LFLR 12. Civil Protection Orders

Local Family Law Rule

(a) Applicability. This rule applies to all petitions for civil protection orders brought pursuant to the Civil Protection Orders Act, RCW 7.105, whether filed separately or under another cause
of action.

(b) Mandatory Forms. The parties shall utilize any applicable local and state mandatory forms, including form Orders. Forms are available from the King County Clerk’s Office, the Protection Order Advocate’s Office, and via the King County Superior Court Clerk’s Office webpage.

(c) Temporary Civil Protection Orders. Petitions for temporary civil protection orders shall be presented in the Ex Parte and Probate Department. The process for temporary orders is governed by LCR 40.1(b)(1)(C) except as it conflicts with this rule. All hearings on final civil protection orders, except vulnerable adult protection orders, shall be set by the clerk or judicial officer on the Civil Protection Order Calendar.

(d) Return Hearing. Every Temporary Order of Protection or Order of Modification entered without notice shall set a return hearing on the Civil Protection Order calendar in the family law department on such notice as prescribed in Chapter 7.105 RCW. For all return hearings in the family law department, copies of any writings or other documentary evidence provided to the court must be provided to the other party’s attorney. If the other party is not represented, the copies should be delivered to the other party at their service address. Email service is preferred except in cases where personal service is required.

(e) Evidence. Evidence may be submitted in the following formats: written, photographic, and audio/visual recordings.

(1) Written Submissions. Written submissions (including photographs, emails, and text messages) shall be filed into the Court file in accordance with LCR 5. All written submission exhibits must be supported by a declaration. When possible, exhibits should be attached to a supporting declaration. If exhibits are filed as a separate document, they shall be clearly labeled so that they are readily identifiable by the court.

(A) Limitations. Written submissions shall not exceed the total number and length
set forth below:

Document	Max # of Submissions	Max # Pages
Declaration of a party in support of or opposition to Petition (this may be in addition to the Petition or a part of the Petition)	1	No maximum
Declaration of a non-party witness in support of or opposition to Petition *Note: general character references are disfavored	3	3
Reply Declaration of any moving party	1	10
Sealed Confidential Source Document	No limit; must be related to supporting documentation	No limit; must be related to supporting documentation
Exhibits to Declaration All exhibits must be labeled for identification	No limit; must be related to supporting documentation	No limit, must be related to supporting documentation.

(B) Failure to Comply with Written Submission Limitations. If a filing party exceeds the page limits set forth in this Rule, the court may strike the pleadings, continue the hearing, and/or impose other terms at its discretion.

(2) Multimedia (Audio/Visual Recordings) Submissions. Multimedia submissions must be submitted in accordance with The King County Superior Court Clerk’s office protocol (currently Case Center).

(A) Summary and time stamp required. Audio and video evidence shall be accompanied by a chart or written document that summarizes the content of each exhibit. The summary must indicate the time stamp (to the nearest second) that is relevant to the hearing for all files longer than 30 seconds.

(B) Limitations. Multi-media submissions shall not exceed the total number and length set forth below:

Submission	Max # Minutes
Audio	30 mins
Video	30 mins

(C) Failure to Comply with Multimedia Submission Requirements. If a filing party fails to comply with the requirements set forth in this Rule, the court may elect to not review the submission, continue the hearing, and/or impose other terms at its discretion.

(f) Form of Proposed Orders. The Petitioner shall provide a proposed Protection Order (form PO 040) and any Respondent contesting entry of a full Protection Order shall provide a proposed Denial Order (form PO 070). If a party has not submitted a proposed order prior to the hearing, they will be directed to submit one before or immediately after the hearing and will be given instructions about how to do so at the hearing.

(g) Timing. Responsive materials must be filed no later than noon 5 judicial days prior to the hearing. Any reply must be filed no later than noon 2 judicial days prior to the hearing.

(h) Hearings. Each side is allowed 5 minutes for oral argument, including rebuttal, unless otherwise authorized by the court. If interpreters are used for the proceeding, additional time will be allotted.

(i) This rule will be interpreted liberally with the goal of realizing the stated policy goal of RCW 7.105, “to help ensure that protection orders and corresponding court processes are more easily accessible to all litigants, particularly parties who may experience higher barriers to accessing justice.”

[Adopted effective September 1, 2004; September 1, 2023; September 1, 2026.]