Steven Law Office

Dedicated to landlord tenant relations

SERVICE OF NOTICE PROCEDURE

Attention!

The Washington Court of Appeals issued an opinion with great impact on the manner of serving notices to tenants. You are required to serve a notice on each adult tenant named on your lease and/or subtenant in occupancy to acquire unlawful detainer (eviction) jurisdiction.

How to Serve Notices:

1.) Delivering copies of the Notice personally to each adult tenant named on the lease and each adult subtenant in occupancy. If any tenant or subtenant is absent, always hand a copy of the Notice for that individual to someone at the leasehold if possible.

You must attempt to deliver the Notice by Personal Service to each adult tenant and subtenant. If no individual can be found at the leasehold then go directly to posting and mailing of the Notice. However, I always want you to post and mail in addition to personal delivery.

2.) Posting a separate copy of the Notice for each individual adult tenant and/or subtenant on the front door of the leasehold premises. Your lease may also require sliding a copy of the Notice under the door.

3.) Mailing a separate copy of the Notice to the residence of each individual adult tenant, and/or subtenant. Mailing should be done by regular, first class mail. If your lease requires certified mail, then mail by certified mail in addition to mailing by first class. Mailing must be done from the county where the leasehold premises is situated. You must actually deposit the notice with the postal service, do not place the envelope in the mail box directly.

Contact Steven Law Office

  • Local: 509-325-8777
  • Fax: 509-444-1111

Steven Law Office does not provide free consultations.

PROPER SERVICE OF NOTICE IS CRITICAL TO THE VIABILITY OF ANY FUTURE ACTION.

If all three of the above steps are taken, then service of your Notice should be effective.

A Proof of Service must be filled out for each tenant according to how each tenant was served. Always date and sign the Proof of Service. A copy of the Notice with an appropriately completed Proof of Service for each tenant and/or subtenant should be retained.

If you have any qurstions, please contact our office. Steven Law office is open Monday – Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Download Eviction Forms and Notices from our library.

Steven Law Office

1319 W. Dean Avenue,
Spokane, WA 99201
Map & directions

Phone: 509-325-8777
Fax: 509-444-1111

Steven Law Office provides experienced legal representation to landlords in Spokane, Cheney, Wenatchee, East Wenatchee, Ellensburg, Grand Coulee, Yakima, Kennewick, Moses Lake, Pasco, Pullman, Richland, Sunnyside, Walla Walla, Spokane County, Yakima County, Chelan County, Kittitas County, Grant County, Benton County, Franklin County, Walla Walla County, Whitman County Washington and all other counties east of the Cascade Mountains.