Cowlitz County Superior Court Document Filing Requirements

CRITICAL

Applies to

Completion notice

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

If the mandatory (pre- trial) settlement conference is not successful, the judicial officer shall file a notice of completion of the mandatory (pre-trial) settlement conference with the Clerk.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleadings and relevant documents

Each party must furnish the arbitrator copies of relevant pleadings and other documents from the court file.

Generally. In addition to the requirements of SCCAR 5.2, each party shall also furnish the arbitrator with copies of pleadings and other documents contained in the court file which that party deems relevant.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleading

A self-represented party must include mailing and service addresses, an email address, and a daytime telephone number on all pleadings, unless the information is made confidential by statute.

A party who represents themselves shall state, on all pleadings filed, a mailing address for that party, a street address where service of process and other papers may be delivered to that party, an email address, and a telephone number where that party can be contacted during the day unless that information is made confidential by statute.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Trial setting docket

The parties must place the matter on the trial-setting docket to adjust the trial time.

Additionally, the parties shall set the matter in the trial setting docket to adjust the time needed for trial.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Certificate of completeness

If the final pleadings and required forms appear appropriate, the Courthouse Facilitator or Limited License Legal Technician must sign and file a Certificate of Completeness.

The Courthouse Facilitator or Limited License Legal Technician shall review all final pleadings and required forms and, if they appear appropriate, shall sign and file a "Certificate of Completeness" to that effect.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Contested adoption hearing matter

Contested adoption matters may not be heard unless affidavits have been served and filed as required by the rule and CR 6(a).

Such matters shall not be heard unless affidavits are served and filed as required by this rule and CR 6(a).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Settlement notice

Email advice to the Court of a settlement must be immediately followed by formal written notice under CR 41(e).

To advise the Court of a settlement (to be immediately followed by formal written notice pursuant to CR 41(e));

CRITICAL

Applies to

Final family law documents

Before presentation to a judicial officer, specified final family-law documents in cases involving children must be reviewed for form and completeness by one of the listed qualified reviewers.

All final decrees, final orders and accompanying Findings of Fact/Conclusions of Law, Parenting Plans, Orders of Child Support and Child Support Worksheets for family law cases involving children shall be reviewed for form and completeness, prior to presentation to a judicial officer, by an attorney of record in the case, an attorney who approved the pleadings as to form and completeness, the Courthouse Facilitator or a Limited License Legal Technician (LLLT).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of arbitration hearing date

The arbitrator must give reasonable notice of the hearing date using the Court-approved Notice of Arbitration Hearing Date form.

The arbitrator shall give reasonable notice of the hearing date on a Notice of Arbitration Hearing Date form approved by the Court,

CRITICAL

Applies to

Response to request for transfer to arbitration

A response disagreeing with the request must state the party’s objections.

Any party disagreeing with the Request for Transfer to Arbitration and Statement of Arbitrability shall file and serve a response stating their objections within ten (10) days of service.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Report

The CCCA report must be addressed to the judge, include relevant attachments and documents, and be signed by the staff member or volunteer without an oath.

The report shall be addressed to the judge and shall contain such attachments and documents as are relevant to the proceedings. The report, when filed, shall become a permanent part of the applicable Juvenile Court legal file. The staff/volunteer shall sign the report, but not under oath.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Initial trial setting request

The initial request for trial setting shall be accompanied by a list of the names, addresses, and emails

The initial request for trial setting shall be accompanied by a list of the names, addresses, and emails

CRITICAL

Applies to

Final pleadings

An unrepresented party must schedule and meet with the Court Facilitator or a Limited License Legal Technician to review final pleadings and required forms for completeness at least five days before the hearing.

When a party is proceeding without representation by an attorney, the party shall schedule and meet with the Court Facilitator or a Limited License Legal Technician to review the final pleadings and required forms for completeness at least five (5) days prior to the scheduled hearing date.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Petition motion or order to show cause

The moving party must serve and file supporting declarations together with the petition, motion, or order to show cause.

The moving party shall serve and file supporting declaration(s) together with the petition, motion, or order to show cause.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to request county pay guardian ad litem fees

A party asking the County to pay guardian ad litem or court visitor fees must file the court-approved motion with the attached Financial Affidavit.

If a party is requesting the County pay the guardian ad litem fees or court visitor fees, that party must file a court approved Motion to Request County Pay Guardian ad Litem Fees, including the attached Financial Affidavit.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Complaint

Complaints must be submitted to the Committee in writing.

