Step-by-step guides to filing, serving, presenting, and collecting on small claims cases in every state.
Washington small claims authorizes only two service methods: personal service and signed certified mail. When the defendant cannot be located, plaintiffs document search efforts and either request a continuance or dismiss without prejudice and refile after the address turns up.
After a Washington small claims defendant is served, the plaintiff files written proof that documents who served, when, where, and how. This article covers what the proof must contain, when it has to be in the court file, and what happens if it is missing.
Washington law permits three methods for serving a small claims notice: sheriff delivery, in-person service by a non-party adult, or certified mail with a return receipt signed by the defendant.
Service rules for a Washington small claims notice of claim: the two methods allowed under RCW 12.40.040, the 10-day deadline, and how to file proof.
What to wear, when to arrive, how to address the judge, and how parties present evidence at a Washington small claims hearing in district court.
Most Washington small claims hearings don’t require subpoenas, but when a witness won’t appear voluntarily, CRLJ 45 lets the district court clerk issue one. This article covers when to use a subpoena, how to issue one, what to pay the witness, and how to serve it.
What documents, photographs, and witnesses Washington district court judges admit in a small claims hearing under the informal evidence standard, and what they will still exclude.
What to do between filing and the hearing date, organize a timeline of the dispute, label your exhibits, prepare witnesses, and walk through what the judge will hear.
Washington’s small claims statute of limitations varies by claim type: six years for written contracts, three years for oral debts and property damage, with shorter windows for some other claims.
What to bring to a Washington small claims hearing: documents, photos, receipts, written statements, and witnesses. RCW 12.40.080 keeps the proceeding informal and bars attorneys without the judge’s consent.
Washington small claims is filed in the district court for the county where the defendant lives or, in some cases, where the dispute arose. RCW 3.66.040 sets the rule.
What it costs to file a Washington small claims case: the $35 statutory fee under RCW 12.40.020, county surcharges authorized by RCW 7.75.035, and the General Rule 34 fee waiver process.