Notice of Appearance - Washington

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE

State of Washington — Superior Court

1. COURT HEADER AND CAPTION

SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON
FOR [________________________________] COUNTY

Washington has 39 counties. Select or enter the applicable county:

2. PARTY INFORMATION

The undersigned enters this appearance on behalf of the following party:

Party Name: [________________________________]

Party Role:
☐ Plaintiff
☐ Defendant
☐ Third-Party Plaintiff
☐ Third-Party Defendant
☐ Cross-Claimant
☐ Counter-Claimant
☐ Intervenor
☐ Petitioner
☐ Respondent
☐ Garnishee Defendant
☐ Real Party in Interest
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Case Type:
☐ Civil (General)
☐ Tort — Personal Injury
☐ Tort — Other
☐ Contract
☐ Real Property
☐ Domestic Relations
☐ Unlawful Detainer
☐ Other: [________________________________]

3. ATTORNEY INFORMATION

Additional Counsel (if applicable)

4. APPEARANCE STATEMENT

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to CR 70.1 and CR 5 of the Washington Superior Court Civil Rules, [________________________________], WSBA No. [________________________________], of [________________________________], hereby enters an appearance on behalf of [________________________________], [________________________________] (party designation), in the above-entitled action.

All pleadings, motions, discovery, notices, orders, and other papers in this matter shall hereafter be served upon the undersigned at the address set forth above, in accordance with CR 5 and GR 30.

5. TYPE OF APPEARANCE

☐ General Appearance — The undersigned enters a general appearance for all purposes in this matter, submitting to the jurisdiction of this Court.

☐ Notice of Limited Appearance — The undersigned enters a limited notice of appearance as described in Section 7 below, consistent with CR 70.1(b) and Washington RPC 1.2(c).

☐ Special Appearance — The undersigned appears specially for the limited purpose of contesting jurisdiction, venue, or service of process, without submitting to the Court's jurisdiction for other purposes.

☐ Substitution of Counsel — The undersigned enters an appearance as substitute counsel, replacing [________________________________], WSBA No. [________________________________].

☐ Additional Counsel — The undersigned enters an appearance as additional counsel alongside [________________________________], WSBA No. [________________________________].

☐ Pro Hac Vice Appearance — The undersigned enters an appearance pursuant to pro hac vice admission under APR 8. See Section 8 below.

6. CONSENT TO ELECTRONIC FILING AND SERVICE

Electronic Filing

Pursuant to GR 30 and the applicable local court rules:

☐ The undersigned is registered with the county's e-filing system and will file electronically in this matter.
☐ The undersigned will register with the county's e-filing system within [____] days.
☐ The undersigned requests an exemption from electronic filing. Basis: [________________________________]

E-Filing System Used:
☐ Odyssey File & Serve (used by most Washington counties)
☐ King County E-Filing (Linx/SCOMIS system — note: King County has transitioned systems; verify current platform)
☐ Other county-specific system: [________________________________]

Electronic Service (eService)

☐ The undersigned consents to electronic service at the following email address: [________________________________]

☐ The undersigned does not consent to electronic service. Service shall be by other methods under CR 5(b).

GR 30 Note: Under GR 30, the court or clerk may electronically transmit notices, orders, or other documents to attorneys as authorized under local court rules. Attorneys who file electronically are deemed to have consented to electronic service through the e-filing system. Each county may have additional local rules governing electronic service.

County-Specific E-Filing Notes

King County: King County Superior Court has implemented mandatory e-filing for most civil case types. Working copies of documents must be delivered to the assigned judge electronically unless the judge's individual practices require otherwise. See King County LCR 7(b).

Pierce County: Mandatory e-filing is in effect. Review Pierce County Local Rules for specific requirements.

Snohomish County: Mandatory e-filing is in effect through the statewide Odyssey system.

Spokane County: Mandatory e-filing is in effect. Review Spokane County Superior Court Local Rules.

All Other Counties: Check the county's local rules for e-filing requirements. Many counties now mandate e-filing through Odyssey File & Serve.

7. LIMITED NOTICE OF APPEARANCE (CR 70.1(b))

Complete this section only if a limited notice of appearance is being entered.

