Local Rules - King County District Court

(a) Venue. “Venue”, as prescribed in the CRLJ and RCW 3.66.040, includes the “district” venue and the “division” venue of the King County District Court.

(b) Impound Hearings. Impound hearings shall be filed in the Division in which the impound of the vehicle occurred.

(c) Small Claims. Venue for small claims cases is governed by the provisions of RCW 3.66.040.

(d) Civil Protective Orders. These rules do not govern the filing of any petition for civil protective orders. Such petitions may be filed in any Division of the King County District Court.

(e) Alternative Filing. The Chief Presiding Judge may direct alternative filing requirements pursuant to LARLJ 0.18.

[Adopted effective January 1, 1991; amended effective September 1, 1993; September 1, 1999; July 1, 2000; September 1, 2009; September 2, 2014; September 1, 2016; September 1, 2017; September 1, 2020.]

[Repealed effective September 1, 2020]

Personal service of process shall be as provided by CRLJ 4(d)(2) and RCW 12.04.050. No officer or employee of any party or the assignor of any party shall serve the summons and complaint.

[Adopted effective January 1, 1991; amended effective July 1, 2000; September 2, 2014.]

(j) Filing by E-mail for Order of Protection cases

(1) Except as set forth in subsection (5), the clerk of the court may accept for filing, documents associated with the civil Order of Protection cases, which are sent directly to the clerk of the court’s business E-mail or to another by electronic E-Mail transmission. An E-Mail copy shall constitute an original for all court purposes. The attorney or party sending any document via E-Mail to the clerk shall retain the original signed document until sixty (60) days after completion of the case. The E-Mail subject line shall bear the notation:

"SENT on _______________ (DATE) VIA E-MAIL FOR FILING IN COURT”

(2) If a document is transmitted by E-Mail to another for filing with the court, the person responsible for filing may be required to attach an original affidavit as the last page of the document. The affidavit must bear the name of the court, the division, the case caption, the case number, the name of the document to be filed, and a statement that the individual signing the affidavit has examined the document, determined that it consists of a stated number of pages, including the affidavit page, and that it is complete and legible. The affidavit shall bear the original signature, the printed name, address, phone number and E-Mail number of the individual who received the document for filing.

(3) The clerk of the court may use E-Mail transmission to send any document requiring personal service to one charged with personally serving the document. Notices and other documents may be transmitted by the clerk to counsel of record via the E-Mail (electronic mailbox) on file with the court.

(4) Clerks may charge reasonable fees to be established in statute, for receiving, collating, and verifying E-Mail transmissions.

(5) Without prior approval of the clerk of the receiving court, an E-Mail transmission is not authorized for judge's working copies (courtesy copies) or for those documents for which a filing fee is required.

(6) Conditions.

 (i) Documents transmitted to the clerk via E-Mail shall be letter size (8-1/2 by 11 inches). Unless otherwise provided by local court rule, documents over 20 pages in length may not be filed by E-Mail without prior approval of the clerk.

(ii) Any document transmitted to the clerk by E-Mail must include the case number (if any) in the subject line. The case caption, number of pages attached, the sender's name, the sender’s telephone number(s) should be included in the body of the email. The e-mail itself is not considered a legal pleading.

(iii) An email with attached documents transmitted directly to the clerk of the court shall be deemed received at the time the clerk's E-Mail registers the transmission of the first page, except that an E-Mail received after the close of normal business hours shall be considered received the next judicial day. If an email and/or its attachments are not completely transmitted, it will not be considered received. A document transmitted to another for filing with the clerk of the court will be deemed filed when presented to the clerk in the same manner as an original document.

(iv) Court personnel will not verify receipt of an E-Mail transmission and persons filing by E-Mail shall not call the clerk's office to verify receipt.

(v) Persons sending documents via E-Mail agree to be in compliance with the same Technical Standards as electronic filing via the court’s electronic filing portal.

 

[Adopted on an Emergency Basis, effective on October 21, 2022.]

For motions in criminal cases please see LCrRLJ 8.2.

(1)(ii) Motions on Consumer Debt Cases.

