Local Civil Rule 94.04W
DOMESTIC RELATIONS
(a) Family Court.
(1) Jurisdiction. All cases filed under Title 26 RCW shall be transferred
to the Family Court for adjudication.
(2) Judicial Officers. Each of the judges and court commissioners of the
Benton and Franklin Counties Judicial District are designated as Judges of the
Family Court and Commissioners of the Family Court.
(3) Effective Dates. Sections (b) and (c), below, are effective and apply
to all cases pending on January 1, 1999 or filed on or after January 1, 1999
(b) Automatic Mutual Temporary Order.
(1) Contents. Upon the filing of a summons and petition in any action
subject to this rule, the court, on its own motion, shall automatically issue a
mutual temporary order that includes the following provisions unless
specifically otherwise ordered by the court:
(A) The parties are restrained from transferring, removing, encumbering,
concealing, or in any way disposing of any property except in the usual
course of business or for the immediate necessities of life or as agreed
upon in writing by the parties. Each party shall notify the other party of
any extraordinary expenditure made after the order is issued.
(B) The parties are restrained from assigning, transferring, borrowing,
lapsing, surrendering or changing entitlements of any insurance policies of
either or both parties, whether medical, health, life or auto insurance,
except as agreed in writing by the parties.
(C) Each party is immediately responsible for any debts he or she incurs after
the order is issued, whether by open account, credit card, loan, security
interest or mortgage, except as agreed in writing by the parties.
(D) Each party shall have access to all tax, financial, legal and household
records and reasonable access to such records shall not be denied.
(E) In every action in which children are involved:
(i) Each parent is restrained from changing the residence of thechild(ren)
until further order of the court, except as agreed in writing by the parties.
(ii) Each parent shall insure that the child(ren) not be exposed to negative
comments about the other parent.
(2) Effective Date. The petitioner is subject to the order from the time of
its entry upon filing of the summons and petition. The petitioner shall serve
a copy of the order on the respondent. The respondent is subject to the order
from the time that it is served. The order shall remain in effect until
further order of the court.
(c) Case Schedule . Except as otherwise provided in these rules or
ordered by the Court, when an initial pleading is filed and a new case file is
opened, the Court Administrator will prepare a case schedule and the Superior
Court Clerk will file the scheduling order (referred to in these rules as a
"Case Schedule") and will provide one copy to the party filing the initial pleading.
(d) Effective Date. This rule shall apply to all cases filed on or after September 1, 2010.
(f) Service of Case Schedule on Other Parties. The party filing the
initial pleading shall promptly provide a copy of the Case Schedule to all
other parties by (a) serving a copy of the Case Schedule on the other parties
along with the initial pleading, or (b) serving the Case Schedule on the other
parties within 10 days after the later filing of the initial pleading or
service of any response to the initial pleading, whether that response is a
notice of appearance or an answer.
(g) Amendment of Case Schedule. The Court, either on motion of a party or
on its own initiative, may modify the Case Schedule for good cause. The Court
shall freely grant a motion to amend the case schedule when justice so
requires. The motion shall include a proposed Amended Case Schedule. If a
Case Schedule is modified on the Court's own motion, the Court Administrator
will prepare and file the Amended Case Schedule and promptly mail it to all
parties. Parties may not amend a Case Schedule by stipulation without approval
of the Court.
(h) Form of Case Schedule.
(1) Case Schedule. A Case Schedule for each type of case, which will set
the time period between filing and trial and the scheduled events and deadlines
for that type of case, will be established by the Court by General Order, based
upon relevant factors, including statutory priorities, resources available to
the Court, case filings, and the interests of justice.
(2) Form. A Case Schedule will be in generally the following form:
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT FOR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
IN AND FOR BENTON AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES
)
)
) Case No.
Petitioner, )
) DOMESTIC CASE SCHEDULE
) ORDER
and )
) (ORSCS)
)
)
Respondent. )
I. SCHEDULE
(Week of _______)
1. Mandatory Status Conference 2 months
2. Assign GAL 4 months
3. Final Parenting Plan 4 months
4. Appraisal Report Due 4 months
5. Additional Discovery Pursuant to LCR 94.04W(j)(4)(A-H) 4 months
6. Additional Status Conference 4 months
7. Mediation (with or without children) 6 months
8. GAL Report Due 6 months
9. Additional Discovery 6-1/2 months
10. Written Settlement Proposal (Petitioner) 1 week (Prior to STLCON)
11. Written Settlement Proposal (Respondent) 2 days (Prior to STLCON)
12. Settlement/Pretrial Conference 7-1/2 months
13. Trial Date 9 months
II. ORDER
IT IS ORDERED that all parties comply with the foregoing schedule.
