LFLR 24. Family Law Arbitration Act Procedures (Emergency Rule)

(a)  Applicability.  This rule only applies to proceedings governed by RCW 26.14

(b) Motions to be heard by Family Law Commissioners. Hearings set on the Family Law motions calendar shall comply with the provisions of LFLR 6. 

(1) Motions to modify, compel, confirm, correct, vacate, terminate, stay/permit, or review arbitration of temporary orders shall be scheduled on the Family Law motions calendar. ]

       (2) Motions to select or disqualify an arbitrator shall be scheduled on the Family Law motions calendar.

       (3) Motions to clarify an arbitrator’s ruling shall be scheduled on the Family Law motions calendar.

       (4) Motions to enforce confirmed arbitration awards shall be scheduled on the Family Law Motions Calendar.

       (5) Motions for entry of judgments relating to arbitration awards shall be scheduled on the Family Law motions calendar unless otherwise noted in conjunction with other motions required to be set before assigned judges or the Chief Unified Family Court Judge.

       (6) Agreed orders to modify, confirm, correct, or permit arbitration shall be submitted to the Ex Parte Family Law Agreed Orders queue.

(c) Motions to be heard by Judges.  Hearings before judges shall be scheduled using the procedures outlined in LFLR 5.  Unless otherwise required, motions scheduled before judges shall be heard without oral argument. 

(1)  Motions to modify, compel, confirm, correct, vacate, terminate, stay/permit, or review arbitration of final orders shall be scheduled before the assigned judge or, if the trial date has passed, before the Chief Unified Family Court Judge for reassignment.

(2) Motions to consolidate arbitration shall be scheduled before the Chief Unified Family Court Judge.

(3) Motions related to discovery, including enforcement of subpoenas, shall be scheduled before the assigned judge or, if the trial date has passed, before the Chief Unified Family Court Judge for reassignment.

(4) Motions to seal arbitration awards shall be set before the assigned judge or, if the trial date has passed, the Chief Unified Family Court Judge.  

(d) Submitting the Record.  Recordings of arbitration proceedings may be submitted as a digital exhibit (via Case Center or otherwise as directed) or a written copy of the certified transcript attached to the motion. 

(e) References.

      (1) Motions referencing digital exhibits shall note start and stop times for review. 

      (2) Motions referencing a certified transcript shall cite relevant page and line numbers.

[Adopted effective December 17, 2024]