Washington Small Claims Court by County: Fees, Filing, and Local Rules

Washington has 39 counties, each with its own District Court small claims department — and each with slightly different filing fees, filing methods, and mediation requirements. The statewide rules under RCW 12.40 are the same everywhere, but the local details trip people up.

Here's what you need to know for six of the most commonly searched counties.

Spokane County

Spokane's total filing fee is $50, including the DRC surcharge. Filing is primarily in person or by mail. The court requires strict adherence to pre-trial mediation scheduling, including a mandatory pre-trial appearance and mediation orientation.

Service requirements are standard: serve the defendant at least 10 calendar days before the hearing via sheriff, process server, or certified mail with a signed return receipt.

Thurston County

Home to Olympia and the state capital, Thurston County's exact filing fee and accepted filing methods should be confirmed with the District Court clerk. Local mediation requirements vary, so confirm whether mediation is required before trial.

Kitsap County

Confirm Kitsap County's current filing fee and accepted filing methods with the District Court clerk. The county operates across multiple court locations, so check which one handles small claims for your district.

Benton County

Benton County (Kennewick, Richland, West Richland) follows the statewide $35 base filing fee, with local DRC surcharges bringing fees to $45 or $50 where applicable. Confirm the current total and accepted filing methods with the District Court clerk. The Tri-Cities area generates a fair number of contractor and vehicle sale disputes — if you're suing across county lines (Benton vs. Franklin), file where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened.

Whatcom County

Whatcom County (Bellingham) handles local disputes and may involve cross-border matters with Canadian businesses operating in Washington. The statewide base filing fee is $35; local DRC surcharges can bring the total to $45 or $50. Confirm Whatcom County's current total and accepted filing methods with the District Court clerk. For an out-of-state defendant, RCW 4.28.185 applies only if the transaction, injury, or cause of action arose in Washington.

Yakima County

Yakima County's District Court filing methods should be confirmed with the clerk. The statewide base filing fee is $35, with a DRC surcharge where applicable. If you need a language interpreter for your hearing, notify the clerk 5 to 10 days in advance — the court provides certified interpreters free of charge.

What All Counties Share

Regardless of county, the fundamentals are identical:

• Form: MISC 05.0100 (January 2025 revision)
• Limits: $10,000 individuals, $5,000 businesses
• Service: At least 10 calendar days before the hearing; self-service prohibited
• Attorneys: Excluded unless the judge permits under RCW 12.40.080
• Fee waivers: Available via GR 34 motion for low-income filers

The differences are in the details — fee totals, mediation timing, filing portals, and local clerk procedures.

Get the Full County-by-County Breakdown

Our Washington Small Claims Filing Guide includes a reference table covering all 39 counties with exact fees, filing channels, and local mediation requirements.

See more Washington guides →