What is the process of submitting a complaint in a small claims court case?

The process of filing a complaint in a small claims court case in Washington starts with preparing a Statement of Claim. This document must include the claimant’s full name, address, and phone number; the defendant’s full name and address; a detailed description of the complaint; and the amount of money the claimant is asking for. It must also contain a verification statement at the end, which shows the claimant swears that the facts laid out in the Statement of Claim are true and correct. Next, the claimant must submit the Statement of Claim and pay the court fee to the relevant court. The fees vary depending on the amount of money being claimed. The court will provide a copy of the Statement of Claim and a summons to the defendant, and set a hearing date. At the hearing, the claimant must present their evidence as to why they are owed the money, and the defendant will present their defense. The court will hear both sides and will decide who has the stronger case. If the court decides in favor of the claimant, the defendant will be ordered to pay the money, plus court costs. If the court decides in favor of the defendant, the claimant will be responsible for the defendant’s court costs.

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What is the process of submitting a complaint in a small claims court case?

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