealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
❌ Myth: "Free 'instant background' sites have Pierce County data."
✓ Truth: False. Only the official Washington state repository has verified, current Pierce County data. Free sites often have stale data.
❌ Myth: "The Pierce County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
✓ Truth: False. The Pierce County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
❌ Myth: "All county records older than 50 years are public."
✓ Truth: Partially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).
Primary Sources (All Verified)
- www.co.pierce.wa.us — Official Pierce County government website
- linxonline.co.pierce.wa.us — Court records — official source
- www.piercecountywa.gov — Criminal records — official source
- atip.piercecountywa.gov — Property records — official source
- armsweb.co.pierce.wa.us — Vital records — official source
- voter.votewa.gov — Voter records — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — Pierce County & Washington Records
For records not specific to Pierce County, use Washington's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 Washington statewide record systems:
- Washington Court Records →
- Washington Criminal Records →
- Washington Property Records →
- Washington Vital Records →
- Washington Voter Records →
- Washington Wants & Warrants →
- Washington Licenses →
- Washington Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
Washington statewide records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Vital records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National directories: Court records · Criminal records · Property records · Vital records · Federal databases
About Pierce County, Washington
Pierce County is located in western Washington. The county seat is Tacoma (official site: http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/).
- Households: 341,783
- Median household income: $91,486
- Median home value: $444,600
- Below poverty line: 8.7%
- Land area: 1,668.0 sq mi
- Population density: 564.2 people / sq mi
FAQs • Where do I file a police report?
Official Free
To obtain statistics about crime about wanted fugitives, unidentified suspects, and other unsolved crimes in Pierce County go to Crime Stoppers of Tacoma-Pierce County
Assessor-Treasurer Information Portal
Official Free
Sales from 1997 to date are displayed here. However, the sales listed on this site are not complete and do not include all property transfer types. Recorded documents accessed by name and date can be found using the Pierce County Auditor's Recorded Document Search
Pierce
Official Free
Proceedings scheduled in a Washington State district and municipal court (except Seattle Municipal Court) can be searched by case number or name of a party using Washington Courts' Find My Court Date. Display Current Pierce County Corrections Jail Roster
Washington Courts - Search Case Records
Official Free
Search for a case Search for a person Find My Court Date Use this search to find out when you need to appear in district or municipal court. The search tool returns a case summary and, where applicable, calendar information and a list of case activities (docket) · Case Search Options Use this ...
Pierce
Official Free
Proceedings scheduled in a Washington State district and municipal court (except Seattle Municipal Court) can be searched by case number or name of a party using Washington Courts' Find My Court Date. Display Current Pierce County Corrections Jail Roster
Title Info: Pierce Frontier Justice - Washington State Archives
Official Free
Washington State Archives, Digital Archives is the first Digital Archives in the nation to Preserve the electronic Records of both State and Local Government.
Superior Court | Pierce County, WA - Official Website
Criminal & Court Records
OfficialFree
Court Services
piercecountywa.gov
Judges - District Court
Criminal & Court Records
OfficialFree
Judges - District Court
piercecountywa.gov
District Boundaries and Maps | Pierce County, WA - Official Website
Official Free
Additional Resources Pierce County Legislative District Maps Pierce County Congressional District Maps County Council District Maps Drainage District Maps Washington State Redistricting Commission Geospatial Data Portal (Data is available for download in a variety of formats to use as you choose.)
View Record - 1910, U.S. Federal Census, Pierce County, U.S. Census Bureau - M W Pfeifer - Washington State…
Official Free
Washington Secretary of State · Contact Us | Connect: Do you have comments, questions, or transcription errors? Give us Feedback · [Identification of item], 1910, U.S. Federal Census, Pierce County, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives, http://digitalarchives.wa.gov, [date accessed]. Historic Records Project ·
Assessor-Treasurer Information Portal
Official Free
Sales from 1997 to date are displayed here. However, the sales listed on this site are not complete and do not include all property transfer types. Recorded documents accessed by name and date can be found using the Pierce County Auditor's Recorded Document Search
Parcel & Property Information | Pierce County, WA - Official Website
Property & Tax Records
OfficialFree
Property Search
piercecountywa.gov
Property Tax Exemption Seminars Join us for upcoming Property Tax Exemption Seminars fo...
Property & Tax Records
OfficialFree
Property Tax Exemption Seminars Join us for upcoming Property Tax Exemption Seminars for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. Staff from the Pierce County Assessor T...
piercecountywa.gov
Inmates
Official Free
Pierce County Superior Court Webpage · Commissioner Services: email: [email protected] Fax number: (253) 798-6897 · Interrogatories with Declaration · Washington State Pattern forms · Sign up for a LINX Account (currently no fee) Superior Court Administration 930 Tacoma Ave South Room 334 ...