Pursuant to CR 70.1(b) and Washington RPC 1.2(c), the undersigned enters a limited notice of appearance on behalf of [________________________________] for the following specific purposes only:

☐ Representation at the following hearing(s): [________________________________]
☐ Filing and arguing the following motion(s): [________________________________]
☐ Conducting or responding to specified discovery
☐ Attending mediation or settlement conference(s)
☐ Trial representation on [__/__/____]
☐ Representing the client in arbitration proceedings
☐ Negotiating settlement
☐ Drafting and filing specified pleading(s): [________________________________]
☐ Other specified purpose(s): [________________________________]

Scope and Duration

The limited appearance shall:

Begin on: [__/__/____]

Terminate upon the earliest of:
☐ Completion of the specified purpose(s) described above
☐ The date of: [__/__/____]
☐ Entry of the Court's order on the specified motion(s)
☐ Conclusion of the specified hearing(s)
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Client Acknowledgment

The Client has been informed in writing that:

1. The undersigned's representation is limited to the purposes stated above;
2. The Client remains responsible for all other aspects of the case;
3. Upon termination of the limited appearance, the Client will be treated as self-represented unless other counsel enters an appearance;
4. The undersigned will file a Notice of Completion of Limited Appearance upon concluding the limited scope engagement.

Notice of Completion and Service

Under CR 70.1(b), when the limited purpose is completed, the attorney shall file a Notice of Completion of Limited Appearance and serve it on all parties. The attorney's responsibility for the matter ends upon filing of the Notice of Completion, subject to any court order to the contrary.

CR 71 Distinction: Withdrawal from a general appearance requires compliance with CR 71 (motion to withdraw, court approval, and service on the client). Withdrawal from a limited appearance follows the simpler procedure under CR 70.1(b) — filing a Notice of Completion without requiring court approval, provided the specified purposes have been completed.

8. PRO HAC VICE ADMISSION

Complete this section only if counsel is not a member of the Washington State Bar Association.

☐ The undersigned has been admitted pro hac vice by Order dated [__/__/____].
☐ A Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice (APR 8) is being filed concurrently with this Notice.

Pro Hac Vice Attorney Information

Washington Sponsoring Attorney

Under APR 8, a pro hac vice attorney must associate with an active member of the WSBA.

APR 8 Requirements: The pro hac vice applicant must: (1) be an active member in good standing of the bar of another U.S. jurisdiction or a foreign jurisdiction; (2) associate with an active WSBA member; (3) pay the required fee; (4) not be a Washington resident or regularly engage in the practice of law in Washington. The application must disclose all jurisdictions of admission and any disciplinary actions.

LLLT Note: Washington's Limited License Legal Technician (LLLT) program was sunset by the Washington Supreme Court in 2020. No new LLLTs are being licensed. Existing LLLTs may continue to practice within their authorized scope until their licenses expire or are otherwise terminated.

9. SIGNATURE BLOCK

DATED this [____] day of [________________], [________].

[________________________________]
(Firm / Organization Name)

By: ______________________________________

[________________________________]
WSBA No. [________________________________]
Attorney for [________________________________]

[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________], Washington [__________]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]

10. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on [__/__/____], I caused a true and correct copy of the foregoing NOTICE OF APPEARANCE to be served upon each of the following counsel of record and/or unrepresented parties by the method indicated below, in compliance with CR 5(b) and GR 30:

Service Recipients

Recipient 1:
| | |
|---|---|
| Name | [________________________________] |
| Address / Email | [________________________________] |
| Method | ☐ E-Filing System (eService) ☐ Email ☐ U.S. First-Class Mail, postage prepaid ☐ Hand Delivery ☐ Legal Messenger ☐ Facsimile: [________________________________] |

Recipient 2:
| | |
|---|---|
| Name | [________________________________] |
| Address / Email | [________________________________] |
| Method | ☐ E-Filing System (eService) ☐ Email ☐ U.S. First-Class Mail, postage prepaid ☐ Hand Delivery ☐ Legal Messenger ☐ Facsimile: [________________________________] |

Recipient 3:
| | |
|---|---|
| Name | [________________________________] |
| Address / Email | [________________________________] |
| Method | ☐ E-Filing System (eService) ☐ Email ☐ U.S. First-Class Mail, postage prepaid ☐ Hand Delivery ☐ Legal Messenger ☐ Facsimile: [________________________________] |

(Attach additional pages if needed.)

