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LCR 82. Case Assignment Area
Local Civil Rule
(e) Location for Court Proceedings for Civil Cases Filed in King County; Filing of Documents and Pleadings and Designation of Case Assignment Area.
(1) Designation of Case Assignment Area. Each case filed in the Superior Court shall be accompanied by a Case Assignment Designation Form [in the form set forth at LCR 82(e)(8)] on which the party filing the initial pleading has designated whether the case fits within the Seattle Case Assignment Area or the Kent Case Assignment Area, under the standards set forth in Sections (2) through (7), below. Juvenile Offender cases and Involuntary Treatment Act cases are all designated to the Seattle Case Assignment Area. Civil cases filed prior to September 1, 1995 and criminal cases filed prior to June 1, 1996 are defaulted to the Seattle Case Assignment Area unless otherwise ordered by the Court.
(2) Where Proceedings Held.
(A) Proceedings before a commissioner of any nature shall be conducted at a court facility in the case assignment area designated on the Case Assignment Designation Form unless the Court has otherwise ordered on its own motion or upon motion of any party to the action.
(B) Proceedings before a judge of any nature shall be conducted at any of the court facilites based on the location of the judge.
(C) Proceedings may be by remote means, in-person, or a combination of both at the direction and order of the court.
(3) Boundaries of Case Assignment Areas. For purposes of this rule King County shall be divided into case assignment areas as follows:
(A) Seattle Case Assignment Area. All of King County north of Interstate 90 and including all of the Interstate 90 right-of-way; all of the cities of Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue, Issaquah and North Bend; and all of Vashon and Maury Islands.
(B) Kent Case Assignment Area. All of King County south of Interstate 90 except those areas included in the Seattle Case Assignment Area.
(C) 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.
(4) Standards for case assignment area designation, and revisions thereof.
(A) Location Designated by Party Filing Action. Initial designations shall be made upon filing as follows:
(i) Family Law, Paternity and Adoption Cases. For adoption cases, the area where the petitioner(s) resides; for paternity cases, the area where the child resides; and for all other family law cases, the area where either the petitioner or respondent resides or if neither party resides in King County, in the Seattle case assignment area.
(ii) Probate, Guardianship and Trust cases. For probate cases, the area where the decedent principally resided or if the decedent did not reside in King County, the area in which any part of the estate may be; for guardianship cases, the area where the ward resides; and for trust cases, the area where the principal place of administration of the trust is located. If no principal residence or estate is located in King County, the action may be filed in either case assignment area.
(iii) Orders for Protection and Orders for Antiharassment. For orders for protection or for antiharassment, the area where the petitioner resides unless the petitioner has left the residence or household to avoid abuse; in that case, in either the case assignment area of the previous or the new household or residence.
(iv) Other Civil cases. For civil cases involving personal injury or property damage, the area where the injury or damage occurred; for cases involving condemnation, quiet title, foreclosure, unlawful detainer or title to real property, the area where the property is located; for all other civil cases, including administrative law reviews, the area where a defendant or respondent resides, or if there is no defendant or respondent, or if defendant or respondent does not reside in King County, the area where the plaintiff or petitioner resides.
(v) Appeals from Courts of Limited Jurisdiction. For cases subject to RALJ, the case assignment area in which the court of original jurisdiction is located.
(vi) Transcripts of Judgment. For transcripts of judgment, the case assignment area where the court of original jurisdiction is located.
(vii) Small Claims Appeals. For small claims appeals, the case assignment area where the court of original jurisdiction is located.
(viii) Appeals from Department of Licensing Orders of Suspension. For appeals from Department of Licensing Orders of Suspension, the case assignment area of the residence of the petitioner.
(ix) Actions filed pursuant to RCW 36.01.050. For actions filed pursuant to RCW 36.01.050 (adjoining counties), either case assignment area.
(x) Domestic Modifications and Support Adjustments. Any Modification Petition or Motion for Support Adjustment in either domestic or paternity cases shall proceed in the original case assignment area until an order of transfer is entered.
(xi) Cases filed pursuant to Trust and Dispute Resolution Act, ch. 11.96A, RCW. Seattle if the primary residence or estate of decedent was in the Seattle case assignment area; all other such cases shall be designated to Kent. If no principal residence or estate is located in King County, the action may be filed in either assignment area.
(xii) Actions brought pursuant to RCW 84.64.050. For actions filed pursuant to RCW 84.64.080 (real property tax foreclosure), either case assignment area.
(B) 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.
(C) 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.
(D) Motions By Party to Transfer. Motions to transfer court proceedings from one case assignment area to another shall be presented to the assigned judge or if there is no assigned judge then to the Respective Chief Judge. Motions to change case designation shall not change the assigned judicial officer. Such motions shall be made in writing as required by LCR 7; shall be ruled on by the Court without oral argument; and shall be noted for consideration no later than 14 days after the date for filing the Confirmation of Joinder of Parties, Claims, and Defenses in civil cases, as required in LCR 4.2(a), or the date for filing of the Confirmation of Issues in domestic cases, as required by LFLR 4(c). All cases shall proceed in the original case assignment area until an order of transfer is entered.
