Skagit County Superior Court Service and Proof of Service Rules

CRITICAL

Applies to

Shelter care hearing

The party scheduling a shelter care hearing must notify the listed offices, program, coordinator, and parties, and provide them copies of the specified filings and provisional attorney-appointment orders when filing.

The party scheduling the hearing shall notify Court Administration, Clerk’s Office, Attorney General’s Office, Guardian ad Litem program, Office of Public Defense, Office of Assigned Counsel, Skagit County Family & Juvenile Court Improvement Project Coordinator, and all other parties, including parents or any attorneys assigned prior to scheduling. At the time of filing, the party scheduling the hearing shall provide each of the above entities and parties with a copy of the petition, summons, motion, notice of hearing, and any orders of provisional appointment of attorney.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Order to show cause

In the specified unlawful detainer actions, the plaintiff must serve Attachment A with the Order to Show Cause.

(3) A plaintiff seeking the entry of a writ of restitution in any residential post-foreclosure, manufactured or mobile home unlawful detainer action shall cause to be served with the Order to Show Cause a copy of Attachment A which is attached to this rule.

CRITICAL

The Department must electronically provide supporting discovery to appointed and provisionally appointed attorneys and the Guardian ad Litem program before the shelter care hearing.

The Department shall electronically provide all discovery supporting the dependency petition filing to all appointed and provisionally appointed attorneys and the Guardian ad Litem program prior to the scheduled shelter care hearing pursuant to its obligations under RCW 13.34.050(5).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Summary judgment motion papers

The moving party must serve the required notice with its supporting papers and also serve current copies of CR 56 and SCLCR 56 on the unrepresented party.

Notice to Non-Moving Pro Se Litigants. Any party moving for summary judgment against a party proceeding without an attorney of record at the time when the summary judgment motion was filed shall serve and file a notice entitled “What is a Summary Judgment Motion? Notice for Parties Who Do Not Have a Lawyer” with the papers in support of the motion. This form shall be on a form approved by the court and available on the Superior Court’s website. Along with this notice, the moving party shall also serve a current copy of CR 56 and this local rule (SCLCR 56).

CRITICAL

Petitioners must serve guardianship petitions filed under RCW 11.130 on DCYF and the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.

Any such guardianship petitions filed under RCW 11.130 shall be served by the petitioner upon the Department of Children Youth and Families and the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Exhibits

Exhibits a remote witness may be expected to use must be provided to that witness by noon the day before testimony, except that rebuttal or impeachment exhibits may be displayed by screen sharing or other arrangements with leave of court.

Where one or more witnesses will appear remotely, exhibits that witness may be expected to refer to during questioning shall be provided to that witness by noon the day before each witness’s testimony. Exceptions may be made for exhibits used in rebuttal or for impeachment of that witness, in which case screen sharing or other arrangements may be used to display the exhibits in question to the witness with leave of the court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Guardian ad litem fee request

Guardian ad litem fee requests must be served upon the parties.

All fee requests by the guardian ad litem submitted to the court shall contain time records, which distinguish investigative/guardian ad litem, administrative/clerical, and travel time and shall also be served upon the parties.

CRITICAL

Before filing an unlawful-detainer complaint, notice of intent to file and the tenant’s last known contact information must be sent to Skagit Legal Aid by email or mail.

I certify and declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington that on ________________(the date prior to filing), I e-mailed/mailed notice of my intent to file a Complaint in Unlawful Detainer against Tenant __________________________ (insert Tenant’s name) along with the Tenant’s last known contact information (i.e. address(es), telephone number(s) and e-mail(s), and preferred communication language) to Skagit Legal Aid.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case schedule

The initial-pleading filer must promptly serve the Case Schedule on all other parties with the initial pleading or within 10 days after receiving it; regular mail or agreed electronic service may be used, and proof of service must be filed promptly.

The party filing the initial pleading shall promptly provide a copy of the Case Schedule to all other parties by (a) serving a copy of the Case Schedule on the other parties along with the initial pleading or (b) within 10 days after being provided the Case Schedule by Superior Court. The Case Schedule may be served by regular mail, or electronically when the party being served has agreed to accept electronic service pursuant to GR 30(b)(4), with proof of service to be filed promptly in the form required by CR 5.

