Ex parte orders can be presented in person Monday-Friday at 8:45 am. This includes:

• Agreed orders signed by every party
• Motions and Orders to serve by mail
• Motions and Orders to Show Cause (Go to Court)
• Requests for Letter of Administration

No Notice of Hearing is required for in person ex parte matters.

Ex Parte Orders should specify if any future hearings should be stricken.

File the “Notice of Hearing for Court Commissioner Motions-Probate & Guardianship and Minor Guardianship” form.  Select the "Probate & Guardianship Ex Parte" box in section three. 

This form can be found be found on the Clerk's Office website.

1. An order that is agreed to by every party, or
2. A motion that does not require notice to any other party or person.

NOTE:  Motions for default and review of guardian reports may not be scheduled on this calendar. 

Two business days by 12:00 pm before the calendar date, the moving party must file their notice of hearing, motion, proposed order, any supporting paperwork that you want the Court to consider.  If there are responses, they must be filed at least one business day before the calendar date.  (Responses are not expected for the majority of matters because they are agreed matters.)

If you are mailing paperwork, make sure you allow time for it to be received and processed by the Clerk’s Office. 

You can file your paperwork with the Clerk’s office through e-filing, by mail, or in person.  Make sure you send everything early enough, so it is received by the deadlines.  Clerk’s office facilitators may be able to help self-represented parties.  To make an appointment with a facilitator, call 360-786-5430. 

The Court will either:

1. approve and sign the proposed order; or
2. deny the proposed order.  

The Court’s decision will be filed in Odyssey.  No other notice of the Court’s decision will be provided to the parties.  You can check Odyssey for the signed Order. 

If the Court denies the request or declines to sign the orders, the Court may explain why. If the problem can be fixed, a party may schedule the case again with an amended proposed order using the same process. 

Understand that your matter may not be decided right away.  Parties should check Odyssey Portal to see whether a Court order has been entered. 

DO NOT contact Court administration to see if the order was signed, unless it has been 5 working Court days and the order is not in Odyssey.  The Court will make every effort to consider proposed orders within 2 working Court days of presentation.  If you do not have Odyssey Portal you can request copies of documents by emailing county_clerk@co.thurston.wa.us.

If you have an emergency please see our emergency motions process .

In the alternative, the Clerk’s Office can present Ex Parte Orders for you.  Click here for more information on that process. 

You may schedule a motion on this docket only if you believe your motion is an emergency.  On a case-by-case basis, the judicial officer will decide whether your situation qualifies as an emergency.   

The following is a list of motions that may qualify as an emergency.  Other types of motions may also qualify as an emergency:

1. Motions for temporary restraining orders when personal safety is at risk;
2. Motions for orders where there is an immediate risk to child safety or there is a risk of child abduction, including writs of Habeas Corpus, and related matters;
3. Motions in which a person’s basic financial survival is at risk – for instance, the ability to maintain housing, pay for food or utilities, or have access to critical health care;
4. Emergency motions on parenting issues where the health and safety of a child or adult is at risk.

Ex parte requests for protection orders are also heard every day at 1:15 pm on a different calendar.  If you have questions about scheduling protection order hearings of any kind, please continue to work with the Clerk’s Office Domestic Violence Liaison 360-709-3260 or county_clerk@co.thurston.wa.us.

To schedule an emergency motion, you will need to first file a notice of hearing, the motion, supporting materials, proposed order(s), and cover sheet for your proposed order(s), no later than 11:00 am the day of the scheduled hearing.

Use this form to schedule an Emergency Ex Parte Motion:  Notice of Hearing for Ex Parte Emergency Motions.  The form is located on the Clerk’s Office website.  On the form, you will check the box for Ex Parte- Emergency Motions.

A Clerk’s Office Facilitator is available for appointments to review completed paperwork.  Facilitator appointments are $25.00 per appointment.  To schedule an appointment please call 360-709-3260 or email county_clerk@co.thurston.wa.us.  For information on filings go to the Clerk’s Office website or call 360-709-3260.

You may appear in person or remote by Zoom. 

See the Notice of Hearing for instructions on how to appear virtually for the hearing or click here for the calendar schedule.  Look for the day that you scheduled the hearing for and what courtroom the hearing will be in.  

For details about civil legal assistance, click here.  In addition, Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services has a limited number of local attorneys who are available for over-the-phone legal advice, including on family law emergencies.   If your situation is urgent, please call 360-705-8194.

You can check Odyssey Portal by clicking here to see if your documents have been filed. 

DO NOT contact court administration to see if the order was signed, unless it has been 5 working court days and the order is not in Odyssey.  The Court will make every effort to consider proposed orders within 2 working court days of presentation. If you do not have Odyssey Portal you can contact the Clerk’s Office by emailing county_clerk@co.thurston.wa.us or by calling 360-709-3260.

Please continue to check back as processes may change in the future.