A Washington receivership petition is the court pleading you file in superior court to ask a judge to appoint a neutral person, called a receiver, to take control of a business or property that is failing, in dispute, or at risk. It is governed by Chapter 7.60 RCW, the state’s Receivership Act, which was rewritten in 2004 and updated in later sessions. A creditor, a business owner, an assignee, or another party in interest can file it.
Washington does not publish one fill-in-the-blank statewide “receivership petition” form, so filers draft the petition as a pleading and pair it with a proposed Order Appointing Receiver. Getting the grounds, the property description, or the proposed receiver’s qualifications wrong is the fastest way to a denial. One law firm guide notes that RCW 7.60.025 lists 38 separate statutory grounds for appointing a receiver, so picking the right one matters.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📝 How to draft each part of the petition, from the caption to the verification, line by line
- ⚖️ Which of the 38 statutory grounds under RCW 7.60.025 fits your situation
- 👤 How to name and qualify a receiver who can actually post bond and serve
- 💵 The real filing fees, notice deadlines, and creditor-claim windows you must hit
- 🚫 The field-level mistakes that get petitions rejected and how to avoid them
What a Washington Receivership Petition Is and Who Must File It
A Washington receivership petition is a written request asking a superior court judge to place a person’s or business’s property under the control of a court-appointed receiver. The receiver acts as the court’s neutral agent to take possession of, manage, sell, or wind down the property for the benefit of creditors and other parties. The authority comes from the Washington Receivership Act, and the receiver is, in plain terms, a referee the court trusts to handle assets fairly when the owner cannot or should not.
The Act sorts receivers into two kinds under RCW 7.60.015. A general receiver takes possession and control of all or substantially all of a person’s property, much like a bankruptcy trustee. A custodial receiver handles only a limited slice of property, such as one building or one disputed account. Your petition must say which type you want, because the powers, notice duties, and creditor-claim process differ between them.
You can file if you are a creditor, the debtor itself, a secured lender, a business co-owner, an assignee under an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or another party in interest. One Washington firm explains that in an assignment for the benefit of creditors, the assignor, the assignee, or any creditor may petition the clerk of the superior court to appoint the assignee as receiver. Receivership is often chosen as a cheaper, faster alternative to bankruptcy because, as one practice guide notes, it avoids the strict deadlines and high cost of a federal bankruptcy case.
The court that receives the petition is the Washington Superior Court in the county where the property sits or where the underlying dispute is pending. In counties like King County, the process is also shaped by Local Civil Rule 66, which says a petition for appointment of a receiver may be filed inside an existing case or as a new action. If you skip the local rule, the clerk may reject your filing or the judge may strike your hearing.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything below before you open a blank pleading. Missing a single item, such as the receiver’s written consent or a proper property description, can stall or sink your petition. The court will not appoint a receiver on guesswork.
- Full legal names and addresses of all parties. You need the exact legal name of the debtor (person or entity) because the order and creditor notices cross-reference it; a wrong entity name can void notice to creditors.
- The statutory ground you are relying on. You must match your facts to a specific subsection of RCW 7.60.025; without a named ground, the judge has no legal hook to appoint anyone.
- A precise description of the property. RCW 7.60.025(4) requires the order to reasonably describe the property by category or item, so you must draft that list now.
- The proposed receiver’s name, resume, and written consent. A receiver who has not agreed in writing to serve cannot be appointed, and the hearing will be reset.
- Proof the receiver is eligible under RCW 7.60.035. The receiver cannot be a party, an affiliate, or otherwise disqualified, or the appointment can be challenged later.
- An estimate of the bond amount. RCW 7.60.045 requires the receiver to post a bond, so you need a rough asset value to suggest a figure to the court.
- Supporting evidence of the grounds. Declarations, loan documents, default notices, or financial statements prove the facts; bare allegations rarely earn an appointment.
- The filing fee or a fee-waiver request. The civil filing fee (about $240 in most superior courts) must be paid or waived, or the clerk will not open the case.
- A list of known creditors and parties in interest. A general receiver must mail notice to all known creditors within 30 days under RCW 7.60.200, so build the list early.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
Because Washington has no single official statewide “Receivership Petition” form, you build the petition yourself as a civil pleading that follows Chapter 7.60 RCW and your county’s local rules. The statute itself is your template; for example, RCW 7.60.045 prints the exact wording the receiver’s bond must follow, and RCW 7.60.200 prints the exact creditor-notice language. Read the current 2025 version so you are not working from a repealed section.
Start at the Washington Legislature’s RCW page to copy the statutory structure, then check your county. King County filers should read Local Civil Rule 66, which sets how the petition is captioned and noted for hearing. Other counties post their own local rules on their superior court websites, and they can differ on hearing dates and proposed-order formatting.
You file the petition with the Clerk of the Superior Court, almost always through the county’s electronic filing portal. Most Washington superior courts now require e-filing through the Washington Courts e-filing system, with paper filing allowed only in limited cases. Confirm your county’s portal before you draft, because some counties use the statewide portal while large counties run their own.
