Certificate of Service - Washington

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

State of Washington — Superior Court

WASHINGTON SERVICE RULES — QUICK REFERENCE

Primary Authority: Washington Superior Court Civil Rules 5 and 6 (CR 5, CR 6) and General Rule 30 (GR 30) govern service of papers after the initial process in Washington civil actions.

Who Must Be Served (CR 5(a)): Every pleading subsequent to the original complaint; every paper relating to discovery required to be served; every written motion (except one which may be heard ex parte); and every written notice, appearance, demand, offer of judgment, designation of record on appeal, and similar paper must be served on each party. Service on a represented party is made on their attorney.

Authorized Methods of Service (CR 5(b)):

• Personal delivery: Delivering a copy to the attorney or party in person
• Office delivery: Leaving it at the attorney's office with the clerk or other person in charge; if the office is closed or no one is in charge, leaving it in a conspicuous place in the office
• Dwelling/place of abode: If the attorney's office is closed or the person has no office, leaving at their dwelling house or usual place of abode with a person of suitable age and discretion
• Mail: Depositing in the post office, addressed to the attorney's or party's last known address with postage prepaid; service is deemed complete on the third day after mailing, or on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday if the third day falls on one
• Electronic service (e-service via e-filing application): When a party e-files a document, they must e-serve via the e-service feature within the Clerk's online e-filing application; e-service under this provision constitutes service under CR 5
• Facsimile or electronic means: By consent in writing of the person served, or as authorized under local court rule. Service by fax or electronic means is complete on transmission when made prior to 5:00 p.m. on a judicial day. Service made on a Saturday, Sunday, holiday, or after 5:00 p.m. is deemed complete at 9:00 a.m. on the first judicial day thereafter.

Mail Service — Three-Day Extension (CR 6(e)): When a party must act within a prescribed period after service, and service is made by mail, three (3) additional days are added to the prescribed period. No extension applies to personal delivery or electronic service.

Washington E-Filing — GR 30: Washington's General Rule 30 governs mandatory electronic filing and service. The state uses Tyler Technologies' Odyssey platform (through county-specific implementations) and county e-filing portals. When a party e-files, they must also electronically serve through the e-service feature of the e-filing application. E-service constitutes service under CR 5.

Key County E-Filing Systems:

• King County: Mandatory e-filing under King County LGR 30 using the Clerk's online eFiling application (kingcounty.gov/courts/efile)
• Pierce County: eCourt e-filing system
• Snohomish County: Online filing portal
• Other counties: Most larger counties have implemented GR 30 compliant e-filing; smaller counties may still accept paper filings

Electronic Service Timing (CR 5(b)(7)): Service by fax or electronic means is complete upon transmission when made prior to 5:00 p.m. on a judicial day. Service transmitted on a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday, or after 5:00 p.m. on any other day is deemed complete at 9:00 a.m. on the first judicial day thereafter.

Service on Self-Represented Parties: Self-represented parties who are not registered with the county e-filing system must be served by traditional methods (mail, personal delivery) or by fax/email with their written consent.

PART I — CASE CAPTION

SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON
FOR [________________________________] COUNTY

[________________________________],
Plaintiff(s),

vs. No.: [________________________________]

[________________________________],
Defendant(s).

Presiding Judge: [________________________________]
Courtroom: [________________________________]

PART II — IDENTIFICATION OF DOCUMENT(S) SERVED

Title(s) of Document(s) Served:

1. [________________________________]
2. [________________________________]
3. [________________________________]
4. [________________________________]
5. [________________________________]

(Attach additional sheet if necessary)

Total Pages Served (including all exhibits and attachments): [____]

Date of Service: [__/__/____]

PART III — PARTIES AND COUNSEL SERVED

Party/Counsel No. 1:

Name: [________________________________]
Law Firm/Organization: [________________________________]
Mailing Address: [________________________________]
City, State, Zip: [________________________________], WA [________]
Email Address: [________________________________]
Fax Number: [________________________________]
WSBA No.: [________________________________]
County E-Filing System Registered User: ☐ Yes ☐ No
Written Consent to Electronic/Fax Service on File: ☐ Yes ☐ No
Representing: ☐ Plaintiff ☐ Defendant ☐ Third-Party Plaintiff ☐ Third-Party Defendant ☐ Other: [____________]
Self-Represented Party: ☐ Yes ☐ No

Party/Counsel No. 2:

Name: [________________________________]
Law Firm/Organization: [________________________________]
Mailing Address: [________________________________]
City, State, Zip: [________________________________], WA [________]
Email Address: [________________________________]
Fax Number: [________________________________]
WSBA No.: [________________________________]
County E-Filing System Registered User: ☐ Yes ☐ No
Written Consent to Electronic/Fax Service on File: ☐ Yes ☐ No
Representing: ☐ Plaintiff ☐ Defendant ☐ Third-Party Plaintiff ☐ Third-Party Defendant ☐ Other: [____________]
Self-Represented Party: ☐ Yes ☐ No

