Emergency Changes to Local RulesLJuCR 3.2 WHO MAY FILE PETITION--VENUE
(a) Who May File. Any person may file a petition alleging dependency.
(b) Venue. The petition shall be filed in the county where the juvenile is located or where the juvenile resides.
(c) Location for court proceedings for dependency actions filed in King County; filing of documents and pleadings and designation of case assignment area.
(1) All proceedings of any nature shall be conducted in the case assignment area designated on the dependency petition unless the Court has otherwise ordered on its own motion or upon motion of any party to the action.
(2) Standards for case assignment area designation, and revisions thereof.
(A) Location Designated by Party Filing Action. Initial designations shall be made upon the filing of the petition alleging dependency. Case Assignment Area designations shall not be changed between the time of filing of a dependency petition and the entry of a disposition order except as necessary to correct a mistaken designation, to prevent undue hardship to a party or by the Court on its own motion as required for the just and efficient administration of justice.
(1) For petitions for dependency the case area designation shall be based on the DCFS office filing the petition.
(a) Seattle Case Assignment Area. All petitions from the Martin Luther King Office and for children known to be protected by the Indian Child Welfare Act.
(b) Kent Assignment Area. All petitions from the King South, King East, and White Center DCFS office.
(c) Boundaries of Case Assignment Areas. For purposes of this rule King County shall be divided into case assignment areas for petitions filed from the King West and Adoptions and Permanency office and any non-DCFS filed petition as follows:
(i) Seattle Case Assignment Area. All of King County except for the areas included in the Kent Case Assignment Area.
(ii) Kent Case Assignment Area. All of the areas of King County using the following postal zip codes: 98001; 98002; 98003; 98010; 98022; 98023; 98025; 98031; 98032; 98038; 98042; 98047; 98048; 98051; 98054; 98055; 98056; 98057; 98058; 98059; 98092; 98146; 98148; 98158; 98166; 98168; 98178; 98188; 98198.
(iii) Change of Area Boundaries. The Presiding Judge may adjust the boundaries between areas when required for the efficient and fair administration of justice in King County.
(2) For cases regarding Children in Need of Services and At Risk Youth, the case area designation shall be based on where the custodial parent resides.
(B) Change of Case Assignment Area Designation. The Court may order that a juvenile's case assignment area designation change upon the establishment of dependency and the entry of a disposition order based on one of the following reasons: hardship to one of parties; transfer of the case within the supervising agency or to a new agency; a need for judicial continuity of control over the case; transfer is in the best interest of the child; correction of a mistaken designation or for such other reason deemed just and proper by the Court or when required for the just and efficient administration of justice. A case should not be transferred solely to accommodate an attorney.
(1) Method. A motion for change of case assignment area designation may be made by any party to the dependency or by the Court on its own motion. Such a motion shall only be made in writing as required by LJuCR 3.10 and shall be titled Motion to Change Case Assignment Area and shall specify the factors for change of case assignment area. A proposed Order to Change Case Assignment Area shall be included with the working papers submitted for the Court. If the motion is agreed to by the parties, the motion shall so state and the proposed order shall include the signatures of the parties. The Order to Change Case Assignment Area shall be filed by the prevailing party. All cases shall proceed in the original case assignment area until the order is entered and filed. Proceedings in the assigned area shall not preclude the timely filing of a motion to transfer.
(C) Improper Designation/Lack of Designation. The designation of the improper case assignment area shall not be a basis for dismissal of any action, but may be a basis for imposition of terms. The lack of designation of case assignment area at initial case filing may be a basis for imposition of terms and will result in assignment to a case assignment area at the Court's discretion.
(D) Assignment or Transfer on Court's Motion. The Court on its own motion may assign or transfer cases to another case assignment area in the county whenever required for the just and efficient administration of justice in King County.
(E) Venue not affected. This rule shall not affect whether venue is proper in any Superior Court facility in King County.
(3) Where Pleadings and Documents Filed. Pursuant to LGR 30, all pleadings and documents for any dependency proceeding in King County must be electronically filed with the Clerk of the Superior Court using the Clerk’s e-filing system. Documents identified as exceptions to mandatory e-filing must be filed in paper form at the court facility in the case assignment area of the case. Working copies must be provided for the judge pursuant to the requirements of LCR 7(b) to the extent not inconsistent with this rule.
(4) Inclusion of Case Assignment Area Code. All pleadings and documents shall contain after the cause number the case assignment designation code assigned by the Clerk for the case assignment area in which court proceedings are to be held. The Clerk may reject pleadings or documents that do not contain this case assignment area code.
[Adopted effective January 2, 1994; amended effective October 1, 1996; September 1, 2004; September 1, 2005; June 1, 2009, April 1, 2011.]
LFLR 20. ORIENTATION PROGRAM IN FAMILY LAW MATTERS
Adopted on an Emergency Basis; effective January 1, 2011
(a) Description and Applicability. To assist self-represented parties involved in family law matters and improve the efficiency of the court, King County Superior Court Family Court shall conduct an Orientation Program for parties in all cases filed under Chapter 26.09 RCW, including dissolutions of marriage, legal separations and major parenting plan modifications. (b) Mandatory Attendance. In all cases referred to in Section (a) above, all self-represented parties shall successfully complete the Orientation Program within thirty (30) days of filing or service of the summons and petition. Successful completion shall be evidenced by a certificate of attendance filed with the court by Family Court Operations staff. Any party attending the Orientation Program prior to obtaining a King County Superior Court cause number shall be responsible for filing his or her certificate of attendance in the court file when the cause number is obtained. (1) Out of County Resident. A party residing outside of King County shall be excused from attending the Orientation Program if attendance would be a hardship. Such parties are required to review the Orientation Program materials and file a sworn declaration that they have done so. (2) Represented Parties. Attendance at the Orientation Program shall be excused for a party represented by counsel, provided that if the party becomes self-represented before entry of final orders, such party shall attend the orientation seminar, unless waived for good cause. (3) Good Cause. The court may excuse a party from attending the Orientation Program or permit a party to review the materials and file a sworn declaration that he or she has done so as an alternative to in-person attendance, for good cause shown. (4) Service. The petitioner shall serve the Notice of Mandatory Orientation Program on all respondents at the time the Summons and Petition is served. If a joinder to the petition is filed, the petitioner shall provide the Notice of Mandatory Orientation Program to any joining party within seven (7) days of filing of the joinder. (5) Special Considerations. Opposing parties shall not be required to attend the Orientation Program together. (6) Renewal. The court may reinstitute the requirement to attend the Orientation Program at any time in cases where attendance was previously excused. (c) Failure to Comply. Delay, refusal or default by one party does not excuse timely compliance by any other party. The Orientation Registration Form shall be submitted to Family Court Services. See section (a) above. Unless attendance at the seminar is excused, any party requesting a hearing, including those parties seeking to enter final orders in the action, and any party responding to a request for hearing, shall attend the Orientation Program prior to obtaining affirmative relief. Attendance at the Orientation Program shall not be required prior to emergency hearings or the issuance of restraining orders. Willful refusal or delay by any party may constitute contempt of court and result in sanctions imposed by the court, including the imposition of monetary terms, default or striking of pleadings. (d) Fee. Each party attending the Orientation Program, or who has been approved to review the materials in lieu of attendance, shall pay a fee charged by Family Court Operations and approved by the court. The court shall provide the service at no expense for indigent parties.
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