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Judicial Administration

King County Courthouse
516 3rd Ave, E609
Seattle, WA 98104-2386

Maleng Justice Center
401 4th Ave N, 2C
Kent, WA  98032

Juvenile Division
1211 E. Alder St. #201
Seattle, WA  98122

(206) 296-9300
(206) 296-0100 TTY/TDD

Contact us at:
CustomerServiceEmail

Miscellaneous images of King County Superior Court Clerk's staff at work.

King County Superior Court Local Rules
(by individual links to the rules)

Zero Local Rules (KCLCR)
Local Civil Rules (KCLCR)
Local General Rules (KCLGR)

Local Family Law Rules (KCLFLR)
Local Criminal Rules (KCLCrR)

Local Juvenile Court Rules (KCLJuCR)

Local Rules for Mandatory Arbitration (KCLMAR)

Local Rules for Appeal of Decisions of Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (KCLRALJ)

Local Guardian Ad Litem Rules (KCLGALR)

ZERO LOCAL RULES (KCLCR)
(Concerning the internal management and structure of the court):

LCR
0.1 Department Number and Seniority
0.2 Court Management
0.3 Division of Management Authority
0.4 Qualifications For Presiding or Assistant Presiding Judge
0.5 Membership of the Executive Committee
0.6 Elections
0.7 Special Departments
0.8 Chief Judges
0.9 Standing and Special Committees
0.10 Commissioners
0.11 Pro Tempore Judges and Pro Tempore Commissioners
0.12 Chief Administrative Officer
0.13 Director of Judicial Administration
0.14 Bailiffs
0.15 Selection of Members to the Board of Trustees of the Superior Court Judges Association
0.16 Pilot Projects
0.17 Investigations by the Judicial Conduct Commission: Access to Sealed Files and Documents

LOCAL CIVIL RULES (KCLCR)
INTRODUCTORY RULES

LCR
1. Introduction

COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION: SERVICE OF PROCESS, PLEADINGS,
MOTIONS AND ORDERS

LCR
3. Commencement of Action
4. Civil Case Schedule
4.1 Confirmation of Service
4.2 Confirmation of Joinder of Parties and Issues in Civil and Family Law Cases; Completion of Testing in Paternity Cases
4.3 Status Conference; Non-Compliance Hearing
5. Service and Filing of Pleadings and Other Papers

PLEADINGS AND MOTIONS

LCR

7. Civil Motions
10. Form of Pleadings and Other Documents
11. Signing of Pleadings
15. Amended and Supplemental Pleadings
16. Pretrial and Settlement Procedures

PARTIES

LCR
23. Class Actions

DEPOSITIONS AND DISCOVERY

LCR
26. Disclosure of Possible Lay and Expert Witnesses and Scope of Protective Order
33. Interrogatories
37. Failure to Make Discovery; Sanctions

TRIALS

LCR
38. Jury Trial of Right
40. Assignment of Cases
40.1 Ex parte and Probate Department
41. Dismissal of Actions
43. Taking of Testimony
53.1 Referees

JUDGMENT

LCR
54. Judgments and Costs
55. Default and Judgment
56. Summary Judgment
58. Entry of Judgment
59. New Trial, Reconsideration, and Amendment of Judgments
60. Relief from Judgment or Order

PROVISIONAL AND FINAL REMEDIES

LCR
65. Injunctions
66. Receivership Proceedings
69. Execution

SUPERIOR COURTS AND CLERKS

LCR
77. Superior Courts and Judicial Officers
78. Clerks
79. Books and Records Kept by Clerk
80. Court Reporters

GENERAL PROVISIONS

LCR
82. Case Assignment Area (see emergency change effective September 8, 2009 here)


83. Local Rules of Superior Court
84. "Forms"

SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS RULES

LCR
93.04 Adoption Proceedings
94.04 Family Law Proceedings
98.04 Estates--Probate--Notices
98.14 Trust And Estate Dispute Resolution Act And Power Of Attorney
98.16 Settlement of Claims of Minors and Incapacitated Persons
98.20 Guardianships and Trusts
98.30 Mental Illness Proceedings
98.40 Writs of Review, Mandamus, Prohibition
98.50 Sexually Violent Predator--Office of Public Defense.

LOCAL GENERAL RULES (KCLGR)

LGR
15 Destruction, Sealing, and Redaction of Court Records
18 Jury Assignment Area
20 Security in Handling Court Exhibits
30 Mandatory Electronic Filing
31 Access to Court Records

LOCAL FAMILY LAW RULES (KCLFLR)

LFLR
1. Applicability
2. Days and Times for Scheduling Hearings; Court Holidays
3. Mandatory Forms to Be Used
4. Case Schedule
5. Where to Schedule Motions on Family Law Proceedings
6. Family Law Motions Calendar Procedures
7. Unified Family Court
8. Motions for Ex Parte Restraining Orders
9. Commencement of Nonparental Custody Proceedings
10. Financial Provisions
11. Sealed and Confidential Court Records
12. Domestic Violence Protection Orders
13. Parenting Plan and Child Custody Procedures
14. Child Support and Spousal Maintenance Modifications and Adjustments
15. Relocation of Children
16. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
17. Contempt and Other Enforcement Actions
18. Emancipation of Minors
19. Marriage Age Waiver Petitions

LOCAL CRIMINAL RULES (KCLCrR)

