Okanogan County Superior Court Document Filing Requirements

CRITICAL

Applies to

Application

Persons must reapply and update their background information annually by the date specified by the court.

Persons shall reapply and update background information annually on a date specified by the court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Verified financial declarations

Verified Financial Declarations must be filed with the court when a case involves a request for child support, maintenance, or attorney’s fees.

The Verified Financial Declarations must be filed with the court in cases involving a request for child support, maintenance or attorney's fees.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Settlement conference submission

In family-law cases, the completed Asset & Debt Matrix and financial declaration must be served before the settlement conference.

In family law cases, counsel or unrepresented parties shall also serve, not less than five (5) days prior to the date set for the settlement conference, on the settlement judge and attorney for the opposing party the completed Asset & Debt Matrix (Appendix A Form A-1) and financial declaration (WPF DRPSCU 01.1550)

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to amend settlement conference order

A party seeking to amend a settlement-conference order must file a motion and schedule a hearing on the Civil Law and Motion calendar.

Any party seeking to amend an order for settlement conference shall file a Motion and schedule a hearing on the Civil Law and Motion calendar pursuant to section (b) above.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Accounting

Every accounting must list the opening balance, receipts, disbursements, and ending balance.

All accountings must list the opening balance, receipts, disbursements, and ending balance.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of appearance

A party appearing without a lawyer must always keep a notice of appearance with a current address and phone number on file with the Superior Court Clerk’s Office; noncompliance may result in trial cancellation.

5. If I am appearing as a Party without a Lawyer, I understand that I am required to always have a notice of appearance with my current address and phone number on file with the Superior Court Clerk’s Office. Failure to comply may result in cancellation of my trial.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Request for trial setting

Any party may request a trial setting by use of the Request for Trial Setting Form A-8(Dissolution and Family Law) or Form A-9 (Civil, Non-domestic, and Arbitrability). A copy of a request for trial setting must be provided as follows: 1. Mailed to the Judicial Assistant at: Okanogan County Superior Court, P.O. Box 112, Okanogan, Washington 98840; OR 2. Emailed to superiorcourt@co.okanogan.wa.us; AND delivered to the Judicial Assistant at the Okanogan County Courthouse at 149 3rd Ave N., Okanogan, WA 98840

Any party may request a trial setting by use of the Request for Trial Setting Form A-8(Dissolution and Family Law) or Form A-9 (Civil, Non-domestic, and Arbitrability). A copy of a request for trial setting must be provided as follows: 1. Mailed to the Judicial Assistant at: Okanogan County Superior Court, P.O. Box 112, Okanogan, Washington 98840; OR 2. Emailed to superiorcourt@co.okanogan.wa.us; AND delivered to the Judicial Assistant at the Okanogan County Courthouse at 149 3rd Ave N., Okanogan, WA 98840

CRITICAL

Applies to

Minor guardianship action

A minor guardianship action must be commenced with the listed documents, except for matters converted from RCW 26.10 matters.

All minor guardianship actions shall be commenced by the filing of a summons, petition, confidential information form, case type cover sheet, supplemental declaration, and coversheet for a JIS background check. This requirement does not apply to matters converted from RCW 26.10 matters.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Request for appointed counsel

A parent seeking appointed counsel due to indigency must obtain, complete, and return the indigency screening form, motion, and proposed order to the Court Facilitator.

Any parent wishing to have an attorney appointed to represent him or her due to indigency shall contact the Court Facilitator to obtain the Indigency Screening form and a motion and proposed order appointing counsel. The party shall complete the form, motion and proposed order and return all three documents to the court facilitator who will provide

CRITICAL

Applies to

Initial filing

The email addresses for service must be specified in the case’s initial filings.

Email addresses to be used will be specified on the initial filings in a case.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Scheduling order

The scheduling order must set out the scheduling and procedures for the pretrial conference using Appendix A Form A-6.

Scheduling of and procedures for the pre-trial conferences shall be set out in the scheduling order as set forth in Appendix A Form A-6.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Agreed statement of the case

In civil jury trials, the parties must jointly prepare a neutral, agreed summary of the case for the court to read during jury-selection orientation.

In all civil jury trials, the parties shall jointly prepare a neutral and agreed summary description of the case. The court will read that statement during the orientation phase of selection.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of appearance

A substituting attorney must file their notice.

Further any attorney substituting shall file their notice within five (5) judicial days of assignment and/or substitution whichever is sooner.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Request for trial setting

Must include

certificate of service

The trial-setting request includes a certification stating the service date and manner.

1. I have served the opposite attorney or Party without a Lawyer with this request on the following date: _____________ and in the following manner:______________________

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pretrial statement

The Pretrial Statement must identify the trial pleadings, summarize each claim or defense, state the issues to be tried, and itemize claimed special damages.

a Pretrial Statement containing the following: - (a) A list designating those pleadings upon which the case goes to trial; - (b) A succinct statement of the cause of action in regard to each claim or defense; - (c) A clear statement of the issues to be tried; - (d) An itemized list of the claimed special damages;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Appointment order

Any order providing for the appointment will then be submitted to the Registry Administrator within three days.