______________________________________
[________________________________]

11. E-FILING INSTRUCTIONS FOR WASHINGTON COURTS

General E-Filing Procedure

1. Access the System: Navigate to the applicable county's e-filing portal. Most counties use Odyssey File & Serve, accessible through the Washington Courts website at https://www.courts.wa.gov.
2. Register / Log In: Create an account or log in with attorney credentials.
3. Select the Court: Choose the correct Superior Court county.
4. Search for the Case: Enter the cause number or search by party name.
5. Select Filing Type: Choose "Notice of Appearance" from the document type menu.
6. Upload Document: Upload the completed Notice of Appearance as a PDF.
7. Service: The e-filing system will serve registered parties electronically upon acceptance.
8. Working Copies: If required by local rules, submit working copies to the assigned judge or department.
9. Confirmation: Retain the e-filing confirmation receipt.

Working Copy Requirements by County

Important: Working copy requirements vary significantly by county and even by individual judge. Always review the assigned judge's or department's individual practices upon entering an appearance.

12. PRACTITIONER NOTES AND WASHINGTON-SPECIFIC GUIDANCE

Washington Superior Court Structure

Washington has 39 counties, each with a Superior Court. The Superior Court is the court of general jurisdiction, hearing civil cases without a maximum amount in controversy, felony criminal cases, family law matters, and appeals from courts of limited jurisdiction.

Key Washington Practice Points

1. CR 70.1 — Appearance by Attorney: CR 70.1 governs attorney appearances. An attorney appears by filing a notice of appearance, by appearing at a hearing and noting the appearance on the record, or by filing a pleading on behalf of a party. Once an appearance is entered, all papers must be served on the attorney rather than the party.

2. CR 71 — Withdrawal by Attorney: Withdrawal from a general appearance requires: (a) written notice to the client; (b) a motion to withdraw; (c) service on the client and all parties; and (d) court approval. The court may deny withdrawal if it would prejudice the client or delay proceedings.

3. Mandatory Arbitration: Many Washington counties require mandatory arbitration for civil cases under a specified amount (typically $100,000, though the threshold varies by county). The arbitration requirement is triggered upon filing and is not affected by the notice of appearance. Check the applicable county's mandatory arbitration rules.

4. Case Scheduling: Washington counties use different case scheduling systems. Some counties issue an order setting the case schedule immediately upon filing; others require the parties to submit a case schedule or attend a case scheduling conference. Review the applicable local rules.

5. King County Specifics: King County is the most populous county and has extensive local civil rules (LCR). Key requirements include:
   - Mandatory e-filing for most civil case types
   - Electronic working copies
   - Specific note-for-motion requirements under LCR 7
   - Case schedule issued upon filing in most civil cases

6. Local Rules Variation: Washington counties have significant variation in local rules. Always review the specific county's local civil rules upon entering an appearance. Key areas of variation include:
   - Motion noting procedures and hearing calendars
   - Working copy requirements
   - Case schedule provisions
   - Mandatory settlement conferences

7. Service by Email / Electronic Means: Under CR 5(b)(7) and GR 30, service by electronic means is authorized when the receiving party has consented. E-filing participants are automatically served through the e-filing system.

8. Special Appearance: Washington recognizes special appearances to contest jurisdiction or venue without submitting to general jurisdiction. A special appearance must clearly state its limited purpose to avoid being treated as a general appearance.

9. Legal Messenger Service: In the Puget Sound region, many attorneys use legal messenger services for service and delivery of documents. This is an accepted service method under CR 5.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Failing to check the county's specific e-filing system and local rules
• Not delivering working copies when required by the assigned judge
• Confusing King County's specific requirements with statewide rules
• Entering a general appearance when a special appearance was intended (waives jurisdictional objections)
• Not noting the assigned department or judge in the caption when required by local rules
• Failing to comply with mandatory arbitration requirements

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Washington Superior Court Civil Rules: https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/?fa=court_rules.list&group=sup&set=cr
• GR 30 (Electronic Filing and Service): https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/pdf/GR/GA_GR_30_00_00.pdf
• CR 70.1 (Appearance by Attorney): https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/?fa=court_rules.display&group=sup&set=cr&ruleid=supcr70.1
• CR 71 (Withdrawal by Attorney): https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/?fa=court_rules.display&group=sup&set=cr&ruleid=supcr71
• King County Local Civil Rules: https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/pdf/lcr/17/SUP/LCR_King_SUP.pdf
• Washington State Bar Association: https://www.wsba.org
• Washington Courts Forms: https://www.courts.wa.gov/forms/

This template is provided by ezel.ai for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. All legal documents should be reviewed by a licensed attorney in the applicable jurisdiction before filing.