Mason County Washington - Government Information
Mason Couty Home Mason County Employment Mason County Forms and Brochures Mason County Phone Numbers and Addresses Mason County Campus Map
Mason County Code & Regulations Mason County Community Links Mason County Tourism Mason County Site Search Mason County Advisory Boards Ask questions
Office Hours
8:30 - 4:30   M-F
Clerk Home

Fee Schedule for Superior Court
Functions of the Clerks Office
Jury Management
Passport Information
Proper Format for Filing documents in Superior Court
Services and Information Available from the Clerks Office
Superior Court Schedule for Filing and Calendars
Type of Orders and Where to go for Help
Web Payments
 
FORMAT REQUIREMENTS OF PLEADINGS / DOCUMENTS FILED IN SUPERIOR COURT
The following standards are required according to Washington Court Rule and GR 14, and the laws of the State of Washington:
  1. FORM AND PLEADING STANDARDS
    2. The following standards apply to written forms, to printed forms and to the electronic reproduction of forms and pleadings required by RCW 26.09.006, RCW 26.10.015 and RCW 26.26.065.
    1. REQUIRED FORMAT STANDARDS.
      2. The format standards in this section are required for all forms, pleadings, motions and other papers filed with the court pursuant to GR 14. The rule applies to all proceedings in all courts of the State of Washington unless otherwise specifically indicated by court rule.
      1. PAPER SIZE.
        2. Paper size is 8-1/2" x 11".
      2. WRITING OR PRINTING.
        3. Forms and pleadings shall be legibly written or printed on one side of each page only. Forms and pleadings shall be printed in standard text fonts (e.g., Arial or Times New Roman) and in standard point sizes (e.g., 12 point or 10 point). Other point sizes may be used for captions and footers so long as the captions and footers are legible when faxed, photocopied or scanned. Bold, underlined and italicized type is acceptable where appropriate.
      3. MARGINS.
        1. First page:
          1. Top Margin: Three inches.
          2. Left Side Margin: One inch.
          3. Right Side Margin: One inch.
          4. Bottom Margin: One inch.
        2. Subsequent pages:
          1. (i)Top Margin: One inch.
          2. Left Side Margin: One inch.
          3. Right Side Margin: One inch.
          4. Bottom Margin: One inch.
      4. FILED FORMS AND PLEADINGS.
        5. Filed forms and pleadings shall not include any colored pages, highlighting or other colored markings.
      5. EXHIBITS.
      The required format standards are not mandatory for exhibits, but the use of the exhibits that comply with these format standards is encouraged if it does not impair legibility.
    2. RECOMMENDED FORMAT STANDARDS.
      3. Local rules, if any, should be followed with regard to use of numbered paper, spacing and related formatting standards. The format recommendations set forth in CR 10(e) must be adhered to in the absence of local rules concerning use of numbered paper, spacing and related formatting standards.
      1. Footers must be placed at the left side of the bottom of each page, above the one-inch margin.
      2. Attorney or firm name, mailing address and telephone number may be present in the right side of the one-inch bottom margin.
      3. Line numbers may be present in the one inch left side margin.
      4. Vertical lines may be present in the one inch side margins.
      The margin requirements in Section II (A)(3) are required for scanning purposes. Anything present in the margins might not be scanned and might not become a part of the court's or county clerk's electronic archive. Litigants are not prohibited from placing the items listed in 2 through 4 clear of the margins.
    3. CAPTIONS.
      4. Captions must include the following:
      1. NAME OF COURT. The name of the court. The court's name may be set forth at the left margin of the pleading or form, or centered at the top of the first page of the pleading or form.
      2. FORM TITLE. The title of the form designated by the Office of the Administrator for the Courts. The title must be printed in capital letters in the lower 1/2 of the caption in the right hand field. The document title may not be changed or deleted, except to delete inapplicable portions of the title (e.g., the title of the parenting plan may be altered to indicate whether the parenting plan is a proposed, temporary or final parenting plan).
      3. SCOMIS CODES. The SCOMIS (Superior Courts Management Information System) code is assigned to the form by the Office of the Administrator for the Courts. The SCOMIS code is to be printed underneath the form title. The SCOMIS codes may not be changed or altered from the assigned code.
      4. DESIGNATION OF PARTIES AND ACTION. The parties and title of the action shall be designated as set forth in RCW 26.09.010 and RCW 26.10.020 in the left-hand field of the caption.
        (a) All pleadings, motions, and other papers filed with the court shall be
        legibly written or printed. The use of letter-size paper 8 ½ by 11 inches)
        is mandatory. The writing or printing shall appear on only one side of
        the page. The top margin of the first page shall be a minimum of three
        inches, the bottom margin shall be a minimum of one inch and the side
        margins shall be a minimum of one inch. All subsequent pages shall have
        a minimum of one-inch margins. Papers filed shall not include any colored
        pages, highlighting or other colored markings.

