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Small claims forms · Washington

Washington small claims court forms, filled in for you

Answer a few questions once. Vera fills in the Washington court's own forms from your answers, walks you through anything left, and gives you one packet to file, with how to file it.

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To sue (you're the plaintiff)

  • Notice of Small Claim (MISC 05.0100)

    The court's own form (www.courts.wa.gov)

    What to know
    • This is the Washington courts' form, in the court's own Word file; Vera only types into its blanks. Open it in Word to fill in the rest. The small claims department of the district court hears claims for money of up to $10,000 brought by a person, and up to $5,000 in all other cases (RCW 12.40.010).
    • File it with the small claims department of the district court (RCW 12.40.020). District court venue: generally a district where the defendant, or one of the defendants, lives (RCW 3.66.040(1)); a claim for injury to a person or to personal property may instead be filed where it arose (RCW 3.66.040(4)). Check the county at the top: Vera fills it only when your court's name gives it.
    • Vera filled the county, your name as plaintiff, the other party as the defendant, and your printed name. From your answers in Court forms it filled your address and home phone, the defendant's address and phone, a second defendant's name and address under "DEFENDANT 2'S NAME" if you named one, the principal (in the notice to the defendant and in the Statement of Claim), the interest in both places and the notice's total of principal and interest if you ask for interest, the reason for the claim, and in Military Service the box your answer about active duty decides (the form). Check each one.
    • Under "The amount owed is for:", Vera marked "Loan", "Rent", "Return of Deposit" or "Other" when your answer about the claim is that one. For an unpaid bill, another contract, an injury or damage to property, mark the box that fits yourself ("Auto Damage" with the accident date for a car, "Property Damage" for other property) (the form).
    • Still yours: your work phone, the second defendant's phone, the interest and the total if Vera did not fill them, the date the money was due and owing, your name after "I, (Name)", and, if you marked "No defendant is covered by the Servicemember Civil Relief Act", the facts supporting it (the form). The hearing, the court's address and the claim number are for the clerk (the form). Sign under penalty of perjury and write the city and state where you sign (the form). Vera never signs or dates a form.
    • For a residential security deposit, "Return of Deposit" is the box (Vera marked it if you said the claim is for a security deposit). The landlord must give a full and specific statement of the basis for keeping any of the deposit, with any refund, within 30 days after the rental agreement ends and you move out; if not, the landlord is liable for the full deposit, and the court may award up to two times the deposit for an intentional refusal (RCW 59.18.280(1), (2)).
    • The filing fee is "thirty-five dollars plus any surcharge authorized by RCW 7.75.035" (RCW 12.40.020); ask the clerk for the total.
    • Serve the notice on the defendant after filing, as a summons is served (RCW 4.28.080) or by registered or certified mail with a return receipt signed by the defendant; service must be complete at least ten calendar days before the first hearing, and no other legal document may be served with it (RCW 12.40.040). The court's Certificate of Service (MISC 05.0200) is filled in by the person who served it, who is not a party (the form).
    • No lawyer or anyone other than the plaintiff and defendant may take part without the judge's consent, and a corporation may not be represented by a lawyer except as RCW 12.40.025 allows (RCW 12.40.080(1)). The defendant does not file a written answer: the notice tells the defendant to appear at the hearing, where a judgment may be entered against a defendant who does not come (the form). A counterclaim also carries a filing fee (RCW 12.40.020).

If you were sued (you're the defendant)

  • There is no answer form: the Notice of Small Claim tells you the date, time and place of the hearing, and you go to that hearing (RCW 12.40.040; Notice of Small Claim, MISC 05.0100).
  • No attorney may appear for either side without the judge's consent (RCW 12.40.080(1)).

Checked against the court's own forms and rules. Courts change forms; check with the clerk before you file. This page is general information, not legal advice.