Structure of Washington State Courts

Washington State has a unified court system with four levels: the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the Superior Courts, and the courts of limited jurisdiction (District Courts and Municipal Courts). Washington Supreme Court The Washington Supreme Court is the highest court in the state. It has nine justices elected to six-year terms on a nonpartisan basis. The Supreme Court has discretionary review over most cases — it selects which cases to hear — but has mandatory jurisdiction over certain matters including death penalty cases and cases involving the validity of a state statute. Decisions of the Washington Supreme Court are binding on all lower courts in the state. Washington Court of Appeals The Court of Appeals is divided into three divisions: • Division I — Seattle (King, San Juan, Island, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties) • Division II — Tacoma (Clallam, Clark, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skamania, Thurston, and Wahkiakum counties) • Division III — Spokane (Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima counties) The Court of Appeals hears appeals from Superior Court decisions as a matter of right in most civil and criminal cases. Panels of three judges decide cases. Superior Courts Superior Courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction. Each of Washington's 39 counties has a Superior Court. Superior Courts have original jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, civil cases involving more than $10,000, domestic relations matters (divorce, custody, adoption), probate and guardianship proceedings, and juvenile matters. Superior Courts also hear appeals from courts of limited jurisdiction. Courts of Limited Jurisdiction District Courts handle civil cases up to $100,000 and misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases. Small Claims Court, a division of District Court, handles civil disputes up to $10,000 without attorneys. Municipal Courts handle violations of city ordinances and some misdemeanors.

How to Find a Court

The Washington Courts website (courts.wa.gov) provides a directory of all courts in the state, including addresses, phone numbers, and links to local court websites. Most Superior Courts maintain their own websites with local rules, forms, and filing information. The Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) maintains the Judicial Information System (JIS), which tracks case filings and dispositions statewide. Public access to case information is available through the Washington Courts Case Search portal at docket.courts.wa.gov. For probate and estate matters, filings are made in the Superior Court of the county where the decedent resided at the time of death.

Washington Courts and Estate Planning

Probate proceedings in Washington are supervised by the Superior Court. However, Washington has a simplified probate process — the nonintervention powers statute (RCW Chapter 11.68) — that allows a personal representative to administer an estate without court supervision in most cases, significantly reducing cost and delay. Guardianship and conservatorship proceedings for incapacitated adults are also handled by Superior Court under RCW Chapter 11.130 (the Washington Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act, effective January 1, 2022). Trust disputes, will contests, and other fiduciary litigation are heard in Superior Court. Washington has adopted the Uniform Trust Code (RCW Chapter 11.98) and the Uniform Directed Trust Act (RCW Chapter 11.98A), which govern trust administration and trustee duties.

Appellate Practice

Appeals from Superior Court are filed in the Court of Appeals as a matter of right in most civil cases. A Notice of Appeal must be filed within 30 days of the entry of the final judgment or order being appealed (RAP 5.2). Review by the Washington Supreme Court is discretionary — a party must file a Petition for Review and demonstrate that the case involves a significant question of law or that review is necessary to secure uniformity of decision. The Supreme Court accepts a small percentage of petitions. Washington Court Rules are available at courts.wa.gov/court_rules. The Rules of Appellate Procedure (RAP), Civil Rules (CR), and Superior Court Civil Rules (CR) govern practice in Washington courts.