§5.2 Text of Rule

• Jurisdiction: Washington

§5.2 TEXT OF RULE

RULE 5. SERVICE AND FILING OF PLEADINGS AND OTHER PAPERS

(a)Service - When Required. Except as otherwise provided in these rules, every order required by its terms to be served, every pleading subsequent to the original complaint unless the court otherwise orders because of numerous defendants, every paper relating to discovery required to be served upon a party unless the court otherwise orders, every written motion other than one which may be heard ex parte, and every written notice, appearance, demand, offer of judgment, designation of record on appeal, and similar paper shall be served upon each of the parties. No service need be made on parties in default for failure to appear except that pleadings asserting new or additional claims for relief against them shall be served upon them in the manner provided for service of summons in rule 4.

In an action begun by seizure of property, in which no person need be or is named as defendant, any service required to be made prior to the filing of an answer, claim, or appearance shall be made upon the person having custody or possession of the property at the time of its seizure.

(b)Service - How Made.

(1) On Attorney or Party. Whenever under these rules service is required or permitted to be made upon a party represented by an attorney the service shall be made upon the attorney unless service upon the party himself is ordered by the court. Service upon the attorney or upon a party shall be made by delivering a copy to him or by mailing it to him at his last known address or, if no address is known, filing with the clerk of the court an affidavit of attempt to serve. Delivery of a copy within this rule means: handing it to the attorney or to the party; or leaving it at his office with his clerk or other person in charge thereof; or, if there is no one in charge, leaving it in a conspicuous place therein; or, if the office is closed or the person to be served has no office, leaving it at his dwelling house or usual place of abode with some person of suitable age and discretion then residing therein. Service on an attorney is subject to the restrictions in subsections (b)(4) and (5) of this rule and in rule 71, Withdrawal by Attorneys.

(2) Service by Mail.

(A) How Made. If service is made by mail, the papers shall be deposited in the post office addressed to the person on whom they are being served, with the postage prepaid. The service shall be deemed complete upon the third day following the day upon which they are placed in the mail, unless the third day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, in which event service shall be deemed complete on the first day other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, following the third day.

(B) Proof of Service by Mail. Proof of service of all papers permitted to be mailed may be by written acknowledgment of service, by affidavit of the person who mailed the papers, or by certificate of an attorney. The certificate of an attorney may be in form substantially as follows:

CERTIFICATE

I certify that I mailed a copy of the foregoing to [John Smith], [plaintiff's] attorney, at [office address or residence], and to [Joseph Doe], an additional [defendant's] attorney [or attorneys] at [office address or residence], postage prepaid, on [date].

[John Brown]; Attorney for [Defendant] William Noe

(3) Service on Nonresidents. Where a plaintiff or defendant who has appeared resides outside the state and has no attorney in the action, the service may be made by mail if his residence is known; if not known, on the clerk of the court for him. Where a party, whether resident or nonresident, has an attorney in the action, the service of papers shall be upon the attorney instead of the party. If the attorney does not have an office within the state or has removed his residence from the state, the service may be upon him personally either within or without the state, or by mail to him at either his place of residence or his office, if either is known, and if not known, then by mail upon the party, if his residence is known, whether within or without the state. If the residence of neither the party nor his attorney, nor the office address of the attorney is known, an affidavit of the attempt to serve shall be filed with the clerk of the court.

(4) Service on Attorney Restricted After Final Judgment.
A party, rather than the party's attorney, must be served if the final judgment or decree has been entered and the time for filing an appeal has expired, or if an appeal has been taken (i) after the final judgment or decree upon remand has...