Which Washington court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | District Court: Small Claims Department | Up to $10,000 | RCW 12.40.010 |
| Limited civil | District Court | Up to $100,000 | RCW 3.66.020 |
| General civil | Superior Court Over $100,000. | No limit | Wash. Const. art. IV, § 6 |
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 20 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (Wash. CR 12(a)). Note: 60 days if the defendant was served outside Washington.
Estimates from the statutory answer period; service-method extensions and local rules can change these dates. Verify before relying on them. Not legal advice.
19 Washington forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to Washington practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- Notice of Appearance(pattern) Appearance of counsel; service on undersigned requested
- Motion for Continuance(pattern) Good-cause continuance with proposed order
- Notice of Deposition(pattern) Oral deposition with optional duces tecum; recording method per rule
- Civil Subpoena(pattern) Testimony and/or production (duces tecum); issuance and witness-fee rules vary
- Answer(pattern) Responsive pleading: denials and affirmative defenses
- Satisfaction of Judgment(pattern) RCW 4.56.100: acknowledgment of satisfaction for entry on the docket
- Complaint(pattern) CR 3, 8: Superior Court; District Court to $100,000 (RCW 3.66.020): initiating pleading
- SummonsRCW 4.28.100 · CR 4.1: 20-day answer
- Civil Cover SheetRequired for case assignment
- Declaration of ServiceCR 4(g): proof of service
- Fee WaiverRCW 36.18.020(5)
- Voluntary DismissalCR 41(a)(1)
- Motion for Default JudgmentCR 55: 20-day default
- Declaration of Non-Military ServiceSCRA: 50 U.S.C. § 3931
- Default Judgment OrderCR 55: proposed order
- Application for Writ of GarnishmentRCW 6.27.060: creditor's affidavit (wages or bank)
- Writ of ExecutionRCW 6.17/6.21: levy on personal property
- Order for Supplemental ProceedingsRCW 6.32: post-judgment debtor examination
- Case Assignment Designation and Case Information Cover Sheet (King County)(pattern) King County LCR 82(e): required with the initial pleading; designates Seattle or Kent assignment area
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a Washington matter typically needs at each stage.
General Civil
Complaint · Summons · Civil Cover Sheet · Declaration of Service
Collections: File & Serve
Complaint · Summons · Civil Cover Sheet · Declaration of Service
Collections: Default Judgment
Motion for Default Judgment · Declaration of Non-Military Service · Default Judgment Order
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Satisfaction of Judgment · Application for Writ of Garnishment · Writ of Execution · Order for Supplemental Proceedings
Fee Waiver
Fee Waiver
Voluntary Dismissal
Voluntary Dismissal
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every Washington county are in the 1Court Directory: Washington.
How it works
Upload your case document
PDF, Word, image, or text. SimpleCase extracts parties, claims, amounts, and dates.
Confirm venue and court
For unfiled cases, SimpleCase suggests the county, court level, and courthouse, with the statutory basis shown.
Generate the package
Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
Turn a complaint into a filing-ready case
Your first 3 cases are free. No card required.
Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.