Every post-judgment application/motion on cases arising from consumer debt shall include a sworn declaration from the plaintiff that the plaintiff is in compliance with RCW 19.16.250 and with all requirements set forth in any applicable Washington State Gubernatorial Proclamation(s), including any applicable extensions issued on or after January 1, 2020.

Additionally, any proposed order must include the following language denoted at the bottom of the Judgment Summary: *Post-judgment interest calculation is in compliance with any applicable Washington State Gubernatorial Proclamation(s) and any applicable issued extensions.

Any pleading not in compliance with this court rule may result in an assessment pursuant to King County Ordinance KCC 4A.634.100A.


[Adopted on an Emergency Basis, June 19, 2020. Adopted effective September 1, 2020; amended on an Emergency Basis, effective May 1, 2021; amended effective September 1, 2021.]

(a) Caption; Names of Parties.

(i) Caption on Complaint; Motion for Default and Default Judgment.

In any action brought by a debt buyer, the caption of each complaint and motion for default and default judgment in any shall contain the designation: DEBT BUYER.

In any action based upon medical debt, other consumer debt, or private student loan debt, the caption of each complaint and motion for default and default judgment shall contain the designation(s): MEDICAL DEBT, OTHER CONSUMER DEBT, PRIVATE STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

[For additional information on statutory definitions, see RCW 19.16.100.]

Example LCRLJ 10(a)(i)
__________________________________________________________________________
SPACE FOR SERVICE PROOF                    SPACE FOR COURT/FILING STAMP

                                   IN THE KING COUNTY DISTRICT COURT
                                  IN AND FOR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                                            ________________Division
                                         ___________________Courthouse

___________________________________     )             No.
                                      Plaintiff              )
                                                                  )
                                                                  )        NAME OF PLEADING
                                                                 )
vs.                                                             )        [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY BELOW]
                                                                  )
                                                                  )        __ DEBT BUYER
___________________________________     )        __ MEDICAL DEBT
                                      Defendant.        )        __ OTHER CONSUMER DEBT
                                                                  )        __ PRIVATE STUDENT LOAN DEBT
                                                                  )
                                                                  )        (CLERK'S ACTION REQUIRED)
                                                                  )
                                                                  )
___________________________________     )


[Adopted on an Emergency Basis, June 19, 2020. Adopted effective September 1, 2020.]

(g) Time for Discovery. The parties may agree, with the permission of the court, to discovery cut-off dates which modify the time for discovery within CRLJ 26(g). A notice, signed by all parties, of an agreed schedule shall be filed with the court, and shall become binding upon the parties upon approval by the court. Any party may propose a discovery schedule which modifies the time for discovery within CRLJ 26(g).

(1) Any party intending to propose a discovery schedule under this rule must serve the proposed discovery schedule on all parties, within 90 days of service of the summons and complaint, or counterclaim, or cross complaint, whichever is longer.

(2) Such discovery schedule shall be deemed approved by the court if no objection or counter proposal is served and filed within 14 days of the date of filing.

(3) If an objection or other proposed schedule is filed within 14 days of the filing of a proposed discovery schedule, the court shall note the case for a discovery conference and set discovery deadlines.

(4) No ex-parte fee will be charged.

[Adopted effective January 1, 1991; amended effective September 1, 1994; July 1, 2000; September 2, 2014.]

Superior Court Civil Rule (CR) 35 is adopted in its entirety.

[Adopted effective September 2, 2014.]

(a) Demand. Either the plaintiff or the defendant may request a jury trial in a civil case which shall be made by filing a demand with the clerk, supplying a copy to the opposing party or counsel and paying the jury fee. If a party only notes the matter for trial and does not either request a jury trial or does not pay the jury fee, the other party may request a jury trial and pay the fee within 10 days of receiving the note for trial. Failure to comply with this rule shall waive the right to a jury trial.

[Adopted effective January 1, 1991; amended effective July 1, 2000; September 2, 2014.]

(a) Certain Documents Deemed Admissible. ER 904 shall apply and documents listed therein will be deemed admissible, unless objection is made pursuant to ER 904(c).

In addition, the following documents will also be deemed admissible: A wage loss statement; The written statement of any witness including a written report of an expert witness, and including a statement of opinion which the witness would be allowed to express, if testifying in person, if the written statement is made by affidavit or by declaration under penalty of perjury.