CRITICAL

Deadline

2 court days

Applies to

Reply

Except as indicated in SCLCRs 56 and 57, replies must be served on all parties at least two court days before the hearing.

Other than as indicated in SCLCRs 56 and 57, the below timing rules apply. (iii) Replies. Replies shall be filed and served on all parties at least two (2) court days before hearing.

CRITICAL

The Case Schedule may be served by regular mail, or electronically when the party being served has agreed to accept electronic service pursuant to GR 30(b)(4), with proof of service to be filed promptly in the form required by CR 5.

The Case Schedule may be served by regular mail, or electronically when the party being served has agreed to accept electronic service pursuant to GR 30(b)(4), with proof of service to be filed promptly in the form required by CR 5.

CRITICAL

Deadline

9 court days

Notes for the trial assignment calendar must be served on all parties at least nine court days before the calendar.

Notes for this calendar shall be filed and served on all parties at least nine (9) court days before the trial assignment calendar.

CRITICAL

The note for calendar for an out-of-custody defendant’s motion to quash a bench warrant must also be served by noon two court days before the requested hearing.

A note for calendar shall be filed and served by noon two (2) court days before the requested hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Reconsideration motion and supporting documents

Motions for reconsideration of judges’ rulings and for reconsideration or revision of commissioner’s rulings, and all pleadings and documents in support thereof, must be filed and served on opposing counsel, or on the opposing party if unrepresented, and on the Court Administrator, within ten (10) days after entry of the judgment or order.

Motions for reconsideration of judges’ rulings and for reconsideration or revision of commissioner’s rulings, and all pleadings and documents in support thereof, must be filed and served on opposing counsel, or on the opposing party if unrepresented, and on the Court Administrator, within ten (10) days after entry of the judgment or order.

CRITICAL

The motion for an additional shelter care hearing must be properly served on all parties, and a certification of service must be filed with the court.

An additional shelter care hearing can be set on the dependency calendar upon the filing of a note for motion and written motion, with affidavit of change of circumstances alleged. The motion shall specify the change in circumstances, relief requested, statement of facts and the evidence relied upon, and shall be properly served on all parties, with a certification of service filed with the court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Supporting declaration

Supporting declarations must be served with the motion and note for calendar.

All supporting declarations shall be filed and served with the motion and note for calendar.

CRITICAL

Deadline

9 court days

Trial-assignment calendar notes must be served on all parties, including any appointed guardian ad litem, at least nine court days before the calendar.

Notes for this calendar shall be filed and served on all parties, including the guardian ad litem if one has been appointed, at least nine (9) court days before the trial assignment calendar.

CRITICAL

The objector must promptly serve the completed objection on all other persons entitled to notice.

Any person entitled to notice under RCW 11.130 who objects to the appointment of a guardian shall promptly file and serve on all other persons entitled to notice a completed “Objection to Minor Guardianship,” GDN M 301.

CRITICAL

The written statement of issues must be provided to all parties.

The legal parties shall provide to all parties and file a written statement of issues in response to the court report and/or proposed order at least seven (7) days prior to the hearing.

CRITICAL

Service on the county prosecutor or designee must be made by hand delivery to the prosecutor’s office or by mail subject to CR 5(b)(2)(A) and (B).

Service on the county prosecutor or his or her designee shall be made by: (1) hand delivering a copy to the office of the prosecuting attorney and leaving it with the prosecutor, a deputy prosecutor, or staff employed by the prosecutor’s office or (2) by mail. If service is by mail the provisions of CR5 (b)(2)(A)&(B) shall apply.

CRITICAL

If an objection is made or the court finds a compelling reason not to seal, the matter must be set for a regularly scheduled juvenile offender calendar hearing with at least 18 days’ notice to all parties.

(k) If the matter qualifies for administrative sealing, but there is an objection or the court believes there is a compelling reason not to seal, the matter shall be set for a hearing on the regularly scheduled juvenile offender calendar, with at least 18 days notice provided to all parties.

