DVPO case law guide (LV)
Description: From our friends and allies at Legal Voice. This is a guide to the cases about domestic violence protection orders in Washington. In 1984, Washington State passed the Domestic Violence Prevention Act (DVPA) to give survivors the ability to ask for a civil protection order to protect themselves and their children from abuse. This law can be found at RCW 26.50. In 2021, the Washington Legislature decided to update all civil protection orders to make them easier to access. The case law and statutes included in this guide refer to chapter 26.50 RCW. Future updates to this guide will include new statutory chapters as needed.
Intended audience: pro se litigants, advocates, and attorneys
Abusive Litigation
Abusive Litigation Tip Sheet
Description: From our friends and allies at Legal Voice. Abusive litigation is when someone uses the legal system to take power and control over you. It is common in domestic violence cases. This Legal Voice tip sheet gives examples of abusive litigation and also provides resources for how to make it stop. There is also a new law in Washington to help survivors stop abusive litigation: RCW 26.51, Abusive Litigation – Domestic Violence
Intended audience: pro se litigants, advocates, attorneys
Instructions and Tip Sheets
Tip sheet: Options before Appeal in WA
Description: I don’t agree with the order I got. What are my options? This is a flow chart laying out different options you may have before an appeal.
Intended audience: pro se litigants, advocates, and attorneys
Tip Sheet: Revisions
Description: If a commissioner made the decision, one option is to file a motion for revision. This tip sheet provides the rules for how to file for revision in your Washington county.
Intended audience: pro se litigants, advocates, and attorneys
Court Forms You Can Use
Notice of Appeal template
Description: This sample court form tells the court you disagree with your order, and that you want the court of appeals to review it. You can fill it out with information about your case, the parties, the case number, and which specific orders or decisions you disagree with.
Intended audience: pro se litigants, advocates, and attorneys
Designation of Clerk’s Papers template
Description: This sample court form tells the appellate court which documents they will need to read in order to review your case. You can fill it out with information specific to your case.
Intended audience: pro se litigants, advocates, and attorneys
Statement of Arrangements template
Description: This sample court form tells the appellate court which trial court hearings in your case are important and which judge was at each hearing. It also tells the appellate court that you are getting the audio or video recording of each hearing transcribed (or turned into a written document) so that the appellate court can read exactly what happened.
Intended audience: pro se litigants, advocates, and attorneys
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