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Washington service under CR 4(c). Personal, substituted, corporate under RCW 4.28.080. UIDDA at RCW 5.51. Publication. 90-day commencement rule.
Washington's service of process framework combines Washington Civil Rule 4 with the statutory service provisions at RCW 4.28.080. Washington adopted UIDDA at RCW 5.51 in 2011, making out-of-state subpoena practice routine. Washington's 90-day commencement rule under RCW 4.16.170 is a particular trap—filing alone does not commence an action for statute-of-limitations purposes unless service is completed within 90 days. This guide walks through each method and flags the Washington-specific rules that matter.
This is practical guidance, not legal advice. Washington service of process rules are found in Washington Civil Rule 4, together with RCW 4.28.080 (manner of service) and RCW 4.16.170 (90-day commencement rule). UIDDA is codified at RCW 5.51 et seq. (effective July 22, 2011, Laws 2011, ch. 135).. For service of process nationwide, Served 123 LLC handles Washington and all 49 other states with qualified servers.
Under Washington Civil Rule 4(c), service may be made by any person who is over eighteen years of age and is competent to be a witness in the action, excluding any party. Washington does not operate a statewide licensing scheme for process servers, although King County requires process servers to register with the county under local rule. Many counties rely on a combination of sheriff civil process and experienced private servers. Confirm any local county registration requirement before dispatching a server.
Personal service under CR 4(d)(2) and RCW 4.28.080(15) is made by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to the individual defendant personally. Refusal does not defeat service—the server may leave the papers in the defendant's presence after identifying them. The affidavit of service must describe the manner, date, time, and location of delivery, and must be signed under oath. Personal service is immediately effective on completion; no follow-up mailing is required.
Washington permits substituted service under CR 4(d)(2) and RCW 4.28.080(15) by leaving a copy of the summons and complaint at the defendant's house of usual abode with some person of suitable age and discretion then resident therein. Washington courts look closely at the suitability of the recipient and the basis for residency. Record the recipient's apparent age, relationship, and first name on the affidavit of service. A temporary guest or visitor does not satisfy the "resident therein" requirement.
Washington permits limited service by mail. CR 4(d)(4) allows mail service with an acknowledgment procedure: the plaintiff mails the summons and complaint with two copies of a Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt. If the defendant signs and returns the acknowledgment within 20 days, service is complete. If not, the plaintiff must use personal or substituted service and may recover the additional costs from the defendant. For certain categories of defendants (including some non-residents), RCW 4.28.185 permits mail service under the long-arm statute.
Under RCW 4.28.080(9) and (10), service on a corporation is made by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to the president, other executive officer, secretary, cashier, or managing agent, or to the registered agent. For LLCs, RCW 25.15.026 provides for service on the registered agent. Registered agents and office addresses are public record through the Washington Secretary of State at sos.wa.gov. Verify the agent of record the day of service. If the entity has no current registered agent, substitute service on the Secretary of State may be available under RCW 23.95.450.
Washington adopted UIDDA at RCW 5.51 et seq., effective July 22, 2011. Out-of-state counsel tenders the foreign subpoena to the clerk of the Washington superior court in the county where discovery is sought; the clerk issues a conforming Washington subpoena. Service is then made under CR 4 or RCW 4.28.080, typically by a private server or sheriff. Motions to quash or modify are heard in Washington superior court under Washington procedure, while the issuing state's rules govern the substantive scope.
Service by publication under RCW 4.28.100 and CR 4(g) is available in specified case types (and when the defendant's residence is unknown or the defendant cannot be served after diligent inquiry). The plaintiff files an affidavit detailing the locate efforts and moves for publication. If granted, publication runs once a week for six consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, with mailing to the defendant's last known address where known. Washington's six-week period is longer than many states.
Washington's UIDDA at RCW 5.51 et seq. brought Washington into the mainstream of interstate subpoena practice. The superior court clerk issues the conforming Washington subpoena on tender of the foreign subpoena, with no miscellaneous action or judicial order required at the threshold. Service is then made under the ordinary Washington methods. Motions to quash, modify, or enforce are heard in Washington superior court under Washington procedure, while the issuing state's rules govern the underlying discovery scope.
Washington's 90-day commencement rule under RCW 4.16.170 is critical: filing the complaint tolls the statute of limitations only if the defendant is served within 90 days of filing. If service is not completed within 90 days, the action is deemed commenced on the service date, which can defeat statute-of-limitations compliance. The rule is strictly enforced and a common source of dismissals. Treat the 90-day window as non-negotiable; use sheriff or private service and seek extensions only when indispensable.
The affidavit of service filed with the court must identify the defendant, the date, time, and place of service, the manner of service, and the papers served, and must be signed under oath. For substituted service, it must identify the person accepting papers, their apparent age, their relationship to the defendant, and the basis for concluding the house is the defendant's usual abode. For acknowledgment-mail service under CR 4(d)(4), the signed acknowledgment is attached. Technical defects in affidavits frequently support motions to quash; prepare them carefully.
Washington Secretary of State business search at sos.wa.gov and ccfs.sos.wa.gov for registered agents and entity information; courts.wa.gov for Washington Civil Rules, Revised Code of Washington, and judicial directory; county superior court websites for local filing procedures and civil process contacts; and King County's process-server registration information for servers working in King County.
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No. Washington, like every other state, prohibits parties from serving their own process. The server must be an adult non-party or an authorized officer/licensed server per Washington rules.
Washington's critical rule is RCW 4.16.170's 90-day commencement requirement. Filing tolls the statute of limitations only if the defendant is served within 90 days of filing; miss the window, and the action is deemed commenced on the service date instead, which can defeat limitations compliance. Treat the 90-day mark as a hard deadline and track it on every case from the day of filing.
Washington allows limited mail service. CR 4(d)(4) provides a Notice and Acknowledgment procedure: the plaintiff mails the summons and complaint along with two copies of a Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt. If the defendant signs and returns the form within 20 days, service is complete; if not, the plaintiff must pivot to personal or substituted service and may recover the additional costs. Long-arm mail service under RCW 4.28.185 is available for certain non-resident defendants.
Under RCW 4.28.080(9), (10), serve an officer (president, secretary, cashier), managing agent, or registered agent. For LLCs, RCW 25.15.026 governs. Registered agents and office addresses are public record through the Washington Secretary of State at sos.wa.gov. Verify the agent of record the day of service; resignations and changes are common. If the entity has no active agent, substitute service on the Secretary of State may be available under RCW 23.95.450.
Washington follows the majority refused-acceptance rule. The server may place the papers in the defendant's immediate presence after identifying the nature of the documents. Service is valid despite refusal.
Washington adopted UIDDA at RCW 5.51 et seq., effective July 22, 2011. Tender the foreign subpoena to the clerk of the Washington superior court in the county where discovery is sought; the clerk issues a conforming Washington subpoena. Service is made under CR 4 or RCW 4.28.080. Motions to quash are heard in Washington superior court under Washington procedure.
Start with a skip trace, then move for service by publication on a court order supported by an affidavit documenting diligent inquiry. six consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the action is pending.
