Thurston County ends program that helps victims seeking protection orders
Victims seeking protection orders will no longer receive assistance from the Thurston County Clerk’s Office due to budget cuts.
The Clerk’s Office will close its domestic violence program as well as all in-person walk-in service starting Jan. 20, according to a Dec. 31 news release.
The closures follow the county commission’s December approval of a $1 billion 2026-2027 budget. The final budget included significant cuts to address a deficit in the general fund, the county’s primary operating purse. Among those reductions was a $777,478 cut to the Clerk’s Office 2026 general fund allocation, leaving the office with a $4.3 million budget.
Clerk Linda Enlow, an elected official, previously warned the commissioners and the public that a significant budget cut would force her to reduce her service hours and re-evaluate non-mandated programs.
In the release, Enlow said the new changes are a direct result of “prior and current budget reductions that the office has incurred.”
Under the domestic violence program, staff helped victims go through the process of obtaining a protection order. These are civil orders that are intended to stop a person who has been committing acts or threats of violence, harassment, sexual assault or abuse from repeating that behavior.
Enlow told The Olympian last year that the program ensured people don’t make errors on their paperwork. Without the program, people unable to afford private legal assistance may make errors that will result in their petition being denied, she said.
“The effect would be those victims most likely will get denied their petitions and not have the protections,” Enlow said. “And the worst-case scenario is they could be harmed up to and including death.”
Protection order forms can be downloaded from the Clerk’s Office website. Petitions can be requested and submitted via email at ClerksPO@co.thurston.wa.us or in-person at the Clerk’s Office, per the website.
Thurston County spokesperson Susan Melnyk said the position that supported in-person counter service for protection orders has been vacant since May 2025. Enlow has said her office has dealt with turnover and vacancies due to persistent underfunding prior to the recent cuts.
“We hope to find a way to support community members further by collaborating with other county departments and community partners, as we are doing for all departments and offices that needed to adjust their budgets due to revenue this year,” Melnyk said.
A list of community organizations that help victims of domestic violence can be found on the Clerk’s Office website.
The Clerk’s Office also offers a non-mandated courthouse facilitator program. Staff assigned to his program help self-represented litigants navigate the legal system and review orders prepared by them in accordance with court rules.
Enlow previously said she would consider eliminating this program as well. However, the release does not mention this program. Instructions for scheduling an appointment with a facilitator are still present on the Clerk’s Office website.
When reached for comment, Enlow said she did not eliminate the courthouse facilitator program, but she did cut two full-time-equivalent positions within it.
“Elimination of this program would mean self-represented litigants would need to pay an attorney to review their final paperwork,” Enlow said. “The review of final family law orders is required to be reviewed by either an attorney or the facilitator per local court rule.”
The Clerk’s Office previously offered walk-in counter services from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
In November, Enlow reduced those hours, citing “staff shortages caused by the county’s previous and current deficiencies,” according to a flyer posted on the wall of her office last year.
Those walk-in counter services will end on Jan. 20. However, the public will still be able to access public terminals to view documents from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
The Clerk’s Office is now directing the public to visit its website or email TCClerk@co.thurston.wa.us for assistance.
“The office is hopeful that this shift to online services will improve service efficiency, enhance accessibility, and expand digital options for the community,” Enlow’s release states.
The public may now complete the following tasks online.
- Applying for and requesting copies of court documents.
- Filing documents.
- Accessing public cases/documents.
- Making payments.
- Scheduling appointments.
“The Clerk’s Office appreciates the public’s understanding and cooperation during this difficult time and remains committed to maintaining high-quality, accessible service for all,” Enlow’s release states.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with comments from Thurston County spokesperson Susan Melnyk.
This story was originally published January 7, 2026 at 11:59 AM.