When the Court is determining whether a document is admissible under ER 904(a)(6), the Court shall consider the factors listed in ER 904 and shall also consider the purpose of Courts of Limited Jurisdiction, noted in CRLJ 1, to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action.

[Adopted effective September 2, 2014; amended effective September 1, 2017; September 1, 2018; September 1, 2019; September 1, 2020.]

(e) Attorney Fees. The following attorney fee schedule, where authorized and instead of those statutory fees set by RCW 12.20.060, shall be deemed reasonable in all default cases unless the parties present evidence of circumstances that convince the Court that a larger or smaller fee should be awarded, provided however, the Court shall have authority to vary from this schedule on its own motion:

SCHEDULE FOR REASONABLE ATTORNEY FEES IN DEFAULT CASES

(Other than Statutory Attorney Fees)

From             To            Amount
$.01               $1,000     $250
$1,000.01     $1,500     $300
$1,500.01     $2,000     $350
$2,000.01     $2,500     $400
$2,500.01     $3,000     $450
$3,000.01     $4,000     $500
$4,000.01     $5,000     $550
$5,000.01     Set at court's discretion.

[Adopted effective January 1, 1991; amended effective January 1, 1991; May 5, 1992; September 1, 1993; July 1, 2000; September 2, 2014; September 1, 2020.]

(g) Form of Submission. Any party seeking a default judgment shall submit at least the following to the Court contemporaneously with the motion for default judgment, unless otherwise excused by the Court for good cause, regardless of whether any of these required documents have been filed with the Court prior to the motion:

(1) A copy of the original proof of service shall be submitted with every motion for default judgment.

 

(2)  In Debt Buyer causes of action involving debt purchased on or after June 11, 2020: proof as set forth in RCW 19.16.260. An affidavit by counsel under CRLJ 55(b)(1) is sufficient as to the amount of the debt only.


(3) In assigned causes of action: a copy of the assignment interest. If the debt was assigned more than once, each assignment or other writing evidencing transfer of ownership must be submitted to establish an unbroken chain of ownership, beginning with the original creditor to the first debt buyer and each subsequent sale.


(4) In causes of action based on all contracts: sworn testimony to prove performance(s) may be required; a copy of the contract, if written; proof of the items of account and any credits; the factual basis for the breach; and the final amount of the principal owing (the final amount should be underlined and highlighted). In addition:

(i) In causes of action based on open account: a written statement of account setting forth all charges and credits and the dates thereof on the principal and separately listing any statement of any interest or surcharges; and a statement of the nature of merchandise or services furnished.

(ii) In causes of action based on a check as defined in RCW 62A.3-104 or a promissory note: the original or a document which comports with the Rules of Evidence (ER), including an attestation that the document is reliable.

(iii) In causes of action based on credit card debt: the original or a copy of billing statements in the debtor’s name showing cumulative charges to the extent available, interest, interest rate, payments, credits and, if available, a statement of the nature of merchandise or services furnished; and a final billing statement proving the principal.

(iv) In causes of action for rent based on an oral lease: a statement of account similar to that required in actions on open account. If any claim is made for damages or repairs to premises, such claim must be itemized separately.

(v) In causes of action for rent based on a written lease: the original or a copy of the lease and a statement of the account.

(vi) In causes of action based on a retail sales contract, chattel mortgage, or conditional sales contract: the original or a copy of the contract. Where applicable, an automobile title or bill of sale must be filed.

(5) In causes of action based on tort:

(i) Proof of liability shall be made by sworn statement of a witness with competent knowledge of the event (for automobile accident cases, see RCW 46.52.080 (police accident report not admissible));

(ii) Otherwise, the proof required showing the amount of damages shall be the same as required above for proving contract balances except that the following additional proof of the amount of damage shall be required:

(A) Property damage may be proven by repair bills or estimates;

(B) Loss of use claims, and pain and suffering shall be proved by sworn testimony;

(C) Loss of wages may be proven by sworn declaration from the employer or employer's agent; and

(D) Hospital, doctor, and other medical expenses may be proved by written bills or statements.

