Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 12.40.010 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026

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(1) In every district court there shall be created and organized by the court a department to be known as the "small claims department of the district court." The small claims department shall have jurisdiction, but not exclusive, in cases for the recovery of money only if the amount claimed does not exceed:

(a) Ten thousand dollars in cases brought by a natural person; or

(b) Five thousand dollars in all other cases.

(2) For the purposes of this section, "natural person" means a human being.

[ 2019 c 86 s 1; 2008 c 227 s 2; 2001 c 154 s 1; 1991 c 71 s 1; 1988 c 85 s 1; 1984 c 258 s 57; 1981 c 331 s 10; 1979 c 102 s 4; 1973 c 128 s 1; 1970 ex.s. c 83 s 1; 1963 c 123 s 1; 1919 c 187 s 1; RRS s 1777-1.]

Notes:

Effective date—Subheadings not law—2008 c 227: See notes following RCW 3.50.003.

Court Improvement Act of 1984—Effective dates—Severability—Short title—1984 c 258: See notes following RCW 3.30.010.

Court Congestion Reduction Act of 1981—Purpose—Severability—1981 c 331: See notes following RCW 2.32.070.

Application, savings—Effective date—Severability—1979 c 102: See notes following RCW 3.66.020.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 6 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1988–2023 · leading case: State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Avery, 57 P.3d 300 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002).

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State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Avery, 57 P.3d 300 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 2× “RCW 12.40.010. The district court is a court of record, vested with all necessary powers.”

State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. v. Avery, 57 P.3d 300 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 2× “RCW 12.40.010. The district court is a court of record, vested with all necessary powers.”

Speer v. Roney, 758 P.2d 10 (Wash. Ct. App. 1988). “Appeal From Small Claims Court The issue in this case is whether the superior court has jurisdiction to grant an appeal from a small claims department of a district court, when the party seeking appeal filed a counterclaim, having received no notice that filing a counterclaim…”

Judith Q. Chavez v. Our Lady of Lourdes Hosp. (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). “We note common questions with regard to liability of Lourdes Medical Center for at least many of the nurses.”

Jim Keyes v. Christina Wentz (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). “Keyes, you may wish to review RCW 12.40.010, et seq. including RCW 12.40.”

Mayo v. Experian Info. Solutions Inc (W.D. Wash. 2023). “Code 7 § 12.40.010(1)(a), (2). Plaintiff sought $10,000 in damages, therefore, his case fell within the 8 proper jurisdiction of the Small Claims Department of the District Court for Grays Harbor 9 County.”

— Wash. Rev. Code § 12.40.010(1)(a) — 1 case

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