Title 6 — Title 6 ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS

Except as otherwise expressly provided, the provisions of this chapter and of chapters 6.13, 6.15, 6.17, 6.19, 6.21, 6.25, 6.26, and 6.27 RCW and chapter 6.32 RCW apply to both the superior courts and district courts of this state. If proceedings are before a district court, acts…

For purposes of this title and RCW 4.56.190 and 4.56.210, a judgment of a superior court is entered when it is delivered to the clerk's office for filing. A judgment of a district court of this state is entered on the date of the entry of the judgment in the docket of the court. …

If the sheriff is a party or otherwise interested in an action in which a writ of execution, attachment, or replevin is to be served, the writ shall be directed to the coroner of the county, or the officer exercising the powers and performing the duties of coroner if there is no …

(1) When property liable to an execution against several persons is sold on execution, if more than a due proportion of the judgment is levied upon the property of one person, or one of them pays without a sale more than his or her due proportion, that person may compel contribut…

If, before levying under a writ of attachment or execution, a sheriff receives notice that the defendant has become a debtor in a bankruptcy case, the sheriff shall immediately give written notice of that fact to the plaintiff's attorney of record, if any, otherwise to the plaint…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this title unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Certified mail" includes, for mailings to a foreign country, any form of mail that requires or permits a return receipt.(2) "Consumer debt" means any obligation or alleg…

(1) The homestead consists of real or personal property that the owner or a dependent of the owner uses as a residence. In the case of a dwelling house or mobile home, the homestead consists of the dwelling house or the mobile home in which the owner resides or intends to reside,…

If the owner is married or in a state registered domestic partnership, the homestead may consist of the community or jointly owned property of the spouses or the domestic partners or the separate property of either spouse or either domestic partner: PROVIDED, That the same premis…

(1) The homestead exemption amount is the greater of:(a) $125,000;(b) The county median sale price of a single-family home in the preceding calendar year; or(c) Where the homestead is subject to execution, attachment, or seizure by or under any legal process whatever to satisfy a…

(1) Property described in RCW 6.13.010 constitutes a homestead and is automatically protected by the exemption described in RCW 6.13.070 from and after the time the real or personal property is occupied as a principal residence by the owner or, if the homestead is unimproved or i…

A homestead is presumed abandoned if the owner vacates the property for a continuous period of at least six months. However, if an owner is going to be absent from the homestead for more than six months but does not intend to abandon the homestead, and has no other principal resi…

The homestead of a spouse or domestic partner cannot be conveyed or encumbered unless the instrument by which it is conveyed or encumbered is executed and acknowledged by both spouses or both domestic partners, except that either spouse or both or either domestic partner or both …

(1) Except as provided in RCW 6.13.080, the homestead is exempt from attachment and from execution or forced sale for the debts of the owner up to the amount specified in RCW 6.13.030.(2) In a bankruptcy case, the debtor's exemption shall be determined on the date the bankruptcy …

The homestead exemption is not available against an execution or forced sale in satisfaction of judgments obtained:(1) On debts secured by mechanic's, laborer's, construction, maritime, automobile repair, material supplier's, or vendor's liens arising out of and against the parti…

A judgment against the owner of a homestead shall become a lien on the value of the homestead property in excess of the homestead exemption from the time the judgment creditor records the judgment with the recording officer of the county where the property is located. However, if…

When execution for the enforcement of a judgment obtained in a case not within the classes enumerated in RCW 6.13.080 is levied upon the homestead, the judgment creditor shall apply to the superior court of the county in which the homestead is situated for the appointment of a pe…

The application under RCW 6.13.100 must be made by filing a verified petition, showing:(1) The fact that an execution has been levied upon the homestead.(2) The name of the owner of the homestead property.(3) That the net value of the homestead exceeds the amount of the homestead…

A copy of the petition, with a notice of the time and place of hearing, must be served upon the owner and the owner's attorney of record, if any, at least ten days before the hearing.[ 1987 c 442 s 212; 1981 c 329 s 16; 1895 c 64 s 12; RRS s 540. Formerly RCW 6.12.170.]Notes:Seve…

At the hearing, the judge may, upon the proof of the service of a copy of the petition and notice and of the facts stated in the petition, appoint a disinterested qualified person of the county to appraise the value of the homestead.[ 1987 c 442 s 213; 1984 c 118 s 1; 1895 c 64 s…

The person appointed, before entering upon the performance of duties, must take an oath to faithfully perform the same. The appraiser must view the premises and appraise the market value thereof and, if the appraised value, less all liens and encumbrances, exceeds the homestead e…

If, from the report, it appears to the court that the value of the homestead, less liens and encumbrances senior to the judgment being executed upon and not including the judgment being executed upon, exceeds the homestead exemption and the property can be divided without materia…

If, from the report, it appears to the court that the appraised value of the homestead property, less liens and encumbrances senior to the judgment being executed upon and not including the judgment being executed upon, exceeds the amount of the homestead exemption and the proper…

If the sale is made, the proceeds must be applied in the following order: First, to the amount of the homestead exemption, to be paid to the judgment debtor; second, up to the amount of the execution, to be applied to the satisfaction of the execution; third, the balance to be pa…

The money paid to the owner is entitled to the same protection against legal process and the voluntary disposition of the other spouse or other domestic partner which the law gives to the homestead.[ 2008 c 6 s 636; 1987 c 442 s 218; 1981 c 329 s 20; 1973 1st ex.s. c 154 s 10; 18…

The court shall determine a reasonable compensation for the appraiser.[ 1987 c 442 s 219; 1984 c 118 s 2; 1895 c 64 s 22; RRS s 550. Formerly RCW 6.12.270.]

