Wash. Rev. Code § 59.12 § 59.12.220
Writ of restitution suspended pending appeal.
Operative Text
If a writ of restitution has been issued previous to the taking of an appeal by the defendant, and said defendant shall execute and file a bond as provided in this chapter, the clerk of the court, under the direction of the judge, shall forthwith give the appellant a certificate of the allowance of such appeal; and upon the service of such certificate upon the officer having such writ of restitution the said officer shall forthwith cease all further proceedings by virtue of such writ; and if such writ has been completely executed the defendant shall be restored to the possession of the premises, and shall remain in possession thereof until the appeal is determined.
Under Washington's unlawful detainer statutes, Wash. Rev. Code § 59.12.010 et seq. § 59.12.220, a writ of restitution that has already been issued can be suspended when a defendant files the required appeal bond. Once the court clerk issues a certificate confirming the appeal has been allowed and that certificate is served on the officer enforcing the writ, the officer must immediately stop all further eviction proceedings. If the writ had already been fully carried out and the tenant removed, the tenant is entitled to be restored to possession of the premises and to remain there until the appeal is resolved.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.12.010 et seq. § 59.12.220 establishes that a writ of restitution a landlord has obtained can be halted mid-execution if the tenant files a proper appeal bond and the court issues a certificate of appeal. Compliant property owners and managers recognize that once the enforcing officer receives that certificate, any further steps to remove the tenant or retain possession of the unit must stop. Operators generally keep records of all court proceedings and communicate promptly with legal counsel when an appeal certificate is served, so that their actions remain within the bounds set by the court.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.12.010 et seq. § 59.12.220, a tenant facing eviction has a statutory mechanism to suspend a writ of restitution by filing an appeal bond and obtaining a certificate of appeal from the court clerk. If that certificate is properly served on the officer enforcing the writ, the officer is required to halt the eviction process, and a tenant who has already been removed may be entitled to restoration of possession while the appeal proceeds. Tenants who believe this provision applies to their situation may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand the bond requirements and the process for serving the certificate.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.