Asotin, Columbia and Garfield Counties Superior Court Document Filing Requirements

CRITICAL

Applies to

Memorandum of authorities

When filing the motion, the moving party must serve and file a memorandum of authorities and deliver copies of the motion and memorandum to the trial judge and opposing counsel.

At the time of filing the motion, the moving party shall serve and file a memorandum of authorities and deliver a copy of the motion and memorandum to the trial judge and to opposing counsel.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

An application for a court order must be made by written motion stating the grounds with particularity and specifying the relief or order sought.

An application to the court for an order shall be by motion which shall be made in writing, shall state with particularity the grounds therefor, and shall set forth the relief or order sought.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

A motion supported by affidavits or other papers must identify the papers the moving party will use.

When a motion is supported by affidavits or other papers, it shall specify the papers to be used by the moving party.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Court filing

Parties filing cases with the Superior Court Clerk's Office must use the applicable form coversheet from the court's listed forms.

In all cases filed with the Superior Court Clerk's Office, the parties shall utilize the form coversheets located at https://www.courts.wa.gov/forms/?fa=forms.static&staticID=14, which are as follows: (i) Superior Court, Civil Cases, 06/2025 (i1) Domestic Cases, 06/2025 (i11) Guardianship Cases, 06/2025 (iv) Mental Health Cases, 06/2025 (v) Probate Cases. 06/2025

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for revision

A Motion for Revision must state specific grounds for each claimed error and include supporting argument and legal authorities.

The motion must set forth specific grounds for each claimed error and argument and legal authorities in support thereof.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Judicial working copies

The first page of working copies must visibly display the hearing date and time, case name, case number, and submitting party.

Working copies shall be merged as one PDF and visibly display the hearing date and time, case name, case number and submitting party on page one.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Plea agreement

Plea agreements must substantially follow the form in Exhibit A.

Any plea agreement shall be in the following substantial form: See Exhibit A.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for revision

If the challenged Commissioner ruling was based on testimony, the testimony must be transcribed and attached to the Motion for Revision.

When seeking revision of a ruling of the Court Commissioner which was based on testimony, such testimony must be transcribed and attached to the motion.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Probable cause affidavit

A detention hearing may not be scheduled unless the probable cause affidavit is completed and sent to the court.

No hearings shall be scheduled unless the probable cause affidavit is completed and sent to the court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

Every motion must be signed in accordance with Rule 11.

All motions shall be signed in accordance with rule 11.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed jury instructions

Defendant/Respondent's additional instructions must not duplicate instructions submitted by Plaintiff/Petitioner, and Defendant/Respondent must submit a witness list.

The Defendant/Respondent shall prepare, file, and serve any new or additional instructions without duplication of the instructions submitted by Plaintiff/Petitioner, and a witness list five (5) days prior to trial.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Objections

Objections to a proposed document must be in writing and accompanied by any proposed substitutions the objecting party considers appropriate.

Any party objecting to the proposed document shall within ten (10) days after receipt thereof serve opposing counsel, and mail/deliver to the judge, objections thereto in writing, together with any proposed substitutions it deemed appropriate.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed jury instructions

Plaintiff/Petitioner must submit a cover sheet, verdict form or forms, and witness list with the proposed jury instructions.

Plaintiff/Petitioner shall also submit a cover sheet, verdict form(s), and witness list along with its proposed jury instructions.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Settlement conference letter

The settlement-conference letter must succinctly address the factual summary, liability, damages, settlement-negotiation history, and current settlement position.

Not less than three (3) days prior to the date set for the settlement conference, serve on the assigned judge or commissioner and the attorney for the opposing party a letter succinctly addressing the following: a. A brief factual summary; b. Issues regarding liability; c. Issues regarding damages, both special and general; d. History of any settlement negotiations; and e. Current position on settlement.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Counsel must retain original proposed orders for presentation at the motion hearing.

Originals of proposed orders shall be retained by counsel for presentation at the hearing on the motion.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for revision

If the transcript is not timely available, the moving party must state the arrangements made to obtain it.

If the transcript is not timely available, the moving party must set forth arrangements which have been made to secure the transcript.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Contempt proceeding

If the alleged contemnor was absent from the fact-finding hearing, the district must provide evidence that the party had notice of the order’s terms.

If the party alleged to be in contempt of an order compelling attendance was not present at the fact-finding hearing, the district shall provide evidence that the party had notice of the terms of the order.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for revision

A Motion for Revision must include the challenged order and copies of all papers submitted in support or opposition before the Commissioner.

The motion shall be accompanied by a copy of the order for which revision is sought, along with copies of all papers which were before the Commissioner in support, or in opposition in the original proceedings.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

A hearing will not be set until the motion has been filed and served.

No hearing will be set unless the Motion has already been filed and served.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Dissolution proceeding

Jurisdictional testimony and other testimony supporting a dissolution must be in affidavit or declaration form; the quoted requirement is incomplete in the source.