CRITICAL

Deadline

4 court days

Applies to

Response

Except as indicated in SCLCRs 56 and 57, responses must be served on all parties at least four court days before the hearing.

Other than as indicated in SCLCRs 56 and 57, the below timing rules apply. (ii) Responses. Responses shall be filed and served on all parties at least four (4) court days before hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Hearing notice

A plaintiff seeking a writ of restitution must schedule a trial or show-cause hearing and give the defendant notice of the hearing and the possible consequences of failing to attend.

(2) A plaintiff seeking a writ of restitution must either schedule the matter for trial or schedule a Show Cause Hearing on the issuance of the writ, with proper notice to the defendant of the hearing and notice that failure to attend may result in a default judgment and writ of restitution.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Appendix

The person who filed the case must deliver the appendix if the tenant receives an Order to Appear to Show Cause.

La persona que presentó este caso está obligada a entregarle este apéndice si usted recibe una “Orden de comparecencia para justificar una causa”.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Response

Affidavits and other documents supporting a response must be served with the response.

Affidavits and other supporting documents shall be served with the response.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Reply

Affidavits and other documents supporting a reply must be served with the reply.

Affidavits and other supporting documents shall be served with the reply.

CRITICAL

When a documentary exhibit is used during witness examination and its contents are needed to understand the issues, counsel must provide extra copies to opposing counsel and the court.

When a documentary exhibit is used at trial during witness examination and reference to the contents of the exhibit is necessary to understand the issues, counsel shall provide extra copies of the exhibit to opposing counsel and the court.

CRITICAL

Service on the Court Administrator must be by hand delivery or mail; email service is not accepted.

For purposes of this rule, service on the Court Administrator shall be through hand delivery or mail. Service by email will not be accepted.

CRITICAL

Petitioners must promptly serve the Washington State Patrol criminal history report results on all persons entitled to notice under RCW 11.130.

At the time of filing the action, the petitioner(s) shall file the results of a Washington State Patrol criminal history report as required by RCW 11.130.210 and then promptly serve the results on all persons entitled to notice under RCW 11.130.

CRITICAL

Deadline

2 court days

A party opposing a Demand for Arbitration must serve its response at least two court days before the hearing date.

Any party disagreeing with a Demand for Arbitration shall serve and file a response to demand for arbitration not less than two (2) court days prior to the date the demand is noted for hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Order to show cause

A person who gives a tenant an Order to Show Cause must also give them this addendum.

The person who filed this case is required to give you this addendum if they give you an “Order to Show Cause.”

CRITICAL

Deadline

9 court days

Applies to

Motion

Except as indicated in SCLCRs 56 and 57, motions must be served on all parties at least nine court days before the hearing.

Other than as indicated in SCLCRs 56 and 57, the below timing rules apply. (i) Motions. Motions shall be filed and served upon all parties at least nine (9) court days before the hearing.

CRITICAL

A firearm-restoration petition must be served on the county prosecutor or designee at least 14 days before the hearing, or it will not be heard on the scheduled date.

A party filing a petition to restore firearms rights must serve the Skagit County Prosecutor, or his or her designee, at least 14 days before the scheduled hearing date. A petition that is not filed within the requirements of this rule will not be heard on the date noted for hearing.

CRITICAL

The supervising agency must provide the report to the court, all legal parties, and their counsel.

The report shall be provided to the court and to all legal parties and their counsel no less than 14 days before the review hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case schedule

The court must provide the Case Schedule to the initial-pleading filer within 14 days of the applicable triggering event, which is filing or an initial hearing as determined by standing order.

The Case Schedule shall be provided to the party filing the initial pleading within 14 days of the triggering event, either filing or an initial hearing as determined by a standing court order.

CRITICAL

The initiating party must promptly provide the Case Schedule to all other parties, either with the initial pleading or within 10 days after receiving the schedule from Superior Court.