Dated this_______day of_______________, _________.
_______________________________________
SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE/COMMISSIONER
(i) Mandatory Status Conference.
(1) Scheduling. All dissolution actions shall be scheduled for a status
conference to occur within 60 days of filing. The petitioner or joint
petitioners shall note the dissolution action for status conference by serving
notice of the conference with the original service of process or by timely
service in the manner required for service and filing of pleadings and other
papers pursuant to Civil Rule 5. The Notice of Status Conference will advise
the respondent and the clerk of the date, time, and place of the status
conference. Attendance by all counsel and parties to the action is mandatory
absent any compelling reasons determined by the judicial officer. See
Cancellation/Confirmation of Status Conference form LCR 94.04W(j).
(2) Preparation. At the status conference, both parties shall be present
and shall be prepared to advise the court of the nature of all disputed issues,
of the need for temporary orders, of the need for investigation by
professionals, of allegations of domestic violence and/or child abuse and of
any other issues affecting the timely disposition of the dissolution action.
(3) Financial Declarations. At the status conference all parties shall
file and serve a financial declaration in the form prescribed by the Office of
the Administrator for the Courts together with the following documents:
(A) Support Worksheets. If child support is an issue, Washington State
Child Support Worksheets (ALL PAGES), signed by the submitting party;
(B) Tax Returns. Complete tax returns for the past two calendar years
together with all schedules and W-2 forms;
(C) Partnership and Corporate Tax Returns. Complete partnership and/or
corporate tax returns for the past two years together with all schedules and
attachments for all partnerships and corporations in which a party has had an
interest of five percent or greater.
(D) Pay Stubs. All pay stubs showing income for the past six months or
since January 1 of the Calendar year, whichever period is greater.
(3) Scheduling Order. At the initial status conference the Court shall review
with the parties the nature of the issues in dispute and execute a scheduling order,
which, except for good cause shown, shall set a settlement conference within
165 days of the status conference and a trial date within 45 days of the
settlement conference.
(4) Guardian ad Litem. The guardian ad litem intake packet shall be
completed and submitted to the court at the initial status conference.
(6) Mediation. At the time of the initial status conference, or before a
settlement conference, all disputed issues shall be submitted to mandatory
mediation. All disputed child custody and visitation issues shall be submitted
to mandatory mediation pursuant to LCR 94.06W. Mediation shall be completed
(30) days prior to settlement conference.
(7) Evaluations. The court may for good cause order a custody or
parenting evaluation, mental health evaluation, alcohol or drug evaluation,
mediation, treatment, counseling, and/or physical examination. The Court will
determine the need for appointment of professionals and direct either or both
parties to pay for services deemed necessary.
The issue of costs shall be addressed in the order requiring said services and
shall contain an hourly rate and maximum payment if costs are to be at public expense.
(4) Business Valuations. If the value of the community interest in a business
or professional practice is in dispute, the court shall appoint an appraiser to
report to the court and the parties on the value of the business or
professional practice. The parties may agree upon an appraiser to be appointed
by the court. If the parties are unable to agree, each party shall, at the
status conference, designate a valuation expert, and the experts so designated
shall, within ten days following the status conference, recommend to the court
a valuation expert to be appointed as an appraiser by the court.
(j) Mandatory Settlement and Pretrial Conferences.
(1) Combined Settlement and Pretrial Conferences. A combined settlement
and pretrial conference shall be held in all contested domestic relations
cases. The purpose of the conference is to explore settlement of all issues
and to identify disputed issues. Parties are not bound by the settlement
recommendations of the Court, but are required to attend and participate.
Attendance by all counsel and parties is mandatory. Failure to appear at the
settlement conference, without prior permission of the court, shall constitute
and act of default. The present party may move for default pursuant to CR 55.
Failure to appear in accordance with the rule shall result in sanctions on the
party failing to appear.
