Wash. Rev. Code § 59.12 § 59.12.070
Complaint -- Summons.
Operative Text
The plaintiff in his or her complaint, which shall be in writing, must set forth the facts on which he or she seeks to recover, and describe the premises with reasonable certainty, and may set forth therein any circumstances of fraud, force or violence, which may have accompanied the forcible entry or forcible or unlawful detainer, and claim damages therefor, or compensation for the occupation of the premises, or both; in case the unlawful detainer charged be after default in the payment of rent, the complaint must state the amount of such rent. A summons must be issued as in other cases, returnable at a day designated therein, which shall not be less than seven nor more than thirty days from the date of service, except in cases where the publication of summons is necessary, in which case the court or judge thereof may order that the summons be made returnable at such time as may be deemed proper, and the summons shall specify the return day so fixed.
Washington's unlawful detainer statute at Wash. Rev. Code § 59.12.070 establishes the procedural requirements for a landlord's written complaint and the summons that follows it. The complaint must describe the rental property with reasonable certainty, state the factual basis for the claim, and—if the case involves unpaid rent—specify the exact amount owed. Once filed, a summons must be issued and served, with the tenant given a return date no fewer than seven and no more than thirty days from the date of service, unless publication of the summons is required, in which case a court may set a different timeline.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.12.070, a compliant unlawful detainer action begins with a written complaint that clearly identifies the rental property, lays out the factual grounds for the claim, and—when the basis is nonpayment of rent—states the precise dollar amount alleged to be owed. Operators who pursue eviction proceedings generally ensure that all required elements are included in the complaint before filing, since omissions can affect the validity of the action. The summons issued after filing must give the tenant a return date within the statutory seven-to-thirty-day window from service, a timeline that property managers typically track carefully to keep the proceeding on schedule.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.12.070 sets out procedural rules that a landlord must follow when initiating an unlawful detainer action, and those requirements can matter to tenants facing eviction. If the written complaint fails to describe the property with reasonable certainty, omits the amount of rent allegedly owed in a nonpayment case, or if the summons does not provide the required return date within the seven-to-thirty-day window, these deficiencies may be relevant to the proceeding. Tenants who receive an eviction complaint and summons may want to review the documents against the requirements of § 59.12.070 and consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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