WA · rules
Wash. R. App. P. 5.3
Content of Notice--Filing
(a) Content of Notice of Appeal. A notice of appeal must (1) be titled a notice of appeal,
(2) specify the party or parties seeking the review, (3) designate the decision or part of decision
which the party wants reviewed, and (4) name the appellate court to which the review is taken.
The party filing the notice of appeal should attach to the notice of appeal a copy of the
signed order or judgment from which the appeal is made, and, in a criminal case in which two or
more defendants were joined for trial by order of the trial court, provide the names and superior
court cause numbers of all codefendants. In a criminal case where the defendant is not
represented by counsel at trial, the trial court clerk shall attach a copy of the judgment and
sentence, the order of indigency, if applicable, and any service documents with the notice as
provided in rule 5.3(j).
(b) Content of Notice for Discretionary Review. A notice for discretionary review must
comply in content and form with the requirements for a notice of appeal, except that it should be
titled a notice for discretionary review.
A party seeking discretionary review of a decision of a court of limited jurisdiction should
include the name of the district or municipal court and the cause number for which review is
sought.
(c) Identification of Parties, Counsel, and Address of Defendant in Criminal Case.
The party seeking review should include on the notice of appeal the name and address of the
attorney for each of the parties.
(d) Multiple Parties Filing Notice. More than one party may join in filing a single notice
of appeal or notice for discretionary review.
(e) Notices Directed to More Than One Case. If cases have been consolidated for trial,
or have been tried together even though not consolidated for trial, separate notices for each case
or a single notice for more than one case may be filed. A single notice for more than one case
will be given the same effect as if a separate notice had been filed for each case. If cases have not
been consolidated for trial or have not been tried together, separate notices must be filed.
(f) Defects in Form of Notice. The appellate court will disregard defects in the form of a
notice of appeal or a notice for discretionary review if the notice clearly reflects an intent by a
party to seek review.
(g) Notices Directed to More Than One Court. If a notice of appeal or a notice for
discretionary review is filed which is directed to the Court of Appeals and a notice is filed in the
same case which is directed to the Supreme Court, the case will be treated as if all notices were
directed to the Supreme Court.
(h) Amendment of Notice Directed to Portion of Decision. In order to do justice, the
appellate court may, on its own initiative or on the motion of a party, permit an amendment of a
notice to include (i) additional parts of a trial court decision or (ii) subsequent acts of the trial
court that relate to the act designated in the original notice of discretionary review. If the
amendment is permitted, the record should be supplemented as provided in rule 9.10. The
appellate court may condition the amendment on appropriate terms, including payment of a
compensatory award under rule 18.9. An amendment extends the time allowed to seek cross
review only of those additional parts of the decision or subsequent acts, and such notice seeking
cross review must be filed within the later of (1) 14 days after service of the amended notice filed
by the other party or (2) the time within which notice must be given as provided by rule 5.2(a),
(b), (d), or (e).
(i) Notice by Fewer Than All Parties on a Side—Joinder. If there are multiple parties on
a side of a case and fewer than all of the parties on that side of the case timely file a notice of
appeal or notice for discretionary review, the appellate court will grant relief only (1) to a party
who has timely filed a notice, (2) to a party who has been joined as provided in this section or (3)
to a party if demanded by the necessities of the case. The appellate court will permit the joinder
on review of a party who did not give notice only if the party's rights or duties are derived
through the rights or duties of a party who timely filed a notice or if the party's rights or duties are
dependent upon the appellate court determination of the rights or duties of a party who timely
filed a notice.
(j) Assistance to Defendant in Criminal Case or Party Entitled to Review at Public
Expense. Trial counsel for a defendant in a criminal case or party entitled to review at public
expense is responsible for filing any appropriate notice of appeal, notice for discretionary review,
and motion for order of indigency under rule 15.2. If such a defendant or party is not represented
by counsel at trial, the trial court clerk shall, if requested by a defendant or party in open court or
in writing, supply a notice of appeal form, a notice for discretionary review form, or a form for a
motion for order of indigency, and file the forms upon completion by the defendant or party. The
clerk shall transmit the forms and all related orders to the appellate court.
References
Form 1, Notice of Appeal; Form 2, Notice for Discretionary Review; Rule 3.3,
Consolidation of Cases; Rule 4.2, Direct Review of Trial Court Decision by Supreme Court.
History
[Adopted effective July 1, 1976; Amended effective September 1, 1985; September 1, 1986; September 1, 1990; September 1, 1994; September 1, 1998; September 1, 2010; September 1, 2014; September 1, 2022.]
Provenance
- Source
- www.courts.wa.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-16
- Edition
- 2026-09-16
- Content hash
25a17edcec5e0b8f9a13b6926abafdf835dd704c1f5c007d33099333dc3eda88
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