Title 4 — Title 4 CIVIL PROCEDURE

From the time of the commencement of the action by service of summons, or by the filing of a complaint, or as otherwise provided, the court is deemed to have acquired jurisdiction and to have control of all subsequent proceedings.[ 1984 c 76 s 2; 1895 c 86 s 4; 1893 c 127 s 15; R…

Service made in the modes provided in this section is personal service. The summons shall be served by delivering a copy thereof, as follows:(1) If the action is against any county in this state, to the county auditor or, during normal office hours, to the deputy auditor, or in t…

When the defendant cannot be found within the state, and upon the filing of an affidavit of the plaintiff, his or her agent, or attorney, with the clerk of the court, stating that he or she believes that the defendant is not a resident of the state, or cannot be found therein, an…

The publication shall be made in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the action is brought once a week for six consecutive weeks: PROVIDED, That publication of summons shall not be made until after the filing of the complaint, and the service of the summons sha…

If a party having or claiming a share or interest in or lien upon any property sought to be appropriated for public use be unknown, and such fact be made to appear by affidavit filed in the office of the clerk of the court, the notice required by law in such cases may be served b…

Upon presenting an affidavit to the court or judge, showing to his or her satisfaction that the heirs of such deceased person are proper parties to the action, and that their names and residences cannot with use of reasonable diligence be ascertained, such court or judge may gran…

In any action brought to determine any adverse claim, estate, lien, or interest in real property, or to quiet title to real property, the plaintiff may include as a defendant in such action, and insert in the title thereof, in addition to the names of such persons or parties as a…

All such unknown heirs of deceased persons, and all such unknown persons or parties, so served by publication as in RCW 4.28.150, provided, shall have the same rights as are provided by law in case of all other defendants upon whom service is made by publication, and the action s…

Personal service of summons or other process may be made upon any party outside the state. If upon a citizen or resident of this state or upon a person who has submitted to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state, it shall have the force and effect of personal service within…

(1) Any person, whether or not a citizen or resident of this state, who in person or through an agent does any of the acts in this section enumerated, thereby submits said person, and, if an individual, his or her personal representative, to the jurisdiction of the courts of this…

If the summons is not served personally on the defendant in the cases provided in RCW 4.28.110 and 4.28.180, he or she or his or her representatives, on application and sufficient cause shown, at any time before judgment, shall be allowed to defend the action and, except in an ac…

A defendant appears in an action when he or she answers, demurs, makes any application for an order therein, or gives the plaintiff written notice of his or her appearance. After appearance a defendant is entitled to notice of all subsequent proceedings; but when a defendant has …

A defendant who has appeared may, without answering, demand in writing an assessment of damages, of the amount which the plaintiff is entitled to recover, and thereupon such assessment shall be had or any such amount ascertained in such manner as the court on application may dire…

At any time after an action affecting title to real property has been commenced, or after a writ of attachment with respect to real property has been issued in an action, or after a receiver has been appointed with respect to any real property, the plaintiff, the defendant, or su…

In an action in a United States district court for any district in the state of Washington affecting the title to real property in the state of Washington, the plaintiff, at the time of filing the complaint, or at any time afterwards, or a defendant, when he or she sets up an aff…

(1) For purposes of this section:(a) "Lis pendens" means a lis pendens filed under RCW 4.28.320 or 4.28.325 or other instrument having the effect of clouding the title to real property, however named, including consensual commercial lien, common law lien, commercial contractual l…

In any court or administrative action or proceeding within this state, involving property within this state or any interest therein, in which service of process is required to be made upon or notice thereof given to any person who is in a designated enemy country or enemy-occupie…

For the purposes of RCW 4.28.330 through 4.28.350:(1) "Person" includes any individual, partnership, association and corporation;(2) "Designated enemy country" means any foreign country as to which the United States has declared the existence of a state of war and any other count…

RCW 4.28.330 and 4.28.340 shall remain in force only so long as a state of war shall exist between the United States and the designated enemy country involved in the action or proceeding described in RCW 4.28.330.[ 1943 c 62 s 3; Rem. Supp. 1943 s 254-3.]

In any civil action for personal injuries, the complaint shall not contain a statement of the damages sought but shall contain a prayer for damages as shall be determined. A defendant in such action may at any time request a statement from the plaintiff setting forth separately t…

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to …