The jurisdictional testimony and other testimony in support of the dissolution must be done in affidavit form or a declaration pursuant

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion or response

Must include

proposed order

A proposed form of order must be served with the motion or response to the motion.

A proposed form of order, which the Court may adopt, modify, or reject consistent with the decision of the Court, shall be served with the motion or response to motion.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pretrial statement

In contested dissolution actions involving specified issues, each party's written summary must state the issues, proposed resolutions, asset and liability valuations and division, proposed parenting plan, and child support calculations.

each party shall serve on the other party and file with the court a written summary setting forth: (1) Statement of the issues. (2) A statement of the party's proposed resolution of the issues. (3) A description and valuation of the assets and liabilities of the parties, together with a proposed division thereof. (4) The party's proposed parenting plan. (5) Child Support calculations.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Statement of the case

In civil cases, a statement of the case for prospective jurors must be submitted with the proposed jury instructions.

In civil cases, a statement of the case to the prospective jurors shall be submitted at the same time.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of digital exhibit declaration

A Notice of Digital Exhibit Declaration must be filed contemporaneously with a digital exhibit and describe its type, size or length if applicable, contents, and relevance through an offer of proof.

No digital exhibit will be accepted without a contemporaneous filing of a Notice of Digital Exhibit Declaration. See Exhibit E attached. The Notice of Digital Exhibit Declaration shall contain a description of the type of digital exhibit, its size or length if applicable, an offer of proof explaining the contents and relevance of the digital exhibit.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Video deposition

A written deposition must also be filed when a video deposition is presented.

When presenting video depositions, a written deposition must also be filed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Guardian ad litem grievance

A grievance or dispute regarding a Guardian ad Litem must be presented in writing to the Court for submission to a committee.

Any grievance or dispute regarding any Guardian ad Litem shall be presented in writing to the Court for submission to a committee of not less than three persons selected by the Court, two of whom must be elected for the respective county, and the third, the Juvenile Court Administrator of the respective county.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of digital exhibit declaration

The declaration form includes a statement under penalty of perjury and requires the date and place signed and the party's or attorney's signature.

I certify (or declare) under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington that the foregoing is true and correct. Date signed: Place signed: Signature of Party/Attorney

CRITICAL

Applies to

Renewed application for order

When an order was refused or conditionally granted and the condition was not performed, a renewed application may not be presented to another judge without disclosing the prior ruling and that the application is being renewed.

When any order has been applied for and refused in whole or in part or has been granted conditionally and the condition has not been performed, the same application for an order must not be presented to another judge without advising the second judge of the fact that the order was previously refused or conditioned and that application is again being made.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Digital exhibit service

Must include

certificate of service

A certificate of service must be filed with the Court.

The party shall file a certificate of service with the Court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Interrogatory responses

Interrogatories must be answered separately, fully, in writing, and under oath; objections must state their reasons, with answers signed by the responding person and objections signed by the attorney.

Each interrogatory shall be answered separately and fully in writing under oath, unless it is objected to, in which event the reasons for objection shall be stated in lieu of an answer. The answers are to be signed by the person making them, and the objections signed by the attorney making them.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Non party affidavits

No more than five non-party affidavits per party may be filed in support of or opposition to a temporary-orders motion, and they are subject to the page limit stated above.

Affidavits from non-parties filed in support of or in opposition to a motion for temporary orders shall be limited to five per party and shall be limited to the same number of pages set forth above.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of digital exhibit declaration

Must include

certificate of service

The declaration requires a filed certificate of service, without which the court may not review or admit the digital exhibits.

I will properly serve the opposing party a copy of this Notice of Digital Exhibit Declaration form and a true and complete copy of the digital exhibit(s) listed below and file a certificate of service pursuant to court rule and Washington law. I understand that the court may not review or admit my digital exhibit(s) without a certificate of service filed.

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders should not be filed with the clerk.

Proposed orders should not be filed with the clerk.

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed document

Judgments and findings must be presented by the specified procedure; orders and other documents may also be presented under CR 54(f)(2) without oral argument, and ex parte presentation is permitted only with opposing counsel's written approval or written waiver of notice.

The preceding shall be the exclusive method for presenting judgments and findings of facts and conclusions of law. Orders and other documents also may be presented pursuant to CR 54(f)(2), without oral argument. Any proposed document may be presented ex parte to the court if opposing counsel has approved in writing entry of the proposed document or notice of presentment has been waived in writing.

WARNING

Applies to

Exhibit list

Description of exhibit including why it is relevant to your No. Format/Type case and length if applicable. If the exhibit is longer than of Exhibit several minutes, please describe specifically at which time the relevant information can be found.

Description of exhibit including why it is relevant to your No. Format/Type case and length if applicable. If the exhibit is longer than of Exhibit several minutes, please describe specifically at which time the relevant information can be found.

WARNING

Applies to

Jury instruction question request

A party may request additional prospective-juror questions if the questions are proposed in advance in writing and submitted with the jury instructions.

Any party may request the Court to ask prospective jurors appropriate additional general questions proposed in advance in writing and submitted with jury instructions.