(h) Conformed Copies. If the default motion is by mail, the plaintiff shall file a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the clerk to return a conformed copy of the default judgment to the plaintiff.

(i) Prejudgment Interest. In order for a judgment for pre-judgment interest to be allowed, the following must be presented to the Court:


 (1) A document that indicates the date interest commenced. This date should be underlined and highlighted for the Court; and

 (2) The computation of the interest claimed due. The computation must include: principal; an adjustment to principal if a payment has been made; the date of any payment; and the rate(s) of interest, including the start date and the end date. The document with the rate of interest should have the rate of interest underlined and highlighted for the Court.



[Adopted effective January 1, 1991; amended effective July 1, 2000; September 1, 2006; September 1, 2007; September 2, 2014; amended on an Emergency Basis, June 19, 2020; amended effective September 1, 2020; amended on an Emergency Basis, effective October 21, 2022.]

(j) Providing a Copy of the Rule. A party moving for summary judgment shall, along with its motion for summary judgment, serve a copy of CRLJ 56 on all opposing parties who are not represented by counsel in the action.

[Adopted effective July 1, 2000. Amended effective September 2, 2014.]

(e) Filing with Court; Action Documents. Pleadings or other papers requiring action on the part of the clerk/court (other than file stamping, docketing and placing in the court file) shall be considered action documents. Action documents shall include a special caption directly below the case number on the first page, stating:

“Clerk's Action Required: (herein state the specific action requested).” Clerks will not search through letters, notices of appearance, requests for discovery or other materials to locate possible requests for action.

[Adopted effective September 1, 2020.]

(a) Definitions.


 (2) “Electronic Filing” or “e-filing” is the electronic transmission of information to a court or clerk for case processing.

(b) Electronic Filing Authorization, Exception, Service, and Technology Equipment.

(3) Electronic Transmission from the Court.

 

  (i) Attorneys. The Court or clerk may electronically transmit notices, orders, or other documents or communications, to all attorneys using the attorney’s electronic mailbox address on file with the Court. It is the responsibility of all attorneys to maintain an electronic mailbox sufficient to receive electronic transmissions of notices, orders, and other documents.

 

  (ii) Non-Attorneys. The Court or clerk may electronically transmit notices, orders, or other documents or communications, to any party who has filed electronically or has agreed to accept electronic documents from the Court by using the electronic address provided to the clerk. It is the responsibility of the filing or agreeing party to maintain an electronic mailbox sufficient to receive electronic transmissions of notices, orders, and other documents. 

 

 (4)

  (A) Mandatory Electronic Filing. Unless otherwise provided for in this rule or as authorized by the Court, attorneys shall electronically file (e-file) all documents, including emergency pleadings, using the Court’s e-filing application.   Non-attorneys and pro se parties are permitted but not required to e-file. 

 

  (i) Documents That Shall Not Be e-filed. The following documents must be filed in paper form rather than e-filed:

    (a) Documents submitted for in camera review;

 

(b) Motions to Seal and all supporting documents pursuant to GR 15 or CrRLJ 3.1(f)(2). Motions to Seal previously filed documents may be e-filed;

 

(c) Application for Court issued Writs of Garnishment;

(d) Applications for Writs of Attachment, Writs of Execution, or Replevin and original supporting documents;

(e) Bonds in civil cases;

(f) Documents incapable of legible conversion to an electronic format by scanning, imaging, or any other means;

(g) Documents from governments or other courts under official seal, except that a copy may be e-filed as an exhibit to another document, such as a pleading, by leave of the Court;

(h) Documents larger than permitted in the User Agreement;

(i) New cases or fee-based documents filed with a Motion and Order to proceed in forma pauperis;


(j) New cases based upon the filing of a Foreign Judgment;


(k) Appeals.  All initiating pleadings and filings requiring payment of a fee to District or Superior Court (e.g., Notice of Appeal, Designation of Record), or motions to proceed in forma pauperis.  Subsequent filings related to the appeal that do not require payment of a fee or if a waiver of fees has previously been granted may be e-filed.  Notices of Appeal accompanied by motions to proceed in forma pauperis, or motions to stay conditions of sentence or execution of a judgment pending appeal may also be presented to the Court at the time of the sentencing hearing or other hearing on the matter to be appealed;

 

  (l) Proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order Granting Deferred Prosecution;

 

  (m) Motions to waive mandatory e-filing requirement as provided in section (iv); or

 

  (n) Documents filed pursuant to a Court order requiring in-person paper filing.

