Answering the Complaint (WA)

Summary

This practice note discusses procedures and best practices for answering a complaint in a civil action in Washington superior court. This note includes coverage of the basic role of the answer in a civil action, time limits for answering the complaint, coordination of the answer with responsive motions under Wash. CR 12, the required contents and format of an answer, and procedures for filing and serving the answer. Requirements for amending or supplementing an answer are also briefly discussed.