Seattle, Washington Process Servers

Two Washington rules to know before you file in Seattle

The 90-day rule. In Washington, a lawsuit counts as started when the complaint is filed or the summons is served, whichever comes first. If you file first, at least one defendant has to be personally served (or service by publication begun) within 90 days. If that doesn't happen, the action is treated as never started for statute of limitations purposes (RCW 4.16.170). When a claim is filed close to its limitations deadline, those 90 days are the real deadline.

Server registration. Anyone who serves process for a fee in Washington must be at least 18, a Washington resident, and registered with the auditor of the county where they live or have their main place of business (RCW 18.180.010). A Seattle process server is usually registered with the King County auditor. Civil Rule 4(c) allows service by any adult competent to be a witness who isn't a party (CR 4), but the fee-based work is for registered servers.

Ways to serve someone in Seattle

RCW 4.28.080 allows personal delivery, or leaving the papers at the defendant's home with a resident of suitable age and discretion. Leaving papers at a usual mailing address requires a follow-up mailing, and service is complete on the 10th day after (RCW 4.28.080). Washington doesn't have a general ban on serving process on holidays (RCW 2.28.100).

King County courts in Seattle

Seattle is the King County seat. Superior Court civil cases are filed with the Clerk in Room E609 (courthouse brochure):

King County Courthouse
516 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104

King County District Court hears civil cases up to $100,000 (RCW 3.66.020) and small claims up to $10,000 for an individual or $5,000 for a business (RCW 12.40.010). Small claims can be filed at any District Court location, by mail or online (District Court small claims). See how to serve small claims forms.

Suing the City of Seattle

To serve a city, RCW 4.28.080(2) names the mayor or city manager, or during normal office hours, the mayor's or city manager's designated agent. A federal court has held that leaving papers at the City Clerk's office did not serve individual city employees sued in their own names, so serve each individual defendant separately. City Hall offices, including the City Clerk, are at:

Seattle City Hall, City Clerk (3rd Floor)
600 Fourth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104

Check with the city who its designated agent is before sending a server.

Companies

Companies are served through their registered agent, listed with the Washington Secretary of State. Many Seattle companies name a national agent whose Washington office is elsewhere: CT Corporation and Cogency Global are in Olympia, and Corporate Creations and United Agent Group are in Spokane. Serve the agent at the address on the record. See what an agent for service of process is.

Bellevue, Redmond and Kent are separate cities across King County. More on state law is on our Washington process serving laws page. See also service of process deadlines and how much it costs to hire a process server.

This is a general summary, not legal advice.