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Washington Process Serving Laws
(Rules of Civil Procedure in the
United States)
Quick Answers:
Who can be a process server in
Washington?
Any adult over the age of eighteen
(18) years old, that is not a party
to the case, or a member of a
corporation or organization that is
a party, may serve (deliver) the
papers.
Does Washington require process
servers to be licensed?
Yes.
-
According to the Washington
Administrative Code, Title 13,
section 067.5 thru 067.100:
Process servers must be licensed
by the Commissioner of Public
Safety. A surety bond of $15,000
must be posted by each process
server. The bond applies
principally to theft that may
arise out of levies and
executions. In order to receive
a process server’s license, all
applicants must pass a written
examination.
-
According to the Revised Code
of Washington §18.180.010: A
person who serves legal process
for a fee in the State of
Washington is required to
register with the auditor of the
county in which the process
server resides or operates his
or her principal place of
business and pay a $10 fee. No
testing and no requirement for
insurance or bonding. Easiest
and most inexpensive state in
which to get a license.
Are there any day or time restrictions to
service of process in Washington?
No.
Washington Rules of Civil Procedure
are from
CivilProcedure.info
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
site
Because the laws of process service
may change from time to time, please
check the
Washington Courts website
for updated rules of civil procedure
in Washington.
Rules of Civil
Procedure in Washington:
Rule 4
Process
(a) Summons--Issuance.
- The summons must be signed
and dated by the plaintiff or
his attorney, and directed to
the defendant requiring him to
defend the action and to serve a
copy of his appearance or
defense on the person whose name
is signed on the summons.
- Unless a statute or rule
provides for a different time
requirement, the summons shall
require the defendant to serve a
copy of his defense within 20
days after the service of
summons, exclusive of the day of
service. If a statute or rule
other than this rule provides
for a different time to serve a
defense, that time shall be
stated in the summons.
- A notice of appearance, if
made, shall be in writing, shall
be signed by the defendant or
his attorney, and shall be
served upon the person whose
name is signed on the summons.
In condemnation cases a notice
of appearance only shall be
served on the person whose name
is signed on the petition.
- No summons is necessary for
a counterclaim or cross claim
for any person who previously
has been made a party.
Counterclaims and cross claims
against an existing party may be
served as provided in rule 5.
(b) Summons.
- Contents. The summons for
personal service shall contain:
- the title of the cause,
specifying the name of the court
in which the action is brought,
the name of the county
designated by the plaintiff as
the place of trial, and the
names of the parties to the
action, plaintiff and defendant;
- a direction to the defendant
summoning him to serve a copy of
his defense within a time stated
in the summons;
- a notice that, in case of
failure so to do, judgment will
be rendered against him by
default. It shall be signed and
dated by the plaintiff, or his
attorney, with the addition of
his post office address, at
which the papers in the action
may be served on him by mail.
Search-For-Servers.com does not warrant the accuracy of these laws. The laws
listed on Search-For-Servers.com are
only a starting point for reference,
and are not meant to be legal advice or a replacement for legal console. Please consult a process
server in your area, county, or
state if you have any questions
about process service there.
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