(E) Venue not affected. This rule shall not affect whether venue is proper in any Superior Court facility in King County.
(5) Where Pleadings and Documents Filed. Pursuant to LGR 30, all pleadings and documents for any civil action in King County must be electronically filed with the Clerk using the Clerk’s e-filing application. Documents identified as exceptions to mandatory e-filing must be filed in paper form with the Clerk of the Superior Court at any court facility in any case assignment area in the county. Working copies of documents for the judge or commissioner must be submitted pursuant to the requirements of LCR 7(b).
(6) Ex Parte Proceedings. Proceedings in the Ex Parte Department shall be heard in the case assignment area of the case, except that ex parte matters which do not require court case file review may be heard in any court facility of King County Superior Court.
(7) Inclusion of Case Assignment Area Code. All pleadings and documents shall contain after the cause number the case assignment area code assigned by the Clerk (or the default case assignment area code pursuant to LCR 82(e)(1)) 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.
(8) Case Assignment Designation Form. The Case Assignment Designation Form shall be in substantially the following form:
Attachment to Case Indexing Cover Sheet
CASE ASSIGNMENT DESIGNATION
I certify that this case meets the case assignment criteria, described in King County LCR 82(e), for the:
______ Seattle Area, defined as: All of King County north of Interstate 90 and including all of the Interstate 90 right-of-way; all of the cities of Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue, Issaquah and North Bend; and all of Vashon and Maury Islands.
______ Kent Area, defined as: All of King County south of Interstate 90 except those areas included in the Seattle Case Assignment Area.
_________________________________ ________________
Signature of Petitioner/Plaintiff Date
or
__________________________________ _________________
Signature of Attorney for Date
Petitioner/Plaintiff
__________________________
WSBA Number
(9) Jury Assignment Area. See LGR 18. The rule provides for Seattle and Kent jury assignment areas, consisting of registered voters and licensed drivers and identicard holders residing in each jury assignment area.
[Effective September 1, 1995; amended effective September 1, 1996; April 14, 1997; September 1, 1997; September 1, 1999; September 1, 2001; September 1, 2004; September 1, 2006; September 1, 2007; September 1, 2008; June 1, 2009; September 8, 2009; September 1, 2012; September 2, 2013; September 1, 2019; September 1, 2020; September 1, 2024.]
(1) Designation of Case Assignment Area. Each case filed in the Superior Court shall be accompanied by a Case Assignment Designation Form [in the form set forth at LCR 82(e)(8)] on which the party filing the initial pleading has designated whether the case fits within the Seattle Case Assignment Area or the Kent Case Assignment Area, under the standards set forth in Sections (2) through (7), below. Juvenile Offender cases and Involuntary Treatment Act cases are all designated to the Seattle Case Assignment Area. Civil cases filed prior to September 1, 1995 and criminal cases filed prior to June 1, 1996 are defaulted to the Seattle Case Assignment Area unless otherwise ordered by the Court.
(2) Where Proceedings Held.
(A) Proceedings before a commissioner of any nature shall be conducted at a court facility in the case assignment area designated on the Case Assignment Designation Form unless the Court has otherwise ordered on its own motion or upon motion of any party to the action.
(B) Proceedings before a judge of any nature shall be conducted at any of the court facilites based on the location of the judge.
(C) Proceedings may be by remote means, in-person, or a combination of both at the direction and order of the court.
(3) Boundaries of Case Assignment Areas. For purposes of this rule King County shall be divided into case assignment areas as follows:
(A) Seattle Case Assignment Area. All of King County north of Interstate 90 and including all of the Interstate 90 right-of-way; all of the cities of Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue, Issaquah and North Bend; and all of Vashon and Maury Islands.
(B) Kent Case Assignment Area. All of King County south of Interstate 90 except those areas included in the Seattle Case Assignment Area.
(C) 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.
(4) Standards for case assignment area designation, and revisions thereof.
(A) Location Designated by Party Filing Action. Initial designations shall be made upon filing as follows:
(i) Family Law, Paternity and Adoption Cases. For adoption cases, the area where the petitioner(s) resides; for paternity cases, the area where the child resides; and for all other family law cases, the area where either the petitioner or respondent resides or if neither party resides in King County, in the Seattle case assignment area.
(ii) Probate, Guardianship and Trust cases. For probate cases, the area where the decedent principally resided or if the decedent did not reside in King County, the area in which any part of the estate may be; for guardianship cases, the area where the ward resides; and for trust cases, the area where the principal place of administration of the trust is located. If no principal residence or estate is located in King County, the action may be filed in either case assignment area.
