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Thurston County, Washington

The content on the Thurston County website is currently provided in English. We are providing the “Translation” for approximately 10 languages. The goal of the translation is to provide visitors with limited English proficiency to access information on the website in other languages. The translations do not translate all types of documents, and it may not give you an exact translation all the time. The translations are made through an automated process, which may not result in accurate or precise translations, particularly of technical and legal terminology.

Superior Court

How to Present a Civil Motion Ex Parte

The requesting party can e-file their motion and proposed order to the Clerk's Office and a judicial officer will review the documents.

  1. Add your email address to the lower left-hand corner of the first page of the documents.
  2. Upload your motion and proposed order with Proposed Order Coversheet as first page at the Clerk’s Office e-filing. 
  3. Pay the $30.00 ex parte fee.  A link to make the payment is on the same page where you upload documents into the e-filing system.
  4. If you are a state agency, upload an A-19 with Proposed Order Coversheet.
  5. Clerk will file your documents and provide them to a judicial officer for review.
  6. After the judicial officer reviews the document, the clerk will file the order with the judicial officer’s decision. 

If everything is submitted correctly and your motion is granted, the Order will be signed and filed with the Clerk’s Office.  Please check Odyssey for the signed Order.  DO NOT contact Court Administration to see if the Order was signed.   

Because parties may currently set motions on civil motion calendars, the telephone ex parte process should be used when the requesting party believes that an order is required before the motion could be timely set on a civil motion calendar. 

Prior to making a telephone ex parte request, the requesting party must file any documents relevant to the motion, including a proposed order, prior to making a telephonic request. 

The requesting party may present their motion to the Court by calling 360-968-0921 between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Monday-Friday. The telephone line will not accept messages and will not be answered any other time. 

Instrucciones en español 

The requesting party can mail or deliver their motion to the Clerk's Office and a judicial officer will review it in their office. Do not use this method if the issue is time sensitive. 

Send to the Clerk's Office:

  • $30 per order
  • The paperwork (motion and proposed order) that you want the judge to review
  • A second copy of the order that you want mailed back to you
  • A self-addressed stamped envelope

Further instructions are on the Clerk's Office Ex Parte Webpage

How to Present a Request to Modify or Rescind a No-Contact Order in a Criminal Case

Requests to modify or rescind an existing no-contact order in a Thurston County Superior Court criminal case may be set for a telephonic hearing by a judicial officer upon a showing of an emergency in addition to other applicable criteria. 

Protected persons may call the Main Campus civil ex parte telephone number, 360-968-0921, between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., Monday-Friday, to request modification or rescission of the no-contact order. 

Before calling the ex parte number to make a request, the requestor must file all of the following into the court file:

  • A motion (request)
  • A declaration (a signed statement) showing your reasons for the request.
  •  A proposed order

 

If the judicial officer sets a hearing based upon the emergency request, it will be set on a Wednesday or Thursday. 

Instrucciones en español  

Protected Persons Requesting Modification or Rescission of Criminal No-Contact Orders english and spanish

How do I present a motion for Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) in a civil case that is not family law?

To present an ex parte Motion for a TRO, call the Main Campus civil ex parte telephone number, 360-968-0921, between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., Monday-Friday.  

Before calling the ex parte number to make the request, the requestor must file all of the following into the court file:

         a. A motion (written request).

         b. A declaration (a signed statement) showing your reasons for the request.

         c. A proposed order.

Unlawful Detainer

 Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. beginning January 3, 2024

• Parties do not go to the Courthouse or log into Zoom to present their motion.

• The Court will determine these matters solely based on paperwork filed in the court file.

• Proposed orders shall be filed in Odyssey at the time of filing the notice of hearing and motion. 

• Parties shall schedule their ex parte matter no later than two court days before the calendar.

• These ex parte matters will be capped at 25 per Calendar.

• Example: Motion for Order to Show Cause.

The Court will continue to accept mail-in ex parte Unlawful Detainer motions, which are available for a $30 fee paid to the Thurston County Clerk’s Office.  For more information on the court's ex parte processes visit Thurston County Clerk.

Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Emergency Unlawful Detainer matters may be heard during the weekday morning ex parte telephonic process.

  • Only emergency Unlawful Detainer motions are allowed. Example: Motion to Stay a Pending Eviction.
  • Before calling the ex parte number to make a request, the requestor must file a motion (request) and proposed order with the Thurston County Clerk to placed in the court file. 
  • An attorney or self-represented party may present their motion to the Court by calling 360-968-0921 weekday mornings during the Calendar.

For more information on the court's ex parte processes visit Thurston County's Clerk page.

Ex Parte through the Clerk's Office [they will present your motion and order(s) for you]