Party/Counsel No. 3:

Name: [________________________________]
Law Firm/Organization: [________________________________]
Mailing Address: [________________________________]
City, State, Zip: [________________________________], WA [________]
Email Address: [________________________________]
Fax Number: [________________________________]
WSBA No.: [________________________________]
County E-Filing System Registered User: ☐ Yes ☐ No
Written Consent to Electronic/Fax Service on File: ☐ Yes ☐ No
Representing: ☐ Plaintiff ☐ Defendant ☐ Third-Party Plaintiff ☐ Third-Party Defendant ☐ Other: [____________]
Self-Represented Party: ☐ Yes ☐ No

(Attach additional sheets for additional parties)

PART IV — METHOD OF SERVICE

Select all methods used. If different parties were served by different methods, note which method applies to which party.

A. Electronic Service via County E-Filing Application (CR 5(b); GR 30)

☐ E-Service via County E-Filing Application (GR 30 Compliant)

The document(s) was filed electronically through the county's e-filing application. Per CR 5(b), when a party e-files a document, the party must e-serve via the e-service feature of the Clerk's online e-filing application, and such e-service constitutes service under CR 5.

County E-Filing System Used: [________________________________]
Date of E-Filing/E-Service: [__/__/____]
Time of E-Service: [____] ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m.
Transaction/Confirmation Number: [________________________________]

Note on E-Service Timing (CR 5(b)(7)): E-service is complete upon transmission when transmitted prior to 5:00 p.m. on a judicial day. Transmissions after 5:00 p.m. or on a non-judicial day are complete at 9:00 a.m. the first judicial day thereafter.

Parties/counsel served via e-filing application (registered users):
Name: [________________________________] Email: [________________________________]
Name: [________________________________] Email: [________________________________]

Parties/counsel NOT registered with e-filing application (served by alternative method):
Name: [________________________________] Alternative Method: [________________________________]
Name: [________________________________] Alternative Method: [________________________________]

B. Service by United States Mail (CR 5(b)(2))

☐ First-Class U.S. Mail — Postage Prepaid

I placed the document(s) in sealed, properly addressed envelopes with first-class postage fully prepaid and deposited them in the United States mail.

Completion of Mail Service: Under CR 5(b)(2)(A), service is deemed complete on the third day following the day the papers are placed in the mail. If that third day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, service is deemed complete on the next day that is not one of those days.

IMPORTANT — MAIL SERVICE EXTENSION: Pursuant to CR 6(e), when service is made by mail, three (3) additional days are added to any response or action period that begins upon service of this document.

Date of Mailing: [__/__/____]
Post Office/Mailing Location: [________________________________], Washington
City and State: [________________________________]

☐ Certified Mail — Return Receipt Requested
Certified Mail Article Number(s): [________________________________]
Return Receipt Received: ☐ Yes Date: [__/__/____] ☐ No/Pending

Parties/counsel served by mail:
Name: [________________________________] Address: [________________________________]
Name: [________________________________] Address: [________________________________]

C. Personal/Hand Delivery (CR 5(b)(1))

☐ Personal Delivery — Directly to Attorney or Party

A copy was personally delivered.

Delivered to: [________________________________]
Capacity: ☐ Attorney of Record ☐ Party ☐ Authorized Agent
Address of Delivery: [________________________________]
Date of Delivery: [__/__/____]
Time of Delivery: [____] ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m.
Delivered by: [________________________________]

☐ Left at Attorney's Office — Clerk or Person in Charge

Name of Person with Whom Left: [________________________________]
Title/Capacity: [________________________________]
Office Address: [________________________________]
Date and Time: [__/__/____] at [____] ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m.

☐ Left in Conspicuous Place at Office (Office Closed/No Person in Charge)

Date and Time: [__/__/____] at [____] ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m.
Office Address: [________________________________]

☐ Left at Dwelling/Usual Place of Abode

Name of Person with Whom Left: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
Date and Time: [__/__/____] at [____] ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m.

D. Electronic Service — Fax or Email (CR 5(b)(7); Written Consent or Local Rule Required)

☐ Service by Facsimile
Written consent from the person served (or local rule authorization) is on file.

Written consent/authorization from: [________________________________]
Date Consent Obtained: [__/__/____]
Fax Number Used: [________________________________]
Date and Time of Transmission: [__/__/____] at [____] ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m.
Number of Pages (including cover page): [____]
Transmission Confirmed: ☐ Yes ☐ No

Service complete upon transmission if prior to 5:00 p.m. on a judicial day; otherwise complete at 9:00 a.m. on first judicial day thereafter.

☐ Service by Electronic Mail (Email)
Written consent from the person served (or local rule authorization) is on file.

Written consent/authorization from: [________________________________]
Date Consent Obtained: [__/__/____]
Email Address Used: [________________________________]
Date and Time of Transmission: [__/__/____] at [____] ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m.
No failed/undeliverable notification received: ☐ Confirmed

Service complete upon transmission if prior to 5:00 p.m. on a judicial day; otherwise complete at 9:00 a.m. on first judicial day thereafter.

