Washington Small Claims Court Forms: MISC 05.0100 Instructions

Washington uses a single statewide form to initiate every small claims case: Form MISC 05.0100, the Notice of Small Claim. The form was last revised in January 2025, and older versions may be rejected by county clerks. Getting it right the first time saves you a trip back to the courthouse.

Form MISC 05.0100: Notice of Small Claim

This is the only form you need to start your case. Download it from the Washington Courts website or pick up a copy at your District Court clerk counter.

Party information. List every plaintiff's and defendant's full legal name, physical address, phone number, and email. For a business defendant, use the exact legal name from the Secretary of State's CCFS database — not a trade name, not a nickname.

Statement of claim. Describe the dispute briefly and factually. State the principal amount owed, any interest you're requesting, the date the obligation arose, and the specific nature of the dispute. You don't need legal citations or complex arguments.

SCRA declaration. The January 2025 revision added a Servicemembers Civil Relief Act section. You must declare whether the defendant is in active military service. This protects servicemembers from default judgments while deployed.

Verification. Sign under penalty of perjury under the laws of Washington State that everything in the form is true and correct.

Other Forms You May Need

MISC 05.0200 — Certificate of Service. Filed after you serve the defendant. If you used personal or substitute service, the server fills out this form. If you used certified mail, attach the original signed green card return receipt.

MISC 05.0300 — Order of Dismissal/Continuance. Use this to request a new hearing date (if the defendant couldn't be served in time) or to voluntarily dismiss your case (if you settle before trial).

MISC 05.0500 — Small Claims Judgment. The judge fills this out after ruling. You don't prepare it yourself.

GR 34 Motion — Fee Waiver. If you can't afford the $35–$50 filing fee, complete this form to request a waiver. Eligibility includes household income at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines, means-tested benefits, or undue financial hardship.

Common Mistakes on Form MISC 05.0100

Wrong defendant name. Suing "Jim's Plumbing" when the legal entity is "James Robert Miller, d/b/a Jim's Plumbing" makes any judgment potentially unenforceable. Always verify through the Secretary of State or Department of Revenue.

Using an outdated form. The January 2025 revision is mandatory. If you downloaded the form a year ago, get a fresh copy.

Failing to redact personal identifiers. Under GR 31, you must redact Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, financial account numbers, and birth dates from all attachments before filing.

Skipping the SCRA declaration. Leaving the military status section blank can delay your case, especially if you're seeking a default judgment.

Get Form-by-Form Instructions

Our Washington Small Claims Filing Guide includes line-by-line walkthroughs for every form you'll encounter, from the Notice of Small Claim through the Certificate of Service.

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