(2) Discovery; Filing Position Statements. All discovery shall be
completed thirty (30) days prior to the settlement conference. Petitioner
shall prepare his or her position statement and mail or deliver the same to
respondent and the court administrator seven (7) days prior to the settlement
conference. No fax copies will be accepted by the court. Respondent shall
file with the court administrator and serve his or her position statement, in
the same format as the petitioner, incorporating the petitioner's data, and
mail or deliver the same to the petitioner and the court administrator two (2)
days prior to the settlement conference. Position statements shall not be
filed in the court file. Failure to file position statements in accordance
with the rule shall result in sanctions on the party not submitting the
position statement.
(3) Position Statements.
(A) Form. Position statements for the purpose of the settlement conference
shall be substantially in the form maintained by the Court Administrator's
Office. The position statement will indicate the proposed disposition of
assets and liabilities, proposed spousal maintenance, and residential placement
of children, as applicable. The position statement shall not be used for any
purpose at trial, unless otherwise agreed by the parties.
(B) Asset/Liability List. If distribution of assets or liabilities is an
issue, each party shall file and serve a list of assets and liabilities known
to the party, together with the position statement, and shall indicate the
party's good faith opinion as to the fair market value of any asset as of the
date of separation. The parties may also indicate the current fair market
value if there is a significant difference. The list shall be signed by the
party under penalty of perjury. This list may be used at trial, subject to the
rules of evidence.
(C ) Needs/Abilities Statement. If spousal maintenance or attorney's
fees is at issue, each party shall file and serve a statement containing a list
of all income and assets, including any retirement benefits, together with a
list of current monthly living expenses and liabilities. The information
regarding liabilities shall indicate the total amount owed as of the date of
separation, the amount the party has paid on the debt(s) since the date of
separation, and the monthly payment on the debt(s). The statement shall also
include information concerning the needs and abilities of the party, including
age, education, work experience, and mental and physical health. This statement
shall be signed by the party under penalty of perjury. This statement may be
used at trial, subject to the rules of evidence.
(D) At the time of the settlement conference or before, all exhibits
intended to be used at trial will be disclosed and a copy provided to the
opposing party.
(E) Pretrial Statement. At the conclusion of the settlement conference, if
the case is not then settled, the parties shall complete a Joint Pretrial
Statement, in the form maintained by the Court Administrator's Office. Both
parties and attorneys shall sign the Joint Pretrial Statement.
(4) Discovery Required. In addition to discovery required under 94.04 W(i)(3)(A-D),
the parties are required to file and exchange, as appropriate, the following documents
no later than the discovery cut-off date:
(A) A copy of the most recent statement of balances due on mortgages, real
estate purchase contracts, deeds of trust, installment purchase contracts, and
time payment accounts owed by or to the parties;
(B) The most recent employers' ERISA statement, and a statement of
contribution since that statement, of any pension plan of either party;
(C) A written appraisal of any real estate, antiques, jewelry, or other
items of special, unusual, or extraordinary value or a summary of the evidence
which will be relied upon;
(D) A verified extract or copy of the most recent N.A.D.A. Official Used Car
Guide or Appraisal Guide showing both average loan and wholesale and retail
values for any automobiles.
(E) A summary of the source and tracing of any property asserted to be the
separate property or obligation of either party.
(F) A statement from each life insurance company issuing a policy of insurance
on the life of either party as to its cash value and any loans on the cash value.
(G) A written appraisal of any proprietorship, partnership, or closely held
corporation of the parties, or a summary of the evidence which will be relied upon.
(H) Expert witnesses shall be disclosed at or before the pretrial conference.
(k) Entry of Decree.
(1) Non-contested Calendar. The clerk shall not place any dissolution case
on the non-contested calendar unless proof is filed that summons was served
more than ninety (90) days before the date selected for hearing and that the
case has been on file more than ninety (90) days.
(2) Time of Presenting Documents for Signature. At the time of hearing of a
non-contested dissolution case, the necessary documents to be signed must be
presented to the Court for signature. If signed, they shall be filed with the
clerk forthwith. For good cause shown, the Court may extend the time for
presentation.
(3) Disposition of Issues. No decree of dissolution shall be entered unless
the decree disposes of all issues over which the Court has jurisdiction.
(l) Copy of Decree to be Delivered. In default dissolution cases, at the
time of filing the decree, the attorney for the prevailing party shall immediately
deliver to his or her client and deliver to or mail to the other party, at his or
her address, if known, or to his or her attorney, a conformed copy of the decree
with the date of filing the original indicated on each copy so delivered or
mailed. The decree shall be filed forthwith upon granting the dissolution.
