Frequent Questions

Do you Accept Credit Cards, Debit Cards or Checks? Please be prepared to pay by cash, check, money order, debit card or credit card. Payments by mail are accepted in cash or check. However, no personal checks will not be accepted for rent in Unlawful Detainer actions or for bail payments. Credit card payments are also accepted for payment of Legal Financial Obligations through Official Payment Services.

How do I Make Payments on my Legal Financial Obligations (LFOs)? If made in person, the Clerk's Office accepts cash, checks, money orders, debit cards and credit cards for payment on LFOs. Payments in person are accepted at either of the Clerk's Offices listed below. Payments by may be made by mail by check or money order. Credit card payments and electronic checks are accepted by the Thurston County Clerk's Office over the phone or on line for LFO payments only. Click here for additional information to pay LFOs.

Do I need to confirm my hearing? Hearings scheduled on the Friday Civil calendars, the Family and Juvenile Court Judge's calendar, the Probate/Guardianship calendar, the Tuesday/Thursday Family Law calendars and the Family and Juvenile Concurrent Case calendars require confirmation. Please remember to properly confirm your hearings. Please refer to Hearing Confirmations section for further information.

What is a conformed copy? It is a copy of the document you filed, stamped with the filing date (and Judge's name if an Order was signed),

How do I get a conformed copy of the pleadings I file? If you want a conformed copy bring an extra copy with you to the Clerk's office when you file. If you file something by mail, please provide the copies along with a preaddressed, stamped envelope with adequate postage.

How much are copies of documents already filed and how do I get them? Certified copies (with seal) of pleadings cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page per document. Regular copies (without seal) cost $.50 per page. Advance payment is required. Come to main courthouse for copies of civil or criminal documents or to the Family and Juvenile Court to obtain copies of those type of documents. If you are requesting documents by mail, you may Contact Us by e-mail to obtain the total cost before making your request. Please provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the return of your requests.

Can I Fax my Documents to you for filing? DOCUMENTS FAXED TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE ARE NOT ACCEPTED FOR FILING! All other fax filings must contain the Fax Affidavit prescribed by GR 17.

What should my pleadings and documents look like. Format Requirements: All pleadings and other papers filed with the Clerk's Office shall be legibly written or printed. The use of 8 1/2" x 11" paper is mandatory. The writing or printing shall appear on only one side of the page. The top margin of the first page shall be a minimum of 3", and the right, left and bottom margins at least 1". All subsequent pages shall have a minimum of 1" margins. Papers filed shall not include any colored pages, highlighting or other colored markings (except Notices of Issue as outlined below).

How do I schedule a hearing? By filing a Notice of Issue with the Clerk's Office. Please file Notice of Issues on the proper colored paper. Notice of Issue forms may be found by clicking on Forms Available and selecting your preferred downloading format.

Civil Cases	Pink
Criminal Cases	Green
Family Law Cases	Blue
Juvenile Cases	Lavender
Family & Juvenile Court Judge's Calendars	Pink

Does the court need to know when a hearing is scheduled for the documents I file? Yes. All civil, probate, guardianship, and family law cases require the following box be on the first page of the document in the upper left hand corner. LCR 10(e). Complete the box prior to filing. If the box is not on your document, you can ask the Clerk's Office for a stamp to use.

q EXPEDITE (if filing within 5 court days of hearing)

q No hearing set

q Hearing is set:

Date: ______________________________

Time: _____________________________

Judge/Calendar: _____________________

I have a hearing within the next week. How do I make sure it gets into the court file in time? Check the Expedite box on the box above in addition to filling in the hearing date. Attach expedite slips to pleadings filed late to insure they reach the file prior to your scheduled hearing. Expedite slips may be found by clicking on Forms Available and selecting your preferred downloading format or ask the Clerk's Office when you file your document.

Where do I file my expedited documents? Expedited filings must be made at the site where the hearing is being held to ensure it is in the file before the hearing:

	Civil and criminal hearings are normally held at 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Bldg. 2, Olympia, WA 98502.
	Family law, juvenile and probate/guardianship hearings are normally held at the 2801 32nd Avenue SW, Tumwater, WA 98512.
	Expedited filings for cases heard at the Family and Juvenile Court sent by hand delivery (or overnight mail) should be directed to the 32nd Avenue address. All other expedited filings by mail need to be directed to the Lakeridge Drive address.

I want to file my documents by mail. Where do I send them? Except for expedited documents, mail all filings and correspondence to Thurston County Clerk's Office, Family Law Division, 2000 Lakeridge Dr. SW, Bldg. 2, Olympia, WA 98502.

The court wants bench copies. What are they and where do I file them? They are an extra copy of the documents for the Judge or Court Commissioner. Bench copies should be provided to the Superior Court Administrator's Office. They are not filed at the Clerk's Office.

I have a Thurston County Case and need to take the deposition of an out of state party. How do I do that? You can follow the Thurston County Clerk's Procedure for Foreign Depositions for Local Actions (in PDF) (in Word) to obtain the documents you may need for the out out of state court. Contact the other court for their requirements.

I have an case in another state and need to take the deposition of a person in Thurston County. How is this handled? Follow the Thurston County Clerk's Procedure for Local Depositions for Foreign Actions (in PDF) (in Word) to obtain the deposition Supboena you need.

What can I do to avoid common mistakes?

	Become familiar with faulty document policy so you don't make any of those mistakes.
	Double check your pleadings for signatures.
	Double check your pleadings to insure case title and case number accuracy.
	Don't forget to place in the caption those important words ... "CLERK'S ACTION REQUIRED!" when action is set forth within the pleading itself.
	Include the case number on all pleadings, except new case filings. If more than one case number is listed, circle the appropriate number and supply additional copies for each number listed. If no additional copies are supplied, pleadings will be filed ONLY in the oldest case.
	Use only mandatory domestic forms when applicable.
	Include vital statistics forms with all new domestic filings.
	Schedule the family law Orientation in all dissolution and legal separation with children cases. Click here for additional information on the Orientation.
	Law Enforcement Information Sheets must be included with all domestic relations restraining orders for delivery to law enforcement. A certified copy of the restraining order must be purchased for the Clerk's Office to deliver to law enforcement. If the Clerk's Office provides said copies, you will be invoiced accordingly.
	GR 22 requires a copy of the Sealed Financial Source Documents to be placed in the public file on family law cases. Please remember to not only file the cover sheet on financial documents defined by the rule (paystubs, income tax returns, bank statements and credit card statements), but to also file a copy of the cover sheet for placement in the public file. Click on Forms Available link to the left.
	Documents sealed by court order, local court rules, state rules or statute require a cover sheet on the document, and a copy of the cover sheet for the public file. Click on Forms Available link to the left.
	Always have your case number ready when calling for information or when transacting business in person.

How can I avoid getting charged for a Faulty Document? Faulty Document Fees are assessed for certain problems found in paperwork filed with the court. Click here to view the Faulty Document Policy.

Are there time requirements for filing documents and is there somewhere I can find out when Thurston County schedules hearings? Yes. View the Thurston County Time Requirements or click on the link above.

My questions didn't get answered. Where else can I look for an answer? The Thurston County Clerk's Roadmap and Thurston County Time Requirements are useful tools for answering questions about Thurston County cases and procedures. Additional Resources are available for answering statewide procedures.

Last modified: 10/27/2009