Washington
Washington: statutes read at the official source for people acting for themselves, each with its citation and the date it was read.
Acting for yourself
Unlawful practice a crime
RCW 2.48.180 · app.leg.wa.gov · read 2026-08-19 · official source
Renting and landlord-tenant
security deposit, return deadline
Within 30 days after the termination of the rental agreement and vacation of the premises or, if the tenant abandons the premises as defined in RCW 59.18.310, within 30 days after the landlord learns of the abandonment, the landlord shall give a full and specific statement of the basis for retaining any of the deposit
Rev. Code Wash. § 59.18.280(1)(a) · read 2026-08-21 · official source
Not verified for Washington: Month-to-month notice (RCW 59.18.200), the 14-day pay-or-vacate notice (RCW 59.18.057), the self-help ban (RCW 59.18.290) and the unlawful detainer action (ch. 59.12) were not fetched.
Small claims
The court that hears these in Washington is the Small claims department of the district court.
$10,000
DIFFERENT LIMITS BY PARTY TYPE: $10,000 in cases brought by a natural person; $5,000 in all other cases. Statute defines 'natural person' as a human being.
In every district court there shall be created and organized by the court a department to be known as the "small claims department of the district court." The small claims department shall have jurisdiction, but not exclusive, in cases for the recovery of money only if the amount claimed does not exceed: (a) Ten thousand dollars in cases brought by a natural person; or (b) Five thousand dollars in all other cases.
Wash. Rev. Code § 12.40.010(1) · read 2026-08-21 · official source
Lawyers in small claims
No attorney-at-law, legal paraprofessional, nor any person other than the plaintiff and defendant, shall appear or participate with the prosecution or defense of litigation in the small claims department without the consent of the judicial officer hearing the case. A corporation may not be represented by an attorney-at-law or legal paraprofessional except as set forth in RCW 12.40.025.
Wash. Rev. Code § 12.40.080(1) · read 2026-08-21 · official source
Washington publishes its own self-help pages
Not verified: RCW 12.40.025 (corporate representation exception) not read.
How long you have to bring a claim
| Kind of claim | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|
| written contract | 6 years | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.040(1) · read 2026-08-21 |
| oral contract | 3 years | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(3) · read 2026-08-21 |
| personal injury | 3 years | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(2) · read 2026-08-21 |
| property damage | 3 years | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(1), (2) · read 2026-08-21 |
| debt collection on an account | 6 years | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.040(2) · read 2026-08-21 |
Limitation periods have exceptions: when the clock starts (accrual), tolling, discovery rules, and claims against government bodies often differ. These entries record the general period as the statute states it, on the date read. They are not a calculation of any particular deadline.
Not verified: Wage claims not read.
What this page is, and is not
Everything above was read at the source named next to it, on the date named next to it. Nothing is summarised from memory and nothing is carried over from a neighbouring state. Statutes are amended, so read the source before relying on it.
This is general legal information about Washington. It is not advice about your situation, and it is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.