Small Claims Answer - Preparation Worksheet - Washington
WASHINGTON SMALL CLAIMS DEFENSE AND COUNTERCLAIM WORKSHEET
Preparation guide—not a formal answer. Washington’s statewide Notice of Small Claim directs the defendant to appear personally and bring the papers, contracts, proof, and witnesses needed to defend the claim. The statewide small-claims forms list does not provide a defendant answer form. Check the notice and local district-court instructions.
CASE AND HEARING
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| District Court and county | [Court and County] |
| Small claim number | [Number] |
| Plaintiff | [Name and Address] |
| Defendant | [Name and Address] |
| Hearing type | ☐ Pretrial ☐ Trial |
| Hearing date, time, and location | [Information] |
| Amount plaintiff claims | $[Amount] principal + $[Amount] interest |
Under RCW 12.40.010, the small-claims limit is $10,000 for a claim brought by a natural person and $5,000 for a claim brought by any other claimant.
RESPONSE TO THE CLAIM
☐ I dispute the entire claim.
☐ I agree that I owe $[Amount] but dispute the remaining amount.
☐ The claim should be reduced by a payment, credit, offset, or other amount of $[Amount].
Facts supporting the response:
[State the events in date order. Identify payments, contract terms, communications, defects, identity issues, or other facts.]
DOCUMENTS AND WITNESSES
| Evidence | What it proves | Ready for hearing? |
|---|---|---|
| [Contract, receipt, message, photograph, account record] | [Issue] | ☐ |
| [Witness name and contact information] | [Expected testimony] | ☐ |
The statewide Notice of Small Claim directs parties to bring their papers, contracts, proof, and witnesses to the hearing.
OPTIONAL COUNTERCLAIM
Washington Courts’ official small-claims guidance states that a defendant may file a counterclaim by paying the fee, filing the claim with the court, and serving the plaintiff with notice of the counterclaim.
☐ No counterclaim.
☐ Counterclaim planned in the amount of $[Amount].
Facts and calculation:
[State the claim against the plaintiff, when it arose, and how the amount was calculated.]
Ask the local district-court clerk for the current counterclaim procedure, form, hearing schedule, fee, and service deadline before filing.
HEARING CHECKLIST
☐ Calendar the hearing and appear personally as directed by the Notice of Small Claim.
☐ Bring organized originals and copies of evidence.
☐ Arrange for witnesses to attend.
☐ If asserting a counterclaim, file it, pay or address the fee, and serve the plaintiff under current local instructions.
☐ Confirm whether the judicial officer has consented to attorney or legal-paraprofessional participation; RCW 12.40.080 generally bars such participation without that consent, subject to the statute’s corporation provision.
SOURCES AND REFERENCES
About this template
- Last updated
- July 26, 2026
- Citations checked
- July 26, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- Washington
- Category
- Litigation & Court Documents
Legal authority
- Chapter 12.40 RCW
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 July 26, 2026.
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