 

 

(ii) Documents That May Be e-filed. The following documents may be e-filed:

  (a) Documents associated with a scheduled court hearing or scheduled trial presented for filing during the course of the hearing or trial;

  (b) Applications for emergency warrants;

  (c) Answers to Writs of Garnishment;

  (d) Motions to Vacate Convictions;


  (e) Petitions for Protection Orders, Motions to Modify or Terminate Protection Orders, and, sworn declarations;

 

  (f) Motions requesting the authorization of interpreters;

 

  (g) Subpoenas in criminal cases; or

 

(h) Motions for a finding of probable cause prior to a first appearance calendar or pursuant to a motion to issue an emergency warrant. 

 

 

If filed electronically, the filing party must retain the original document during the pendency of any appeal and until at least sixty (60) days after completion of the instant case, and shall present the original document to the Court if requested to do so. This does not include documents that are or will be submitted as an exhibit in a hearing or trial.

 (iii) Working Copies. Judges’ working copies for e-filed documents are not required, except that paper working copies of e-filed documents of fifty (50) pages or more shall be delivered to the judge at least five (5) court days prior to the hearing and paper working copies of Proposed Jury Instructions on criminal cases shall be delivered to the judge the morning of the first trial day.



 (iv) Waiver of the Requirement to e-File for Attorneys.

   (a) If an attorney is unable to e-file documents, the attorney may request a waiver from the Court. The attorney must make a showing of good cause and explain why they are not able to e-file.  The Court will make waiver request forms available on the Court website. The Court will consider each application and provide a written approval or denial to the attorney. Attorneys who receive a waiver shall file a copy of the waiver in each case in which they file documents. Attorneys who receive a waiver shall place the words “Exempt from e-filing per waiver filed on (date)” in the caption of all paper documents filed for the duration of the waiver.
 

   (b) Upon a showing of good cause, the Court may waive the requirement as to a specific document or documents on a case by case basis.

 (v) Non-Compliance with this Rule. Pursuant to KCC 4A.634.100A, the Court may assess a fee of twenty dollars to anyone who files an electronic document that requires special handling because of errors, failure to follow court rules or statutes or lack of completeness. If an attorney files a document in paper form and does not have an approved waiver from e-filing, the Court may assess a fee against the attorney pursuant KCC 4A.634.100B for each paper document filed.

 (5) Electronically filed court records have the same force and effect and are subject to the same right of public access as are documents that are not e-filed.

 (6) If a party serves another party electronically or via email, that party must likewise accept service from the other parties electronically or via email.

(c) Time of Filing, Confirmation, and Rejection.
 (1)
  (A) A party whose filing is untimely as the result of a  technical failure of the Court’s e-filing application may seek appropriate relief from the Court. The Court shall consider its e-filing application to be subject to a technical failure if the site is unable to accept filings, either continuously or intermittently, for more than one hour after 10:00 a.m. on any court day. Known systems outages will be posted on the Court website. Users are responsible for monitoring the Court website to be aware of regularly scheduled down time for maintenance. 


 (B) Problems on the filer’s end (such as phone line problems, problems with the filer’s Internet Service Provider, or hardware or software problems) will not constitute a technical failure under this rule, nor excuse an untimely filing. A filer who cannot file a document electronically because of a problem on the filer’s end should explore other e-filing options. The filer’s login and password will work on any computer that has internet access, e.g., at the library, home computer, or in commercial business service centers.

 (C) Filing a document electronically does not alter filing deadlines.  A filing received on a business day (Monday through Friday excluding holidays or Court closures) between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. will be filed on the business day they are filed.  Filings submitted after 4:30 p.m. will be filed on the next business day.  

 (2)

  (A) In the absence of the Court’s confirmation of receipt and filing, there is no presumption that the Court received and filed the document. The filer is responsible for verifying that the Court received and filed any document that was submitted to the Court electronically using the Court’s e-filing application.