The execution creditor must pay the costs of these proceedings in the first instance; but in the cases provided for in RCW 6.13.150 and 6.13.160 the amount so paid must be added as costs on execution, and collected accordingly.[ 1987 c 442 s 220; 1895 c 64 s 23; RRS s 551. Former…

In case of a homestead, if either spouse or either domestic partner shall be or become incompetent or disabled to such a degree that he or she is unable to assist in the management of his or her interest in the property of the marriage or domestic partnership and no guardian has …

Notice of the application for such order shall be given by publication of the same in a newspaper published in the county in which such homestead is situated, if there be a newspaper published therein, once each week for three successive weeks prior to the hearing of such applica…

Thirty days before the hearing of any application under the provisions of this chapter, the applicant shall present and file in the court in which such application is to be heard a petition for the order mentioned, subscribed and sworn to by the applicant, setting forth the name …

If the court shall make the order provided for in RCW 6.13.210, the same shall be entered upon the minutes of the court, and thereafter any sale, conveyance, or mortgage made in pursuance of such order shall be as valid and effectual as if the property affected thereby was the ab…

(1) Except as provided in RCW 6.15.050, the following personal property is exempt from execution, attachment, and garnishment:(a) All wearing apparel of every individual and family, but not to exceed $3,500 in value in furs, jewelry, and personal ornaments for any individual.(b) …

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2034-S2.SL) ****** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6346-S.SL) ***(1) It is the policy of the state of Washington to ensure the well-being of its citizens by protecting retirement income to which they are or may become entitled. For that purpose generally and p…

Where a judgment is in favor of any state for failure to pay that state's income tax on benefits received while a resident of the state of Washington from a pension or other retirement plan, all property in this state, real or personal, tangible or intangible, of a judgment debto…

If property, which by the laws of this state is exempt from execution, attachment, or garnishment, is insured and the same is lost, stolen, or destroyed, then the insurance money coming to or belonging to the person thus insured, to an amount equal to the exempt property thus des…

All real and personal property belonging to any married person at the time of his or her marriage, and all which he or she may have acquired subsequently to such marriage, or to which he or she shall hereafter become entitled in his or her own right, and all his or her personal e…

(1) Wages, salary, or other compensation regularly paid for personal services rendered by the debtor claiming the exemption shall not be claimed as exempt under RCW 6.15.010, but the same may be claimed as exempt in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding to the same extent as al…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, property claimed exempt under RCW 6.15.010 shall be selected by the individual entitled to the exemption, or by the husband or wife entitled to a community exemption, in the manner described in subsection (3) of this secti…

If from an appraisal it appears that the value of the property claimed exempt, exclusive of liens and encumbrances, exceeds the exemptible value and the property is indivisible, the property shall be put up for sale on execution, but at the sale no bid may be received unless it e…

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 …

Unless otherwise expressly provided, all provisions of this chapter governing execution against personal property apply to proceedings before district courts of this state, but the district courts shall not have power to issue writs of execution against real property or any inter…

(1) Except as provided in subsections (2), (3), and (4) of this section, the party in whose favor a judgment of a court has been or may be filed or rendered, or the assignee or the current holder thereof, may have an execution, garnishment, or other legal process issued for the c…

When a judgment recovered in any court of this state has been assigned, execution may issue in the name of the assignee after the assignment has been recorded in the execution docket by the clerk of the court in which the judgment was recovered. When the person in whose name exec…

In addition to any stay of execution provided by court rule, stay of execution shall be allowed on judgments of the courts of this state for the following periods upon the judgment debtor filing with the clerk of the court in which the judgment was entered a bond in double the am…

If execution of a judgment is stayed as permitted by RCW 6.17.040 and the judgment is not satisfied at expiration of the stay period, at any time thereafter the judgment creditor may, upon motion supported by an affidavit that the judgment or any part of it is unpaid and stating …

There shall be three kinds of executions: First, against the property of the judgment debtor; second, for the delivery of the possession of real or personal property or such delivery with damages for withholding the same; and third, commanding the enforcement of or obedience to a…

When any judgment of a court of this state requires the payment of money or the delivery of real or personal property, it may be enforced by execution. When a judgment of a court of record requires the performance of any other act, a certified copy of the judgment may be served o…

No execution may issue for collection of a judgment for the recovery of money or damages against a local governmental entity. Any such judgment may be enforced as follows:(1) The judgment creditor may at any time when execution might issue on a like judgment against a private per…

All property, real and personal, of the judgment debtor that is not exempted by law is liable to execution.[ 1987 c 442 s 409; 1929 c 25 s 6; RRS s 518. Prior: Code 1881 s 333; 1877 p 70 s 337; 1854 p 177 s 251. Formerly RCW 6.04.060.]

(1) Before a writ of execution may issue on any real property, the judgment creditor must file with the court an affidavit as described in subsection (4) of this section and must mail a copy of the affidavit to the judgment debtor at the debtor's last known address.(2) If the aff…

(1) The writ of execution shall be issued in the name of the state of Washington, sealed with the seal of the court, and subscribed by the clerk of the court in which the judgment was entered or to which it has been transferred, and shall be directed to the sheriff of the county …