LCrR

0.1 Grand Jury
0.2 Commissioners
1.1 Local Procedures
2.2 Warrant Upon Indictment or Information
3.1 Right to and Assignment of Counsel
3.2 Pretrial Release
4.5 Omnibus Hearings
4.11 Video Conference Proceedings
5.1 Commencement of Actions; Case Assignment Area  (see emergency change effective September 8, 2009 here)
7.1 Presentence Investigation
9.1 In Forma Pauperis-Appeal-Court Reporter Log

LOCAL JUVENILE COURT RULES (KCLJuCR)

LJuCR

2.0 Right to Appointed Counsel
2.1 Placement of Child in Shelter Care Generally
2.2 Release of Child from Shelter Care Without Hearing
2.3 Right to and Notice of Shelter Care Hearing
2.4 Procedure at Initial Shelter Care Hearing
2.5 Procedure at Subsequent Shelter Care Hearings
2.6 Summary Judgment
3.1 Invoking Jurisdiction of Juvenile Court
3.2 Who May File Petition - Venue
3.3 Content of Dependency Petition
3.4 Notice and Summons, and Case Schedule
3.5 Amendment of Petition
3.6 Answer to Petition
3.7 Pre-Trial Conference and Fact-Finding Hearing
3.8 Disposition Hearing
3.9 Review of Dependency Order
3.10 Contested Dependency Motions
3.11 Emergency Hearings and Hearings Set on Shortened Time
3.12 Reconsideration and Revision
3.13 Modification of Order
3.14 Guardianship in Juvenile Court
3.15 Admission to Detention-Juveniles in Conflict
3.16 Juvenile Authority Over Family Law Matters
4.1 Invoking Jurisdiction of Juvenile Court
4.2 Pleadings
4.3 Notice of Termination Hearings
4.4 Discovery
4.5 Amendment of Case Schedule
4.6 Reinstatement of Previously Terminated Parental Rights
6.6 Termination of Diversion Agreement
7.3 Detention and Release Without Hearing
7.4 Detention Hearing
7.6 Arraignment and Plea--Juvenile Offense Proceedings
7.8 Time for Adjudicatory Hearing--Juvenile Offense Proceedings
7.11 Adjudicatory Hearing--Juvenile Offense Proceedings
7.12 Plea and Disposition Hearing
7.14 Motions--Juvenile Offense Proceedings
7.15 Infractions
11.23 Revision of Court Commissioner's Ruling
12.1 Truancy Case Assignment Area

LOCAL RULES FOR MANDATORY ARBITRATION (KCLMAR)

SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF RULES

LMAR

1.1 Application of Rules--Purpose and Definitions
1.3 Relationship to Superior Court Jurisdiction and Other Rules--Motions

TRANSFER TO ARBITRATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF ARBITRATOR

LMAR
2.1 Transfer to Arbitration
2.3 Assignment to Arbitrator

ARBITRATORS

LMAR
3.1 Qualifications
3.2 Authority of Arbitrators

PROCEDURES AFTER ASSIGNMENT

LMAR
4.2 Discovery
4.4 Notice of Settlement

HEARING

LMAR
5.1 Notice of Hearing--Time and Place--Continuance
5.2 Prehearing Statement of Proof--Documents Filed With Court
5.3 Conduct of Hearing--Witnesses--Rules of Evidence

AWARD

LMAR
6.1 Form and Content of Award
6.2 Filing of Award
6.3 Judgment on Award

TRIAL DE NOVO

LMAR
7.1 Request for Trial De Novo--Calendar--Jury Demand
7.2 Procedure at Trial
7.3 Costs and Attorney Fees

GENERAL PROVISIONS

LMAR
8.1 Stipulations--Effect on Relief Granted
8.3 Effective Date
8.4 Title and Citation
8.5 Compensation of Arbitrator
8.6 Administration

LOCAL RULES FOR APPEAL OF DECISIONS OF
COURTS OF LIMITED JURISDICTION (KCLRALJ)
INITIATING AN APPEAL

LRALJ
2.6 Content of Notice of Appeal (see emergency change effective September 8, 2009 here)

ASSIGNMENT OF CASES IN SUPERIOR COURT

LRALJ
3.1 Hearings (see emergency change effective September 8, 2009 here)
3.2 Change of Superior Court Judge (see emergency change effective September 8, 2009 here)

BRIEFS

LRALJ
7.1 Briefs (see emergency change effective September 8, 2009 here)

ORAL ARGUMENT

LRALJ
8.3 Time Allowed and Order of Argument (see emergency change effective September 8, 2009 here)

SUPERIOR COURT DECISION

LRLAJ
9.1 Basis of Decision on Appeal (see emergency change effective September 8, 2009 here)
9.2 Entry of Decision (see emergency change effective September 8, 2009 here)

VIOLATION OF RULES--SANCTIONS AND DISMISSAL

LRALJ
10.1 Violation of Rules Generally (see emergency change effective September 8, 2009 here)
10.2 Dismissal of Appeal (see emergency change effective September 8, 2009 here)

SUPERIOR COURT DECISION AND PROCEDURE AFTER DECISION

LRALJ
12.1 Mandate (see emergency change effective September 8, 2009 here)

LOCAL GUARDIAN AD LITEM RULES (KCLGALR)

LGALR
1. Applicability
2. Registries
3. Duties of the Guardian Ad Litem
4. Compensation
5. Grievances Made by or Against Guardians Ad Litem
6. Actual or Apparent Conflicts of Interest
7. Effective Date