(m) Orders Pendente Lite. Ex parte orders in domestic relations
matters which restrain one party from the family home or from contact with the
other party or children shall not be entered unless the Court finds (and the
order provides) that irreparable injury could result if the order is not
entered. No ex parte orders shall be issued changing the custody of minor
children without a clear showing of present danger to a child (children) and/or
that the custodial person will, unless custody change is immediate, remove the
said child (children) from the State of Washington. The attorney presenting
the order shall specifically advise the Court that the order presented contains
such a provision.
(n) Modification of Divorce Decree - Re: Support. If a petition to
modify any order, judgment or decree is with regard only to support of minor
children, then it shall be heard upon affidavit only, which shall concern
change of circumstances and other appropriate matters, unless the petitioner
therein has obtained leave of Court to hear said matter upon oral testimony, in
which event the notice of hearing shall so provide. The respondent, prior to
the return date, may obtain leave of Court to present oral testimony.
(o) Actions for Modification of Custody. A motion for modification of
the custody provisions of a decree of dissolution or other custody decree shall
be brought on by noting the adequate cause hearing required by RCW 26.09.270 on
the motion calendar. The notice shall inform the other party of the time and
place of hearing, the right of the other party to file opposing affidavits, and
that the Court will take the following action:
(A) If adequate cause for hearing is not established by the affidavits, the
motion for modification of the custody decree will be denied.
(B) If adequate cause for hearing is established by the affidavits, an order
will be issued fixing a trial date and requiring the other party to show cause
why the motion for modification should not be granted.
(C) If venue or jurisdiction is an issue, either party may apply to the
Presiding Judge for an expedited hearing on this issue, which shall be heard
promptly prior to a hearing on the merits.
(2) Motions for Temporary Custody. Except with respect to pending actions
for dissolution, legal separation, or a decree of invalidity, motions for
temporary custody will not be heard until adequate cause has been established.
Once adequate cause is established, the Court may proceed immediately to the
hearing of the motion for temporary custody or continue the same, as justice
requires.
(3) Actions for Modification of Visitation. Actions to clarify or change
established visitation rights shall not require an adequate cause hearing.
(p)Cancellation/Confirmation of Status Conference. The following form is
to be used for Cancellation/Confirmation of Status Conference.
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
IN AND FOR BENTON AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES
IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF:
)
Petitioner ) Case No.
)
V. ) CANCELLATION/CONFIRMATION
) OF STATUS CONFERENCE
)
Respondent )
I. CANCELLATION
[ ] The parties make the following joint representations and hereby cancel the
scheduled
Status Conference:
1. All parties have been served or have signed an acceptance of service
2. All mandatory pleadings and financial information have been filed.
3. All parenting seminars have been completed (certificates attached)
4. No unresolved issues remain for the court's intervention .
5. This matter has been placed on the uncontested domestic docket for entry
of final documents. (Note for Docket attached)
6. All parties have cooperated in completing this report. All proposed agreed
final orders are attached hereto.
II. CONFIRMATION
[ ] The parties are unable to make the foregoing joint representation and require
a status conference, as explained below:
IF THE ABOVE BOX IS CHECKED, THERE WILL BE A STATUS CONFERENCE, AS NOTED IN
THE CASE SCHEDULE, AT WHICH ALL PARTIES AND THEIR ATTORNEYS MUST APPEAR.
[ ] A party remains to be served.
[ ] One or more parties have failed to attend the mandatory parenting seminar.
[ ] Unresolved issues remain for court intervention.
[ ] A party has refused to cooperate in this action.
[ ] Other explanation:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
In order to obtain the Court's direction in the matters described above,
the parties will appear at a status conference, the date of which, as stated
in the Case Schedule, is:
_____________________________________________________________________________
PETITION OR PETITIONER'S ATTORNEY
DATED: _____________ SIGNED: ______________________________________________
Typed Name: ________________________________ WSBA #: ______________________
Address: ______________________________________________
Phone: ______________________________________________
Attorney for: ______________________________________________
RESPONSDENT OR RESPONDENT'S ATTORNEY
DATED: _____________ SIGNED: ______________________________________________
Typed Name: ________________________________ WSBA #: ______________________
Address: ______________________________________________
Phone: ______________________________________________
Attorney for: ______________________________________________
[Adopted effective April 1, 1986; Amended effective September 1, 1998; September 1, 1999;
September 1, 2001; September 1, 2003; September 1, 2005, September 1, 2007,
September 1, 2009, September 1, 2010, September 1, 2011, September 1, 2012]
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