All complaints must be in writing and must be submitted to the Committee.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Arbitrator application

An applicant seeking to serve as an arbitrator must complete the Court-prescribed application, which lists arbitration subject areas for the applicant to mark.

A person desiring to serve as an arbitrator shall complete an application on a form prescribed by the Court. The form shall contain a list of areas of law subject to arbitration whereby the applicant marks the area they are willing to be considered as an arbitrator.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Adoption finalization forms

An unrepresented party must provide a completed Application for Adoption Registration form and a completed Adoption Data Card.

ii) provide a completed Application for Adoption Registration form that will be provided to the State of Washington, and/or other appropriate state, if applicable; and iii) provide a completed Adoption Data Card (for adoptees per RCW 26.33.300).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Request for payment

When the award is filed, the arbitrator shall submit, to the Superior Court Administrator, two original requests for payment on a form prescribed by the Court

When the award is filed, the arbitrator shall submit, to the Superior Court Administrator, two original requests for payment on a form prescribed by the Court

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for additional fees

A request for additional guardian ad litem or court visitor fees must be filed by written motion accompanied by supporting declarations.

If additional fees are requested, a written motion for same, accompanied by supporting declaration(s), must be filed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Request for trial de novo and sealing of award

A copy of the filed forms must be provided to Superior Court Administration.

A copy of these forms being filed shall be provided to the Superior Court Administration.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Initial trial setting request

The initial trial-setting request must include the names and addresses of everyone entitled to notice.

The initial request for trial setting shall be accompanied by a list of the names and addresses of all persons entitled to notice.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediation and trial setting forms

The petitioner must use the court-prescribed mediation and trial-setting forms; the mediation form must bear the specified title and be signed by each party's attorney or each self-represented party before presentation for approval.

Upon the filing of a Response to the Petition which contests a parenting plan, child custody or visitation, making the proceeding subject to these rules, the Petitioner shall immediately note the proceeding for mandatory mediation and trial setting on forms prescribed by the Court. The form for mandatory mediation shall be entitled “Order to Transfer to Mandatory Mediation”, shall be substantially in the form found on the Court’s website at https://cowlitzsuperiorcourt.us/court-forms, and shall be signed by the attorney for each party and/or each party appearing self-represented (pro se) prior to presentation to the Court for approval. The form for trial setting shall be the standard Trial Setting notice.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Final papers

When neither party has an attorney, the specified Certificate of Completion must accompany the final papers before the ex parte judge considers them.

If neither party is represented by an attorney, a Certificate of Completion by a Courthouse Facilitator, an attorney or a Limited License Legal Technician (LLLT), as set forth in 92(b)(1) above, must also accompany the final papers before consideration can be made by the ex parte judge.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to amend trial scheduling order

A Trial Scheduling Order may be amended only by motion and leave of the Court.

The Trial Scheduling Order may be amended only by leave of the Court upon motion.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Emergency ex parte request

An emergency ex parte request based on a credible threat of imminent and irreparable harm must be submitted to the Clerk’s office with a coversheet identifying it as an emergency civil or criminal order request.

The party shall submit the documents to the Superior Court Clerk’s office, with a coversheet identifying an emergency civil or criminal order request.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Oath of office

An appointed applicant must complete and file the Court-prescribed oath of office before being placed on the arbitration panel.

The oath of office on the form prescribed by the Court must be completed and filed prior to an appointed applicant being placed on the arbitration panel.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion papers

For hearings under CrR 3.6 and CrR 8.3(c), the moving party must file the motion, affidavit, and memorandum of authorities before noting the hearing.

No hearings pursuant to CrR 3.6 and CrR 8.3(c) may be noted until the moving party files the motion, affidavit, memorandum of authorities with the court

CRITICAL

Applies to

Arbitration award

The award must use a Court-approved Arbitration Award form and be filed with the County Clerk.

(a) Form. The award shall be prepared on an Arbitration Award form approved by the Court and filed with the County Clerk, along with proof of service on the parties.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion in limine

Parties must provide motions in limine to the trial judge in cases assigned a specific trial date at the criminal readiness hearing, unless the Court orders otherwise.

Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, for all cases assigned a specific trial date at the criminal readiness hearing, the parties shall provide the trial judge motions in limine by the close of business on the day of the readiness hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Settlement declaration

Settlement declarations and supporting documents must not be filed with the Clerk’s Office and must be labeled “settlement documents” on the cover page and submitted accordingly.

