Who may serve a summons and complaint in Washington?

The sheriff of the county where service occurs, the sheriff's deputy, or any other person over 18 years of age who is competent to be a witness in the action and is not a party, under Civil Rule 4(c). No license is required to serve, unless the server is paid a fee, in which case the server must register as a process server with the county auditor under RCW 18.180.010, unless exempt under RCW 18.180.010(2), such as a licensed private investigator, a court-appointed server, an attorney or the attorney's employee, or a government employee acting in that employment.

Can I serve my own summons in a Washington lawsuit?

No. Civil Rule 4(c) limits service of a summons to the sheriff, a sheriff's deputy, or a person over 18 who is not a party, so a plaintiff or defendant cannot serve their own summons. Someone else who meets the age and non-party requirement must do it.

Does Washington require a notarized affidavit to prove service?

Civil Rule 4(g) calls the proof an affidavit, but Washington's Uniform Unsworn Declarations Act, RCW chapter 5.50, lets the server sign an unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury instead, with the same effect as a sworn affidavit, so a notary is not required. A sheriff or deputy proves service with a return endorsed on or attached to the summons.

Is there an official Washington proof of service form?

No statewide mandatory proof-of-service form exists for a general civil case; Civil Rule 4(g) requires only the server's affidavit, stating the time, place, and manner of service, endorsed on or attached to the summons. If the court supplies or requires its own form, that court's form controls.

Do I have to register as a process server in Washington?

Only if the server is paid a fee. RCW 18.180.010 requires a fee-paid server, unless exempt under RCW 18.180.010(2), such as a licensed private investigator, a court-appointed server, an attorney or the attorney's employee, or a government employee acting in that employment, to be 18 or older, a Washington resident, and registered with the county auditor where the server resides or has a principal place of business, with the registration number and county on every proof of service signed (RCW 18.180.030). A friend or relative who serves without a fee never has to register.

How long do I have to serve a summons in Washington?

RCW 4.16.170 ties service timing to tolling the statute of limitations rather than to a fixed serve-or-dismiss deadline. If the complaint is filed first, the plaintiff has 90 days to serve; if service happens first, the plaintiff has 90 days to file the complaint. Missing that window does not by itself get the case dismissed, but the tolling benefit is lost.

Is there a deadline to file the proof of service in Washington?

No independent deadline. Civil Rule 4(g)(7) states that failing to make proof of service does not affect the validity of the service itself.

How do I prove service of a motion or other later paper in a Washington case?

Later papers are served under Civil Rule 5 on the opposing attorney or party. Proof may be a written acknowledgment of service, the mailer's affidavit, or a certificate signed by an attorney; unlike some states, Washington does not require the person who mails later papers to be a non-party, so an attorney in the case may sign the certificate directly.

Does this Washington proof of service cover federal court, service abroad, or a government defendant?

No. Service on the federal government, a foreign country, or under the Hague Service Convention, and service in federal court under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, follow separate rules not covered on this page.

Washington Proof of Service

Q: Is ordinary mail alone enough to serve a Washington summons?

No. Ordinary first-class mail alone does not serve a Washington summons. Mail completes service only when combined with another method: leaving a copy at the defendant's usual mailing address with a resident, proprietor, or agent there and then mailing a copy by first-class mail, complete on the 10th day after mailing (RCW 4.28.080(15)); or a court-ordered mailing as an alternative to publication under Civil Rule 4(d)(4).

Washington bars a party from serving their own summons, lets a non-party over 18 serve without a license, sets no statewide mandatory proof-of-service form for a general civil case, and lets the server sign an unsworn declaration instead of a notarized affidavit.

Find out where you stand in Washington

Where are you with service?

DocDraft provides document preparation, not legal advice.

Introduction

Washington bars a party from serving their own summons. Service may be made by the sheriff of the county where service occurs, the sheriff's deputy, or any other person over 18 who is competent to be a witness and is not a party, under Civil Rule 4(c); no license is required, but a server paid a fee must register with the county auditor (RCW 18.180.010) unless exempt under RCW 18.180.010(2). Washington has no statewide mandatory proof-of-service form for a general civil case; Civil Rule 4(g) requires only the server's affidavit, endorsed on or attached to the summons. The Uniform Unsworn Declarations Act, RCW chapter 5.50, lets the server sign an unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury instead. Service may be by personal delivery or at the usual abode under RCW 4.28.080(14); if diligence cannot reach the defendant that way, RCW 4.28.080(15) allows leaving a copy at the usual mailing address with a resident, proprietor, or agent there and mailing a copy by first-class mail, complete on the 10th day after mailing. Ordinary first-class mail alone does not serve a Washington summons. RCW 4.16.170 ties service timing to tolling the statute of limitations: file first and there are 90 days to serve, or serve first and there are 90 days to file; there is no deadline to file the proof, and Civil Rule 4(g)(7) says failing to file proof does not affect validity. Later papers are served under Civil Rule 5, complete on the 3rd day after mailing. Federal, foreign, and government service follow separate rules not covered here. Attorney review is available before you file.

