Title 7, SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS AND ACTIONS

(1) If a defendant in an action governed by this chapter intends to rely on a timely and sufficient correction or clarification, the defendant's intention to do so, and the correction or clarification relied upon, must be set forth in a notice served on the plaintiff within sixty…

(1) If a timely correction or clarification is no longer possible, the publisher of an alleged defamatory or otherwise actionable statement may offer, at any time before trial, to make a correction or clarification. The offer must be made in writing to the person allegedly harmed…

A timely and sufficient correction or clarification made by a person responsible for a publication constitutes a correction or clarification made by all persons responsible for that publication other than a republisher. However, a correction or clarification that is sufficient on…

This chapter shall be applied and construed to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of this chapter among states enacting it. [ 2013 c 294 s 11.]

This chapter may be known and cited as the uniform correction or clarification of defamation act. [ 2013 c 294 s 12.]

The legislature finds that ensuring that all victims of crimes are able to access the protections available to them under law is in the best interest of victims, law enforcement, and the entire community. Immigrants are frequently reluctant to cooperate with or contact law enforc…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Certification" means any law enforcement certification or statement required by federal immigration law including, but not limited to, the information required by 8 U…

(1) Upon the request by the victim or representative thereof including, but not limited to, the victim's attorney, accredited representative, or domestic violence, sexual assault, or victim's service provider, a certifying agency shall: (a) Make a determination on United States c…

The office of crime victims advocacy shall convene a crime victim certification steering committee within ninety days of June 7, 2018. The office of crime victims advocacy shall provide administrative support for the committee. The committee must include members representing immi…

This act may be known and cited as the safety and access for immigrant victims act. [ 2018 c 86 s 1.]

(1) This chapter applies only to residential real property consisting solely of a single-family residence, a residential condominium unit, or a residential cooperative unit. (2) For purposes of this chapter: (a) Property is "abandoned" when there are no signs of occupancy and at …

(1) A county, city, or town may notify a mortgage servicer that a property has been determined to be abandoned, in mid-foreclosure, and a nuisance. (2) A notice issued pursuant to this section must: (a) Be accompanied by an affidavit or a declaration made under penalty of perjury…

(1) A mortgage servicer may contact a county, city, or town regarding a property it believes to be abandoned, and a nuisance and request that a county, city, or town official visit the property and make a determination as to whether the residential real property is abandoned and …

(1) Upon receipt from a county, city, or town of an affidavit or declaration under penalty of perjury that a property is abandoned, in mid-foreclosure, and a nuisance, a mortgage servicer or its designee may enter the property for the purposes of abating the identified nuisance, …

Except in circumstances governed by RCW 7.100.040 (6) and (7), if a mortgage servicer receives notice from a county, city, or town pursuant to RCW 7.100.020 or 7.100.030(2)(b) that a property is abandoned, in mid-foreclosure, and a nuisance, and the mortgage servicer does not aba…

(1) When a property has been the subject of foreclosure, a county, city or town may notify the grantee of the trustee's deed or sheriff's deed, via certified mail, that a property is a nuisance. Upon receipt of such a notice, the grantee of the trustee's deed or sheriff's deed sh…

Except in circumstances governed by RCW 7.100.040 (6) and (7), if, after issuance of a notice pursuant to RCW 7.100.020, 7.100.030(2)(b), or 7.100.060, a nuisance has not been abated within the time prescribed by local ordinance and the county, city, or town has exercised its aut…

The authority provided pursuant to this chapter is in addition to, and not in limitation of, any other authority provided by law. [ 2018 c 306 s 17.]

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Abandonment" means action or inaction by a person or entity with a duty of care for a vulnerable adult that leaves the vulnerable adult without the means or ability t…

(1) The superior and district courts have jurisdiction over domestic violence protection order proceedings, sexual assault protection order proceedings, stalking protection order proceedings, and antiharassment protection order proceedings under this chapter, except that such pro…

The superior courts have jurisdiction over vulnerable adult protection order proceedings under this chapter. [ 2021 c 215 s 7.] Notes: Effective date—2022 c 268; 2021 c 215: See note following RCW 7.105.900.