(d) Authentication of Electronic Documents.

 (1)

  (C)

   (i) Filers agree to protect the security of their passwords and immediately notify the Court if they learn that their password has been compromised. Filers may be subject to sanctions for failure to comply with this provision.



  (2)

   (D) 

    (ii) In addition to the systems set forth in GR 30(d)(2)(D), law enforcement may electronically submit documents digitally signed using the following systems: The King County Electronic Log of Detective Investigations (eLODI); King County Booking and Referral System (BARS); The King County Sheriff’s Office Mark 43 System, or any other similar secure law enforcement agency’s system that requires use of a single user unique login and password that is associated with the active duty law enforcement officer. Unless the Court directly downloads from such system and thus is aware of its login procedures, digital signatures from any of the aforementioned systems will only be accepted where the signature block identifies that the document was signed using the law enforcement officer’s unique login and password. The signature block shall also identify the system that was used unless that information is evident from the document itself. In addition to law enforcement agency systems, the Court will also accept law enforcement digital signatures from systems that the Court directly downloads from including, but not limited to, American Traffic Solutions, Diamond Parking, FileZilla Verra Mobility, and Axsis.

 

(iii) In addition to the systems set forth in GR30(d)(2)(D), the Chief Presiding Judge has designated King County Electronic Log of Detective Investigations (eLODI); King County Sheriff’s Office Mark 43 System; King County Booking and Referral System (BARS); or any other similar secure law enforcement agency system including, but not limited to, American Traffic Solutions, Diamond Parking, FileZilla, Verra Mobility, and Axsis as local secured systems.


  (3) An electronic document filed in accordance with this rule shall bind the signer and function as the signer’s signature for any purpose, including CRLJ 11.

   (A) When a document has been filed electronically, the official record is the electronic record of the document as stored by the Court, and the filing party is bound by the document as filed.


 

[Adopted on an Emergency Basis, April 21, 2017; Adopted effective September 1, 2017; amended on an Emergency Basis effective July 19, 2019; amended on an Emergency Basis, effective May 1, 2021; amended effective September 1, 2021; amended on an Emergency Basis, effective October 21, 2022]

(e) Personal Identifiers Omitted or Redacted from Court Records.
(1)
(D) Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). If the Taxpayer Identification Number must be included in a document, only the last four characters of that number shall be used.

(E) Passport Number.

(F) Patient, Health care, or Health Insurance identifier. If the patient, health care, or health insurance identifier of the individual must be included in a document, only the last four characters of that number should be used.

[Adopted effective September 1, 2018.]

The Court shall establish the retention periods for all computerized records consistent with state law and not less than the time periods established by the Administrator for the Courts.

[Adopted effective October 20, 2017.]

It is the policy of the Court to facilitate public access to court records, provided such disclosures in no way present an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy and will not be unduly burdensome to the ongoing business of the Court.

Due to the confidential nature of some Court information, authority over the dissemination of such information shall be exercised by the Court. This rule establishes the minimum criteria to be met by each information request before allowing dissemination.

(a) Application. This rule applies to all requests for computer-based court information submitted by an individual, as well as public and private associations and agencies.

(b) Excluded Information. Records sealed, exempted, or otherwise restricted by law or court rule may not be released except by court order.

(c) Data Dissemination Committee. (Reserved)

(d) Data Dissemination Policies and Procedures. The Court shall promulgate policies and procedures for handling applications for computer-based information.

(e) Information for Release of Data. Information which must be supplied by the requestor and upon which evaluation will be made includes:

(1) Identifying information concerning the applicant;
(2) Statement of the intended use and distribution; and
(3) Type of information needed.

(f) Criteria To Determine Release of Data. The criteria against which the applications are evaluated are as follows:

(1) Availability of data.
(2) Specificity of the request.
(3) Potential for infringement of personal privacy created by release of the information requested.
(4) Potential disruption to the internal, ongoing business of the courts.

(g) Costs. The requestor shall pay the costs adopted by the Court in accordance with section (d) for providing the requested information.

(h) Appeal. If a request is denied, the requestor may appeal the decision as provided in section (d).

[Adopted effective October 20, 2017; amended effective September 1, 2020.]