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Washington Court Guide
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Washington Court Exhibit Requirements

Master Washington exhibit requirements under King County LCR 4(j) and the powerful ER 904 authentication provision for Superior Courts across the Evergreen State.

Washington exhibit facts at a glance
  • King County Local Civil Rule 4(j) requires exchange of exhibit lists 21 days before trial, listing all witnesses and exhibits expected to be offered (except impeachment materials).
  • Washington Evidence Rule 904 admits documents without live authenticating testimony when served 30 days before trial with numbered copies and an index, and no objection is filed within 14 days.
  • In King County, the Joint Statement of Evidence is due 5 judicial days before trial, listing stipulated exhibits and identifying any disputed authenticity issues.
  • King County e-filing uses the KC Script Portal with a 25 MB per-document cap and a $50 paper-handling fee for non-electronic filings.
  • Pierce County uses the LINX track-based scheduling system; Snohomish County uses the eFile & Serve platform.
  • Washington courts commonly use joint sequential numbering (1, 2, 3) for all parties; some courts use party prefixes such as P-1 for plaintiff and D-1 for defendant — verify with the case management order.
  • Civil Rule 26 governs general discovery and Civil Rule 16 governs pretrial conferences and scheduling orders in Washington Superior Courts.
  • Spokane County Superior Court is the largest court in Eastern Washington and follows local procedures separate from King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties.

Key Deadline: Exchange exhibit lists 21 days before trial. Use ER 904 to admit documents without live testimony with 30-day notice.

Quick Reference

Updated 2026-01-31
E-Filing

County systems

Size Limit

25 MB (varies)

Plaintiff

Numbers (sequential)

Defendant

Joint sequence

Deadline

21 days (King County)

Applicable Rules & Citations

Primary Rule

King County LCR 4(j) - Exchange of exhibit lists 21 days before trial. Must list all witnesses and exhibits except impeachment materials.

Authentication

ER 904 - Documents admitted without testimony if 30-day notice given with numbered copies and index. Powerful streamlining provision.

E-Filing

County-specific systems - King: KC Script Portal ($50 paper fee). Pierce: LINX. Snohomish: eFile & Serve.

Deadlines

21 days for exhibit list exchange (King County).5 judicial days for Joint Statement of Evidence.

ER 904: Washington's Powerful Streamlining Provision

Admit Documents Without Live Testimony

Washington ER 904 allows admission of documentary evidence without live authenticating testimony. This significantly streamlines trial proceedings and reduces witness scheduling burdens.

ER 904 Requirements:

  • 30 days notice before trial of intent to offer exhibit
  • Numbered copies of each exhibit served on all parties
  • Index provided identifying each exhibit
  • No objection within 14 days = deemed authentic

County-Specific E-Filing Systems

Washington uses different e-filing systems by county. Always verify your county's specific system and requirements before filing.

King County - KC Script Portal

  • 25 MB file size limit per document
  • $50 paper handling fee for non-electronic filings
  • PDF format required, searchable preferred

Pierce County - LINX System

  • Track-based scheduling system
  • PDF format required
  • Check local rules for specific deadlines

Snohomish County - eFile & Serve

  • Standard e-filing platform
  • Similar size limits to King County
  • Growing caseload, standard procedures

Washington Exhibit Timeline

King County Civil Case Timeline

30 days

ER 904 Notice Deadline

Serve numbered copies with index for document admission without testimony

21 days

LCR 4(j) Exhibit List Exchange

Exchange list of all witnesses and exhibits to be offered at trial

14 days

ER 904 Objection Deadline

Objections to authenticity must be filed; no objection = deemed authentic

5 days

Joint Statement of Evidence

5 judicial days before trial - list stipulated exhibits and disputed issues

Exhibit Numbering in Washington

Joint Numbering

  • Sequential numbers (1, 2, 3...)
  • Single sequence for all parties
  • Common in King County
  • Include cause number on label

Party Prefixes (Some Courts)

  • P-1, P-2 for plaintiff
  • D-1, D-2 for defendant
  • Check specific court's local rules
  • Verify with case management order

How ExhibitPrep Helps with Washington Requirements

Time Savings

Stamp 50 exhibits in 5 minutes vs. 2+ hours manually for ER 904 compliance

Cost Effective

$14.99 Day Pass vs. $100+/hr paralegal time plus $50 King County paper fee

WA Compliance

Sequential numbering, searchable PDFs, e-filing ready for any county

Major Washington Courts

King County Superior Court (Seattle)

Largest court in Washington with Complex Litigation Department. LCR 4(j) requires 21-day exhibit exchange. KC Script Portal mandatory with $50 paper handling fee for non-compliance.

Pierce County Superior Court (Tacoma)

Second largest court using LINX system and track-based scheduling. Civil Division handles significant commercial and personal injury litigation with established case management.

Snohomish County Superior Court

Major suburban court north of Seattle using eFile & Serve. Growing civil caseload with standard exhibit procedures per local rules.

Spokane County Superior Court

Largest court in Eastern Washington. Check local procedures for exhibit exchange and e-filing requirements specific to this jurisdiction.

Common Washington Rejection Reasons

Missed ER 904 30-Day Notice

Without proper 30-day notice, documents require live authenticating testimony at trial.

Paper Filing in King County

Non-electronic filings incur $50 paper handling fee. Use KC Script Portal instead.

Late Exhibit List Exchange

Missing 21-day deadline under LCR 4(j) may result in exhibit exclusion.

Wrong County E-Filing System

Each county has different systems. Verify: King=KC Script, Pierce=LINX, Snohomish=eFile & Serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does King County LCR 4(j) require for exhibits?

King County LCR 4(j) requires exchange of exhibit lists 21 days before trial. Lists must include all witnesses and exhibits expected to be offered, except for impeachment materials.

What is Washington ER 904 and how does it help?

ER 904 is Washington's powerful streamlining provision. Documents can be admitted without live testimony if proper notice is given 30 days before trial with numbered copies and an index. This significantly reduces trial time.

What are Washington e-filing size limits?

Washington e-filing limits vary by county. King County allows up to 25 MB per document. Pierce County (LINX) and Snohomish County (eFile & Serve) have similar limits. Check your specific county.

When is the Joint Statement of Evidence due in Washington?

In King County, the Joint Statement of Evidence is due 5 judicial days before trial. This statement lists stipulated exhibits and identifies any disputed authenticity issues.

Ready to Prepare Washington Court Exhibits?

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