The superior courts have jurisdiction over extreme risk protection order proceedings under this chapter. The juvenile court may hear an extreme risk protection order proceeding under this chapter if the respondent is under the age of 18 years. Additionally, district courts have l…

An action for a protection order should be filed in the county where the petitioner resides. The petitioner may also file in: (1) The county where an act giving rise to the petition for a protection order occurred; (2) The county where a child to be protected by the order primari…

(1) In a proceeding in which a petition for a protection order under this chapter is sought, a court of this state may exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident individual if: (a) The individual is personally served with a petition within this state; (b) The individual su…

Jurisdictional issues regarding out-of-state proceedings involving the custody or residential placement of any child of the parties are governed by the uniform child custody jurisdiction and enforcement act, chapter 26.27 RCW. [ 2021 c 215 s 11.] Notes: Effective date—2022 c 268;…

(1) There exists an action known as a petition for a protection order. The following types of petitions for a protection order may be filed: (a) A petition for a domestic violence protection order, which must allege the existence of domestic violence committed against the petitio…

The following apply to all petitions for protection orders under this chapter. (1)(a) County clerks on behalf of all superior courts and, by January 1, 2026, all courts of limited jurisdiction, must permit petitions for protection orders and all other filings in connection with t…

The following apply only to the specific type of protection orders referenced in each subsection. (1) The department of social and health services, in its discretion, may file a petition for a vulnerable adult protection order or a domestic violence protection order on behalf of,…

(1) By December 30, 2022, the administrative office of the courts shall: (a) Develop and distribute standard forms for petitions and orders issued under this chapter, and facilitate the use of online forms for electronic filings. (i) For all protection orders except extreme risk …

(1) All court clerks' offices shall make available the standardized forms, instructions, and informational brochures required by this chapter, and shall keep current specific program names and telephone numbers for community resources, including civil legal aid and volunteer lawy…

(1) To minimize delays and the need for more hearings, which can hinder access to justice and undermine judicial economy, to lessen costs, to guarantee actual notice to the respondent, and to simplify and modernize processes for petitioners, respondents, law enforcement, and the …

When service is to be completed under this chapter by a law enforcement officer: (1) The clerk of the court shall have a copy of any order issued under this chapter, the confidential information form, as well as the petition for a protection order and any supporting materials, el…

The following materials must be served, depending on the type of relief sought. (1) If the petitioner is seeking a hearing on a petition for a protection order, the respondent must be served with the petition for a protection order, any supporting declarations or other materials,…

(1) Unless waived by the nonmoving party, service must be completed on the nonmoving party not less than five judicial days before the hearing date. If service cannot be made, the court shall set a new hearing date and shall either require an additional attempt at obtaining servi…

Courts and law enforcement agencies shall adopt rules, protocols, and pattern forms to standardize and implement best practices for service, including mechanisms and verification options for electronic service and electronic returns of service, as well as best practices for effic…

In hearings under this chapter, the following apply: (1) Hearings under this chapter are special proceedings. The procedures established under this chapter for protection order hearings supersede inconsistent civil court rules. Courts should evaluate the needs and procedures best…

(1) Hearings on protection orders, including hearings concerning temporary protection orders, full protection orders, compliance, reissuance, renewal, modification, or termination, may be conducted in person or remotely in order to enhance access for all parties. (2) In the court…

In proceedings where the petitioner is seeking a domestic violence protection order or an antiharassment protection order, the court may realign the designation of the parties as "petitioner" and "respondent" where the court finds that the original petitioner is the abuser or har…

For extreme risk protection order hearings, the following also apply. (1) The court may: (a) Examine under oath the petitioner, the respondent, and any witnesses they may produce, or, in lieu of examination, consider sworn declarations of the petitioner, the respondent, and any w…

For vulnerable adult protection order hearings, the following also apply. (1) When a petition for a vulnerable adult protection order is filed by someone other than the vulnerable adult or the vulnerable adult's guardian, conservator, or person acting under a protective arrangeme…

(1) The court shall issue a protection order if it finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the petitioner has proved the required criteria specified in (a) through (f) of this subsection for obtaining a protection order under this chapter. (a) For a domestic violence protec…

(1) Before ruling on an order under this chapter, the court shall consult the judicial information system to determine the criminal history, history of criminal victimization, history of being a respondent or petitioner in a protection order proceeding, or pendency of other proce…

For compliance hearings: (1) Only the respondent is required to appear if the court is reviewing compliance with any conditions of the order. The petitioner may appear at such hearing and provide evidence to the court regarding the respondent's compliance with the order. The peti…

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, or as provided through alternative sources including, but not limited to, grants, local funding, or pro bono means, the court may appoint counsel to represent the petitioner if the respondent is repres…

(1) Pursuant to chapter 2.42 RCW, in order to ensure that parties have meaningful access to the court, an interpreter shall be appointed for any party who is deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or has a speech impairment and cannot readily understand or communicate in spoken langu…

(1) Whether or not the petitioner has retained an attorney, a sexual assault or domestic violence advocate, as defined in RCW 5.60.060, shall be allowed to accompany the petitioner, or appear remotely with the petitioner, and confer with the petitioner during court proceedings. T…