Key Things to Know

1
Service of the summons and complaint may be made by the sheriff of the county where service occurs, the sheriff's deputy, or any other person over 18 years of age who is competent to be a witness and is not a party (Civil Rule 4(c)); a party may not serve their own summons. Washington has no statewide mandatory proof-of-service form for a general civil case, and Civil Rule 4(g) requires only the server's affidavit, endorsed on or attached to the summons.
2
Unless exempt under RCW 18.180.010(2), such as a licensed private investigator, a court-appointed server, an attorney or the attorney's employee, or a government employee acting in that employment, a server who is paid a fee must register as a process server with the county auditor where the server resides or has a principal place of business (RCW 18.180.010), renew within one year or within 10 days of a change in identifying information (RCW 18.180.020), and put the registration number and county of registration on every proof of service signed (RCW 18.180.030); a server who serves without a fee, such as a friend or relative, never has to register.
3
Civil Rule 4(g) calls the proof an affidavit, but Washington's Uniform Unsworn Declarations Act, RCW chapter 5.50, lets the server sign an unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury with the same effect as a sworn affidavit, so no notary is required; a sheriff or deputy instead proves service with a return endorsed on or attached to the summons.
4
Ordinary first-class mail alone does not serve a Washington summons. Mail completes service only combined with another method: leaving a copy at the defendant's usual mailing address with a resident, proprietor, or agent there and then mailing a copy by first-class mail, complete on the 10th day after mailing (RCW 4.28.080(15)); or, as an alternative to publication, mailed service under a court order (Civil Rule 4(d)(4)).
5
RCW 4.16.170 ties service timing to tolling the statute of limitations rather than to a fixed serve-or-dismiss deadline: if the complaint is filed first, there are 90 days to serve; if service happens first, there are 90 days to file the complaint. There is no independent deadline to file the proof of service, and Civil Rule 4(g)(7) states that failing to file proof does not affect the validity of service.
6
If personal delivery is not reasonably possible, the server may leave a copy of the summons at the defendant's usual abode with a person of suitable age and discretion who lives there, under RCW 4.28.080(14); this does not require prior court permission.
7
Later papers such as motions and notices are served under Civil Rule 5 on the opposing attorney or party; service by mail is complete on the 3rd day after mailing, and proof may be a written acknowledgment, the mailer's affidavit, or an attorney's certificate. Unlike some states, Washington does not require the person who mails later papers to be a non-party.

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Proof of Service in Washington, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Proof of Service guide walks through them.

Open the Proof of Service guide

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PROOF OF SERVICE

Washington has no statewide mandatory proof-of-service form for a general civil case. This document states the information Superior Court Civil Rule 4(g) requires. If the court supplies or requires its own proof-of-service form, that form controls instead.

[PLAINTIFF NAME], Plaintiff, v. [DEFENDANT NAME], Defendant.

SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR [COUNTY] COUNTY CASE NO. [CASE NUMBER]

I am over 18 years of age, competent to be a witness in this action, and not a party. [ ] I am the serving party, for service by court-ordered mail under Civil Rule 4(d)(4).

[IF APPLICABLE: I am a registered process server. My registration number is [REGISTRATION NUMBER] and my county of registration is [COUNTY OF REGISTRATION], as RCW 18.180.030 requires.]

I served copies of the following papers: [LIST OF PAPERS SERVED, INCLUDING THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT].
I served the papers on [NAME OF PERSON SERVED, AND TITLE OR CAPACITY IF SERVED ON BEHALF OF AN ENTITY].
Method of service (select one):

[ ] PERSONAL DELIVERY I delivered the papers personally to [NAME OF PERSON SERVED] on [DATE OF SERVICE] at [TIME OF SERVICE], at [ADDRESS], under RCW 4.28.080(14).

[ ] SUBSTITUTED SERVICE AT USUAL ABODE I left the papers on [DATE OF SERVICE] at [TIME OF SERVICE], at [ADDRESS OF DEFENDANT'S USUAL ABODE], with [NAME OF PERSON OF SUITABLE AGE AND DISCRETION RESIDENT THERE], who resides at that address, under RCW 4.28.080(14).

[ ] LEAVE AT MAILING ADDRESS PLUS MAIL Because the defendant could not with reasonable diligence be served as described above, I left the papers on [DATE LEFT] at [TIME LEFT], at [ADDRESS OF DEFENDANT'S USUAL MAILING ADDRESS, NOT A POST OFFICE BOX OR WORKPLACE], with [NAME OF RESIDENT, PROPRIETOR, OR AGENT AT THAT ADDRESS], and mailed a copy by first-class mail to that same address on [DATE OF MAILING], under RCW 4.28.080(15). Service is deemed complete on the 10th day after mailing.

[ ] COURT-ORDERED MAIL ALTERNATIVE TO PUBLICATION Under the order of [COURT] dated [DATE OF ORDER], I mailed two copies of the summons to [DEFENDANT'S LAST-KNOWN OR COURT-DETERMINED ADDRESS] on [DATE OF MAILING] at [TIME OF MAILING], at [PLACE OF MAILING]: one by ordinary first-class mail and one by [FORM OF MAIL WITH A SIGNED DELIVERY RECEIPT], in accordance with Civil Rule 4(d)(4) and the court's directions.