Sex Offenders in Pierce County | Pierce County, WA - Official Website
Official Free
The Sex / Kidnapping Offender Registration Law allows the Pierce County Sheriff's Department to register and track convicted offenders . However, the law does not allow the Sheriff's Department to dictate where the offender lives.
Wanted for Arrest | Washington State Department of Corrections
Official Free
Washington State Patrol's (WSP) Most Wanted · Clark County Sheriff's Office Most Wanted · Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office Most Wanted · Douglas County Sheriff's Office Most Wanted · Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Most Wanted · Kitsap County Sheriff's Office Most Wanted · Pierce County Sheriff's Most Wanted ·
Notice
Official Free
The notary fee will increase to $15. This change will take effect upon the production launch of the new WATCH system. PIIES — the Washington State Patrol’s secure messaging portal and the WATCH website— is evolving to serve you better.
Add Online Marriage - Pierce County Auditor Web Access
Official Free
Submitting a Marriage Application by Mail If one or both parties can't come to our office, you can submit a notarized application by mail. To print the application containing an area for a notary seal, perform the following steps: 1. Scroll down and complete the required yellow fields and perform ...
Washington State Archives, Digital Archives - News
Official Free
Apr 30, 2007 Pierce County Marriage Records are now available online at the Washington State Digital Archives . Contained in this collection are over 170,000 marriage records of couples married in Pierce County from 1900 to present. Typical information collected includes: Name of Bride, Name ...
View Record - Pierce County Auditor, Death Records, 1892-1907 - Charles - Alverson - M - Washington State Archives,…
Official Free
Washington Secretary of State · Contact Us | Connect: Do you have comments, questions, or transcription errors? Give us Feedback · [Identification of item], Pierce County Auditor, Death Records, 1892-1907, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives, http://digitalarchives.wa.gov, [date accessed]. Eastern Regional Archives Puget Sound Regional Archives ·
View Record - Pierce County Auditor, Death Records, 1892-1907 - Charles - Alverson - M - Washington State Archives,…
Official Free
For more information or to learn about related records, contact the Washington State Archives, Puget Sound Regional Branch at (425) 564-3940 or email psbrancharchives@sos.wa.gov. The Pierce County Death Certificates were imaged by the Genealogical Society of Utah and indexed by the Eastern Regional Branch.
Vote Washington - PRIMARY 2025 Candidate List
Official Free
Select the Primary election to see all candidates who filed (select a county to see PCOs) · General Election candidates will display after the Primary is certified
Pierce County Elections | Pierce County, WA - Official Website
Voter Records
OfficialFree
Voter Information
piercecountywa.gov
Reminder: April Special Election ballots due April 28
Voter Records
OfficialFree
Reminder: April Special Election ballots due April 28
piercecountywa.gov
Permits
Official Free
Find accurate and reliable election information, view election results, and learn how to register and vote in Pierce County.
WASHINGTON STATE ELECTRONIC RECORDING STANDARDS Implementation Guideline
Official Free
“A majority of the commission must be county recorders or auditors. The commission may include · assessors, treasurers, land title company representatives, escrow agents, and mortgage brokers, the · state archivist, and any other party the secretary of state deems appropriate.” · Current ERSC members include: • · Vicky Dalton, Spokane County Auditor, Chair · • · Julie Anderson, Pierce County Auditor · • · Steve Excell, Office of the Secretary of State, Washington State Archivist ·
Code
Official Free
Search for Property Value, Taxes and Comparable Sales InformationAssessor-Treasurer Information Portal (ATIP) Verify Your Address or Have Address AssignedContact Planning & Public Works Online search tool of Commercial Broker Association (CBA) listings for business owners, brokers, site selectors and communities. Find available commercial and industrial sites and buildings in Pierce County
Pierce County, WA - Official Website | Official Website
Official Free
Official home page for Pierce County Government, Tacoma, Wash. Features include innovative government initiatives, information on county services and news.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up court cases in Pierce County?
Pierce County court cases are searchable through the Washington Courts - Search Case Records portal: https://dw.courts.wa.gov/. Washington also operates a state-level case lookup through the WA Courts system. For federal matters, see PACER.
What's the difference between sealing and expunging a record in Washington?
In Washington, a sealed record is hidden from public view but still exists and remains visible to law enforcement, licensing boards, and some employers. An expunged record is treated by Washington law as if it never happened — though FBI and federal records may persist regardless of state action. The relief process runs through the sentencing court.
Are Washington marriage records public?
Marriage records in Washington are generally public — anyone can verify that a marriage occurred and request a non-certified copy. Certified copies (needed for legal purposes like name changes or immigration) may be restricted to the spouses, immediate family, or those with a court order.
How do I run a Washington background check?
Washington background checks are handled by the Washington State Patrol. Name-based searches are available through the official state portal (per-search fee applies). Fingerprint-based checks — required for licensing, foster care, and many employers — must be submitted through an approved vendor.
