Residential Unlawful Detainer Checklist

1. Proper Notices must be served □ personally or by □ posting + □ mailing by regular mail.
   Notice must state COMPLIANCE DATE per RCW 59.12.040.
   □ City of Tacoma or Seattle? Add tenant resource packet.
   □ Unincorporated King County? Add special language to notices
   □ City of Tacoma? Landlord must have BUSINESS LICENSE before notices served
   □ City of Seattle? Business license + inspection
   □ Property has federally-backed mortgage or tenant receives subsidy? Any pay/vacate
   notice must provide 30 DAYS to cure default in rent.
   See below for statutory causes for eviction.
2. Tenant does not cure or vacate:
   □ Complaint with Copy of Lease Agreement; Copy of Notices + Declarations of
   Service + copy of business license. If grounds for eviction is nonpayment of rent,
   Complaint must state amount of rent owing.
   □ Evictions Summons. “Summons must be issued as in other cases, returnable at a day
   designated there, which shall not be less than seven nor more than thirty days from
   the date of service…” (RCW 59.12.070)
   □ File complaint + summons
   □ Send out complaint, summons, case scheduling order, cover sheet to process server
   with instructions to attempt 3 times and then post.
   □ If service by posting, mail copies by regular and certified mail and note that the return
   date on summons must be at least 9 days before mailing.
3. Outside City of Tacoma/Seattle: If no answer or appearance after the return date on the
   summons, prepare and file ex parte the following default paperwork and Writ of Restitution
   if defendant has not moved out: (Do NOT Serve)
   □ Motion and Affidavit for Order of Default and Default Judgment
   □ Declaration of Non-Military Service
   □ Order of Default
   □ Default Judgment (note that if service of complaint was by posting/mailing, alternate
   means per RCW 59.18.055, you can’t get a money judgment)
   □ Motion & Affidavit for Writ of Restitution
   □ Order for Writ of Restitution
   □ File and Pay ex-parte filing fee
   □ File for Writ of Restitution on Linx and forward to Sheriff’s office.
4. Within City of Tacoma/Seattle OR if defendant appears or answers, prepare the following to
   file and serve on defendant:

□ Motion and Declaration of Order to Show Cause Re Writ of Restitution
□ Proposed Order to Show Cause Re Writ of Restitution containing proper zoom link
□ Note for Commissioner’s Calendar
□ File ex parte and pay fee
□ Serve Motion for order to show cause, Order to show cause and Note for motion
docket on tenant.

5. Documents to take to show cause hearing:
   □ Proposed Judgment / Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
   □ Proposed Order for Writ of Restitution
   □ Have Plaintiff or representative there to testify as to tenant’s nonpayment, service of
   notices, and continued possession of premises.
   □ File for Writ of Restitution on and forward to Sheriff’s office.