Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18 § 59.18.412
Forcible or unlawful detainer proceeding.
Operative Text
In any forcible or unlawful detainer proceeding before the court: (1) Hearings may be conducted in person or remotely in order to enhance access for all parties. At the court's discretion, parties, witnesses, and others authorized by this chapter to participate in forcible or unlawful detainer proceedings may attend a hearing pursuant to this chapter, in person or remotely, including by telephone, video, or other electronic means where possible. The court shall grant any request for a remote appearance unless the court finds good cause to require in-person attendance or attendance through a specific means. Courts shall require assurances of the identity of persons who appear by telephone, video, or other electronic means. Courts may not charge fees for remote appearances. Courts shall provide instructions for remote access either on the official court website or in writing directly to the party requesting to appear remotely, or both. (2) Any party must be permitted to make an emergency application by phone or videoconference and file such documents by email, fax, or other means that can be performed remotely.
Washington's Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.412 governs how forcible or unlawful detainer (eviction) court proceedings are conducted. Under this provision, hearings may be held in person or remotely—by phone, video, or other electronic means—and courts must grant remote appearance requests unless there is good cause to require in-person attendance. Courts are prohibited from charging fees for remote appearances and must provide clear instructions for accessing hearings remotely. Additionally, any party may make emergency applications by phone or videoconference and submit documents by email, fax, or other remote means.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers involved in forcible or unlawful detainer proceedings under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.412 should be aware that hearings may proceed remotely, and courts are required to accommodate remote participation requests absent good cause. Compliant operators generally familiarize themselves with the court's published remote-access instructions—available on the official court website or provided in writing—and ensure they can participate by phone, video, or other approved electronic means. Landlords should also be prepared to submit emergency filings by email, fax, or other remote methods if circumstances require it.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.412, tenants facing eviction proceedings have the right to request a remote appearance by phone, video, or other electronic means, and courts cannot charge a fee for that accommodation. If a remote appearance is requested, the court must grant it unless it finds specific good cause to require in-person attendance, and it must provide instructions for remote access either online or in writing. Tenants who need to make an emergency application may do so by phone or videoconference and can file related documents by email or fax; tenant-rights organizations in Washington can help explain how these procedural rights apply in eviction court.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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