        (b) Exception for Exhibits. This rule is not mandatory for exhibits, but
        the use of exhibits that comply with this rule is encouraged if it does
        not impair legibility.(c) Application of Rule. This rule shall apply to all proceedings in all
        courts of the State of Washington unless otherwise specifically indicated
        by court rule.
WASHINGTON STATE CIVIL RULE 10
FORM OF PLEADINGS AND OTHER PAPERS
  1. Caption. Every pleading shall contain a caption setting forth the name of the court, the title of the action, the file number if known to the person signing it, and an identification as to the nature of the pleading or other paper.
  1. Names of Parties. In the complaint the title of the action shall include the names of all the parties, but in other pleadings it is sufficient to state the name of the first party on each side with an appropriate indication of other parties.
  2. Unknown Names. When the plaintiff is ignorant of the name of the defendant, it shall be so stated in his pleading, and such defendant may be designated in any pleading or proceeding by any name, and when his true name shall be discovered, the pleading or proceeding may be amended accordingly.
  3. Unknown Heirs. When the heirs of any deceased person are proper parties defendant to any action relating to real property in this state, and when the names and residences of such heirs are unknown, such heirs may be proceeded against under the name and title of the "unknown heirs" of the deceased. In any action brought to determine any adverse claim, estate, lien, or interest in real property, or to quiet title to real property, unknown parties shall be designated as "also all other persons or parties unknown claiming any right, title, estate, lien, or interest in the real estate described in the complaint herein."
  1. Paragraphs; Separate Statements. All averments of claim or defense shall be made in numbered paragraphs, the contents of each of which shall be limited as far as practicable to a statement of a single set of circumstances; and a paragraph may be referred to by number in all succeeding pleadings. Each claim founded upon a separate transaction or occurrence, and each defense other than denials, shall be stated in separate count or defense whenever a separation facilitates the clear presentation of the matters set forth.
  2. Adoption by Reference; Exhibits. Statements in a pleading may be adopted by reference in a different part of the same pleading or in another pleading or in any motion. A copy of any written instrument which is an exhibit to a pleading is a part thereof for all purposes.
  3. Format Requirements. See GR 14.
  4. Format Recommendations. It is recommended that all pleadings and other papers include or provide for the following:
  1. Service and Filing. Space should be left at the top of the first page to provide on the right half space for the clerk's filing stamp, and space at the left half for acknowledging the receipt of copies.
  2. Title. All pleadings under the space under the docket number should contain a title indicating their purpose and party presenting them. For example: USE DO NOT USE Petition for Dissolution Petition Defendant's Motion for Support, etc. Motion Order for Support Order Plaintiff's Trial Brief Trial Brief
  3. Bottom Notation. At the left side of the bottom of each page of all pleadings and other papers an abbreviated name of the pleading or other paper should be repeated, followed by the page number. At the right side of the bottom of the first page of each pleading or other paper the name, mailing address and telephone number of the attorney or firm preparing the paper should be printed or typed.
  4. Typed Names. The names of all persons signing a pleading or other paper should be typed under their signatures.
  5. Headings and Subheadings. Headings and subheadings should be used for all paragraphs which shall be numbered with roman and/or Arabic numerals.
  6. Numbered Paper. Use numbered paper