E. Commercial Overnight Delivery

☐ Service by Commercial Overnight Delivery Service

Carrier Name: [________________________________]
Tracking Number: [________________________________]
Date of Deposit: [__/__/____]
Delivery Address: [________________________________]
Delivery Confirmed: ☐ Yes — Date: [__/__/____] ☐ Pending

PART V — SELF-REPRESENTED PARTY SERVICE

(Complete if any party is self-represented/pro se)

☐ One or more parties in this action are self-represented (pro se).

Self-Represented Party Name: [________________________________]
Address on File with Court: [________________________________]
County E-Filing System Registered User: ☐ Yes ☐ No
Written Consent to Electronic Service: ☐ Yes (date: [__/__/____]) ☐ No

Method of service on self-represented party:
☐ U.S. Mail — Address: [________________________________]
☐ Personal delivery
☐ County e-filing system (registered user confirmed)
☐ Fax (written consent date: [__/__/____]) — Fax: [________________________________]
☐ Email (written consent date: [__/__/____]) — Email: [________________________________]

Self-represented parties who have not registered with the county's e-filing system and have not provided written consent to fax/email service must be served by mail or personal delivery under CR 5(b).

PART VI — DECLARATION UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY

I, [________________________________], declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington:

1. I am ☐ an attorney admitted to practice in Washington (WSBA No.: [________________]) ☐ a self-represented party ☐ other: [____________] in the above-captioned action.

2. On [__/__/____], I served or caused to be served a true and correct copy of the document(s) identified in Part II upon all parties and/or counsel identified in Part III, by the method(s) specified in Part IV.

3. All service was performed in compliance with Washington Superior Court Civil Rule 5 and General Rule 30.

Signed at [________________________________], Washington, on [__/__/____].

Signature: [________________________________]

Printed Name: [________________________________]

WSBA No. (if applicable): [________________________________]

Law Firm/Organization: [________________________________]

Address: [________________________________]

City, State, Zip: [________________________________], WA [________]

Phone: [________________________________]

Email: [________________________________]

PART VII — PROOF OF MAIL SERVICE

(Complete if a separate mail proof is needed)

I, [________________________________], declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington:

1. I am a resident of or employed in [________________________________] County, Washington.

2. I am over 18 years of age and am not a party to this action.

3. My address is: [________________________________], [________________________________], WA [________].

4. On [__/__/____], I served the following documents:
   [________________________________]
   [________________________________]

5. I served the documents by placing a true copy in a sealed envelope with first-class postage prepaid, addressed to:
   Name: [________________________________]
   Address: [________________________________]

6. I deposited said envelope in the United States mail at [________________________________], Washington.

7. Mail Extension Notice: Pursuant to CR 6(e), three (3) additional days are added to any time period that runs from service of these documents by mail.

Signed at [________________________________], Washington, on [__/__/____].

Signature: [________________________________]

Printed Name: [________________________________]

PART VIII — PROOF OF ELECTRONIC SERVICE (GR 30)

(Complete if local rules require a written proof of e-service in addition to the system record)

I, [________________________________], WSBA No. [________________________________], declare:

1. On [__/__/____], at [____] ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m., I electronically filed and served the document(s) identified in Part II through the county's e-filing application.

2. The e-filing application's e-service feature transmitted service notification to the following registered participants:
   Name: [________________________________] Email: [________________________________]
   Name: [________________________________] Email: [________________________________]

3. Transaction/Confirmation Number: [________________________________]

4. No notification of failed or undeliverable electronic service was received.

Signed at [________________________________], Washington, on [__/__/____].

Signature: [________________________________]

PART IX — WASHINGTON SERVICE SUMMARY TABLE

After-Hours E-Service: Service by fax or electronic means made after 5:00 p.m. on a judicial day, or on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, is deemed complete at 9:00 a.m. on the first judicial day thereafter (CR 5(b)(7)).

County-Specific E-Filing Systems:

• King County: kingcounty.gov/courts/efile (Mandatory under King County LGR 30)
• Pierce County: Check Pierce County Superior Court for current e-filing portal
• Snohomish County: Check Snohomish County Superior Court for current portal
• Other counties: Check GR 30 implementation status with the specific county clerk

Privacy/Redaction: Comply with Washington General Rule 31 regarding redaction of confidential information (SSNs, financial account numbers, minor children's names, etc.) in all filed documents.

Courtesy Copies: Check county local rules (e.g., King County LCR 7) for requirements regarding courtesy copies to the judge for motions and hearings.

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Washington CR 5 (Service and Filing): Washington Courts PDF
• Washington CR 5 (Online): Washington Courts
• Washington CR 6: Washington Courts
• Washington GR 30 (E-Filing): Washington Courts GR 30 PDF
• King County LGR 30 (Mandatory E-Filing): King County