Cowlitz County Superior Court Filing Rules

If the mandatory pre-trial settlement conference is unsuccessful, the judicial officer must file a notice of completion with the Clerk.

The moving party’s attorney must give the required notice no later than 10 court days before the hearing; an untimely notice results in the motion being stricken from the docket.

Serve the declaration and supporting documents on opposing counsel or the unrepresented party and provide an additional copy to Superior Court Administration by 3:00 p.m. five court days before the conference.

All parties must promptly inform Court Administration of errors or changes to the notice list.

After the trial readiness hearing, the requesting party must file a motion and affidavit for a hearing before trial and show good cause; a Notice of Disqualification is not good cause, stipulated requests are not accepted, fees and costs may be ordered, and a granted order must be provided to Court Administration within one day with a prompt call notifying it of the cancellation.

All filings must comply with the format requirements of GR 14.

One bench copy must be provided to Superior Court Administration; an endorsed copy must be provided promptly to the Clerk’s Office, and failure to provide the bench copy may delay arbitration.

An unrepresented party must provide the Clerk's Office a check for the total adoption-finalization costs at least five days before the scheduled hearing, including costs to send documents to the State and for requested certified copies.

Participants must be prepared and participate in good faith; failing to provide necessary information or meaningful proposals is bad faith and may result in a sanction of at least $500.

Complaints must remain confidential until they are resolved.

Initial and reply declarations are limited to 6 pages excluding exhibits, nonparty witness declarations to 4 pages, and the moving party’s rebuttal declarations collectively to 4 pages; the Court may waive the limits upon written motion.

Clerks may accept for filing qualifying signed documents transmitted to another by fax or other electronic means, but this rule does not authorize filing documents with the Clerk by email or other electronic means.