Whitman County Superior Court Document Filing Requirements

CRITICAL

Applies to

Declaration of completion

The mediator must file a declaration of completion, advise the parties of the mediation results in writing, and tell the Court whether the parties reached an agreement on any issues.

Within 7 days of completion of mediation, a declaration of completion shall be filed with the Court by the mediator. The parties shall be advised by the mediator of the results of mediation in writing. The mediator shall advise the Court whether or not an agreement has been reached on some or all of the issues.

CRITICAL

Covered self-represented petitioners must consult one of the listed legal resources before filing initial pleadings and presenting final orders, and ensure their documents are properly formatted before acceptance.

All pro se petitioners initiating a new family law case, a new minor guardianship case or who are seeking to modify child support or a parenting plan are required to do one of the following options prior to filing the initial pleadings to begin the action and prior to presenting final orders to conclude the case. (1) Consult with the Whitman County family law facilitator; (2) Consult with a Limited License Legal Technician; or (3) Consult with an attorney licensed in Washington State. The pro se petitioner shall meet with a person fulfilling one of the above criteria to ensure their documents are properly formatted before the clerk shall accept them for filing or presentation.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pre trial statement

In contested dissolution actions involving the listed issues, each party must prepare a written pre-trial summary addressing the issues, proposed resolutions, asset and liability valuations and division, parenting plan, and child support calculations.

In any action for dissolution of a marriage in which property division, the parenting plan, spousal maintenance or child support is an issue, 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

At filing or presentment, the pro se petitioner must show the clerk documentation of consultation; the clerk may reject a filing until the petitioner does so.

The pro se petitioner must present documentation to the clerk at the time of filing or presentment to demonstrate to the clerk that they have consulted with one of the options listed above. Should the pro se petitioner fail to do so, the clerk may reject said filing until the party has done so.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Trial management joint report

In contested non-family law civil cases, the parties must jointly prepare and file a Trial Management Joint Report containing the listed information.

In contested non-family law civil cases, the parties shall jointly prepare and file no later than 5 days prior to the trial a Trial Management Joint Report, which will contain; (1) A brief, non-argumentative summary of the case; (2) List of issues that are not disputed; (3) List of issues that are disputed; (4) Index of exhibits (excluding rebuttal or impeachment exhibits); (5) List of plaintiff’s request for Washington Pattern Jury Instructions; (6) List of defendant’s request for Washington Pattern Jury Instructions; (7) List of names of all lay and expert witnesses, excluding rebuttal witnesses; (8) Suggestions by either party for shortening the trial.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Complaint

A grievance complaint must be written, submitted to the Superior Court Presiding Judge, and include the filer’s signature, name, and address.

All complaints must be in writing and must be submitted to the Superior Court Presiding Judge. All complaints must bear the signature, name, and address of the person filing the complaint.

WARNING

Applies to

Trial management joint report

If any party fails to cooperate in completing the report, any other party may file and serve the report and note the refusal to cooperate.

If any party fails to cooperate in completing the report, any other party may file and serve the report and note the refusal to cooperate.