(iii) Orders for Protection and Orders for Antiharassment. For orders for protection or for antiharassment, the area where the petitioner resides unless the petitioner has left the residence or household to avoid abuse; in that case, in either the case assignment area of the previous or the new household or residence.
(iv) Other Civil cases. For civil cases involving personal injury or property damage, the area where the injury or damage occurred; for cases involving condemnation, quiet title, foreclosure, unlawful detainer or title to real property, the area where the property is located; for all other civil cases, including administrative law reviews, the area where a defendant or respondent resides, or if there is no defendant or respondent, or if defendant or respondent does not reside in King County, the area where the plaintiff or petitioner resides.
(v) Appeals from Courts of Limited Jurisdiction. For cases subject to RALJ, the case assignment area in which the court of original jurisdiction is located.
(vi) Transcripts of Judgment. For transcripts of judgment, the case assignment area where the court of original jurisdiction is located.
(vii) Small Claims Appeals. For small claims appeals, the case assignment area where the court of original jurisdiction is located.
(viii) Appeals from Department of Licensing Orders of Suspension. For appeals from Department of Licensing Orders of Suspension, the case assignment area of the residence of the petitioner.
(ix) Actions filed pursuant to RCW 36.01.050. For actions filed pursuant to RCW 36.01.050 (adjoining counties), either case assignment area.
(x) Domestic Modifications and Support Adjustments. Any Modification Petition or Motion for Support Adjustment in either domestic or paternity cases shall proceed in the original case assignment area until an order of transfer is entered.
(xi) Cases filed pursuant to Trust and Dispute Resolution Act, ch. 11.96A, RCW. Seattle if the primary residence or estate of decedent was in the Seattle case assignment area; all other such cases shall be designated to Kent. If no principal residence or estate is located in King County, the action may be filed in either assignment area.
(xii) Actions brought pursuant to RCW 84.64.050. For actions filed pursuant to RCW 84.64.080 (real property tax foreclosure), either case assignment area.
(B) 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.
(C) 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.
(D) Motions By Party to Transfer. Motions to transfer court proceedings from one case assignment area to another shall be presented to the assigned judge or if there is no assigned judge then to the Respective Chief Judge. Motions to change case designation shall not change the assigned judicial officer. Such motions shall be made in writing as required by LCR 7; shall be ruled on by the Court without oral argument; and shall be noted for consideration no later than 14 days after the date for filing the Confirmation of Joinder of Parties, Claims, and Defenses in civil cases, as required in LCR 4.2(a), or the date for filing of the Confirmation of Issues in domestic cases, as required by LFLR 4(c). All cases shall proceed in the original case assignment area until an order of transfer is entered.
(E) Venue not affected. This rule shall not affect whether venue is proper in any Superior Court facility in King County.
(5) Where Pleadings and Documents Filed. Pursuant to LGR 30, all pleadings and documents for any civil action in King County must be electronically filed with the Clerk using the Clerk’s e-filing application. Documents identified as exceptions to mandatory e-filing must be filed in paper form with the Clerk of the Superior Court at any court facility in any case assignment area in the county. Working copies of documents for the judge or commissioner must be submitted pursuant to the requirements of LCR 7(b).
(6) Ex Parte Proceedings. Proceedings in the Ex Parte Department shall be heard in the case assignment area of the case, except that ex parte matters which do not require court case file review may be heard in any court facility of King County Superior Court.
(7) Inclusion of Case Assignment Area Code. All pleadings and documents shall contain after the cause number the case assignment area code assigned by the Clerk (or the default case assignment area code pursuant to LCR 82(e)(1)) 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.
(8) Case Assignment Designation Form. The Case Assignment Designation Form shall be in substantially the following form:
Attachment to Case Indexing Cover Sheet
CASE ASSIGNMENT DESIGNATION
I certify that this case meets the case assignment criteria, described in King County LCR 82(e), for the:
______ Seattle Area, defined as: All of King County north of Interstate 90 and including all of the Interstate 90 right-of-way; all of the cities of Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue, Issaquah and North Bend; and all of Vashon and Maury Islands.
______ Kent Area, defined as: All of King County south of Interstate 90 except those areas included in the Seattle Case Assignment Area.
_________________________________ ________________
Signature of Petitioner/Plaintiff Date
or
__________________________________ _________________
Signature of Attorney for Date
Petitioner/Plaintiff
__________________________
WSBA Number
(9) Jury Assignment Area. See LGR 18. The rule provides for Seattle and Kent jury assignment areas, consisting of registered voters and licensed drivers and identicard holders residing in each jury assignment area.
[Effective September 1, 1995; amended effective September 1, 1996; April 14, 1997; September 1, 1997; September 1, 1999; September 1, 2001; September 1, 2004; September 1, 2006; September 1, 2007; September 1, 2008; June 1, 2009; September 8, 2009; September 1, 2012; September 2, 2013; September 1, 2019; September 1, 2020; September 1, 2024.]