The declaration and supporting documents shall not be filed with the Clerk’s Office, rather, identified as “settlement documents” on the cover page and submitted as such.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed final documents

Proposed final documents that appear incomplete will not be accepted for filing, and every section of a child support computation worksheet must be completed or marked “not applicable” where appropriate.

The Clerk of the Court shall not accept for filing any such proposed final documents which appear to be incomplete; with specific reference to the child support computation worksheet, all sections and parts thereof must be fully completed or marked "not applicable" where such is the case.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed final document

The Clerk must not accept a proposed final document that appears incomplete or lacks the required forms.

The Clerk of the Court shall not accept for filing any such proposed final document which appears to be incomplete or which is not accompanied by the required forms.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Universal trial setting calendar notice

The moving party must serve and file a Universal Trial Setting Calendar Notice to obtain a trial setting.

The moving party shall serve and file a Universal Trial Setting Calendar Notice (Docket Notice).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Subpoena

A Superior Court Judge must approve subpoenas issued by self-represented litigants and may require an ex parte hearing to determine whether the witness has legally relevant information.

Subpoenas issued by self- represented litigants must be approved by a Superior Court Judge. The judge may choose to require an ex parte hearing to determine if the witness has legally relevant information.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Document presented to judge for signature

Documents presented to a judge for signature must provide a space for the signature date immediately above or beside the judge’s signature.

All documents presented to a judge for signature shall provide for a place to write a date on which the document is signed immediately above, or to the side, of the judge's signature.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed jury instructions

Proposed jury instructions must be provided to the court on the first day of trial.

Proposed jury instructions shall be provided to the court on the first day of trial.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

A copy of the proposed order must be provided to the Court and the other party at least five court days before the presentation date.

A copy of the proposed order shall be provided to the Court and to the other party, or their attorney, no less than five (5) court days prior to the presentation date.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Remote appearance request

For an in-person docket, a party or attorney seeking remote appearance must obtain judicial-officer approval through Court Administration using a written request on the court-approved form.

If an in-person docket, the party or attorney obtained approval by a judicial officer to appear remotely for a docket through Court Administration by a written request on the court approved form, submitted at least three (3) court days prior to the day of the hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Defendant advice of rights and options

The Defendant must file a completed “Defendant’s Advice of Rights and Options” form with the Clerk’s Office no later than the trial assignment hearing.

No later than the trial assignment hearing, the Defendant shall file with the Clerk’s Office, a completed “Defendant’s Advice of Rights and Options” form.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Order of continuance of arbitration hearing date

Any continuance must be documented on the Court-approved Order of Continuance of Arbitration Hearing Date form and provided to Superior Court Administration.

and any continuance on an Order of Continuance of Arbitration Hearing Date form approved by the Court to the Superior Court Administration.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Adoption finalization submission

If the required check and forms are not provided, the Clerk must not set the final hearing or must strike it if already set.

If the check and forms have not been provided as required by this rule, then the final hearing shall not be set, or stricken if set, by the Court Clerk.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Property settlement agreement or separation contract

Written and signed property settlement agreements or separation contracts must be filed as part of the case record.

All property settlement agreements or separation contracts reduced to writing and signed shall be filed as a part of the record of said cause.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Remote appearance motion

For a jury trial, a party or attorney must obtain prior approval to appear remotely by written motion at least 21 days before trial begins.

If a jury trial, the party or attorney obtained prior approval, by way of written motion, at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the first day of trial.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Response

A Response must be filed before a cause may be set for trial on the assignment docket.

No cause appearing on the assignment docket will be set for trial unless there is a Response filed,

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

The moving party must prepare and file all proposed orders.

All proposed orders will be prepared and filed by the moving party.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Settlement declaration

When parenting plans or child support are at issue, each party must provide a proposed parenting plan and child-support worksheets.

If the parenting plan or child support is at issue, each party will provide a Proposed Parenting Plan and Child Support Worksheets.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Final hearing documents

The Court will not conduct the final hearing unless the Certificate of Completeness is signed by the Courthouse Facilitator, an attorney, or an LLLT.

The Court will not conduct a final hearing in the matter unless the "Certificate of Completeness" has been signed by the Courthouse Facilitator, an attorney or a Limited License Legal Technician (LLLT).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Petition or motion

The moving party must serve and file supporting affidavits together with the petition or motion.

The moving party shall serve and file supporting affidavit(s) together with the petition and/or motion.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Trial setting docket

Must include

case number

A case on the Trial Setting Docket must be identified only by its case number and attorney name or names.

The case on the Trial Setting Docket shall only be identified by case number and attorney name/s.