Any order providing for the appointment will then be submitted to the Registry Administrator within three days.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Completion certificate

Each party who completes the seminar must file the completion certificate provided by the sponsoring agency or provider with the Clerk of the Court.

(d) Certificate of Completion. Upon completion of the seminar, each party completing the same shall file with the Clerk of the Court a completion certificate provided by the sponsoring agency or provider.

CRITICAL

The pretrial materials must state the facts the party's client will admit.

- (f) A statement of facts, which his client will admit;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Minor guardianship action

Multiple minors may be named as respondents if they have the same legal parents; when there are more than two legal parents, a separate action must be filed for each set of legal parents.

A minor guardianship may have multiple minors named as respondents so long as those minors have the same legal parents. If there are more than two legal parents, a separate action must be filed for each set of legal parents.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleading

If pleadings are filed within 48 hours of the hearing date, counsel must ensure the documents are scanned into the case’s electronic file.

IF PLEADINGS ARE FILED WITHIN FORTY-EIGHT (48) HOURS OF THE HEARING DATE, COUNSEL MUST NOTIFY THE CLERK’S OFFICE AND ENSURE THE DOCUMENTS ARE SCANNED INTO THE ELECTRONIC FILE FOR THAT CASE.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediation completion declaration

The mediator must file a completion declaration, and the mediator’s advice to the court is limited to whether mediation occurred or terminated, settlement, attendance, and efforts to schedule court-ordered mediation.

Within fourteen (14) days of conclusion of mediation, a declaration that mediation has been completed shall be filed with the court by the mediator. The mediator shall advise the court only whether the mediation occurred or has terminated, whether a settlement was reached, attendance, and efforts to schedule a mediation ordered by the court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Gal response

If the committee finds a grievance appears to have merit, it requests a written GAL response addressing specified issues within ten business days and provides the GAL a copy of the grievance; failure to respond results in immediate suspension from all registries.

(b) Make a finding that the grievance does appear to have merit and request a written response from the GAL within ten (10) business days, detailing the specific issues in the grievance to which the committee desires a response. The committee shall provide the GAL with a copy of the original grievance. A GAL's failure to respond within the required ten (10) business days will result in the immediate suspension of the GAL from all registries.

CRITICAL

The pretrial materials must list all exhibits and documentary evidence that may be used at trial.

- (h) A list of all exhibits and documentary evidence, which may be used at the trial;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Timesheet

Guardians, guardians ad litem, and attorneys must provide timesheets to assist the Court in fixing fees.

Time sheets of guardians, guardians ad litem (whether county paid or privately paid) and attorneys are required to assist the Court in fixing fees.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Acceptance of appointment

A Guardian or Conservator must file an Acceptance of Appointment before new Letters will be issued, including in cases filed before January 1, 2022.

For all cases, including those filed prior to January 1, 2022, no new Letters will be issued until the Guardian or Conservator files an Acceptance of Appointment pursuant to RCW 11.130.040.

CRITICAL

Applies to

First periodic report

The first periodic report filed by a guardian or conservator after January 1, 2022 must have a caption identifying it as the first periodic report since that date.

a caption indicating that this is the first periodic report since January 1, 2022;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of appearance

An assigned attorney must file a Notice of Appearance.

(5) Upon notification of assignment, the assigned attorney shall within five (5) judicial days file their Notice of Appearance or at the arraignment hearing whichever is earlier.

CRITICAL

Applies to

First periodic report

The first periodic report filed by a guardian or conservator after January 1, 2022 must state that the guardian or conservator is qualified to act under RCW 11.130.090.

A statement that the guardian or conservator is qualified to act pursuant to RCW 11.130.090;

CRITICAL

The filing must state that the guardian or conservator considered less restrictive alternatives and give reasons if those alternatives cannot meet the individual’s needs.

A statement that the guardian or conservator has considered whether the needs of the individual can be met by a protective arrangement instead of guardianship or conservatorship or other less restrictive alternative, and, if not, reasons therefor.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of appearance

A Notice of Appearance must include the party’s full name, signature, mailing address, available email addresses, and telephone number.

The form must include that party’s full name, signature, mailing address, email addresses (if available) and telephone number.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Settlement conference letter

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

The attorney in charge of each party's case shall personally attend all settlement conferences and shall, not less than five (5) days prior to the date set for the settlement conference, serve on the settlement judge 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

Jis request form

Before requesting any temporary order, petitioners must file the JIS request form under seal with the Clerk and provide a copy to Court Administration containing the specified names and birth dates.

