Family Law Exhibits in Washington
Complete guide to preparing family law exhibits that comply with Washington court requirements. Learn the correct labeling conventions, exchange deadlines, and e-filing procedures.
- Washington's primary rule governing exhibit preparation is CR 16.
- Plaintiffs in Washington label exhibits with Numbers (1, 2, 3...).
- Defendants in Washington label exhibits with Numbers with prefix (D-1, D-2...).
- Washington courts require electronic exhibits to be filed through County-specific — no statewide system.
- Exhibits must be exchanged with opposing counsel 14 days before trial (CR 16) under CR 16.
- Common family law exhibits in Washington include financial declarations, tax returns, property documents.
- ExhibitPrep applies Washington exhibit stamps entirely in the browser, so family law case files never leave the user's computer.
Washington Exhibit Requirements at a Glance
| Plaintiff Exhibits | Numbers (1, 2, 3...) |
| Defendant Exhibits | Numbers with prefix (D-1, D-2...) |
| Exchange Deadline | 14 days before trial (CR 16) |
| Primary Rule | CR 16 |
| E-Filing System | County-specific — no statewide system |
Common Family Law Exhibits
Financial Declarations
Income and expense declarations, asset schedules. For Washington e-filing on County-specific — no statewide system, confirm the current file-size cap (Varies by county — confirm with the clerk) before uploading.
Tax Returns
Personal and business returns for relevant years
Property Documents
Deeds, appraisals, mortgage statements
Bank Statements
Account statements showing assets and transactions
Parenting Evidence
School records, medical records, communications
Business Valuations
Professional valuations of business interests
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Washington-Specific Considerations
- Washington is a community property state under RCW 26.09.080, so courts divide marital assets "justly and equitably" rather than assuming an even split
- A parenting plan is mandatory in every case involving minor children under RCW 26.09.181, filed as its own exhibit separate from the financial declaration
- Child support follows the statewide schedule in RCW 26.19, driven by combined parental income rather than either parent's income alone
- King County's Family Law Local Rules set financial-declaration deadlines ahead of the statewide CR 16 default, so confirm county-specific timing before relying on the general rule
How to Prepare Your Exhibits
Gather Your Documents
Collect all documents relevant to your family law case. This typically includes financial declarations, tax returns, property documents, and other supporting evidence.
Convert to PDF
Convert all documents to PDF format. Washington courts require electronic exhibits to be filed via County-specific — no statewide system. Scan paper documents at 300 DPI.
Apply Exhibit Labels
Use ExhibitPrep to add Washington-compliant exhibit stamps. Plaintiffs use Numbers (1, 2, 3...), defendants use Numbers with prefix (D-1, D-2...).
Exchange with Opposing Counsel
Exchange your exhibit list and copies with opposing counsel 14 days before trial (CR 16) per CR 16.
Save Hours on Exhibit Preparation
ExhibitPrep stamps all your family law exhibits in minutes, not hours. Upload your documents, select the correct Washington template, and download court-ready exhibits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Washington label exhibits in a dissolution case?
Petitioner's exhibits use plain numbers (1, 2, 3...) and respondent's exhibits carry a D-prefix (D-1, D-2, D-3...) under Washington's Superior Court Civil Rules. King County and most other counties follow this convention, though check your assigned judge's case schedule order since some courts issue their own exhibit-numbering instructions.
Is Washington a community property state, and how does that affect exhibits?
Yes — under RCW 26.09.080, courts divide marital property "justly and equitably," which in practice usually lands close to equal, but the court still weighs each asset's character as separate or community property. That makes property-tracing exhibits — deeds, account statements showing separate funds, inheritance records — some of the most contested evidence in a Washington divorce.
Do I need a parenting plan exhibit even if custody isn't contested?
Yes. RCW 26.09.181 requires a parenting plan in every case involving minor children, contested or not, and it's filed as a distinct document separate from the financial declaration. Uncontested cases still need a signed, court-ready parenting plan exhibit before a judge will finalize the decree.
What's the exhibit exchange deadline in a Washington family law case?
Washington sets exchange 14 days before trial under CR 16, though many counties' local family law rules shorten that window for temporary hearings. King County's Family Law Local Rules, for example, require financial declarations well before the CR 16 default, so check your county's local rules rather than relying on the statewide default alone.
Can opposing counsel object to a document I never formally offered as an exhibit?
Washington's Evidence Rule 904 lets you admit certain documents — medical records, bills, and similar business records — without live testimony if you give opposing counsel 30 days' notice and they don't object within 14 days. That's a meaningful shortcut in family law cases with voluminous financial records, since it avoids calling a records custodian just to authenticate a bank statement.
Related Resources
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ExhibitPrep provides general information about court exhibit practices, not legal advice. Requirements change — verify current rules with your court or clerk before filing.