1. Unless otherwise directed by the Trial Court Judge, within thirty (30) days of the judge giving his or her written decision, the moving party (party who started the most recent petition) that started the action shall submit proposed final documents to the other (responding) party and then follow procedure outlined below:
    1. If the responding party does not agree to the proposed final documents, they have fifteen (15) days after they have received them to object by delivering a copy of their proposed changes/objections to the other party. Once the moving party receives the objections, the moving party shall deliver their proposed final documents, along with proof that the proposed final documents were delivered to the other party, and a copy of the objections and proposed changes from the other party to the trial judge at Superior Court Administration, 7122 W. Okanogan Place, Suite A130, Kennewick, WA 99336. The moving party shall indicate on a cover page the name of the Judicial Officer and the dates of the trial.
      • Please note that if objections are made, the court may schedule a hearing, sign, or modify the proposed documents.
    2. If no objections are made within the thirty (30) day period, the moving party may send the proposed final documents, along with proof that the proposed final documents were delivered to the other party, to the trial judge at Superior Court Administration, 7122 W. Okanogan Place, Suite A130, Kennewick, WA 99336. The moving party shall indicate on a cover page the name of the Judicial Officer and the dates of the trial.  The trial judge may sign the proposed final documents and forward them to the clerk for filing, or the trial judge may return the final documents, if missing information, to all the parties, noting the requested changes and additions.
    3. Unless advised by the Court, or agreement of the parties, if the moving party does not submit final documents within the thirty (30) days of trial, the other party may do so and should schedule their case for Entry of Final Documents before the Trial Court Judge via a special set hearing (scheduled through Court Administration). The moving party should be notified of the hearing and should be given at least 21 days’ notice of said hearing. Proof of such notice should be brought to the hearing, along with the prepared final documents.
    4. If the Trial Court Judge gives their Trial ruling by an oral ruling, and a transcript is to be ordered, then the rules herein shall commence within twenty-four (24) hours of the parties receiving the transcript of the Judge’s oral ruling.
    5. If there is a pending issue post-Trial to be resolved via the regular domestic docket, such as final orders of child support, then the rules herein shall still apply to the other final documents. Once the post-Trial issues are argued and a decision is provided by the Court, the same application/process herein above shall commence within twenty-four (24) hours of the final decisions related to those post-Trial issues.
    6. Any clarification of submission of finals shall be submitted to the Trial Court Judge via Court Administration for further ruling/direction.  The other party shall be copied on all communication to the Trial Court Judge, and the dates of the trial must also be included.

[Updated: October 1, 2024; Updated format only April 18, 2025]