Prior to any request for a temporary order, including emergency order(s) under RCW 11.130.215, the petitioner(s) shall file a JIS request form with the Clerk under seal, and provide a copy to Court Administration, providing the names and dates of birth of the following parties: (1) petitioner(s); (2) any others residing in the petitioner(s)’s home; (3) minor’s parent(s); (4) any adult residing in the parent(s)’s homes; (5) proposed guardian(s); and (6) any adult residing in the proposed guardian(s)’s home.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Certificate of compliance

Appointed and assigned counsel must file a quarterly certificate with the Okanogan County Clerk, using the Supreme Court-recommended form and declaring compliance with the applicable indigent-defense standards.

(6) Appointed and assigned counsel shall file quarterly, with the Okanogan County Clerk, on the form recommended by the Supreme Court, a certificate declaring that counsel is in compliance with the applicable Standards for Indigent Defense promulgated by the Supreme Court of Washington.

CRITICAL

The pretrial materials must list the names and addresses of all persons with knowledge of relevant facts and the general nature of their testimony.

- (g) A list of the names and addresses of all persons who have knowledge of relevant facts and the general nature of their testimony;

CRITICAL

The pretrial materials must state the legal principles involved and support them with citations of authority.

- (e) A statement of the principles of law involved in the case, supported by citations of authority;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of appearance

Parties without a lawyer must file a Notice of Appearance using Form FL 118.

All parties without a lawyer shall be required to file a Notice of Appearance. (Form FL 118)

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proof of training completion

Proof of training completion must be filed within 30 days after the training is completed.

A proof of completion shall be filed no later than thirty (30) days upon completion of training.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of appearance

An unrepresented litigant must keep a Notice of Appearance with a current address and phone number on file with the Superior Clerk’s Office; failure may result in trial cancellation.

3. If I am appearing as an unrepresented litigant, I understand that I am required to always have a Notice of Appearance with my current address and phone number on file with the Superior Clerk’s Office. Failure to comply may result in cancellation of my trial.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Request for disbursement of funds

A party requesting disbursement of funds from the court registry must use Appendix A Form A-10 or A-11.

Parties requesting funds to be disbursed from the court registry must use forms set forth in Appendix A: Form A-10, A-11

CRITICAL

Applies to

Arbitrator registry document

Arbitrators must submit required documentation, including an Oath of an Arbitrator, W-9 tax form, and Arbitrator information sheet, to the Judicial Assistant upon request.

(2) Must provide the required documentation including but not limited to the Oath of an Arbitrator, W-9 tax form and Arbitrator information sheet. All required documentation must be submitted to the Judicial Assistant upon request.

CRITICAL

Any request for a preliminary ruling on a question of law must include citations.

- (j) Any request for preliminary rulings on questions of law with citations in regard thereto;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pre trial order

Counsel must prepare the Appendix A Form A-7 pretrial order within 14 calendar days after the pretrial conference concludes.

A pre-trial order as set forth in Appendix A Form A-7 shall be prepared by counsel within fourteen (14) calendar days after the conclusion of the pre-trial conference.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Verified Statement of Assets and Liabilities

In the specified actions involving dissolution, separation, invalid marriages, or distribution of assets and liabilities in non-marital relationships, the parties must fill out the attached Verified Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

1.2 The financial restraints in section 2.1 below and the requirement to fill out the attached “Verified Statement of Assets and Liabilities” only apply in actions for (1) dissolution of marriage, legal separation, or marriages declared to be invalid, or (2) non-martial relationships involving in distribution of assets and liabilities.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Initial appointment

The court must establish any limitation on GAL fees at the initial appointment; GAL fees are the responsibility of one or more parties unless the court orders payment at public expense.

(5) GAL fees shall be the responsibility of a party or parties unless the court has entered an order authorizing payment at public expense. Any limitation shall be established by the court at the time of the initial appointment.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Conservator report

Every conservator report must include a statement of compliance with the Internal Revenue Code.

All conservator reports must contain a statement of compliance with the Internal Revenue Code.

WARNING

Applies to

Trial setting request

A copy of the Notice of Appearance should be attached to any request for trial setting submitted to the court’s Judicial Assistant.

A copy of the Notice of Appearance should be attached to any request for trial setting submitted to the court’s Judicial Assistant.

WARNING

Applies to

Pleadings required for completion

The Court Facilitator may review additional pleadings as necessary, but pleadings required to finalize the action must be reviewed.

The Court Facilitator may review further pleadings as necessary however; any pleadings required for completion (finalization) of the action shall be reviewed.

WARNING

Applies to

Minor declaration

Declarations by minors are disfavored, and the court may refuse to consider them in its discretion.

Declarations by minors are disfavored and the court may in its discretion refuse to consider such declarations.

WARNING

Applies to

Confidential information form

Update the Confidential Information form (FL All Family 001) in cases involving parentage or child support.

You must also update your Confidential Information form (FL All Family 001) if this case involves parentage or child support.

WARNING

Applies to

Request for trial setting

The request must address support-enforcement notice when either party receives state benefits.

_______ Notice to Support Enforcement Required (If either party is receiving state benefits)