Washington · statute · Wash. Rev. Code ch. 7.105 · 69 active provisions
GENERAL PROVISIONS The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Abandonment" means action or inaction by a person or entity with a duty of care for a vulnerable adult that leaves the vulnerable adult without the means or ability to obtain necessary foo…
JURISDICTION AND VENUE (1) The superior and district courts have jurisdiction over domestic violence protection order proceedings, sexual assault protection order proceedings, stalking protection order proceedings, and antiharassment protection order proceedings under this chapter, except that such proceedings must be…
The superior courts have jurisdiction over vulnerable adult protection order proceedings under this chapter.
The superior courts have jurisdiction over extreme risk protection order proceedings under this chapter. The juvenile court may hear an extreme risk protection order proceeding under this chapter if the respondent is under the age of 18 years. Additionally, district courts have limited jurisdiction over the issuance an…
An action for a protection order should be filed in the county where the petitioner resides. The petitioner may also file in:(1) The county where an act giving rise to the petition for a protection order occurred;(2) The county where a child to be protected by the order primarily resides;(3) The county where the petiti…
(1) In a proceeding in which a petition for a protection order under this chapter is sought, a court of this state may exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident individual if:(a) The individual is personally served with a petition within this state;(b) The individual submits to the jurisdiction of this state by…
Jurisdictional issues regarding out-of-state proceedings involving the custody or residential placement of any child of the parties are governed by the uniform child custody jurisdiction and enforcement act, chapter 26.27 RCW.
FILING (1) There exists an action known as a petition for a protection order. The following types of petitions for a protection order may be filed:(a) A petition for a domestic violence protection order, which must allege the existence of domestic violence committed against the petitioner or petitioners by an intimate…
The following apply to all petitions for protection orders under this chapter.(1)(a) County clerks on behalf of all superior courts and, by January 1, 2026, all courts of limited jurisdiction, must permit petitions for protection orders and all other filings in connection with the petition to be submitted as preferred…
The following apply only to the specific type of protection orders referenced in each subsection.(1) The department of social and health services, in its discretion, may file a petition for a vulnerable adult protection order or a domestic violence protection order on behalf of, and with the consent of, any vulnerable…
(1) By December 30, 2022, the administrative office of the courts shall:(a) Develop and distribute standard forms for petitions and orders issued under this chapter, and facilitate the use of online forms for electronic filings.(i) For all protection orders except extreme risk protection orders, the protection order mu…
(1) All court clerks' offices shall make available the standardized forms, instructions, and informational brochures required by this chapter, and shall keep current specific program names and telephone numbers for community resources, including civil legal aid and volunteer lawyer programs. Any assistance or informati…
SERVICE (1) To minimize delays and the need for more hearings, which can hinder access to justice and undermine judicial economy, to lessen costs, to guarantee actual notice to the respondent, and to simplify and modernize processes for petitioners, respondents, law enforcement, and the courts, the following methods of…
When service is to be completed under this chapter by a law enforcement officer:(1) The clerk of the court shall have a copy of any order issued under this chapter, the confidential information form, as well as the petition for a protection order and any supporting materials, electronically forwarded on or before the n…
The following materials must be served, depending on the type of relief sought.(1) If the petitioner is seeking a hearing on a petition for a protection order, the respondent must be served with the petition for a protection order, any supporting declarations or other materials, the notice of hearing, any temporary pro…
(1) Unless waived by the nonmoving party, service must be completed on the nonmoving party not less than five judicial days before the hearing date. If service cannot be made, the court shall set a new hearing date and shall either require an additional attempt at obtaining service or permit service by other means auth…
Courts and law enforcement agencies shall adopt rules, protocols, and pattern forms to standardize and implement best practices for service, including mechanisms and verification options for electronic service and electronic returns of service, as well as best practices for efficient transmission of court documents to…
HEARINGS In hearings under this chapter, the following apply:(1) Hearings under this chapter are special proceedings. The procedures established under this chapter for protection order hearings supersede inconsistent civil court rules. Courts should evaluate the needs and procedures best suited to individual hearings b…
(1) Hearings on protection orders, including hearings concerning temporary protection orders, full protection orders, compliance, reissuance, renewal, modification, or termination, may be conducted in person or remotely in order to enhance access for all parties.(2) In the court's discretion, parties, witnesses, and ot…
In proceedings where the petitioner is seeking a domestic violence protection order or an antiharassment protection order, the court may realign the designation of the parties as "petitioner" and "respondent" where the court finds that the original petitioner is the abuser or harasser and the original respondent is the…
For extreme risk protection order hearings, the following also apply.(1) The court may:(a) Examine under oath the petitioner, the respondent, and any witnesses they may produce, or, in lieu of examination, consider sworn declarations of the petitioner, the respondent, and any witnesses they may produce; and(b) Ensure t…
For vulnerable adult protection order hearings, the following also apply.(1) When a petition for a vulnerable adult protection order is filed by someone other than the vulnerable adult or the vulnerable adult's guardian, conservator, or person acting under a protective arrangement, or both, and the vulnerable adult for…
(1) The court shall issue a protection order if it finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the petitioner has proved the required criteria specified in (a) through (f) of this subsection for obtaining a protection order under this chapter.(a) For a domestic violence protection order, that the petitioner has been…
(1) Before ruling on an order under this chapter, the court shall consult the judicial information system to determine the criminal history, history of criminal victimization, history of being a respondent or petitioner in a protection order proceeding, or pendency of other proceedings involving the parties. The court…
For compliance hearings:(1) Only the respondent is required to appear if the court is reviewing compliance with any conditions of the order. The petitioner may appear at such hearing and provide evidence to the court regarding the respondent's compliance with the order. The petitioner may also file a declaration in res…