Certificate of Service - Washington
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
Before you use this: Use this certificate for papers served under CR 5 in a Washington superior court civil action. Identify the actual recipient and method for each person served. After final judgment, check CR 5(b)(4)-(6): direct service on a represented party may be required, and the served paper may need the notices in CR 5(b)(5). For electronic service, confirm the recipient's written consent or an applicable local rule and retain the transmission record. This certificate records service; filing a paper and serving it are separate acts.
Superior Court of Washington, County of [COUNTY]
| Party | Role |
|---|---|
| [PLAINTIFF NAME] | Plaintiff |
| v. | |
| [DEFENDANT NAME] | Defendant |
Case No.: [CASE NUMBER]
Document(s) served: [EXACT TITLE AND DATE OF EACH PAPER, INCLUDING EXHIBITS OR ATTACHMENTS]
I certify that I served or caused the above document(s) to be served on the persons listed below by the methods and on the dates stated. For a represented party, service was directed to the attorney unless CR 5(b)(4)-(6) required direct service on the party or the court ordered it. Any required direct-service notices were included in the paper served. CR 5(b)(1), (4)-(6).
| Recipient and capacity | Service address or electronic destination | Method and actual delivery details | Date and time |
|---|---|---|---|
| [NAME; ATTORNEY FOR PARTY / UNREPRESENTED PARTY] | [FULL ADDRESS / DESTINATION] | [METHOD; PERSON RECEIVING, MAIL DEPOSIT, OR TRANSMISSION RECORD] | [DATE, TIME] |
| [NAME; ATTORNEY FOR PARTY / UNREPRESENTED PARTY] | [FULL ADDRESS / DESTINATION] | [METHOD; PERSON RECEIVING, MAIL DEPOSIT, OR TRANSMISSION RECORD] | [DATE, TIME] |
| [ADDITIONAL RECIPIENT] | [ADDRESS / DESTINATION] | [METHOD AND DETAILS] | [DATE, TIME] |
Method details for each applicable row:
Postjudgment direct service and required notices in the served paper checked under CR 5(b)(4)-(6): ☐ Yes ☐ Not applicable
☐ Hand delivery: I handed a copy to [NAME] at [PLACE] on [DATE] at [TIME].
☐ Delivery at office or dwelling under CR 5(b)(1): I left a copy at [ADDRESS] with [NAME AND CAPACITY] or in the manner CR 5(b)(1) permits: [EXACT FACTS] on [DATE] at [TIME].
☐ U.S. mail: I deposited a copy, addressed to [RECIPIENT AND FULL ADDRESS], with postage prepaid in the post office at [PLACE] on [DATE].
If another person mailed the paper, attach that person's affidavit or declaration, or the recipient's written acknowledgment. The signer may describe a mailing they personally made below.
☐ Electronic or fax: I transmitted a copy to [RECIPIENT AND DESTINATION] on [DATE] at [TIME]. The written consent dated [DATE] or local court rule [EXACT RULE] authorized this method. The transmission record is [CONFIRMATION / MESSAGE ID]. I did not learn that the attempted service failed to reach the recipient.
☐ Other authorized method: [IDENTIFY THE STATUTE, RULE, ORDER, OR WRITTEN CONSENT AND THE ACTUAL DELIVERY FACTS].
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington that the foregoing is true and correct.
Person declaring service: [PRINTED NAME]
Role: [ATTORNEY / PERSON WHO PERFORMED SERVICE]
Attorney bar number, if applicable: [WSBA NUMBER]
Signature: [SIGNATURE]
Signed on: [__/__/____] at: [CITY OR OTHER LOCATION, STATE OR COUNTRY]
Address, phone, and email: [CONTACT INFORMATION]
Sources and references
About this template
- Last updated
- October 28, 2026
- Citations checked
- October 28, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- Washington
- Category
- Litigation & Court Documents
Legal authority
- Washington Superior Court Civil Rule 5(a)
- Washington Superior Court Civil Rule 5(b)(1)
- Washington Superior Court Civil Rule 5(b)(2)(A)
- Washington Superior Court Civil Rule 5(b)(2)(B)
- Washington Superior Court Civil Rule 5(b)(4)-(7)
- Washington General Rule 30(b)(4)
- Washington General Rule 13(a)
- RCW 5.50.050
These are the filings that drive a lawsuit through the system: complaints, answers, motions, briefs, discovery requests and responses, and post-judgment papers. Each has its own format requirements under federal and state procedural rules, and each has a deadline that cannot be missed without consequences. Clean, procedurally correct filings move a case forward; sloppy ones invite motions to strike, amended responses, and avoidable delays.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on October 28, 2026.
Washington Superior Court Civil Rule 5(b)(6) (checked October 28, 2026): "An attorney may be served notwithstanding subsection (b)(4) of this rule if (i) fewer than 63 days have elapsed since the filing of any paper or the issuance of any process in the action or proceeding or (ii) if the attorney has filed a notice of continuing representation."
Washington Superior Court Civil Rule 5(b)(5) (checked October 28, 2026): "If a party is served under circumstances described in subsection (b)(4), the paper shall (i) include a notice to the party of the right to file written opposition or a response, the time within which such opposition or response must be filed, and the place where it must be filed; (ii) state that failure to respond may result in the requested relief being granted; and (iii) state that the paper has not been served on that party's lawyer."
Washington Superior Court Civil Rule 5(b)(4) (checked October 28, 2026): "A party, rather than the party's attorney, must be served if the final judgment or decree has been entered and the time for filing an appeal has expired, or if an appeal has been taken (i) after the final judgment or decree upon remand has been entered or (ii) after the mandate has been issued affirming the judgment or decree or disposing of the case in a manner calling for no further action by the trial court. This rule is subject to the exceptions defined in subsection (b)(6)."
Washington Superior Court Civil Rule 5(a) (checked October 28, 2026): "every written motion other than one which may be heard ex parte, and every written notice, appearance, demand, offer of judgment, designation of record on appeal, and similar paper shall be served upon each of the parties."
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