DECLARATION OF SERVER OTHER THAN THE SHERIFF OR A DEPUTY

I declare under penalty of perjury under the law of Washington that the foregoing is true and correct, as RCW chapter 5.50 provides.

Date: [DATE] Executed at [CITY AND STATE, IF EXECUTED IN WASHINGTON].

[SIGNATURE] [SERVER NAME] [SERVER ADDRESS]

[IF APPLICABLE: SHERIFF OR DEPUTY RETURN I am the sheriff, or a deputy of the sheriff, of [COUNTY] County, and I return that I served the papers as stated above.

[SIGNATURE] [NAME AND TITLE]]

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE OF LATER PAPERS

On [DATE], I served a copy of [TITLE OF LATER PAPER] on [NAME OF ATTORNEY OF RECORD, OR OF THE PARTY IF UNREPRESENTED] by [DELIVERING A COPY, MAILING A COPY TO THE LAST KNOWN ADDRESS, OR TRANSMITTING BY FAX OR ELECTRONIC MEANS WITH WRITTEN CONSENT OR AS AUTHORIZED BY LOCAL RULE], under Civil Rule 5. [IF APPLICABLE: Service was by mail; it is deemed complete on the 3rd day after mailing.]

[ ] I am an attorney of record in this action, and this is my certificate under Civil Rule 5(b)(2)(B). [ ] I mailed the paper, and this is my affidavit under Civil Rule 5(b)(2)(B).

I declare under penalty of perjury under the law of Washington that the foregoing is true and correct.

Date: [DATE] Executed at [CITY AND STATE, IF EXECUTED IN WASHINGTON].

[SIGNATURE] [SIGNER NAME]

Washington Requirements for Proof of Service

Sheriff, Deputy, or Non-Party Server Over 18
Service of the summons and complaint may be made by the sheriff of the county where service occurs, the sheriff's deputy, or any other person over 18 years of age who is competent to be a witness and is not a party; a party may not serve their own summons (Civil Rule 4(c)).
County Auditor Registration for Fee-Paid Servers
Unless exempt under RCW 18.180.010(2), such as a licensed private investigator, a court-appointed server, an attorney or the attorney's employee, or a government employee, a server who is paid a fee must register as a process server with the county auditor where the server resides or has a principal place of business, renew within one year or within 10 days of a change in identifying information, and put the registration number and county of registration on every proof of service signed (RCW 18.180.010, .020, .030).
No Mandatory Statewide General-Civil Proof of Service Form
Washington has no single statewide mandatory proof-of-service form for a general civil case. Civil Rule 4(g) requires only the server's affidavit, endorsed on or attached to the summons, stating the time, place, and manner of service.
Unsworn Declaration Instead of a Notarized Affidavit
Washington's Uniform Unsworn Declarations Act, RCW chapter 5.50, lets the server sign an unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury with the same effect as a sworn affidavit, so no notary is required for a proof of service.
Leave-at-Mailing-Address-Plus-Mail With 10-Day Completion
If the defendant cannot with reasonable diligence be served personally or at the usual abode, the server may leave a copy at the defendant's usual mailing address with a resident, proprietor, or agent there and mail a copy by first-class mail; service is deemed complete on the 10th day after mailing (RCW 4.28.080(15)).
Ordinary Mail Alone Does Not Serve a Summons
Ordinary first-class mail alone does not complete service of a summons. Mail completes service only combined with the leave-at-mailing-address method under RCW 4.28.080(15) or a court-ordered mailing as an alternative to publication under Civil Rule 4(d)(4).
90-Day Window Tied to Statute-of-Limitations Tolling
RCW 4.16.170 ties service timing to tolling the statute of limitations rather than a fixed serve-or-dismiss rule: if the complaint is filed first, there are 90 days to serve; if service happens first, there are 90 days to file the complaint, or the tolling benefit is lost.
No Deadline to File Proof of Service
Civil Rule 4(g)(7) states that failing to make proof of service does not affect the validity of the service itself, and Washington sets no independent deadline to file the proof.
Certificate of Service for Later Papers, Complete on the 3rd Day
Later papers such as motions are served under Civil Rule 5 and proved by written acknowledgment, the mailer's affidavit, or an attorney's certificate; service by mail is deemed complete on the 3rd day after mailing, and the mailer need not be a non-party.

Find out where you stand in Washington

Introduction

Key Things to Know

Key decisions before you file

Customize your Proof of Service Template with DocDraft

Washington Requirements for Proof of Service

Sheriff, Deputy, or Non-Party Server Over 18

County Auditor Registration for Fee-Paid Servers

No Mandatory Statewide General-Civil Proof of Service Form

Unsworn Declaration Instead of a Notarized Affidavit

Leave-at-Mailing-Address-Plus-Mail With 10-Day Completion

Ordinary Mail Alone Does Not Serve a Summons

90-Day Window Tied to Statute-of-Limitations Tolling

No Deadline to File Proof of Service

Certificate of Service for Later Papers, Complete on the 3rd Day

Frequently Asked Questions