The party filing the initial pleading shall promptly provide a copy of the Case Schedule to all other parties by (a) serving a copy of the Case Schedule on the other parties along with the initial pleading or (b) within 10 days after being provided the Case Schedule by Superior Court.

CRITICAL

If a parent appears without provisionally appointed counsel, discovery must be provided directly to the parent at the hearing unless there has been direct contact with the Attorney General’s Office.

When a parent appears without provisionally appointed counsel, such discovery shall be provided directly to the parent at the shelter care hearing absent direct contact with the Attorney General’s Office.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

Affidavits and other documents supporting a motion must be served with the motion.

When a motion is supported by affidavit or other documents, the affidavit and other documents shall be served with the motion.

CRITICAL

Petitioners are responsible for notifying and serving all documents when commencing the case, including the documents identified in the cited statutes.

It is the responsibility of the Petitioner(s) to notify and serve all documents when commencing the case, to include those listed in RCW 11.130.195, RCW 11.130.065, and RCW 11.130.195.

CRITICAL

The required written notice of proposed issues must be given to the court and the other parties.

If a party seeks to modify terms or enforce compliance of a shelter care order, that party shall give written notice to the court and other parties of all proposed issues by noon two days before the hearing.

CRITICAL

Deadline

9 court days

Applies to

Motion calendar note

Motion Calendar notes must be served on all parties at least nine court days before the hearing.

Notes for the Motion Calendar shall be filed with the Clerk’s Office and served on all parties at least nine (9) court days before the hearing.

CRITICAL

After confirming a trial, parties must notify the other legal parties that it has been confirmed.

Parties shall confirm trials by emailing or calling the Superior Court Administrator’s Office (360) 416-1200 and notify the other legal parties the trial has been confirmed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Response in opposition

Any opposition to a firearm-restoration petition must be served at least three days before the scheduled hearing.

The prosecutor may file a response to the petition to restore firearms rights. Any response in opposition to the petition must be filed and served at least three days before the scheduled hearing date.

CRITICAL

If the plaintiff reasonably knows a defendant speaks or reads another language, required notices must be served in English and the defendant’s preferred language when that translation is available on the specified state website.

Where the plaintiff reasonably knows the defendant(s) to speak or read a language other than English, the plaintiff shall serve copies of the required notices in English and in the defendant’s preferred language upon the defendant if those notices are available in that language on the website of the Washington State Office of the Attorney General.

CRITICAL

Deadline

1 court days

Applies to

Ex parte motion and order

Service

Email to opposing party

A party granted ex parte relief must serve the opposing party or counsel with the motion and order within one court day after signature; service may be by email, and personal service is unnecessary.

(1) When a party is granted ex parte relief in a case, that party shall serve the opposing party, or their counsel, with a copy of the motion and order within one court day of the order being signed by a judicial officer. Service may be by email. Personal service is not required. [Amended September 1, 2025]

CRITICAL

Reasonable notice of an arbitration hearing or continuance must be given to all parties and the Director.

Reasonable notice of the hearing and of any continuances shall be given to all parties and to the Director.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case schedule

A party joining someone to the action must serve that new party with the current Case Schedule along with the first pleading served on them.

A party who joins an additional party in an action shall serve the additional party with the current Case Schedule together with the first pleading served on the additional party.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to withdraw

A guardian ad litem’s active or incomplete cases may not be reassigned unless the motion to withdraw is heard with notice to all parties and withdrawal is permitted.

The court shall not reassign such cases, unless the guardian ad litem’s motion to withdraw from the case is heard with notice to all parties and the guardian ad litem is permitted to withdraw from the case.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Order to show cause

Hearing notice must be made by an Order to Show Cause, which may be served with the Summons and Complaint or later.

Notice of the hearing must be by an Order to Show Cause which may be served with the Summons and Complaint or at any time thereafter.

CRITICAL

The prosecutor must provide the note for calendar to the opposing party for a motion to revoke release or increase bail under CrR 3.2.

When the prosecutor will argue on the criminal calendar for revocation of a defendant’s release and/or to increase bail pursuant to CrR 3.2, a note for calendar shall be filed with four (4) court days’ notice and provided to the opposing party.