You will usually prepare three documents together: the Petition for Appointment of Receiver, a supporting Declaration with evidence, and a proposed Order Appointing Receiver. The proposed order matters as much as the petition, because the judge signs the order, not the petition. Bring the receiver’s written consent and proposed bond information so the judge can rule in one hearing.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Washington Receivership Petition Line by Line
This section walks through every part of the petition in the order it appears on the page. Follow the exact labels courts expect, and italicized text shows sample entries you would actually type. Number each section so the clerk and judge can follow your pleading.
1. The Caption (Court, Parties, and Case Number)
The caption is the heading block at the top of the first page that names the court, the parties, and the case number. You write the county superior court on the top line, then list the petitioner and the respondent, then leave room for the cause number and a document title. Type the court name in all caps, such as SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR KING COUNTY, and title the document PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF GENERAL RECEIVER.
For example, Cascade Commercial Bank files as Petitioner against Northgate Auto Group, LLC as Respondent, and the clerk assigns cause number 26-2-01234-5 SEA. If you file the petition inside an existing lawsuit, use that case’s existing cause number instead of opening a new one, as LCR 66 allows. A common mistake is naming the wrong legal entity, such as a trade name instead of the registered LLC, which breaks the chain of notice to creditors and can void later orders. Many filers wrongly believe the caption is just formatting, but it legally fixes who is bound by the receivership.
2. Identity of the Petitioner and Standing
This part tells the court who you are and why you are allowed to ask for a receiver. You state your full legal name, your role (creditor, debtor, lender, member, or assignee), and the basis for your standing as a party in interest. Write it plainly, such as Petitioner Cascade Commercial Bank is a secured creditor of Respondent under a promissory note dated 02/01/2024.
If you are the debtor asking for your own receiver as a bankruptcy alternative, say so directly, for example Petitioner Northgate Auto Group, LLC seeks appointment of a general receiver over its own assets. A frequent error is failing to plead standing at all, which lets the respondent move to dismiss because you never showed you are a proper party. People often assume any angry creditor can file, but the court still needs a stated, qualifying interest under the Act.
3. Identity of the Respondent and the Property
Here you name the person or entity whose property will go under control and describe that property. You give the respondent’s exact legal name and then describe the assets by category or item, as RCW 7.60.025(4) requires. Write something like Respondent owns all inventory, accounts receivable, equipment, and real property located at 1400 Northgate Way, Seattle, WA.
If you seek a general receivership, state that the receiver will take all or substantially all of the respondent’s property, matching the RCW 7.60.015 definition. The most damaging mistake here is a vague property description, because the court cannot enter an enforceable order over assets it cannot identify, and the receiver cannot take possession of what is not listed. Filers often think “all assets” is enough, but judges expect categories and key items spelled out.
4. Jurisdiction and Venue
This section shows the court has the power to hear the case and that you filed in the right county. You cite that the superior court has authority under RCW 7.60.025 and that venue is proper because the property or dispute sits in that county. Write it as This Court has jurisdiction under RCW 7.60, and venue is proper in King County because the Respondent’s principal place of business and property are located here.
If property sits in more than one county, name the primary county and note where other assets lie so creditor notice publication can reach them. A common slip is filing in a county with no connection to the property, which invites a venue challenge and delay. Some filers assume any superior court will do, but venue rules still apply to receiverships like other civil actions.
5. Statement of Statutory Grounds
This is the heart of the petition, where you tie your facts to a specific ground for appointment. You quote or paraphrase the matching subsection of RCW 7.60.025 and explain why a receiver is reasonably necessary. For example, Respondent has defaulted on its secured loan and is dissipating collateral, so appointment is necessary to protect the property under RCW 7.60.025.
Because the statute lists 38 grounds, pick the one that fits, such as insolvency, foreclosure of a lien, dissolution of a business, or fraud, and plead facts for each element. The biggest error in the whole petition is naming no ground or the wrong ground, which leaves the judge without legal authority to appoint anyone and almost guarantees denial. Many people believe simply being owed money is enough, but the Act requires a specific statutory hook plus a showing of necessity.
6. The Proposed Receiver and Eligibility
Here you name the person you want appointed and prove they are allowed to serve. You give the proposed receiver’s name, professional background, and a statement that they meet RCW 7.60.035 eligibility rules and consent to serve. Write it as Petitioner proposes Dana Whitfield, CPA, a disinterested professional receiver who consents to serve and is not disqualified under RCW 7.60.035.
Attach the receiver’s signed consent and a short resume, and note that the receiver cannot be a party, an affiliate of a party, or otherwise conflicted. The most common mistake is proposing a receiver who is too close to one side, such as the lender’s own employee, which draws an objection and forces a reset. Filers often assume they can pick anyone they trust, but a disqualified receiver under the Act can have the whole appointment unwound.
7. The Proposed Bond Amount
This part suggests how much bond the receiver should post to protect the estate. You propose a dollar figure tied to the value of the property, because RCW 7.60.045 requires a bond with approved sureties before the receiver begins. Write it as Petitioner proposes a receiver’s bond of $250,000, reflecting the estimated value of the estate property.
The statute lets the court accept alternative security, such as a letter of credit or a cash deposit with the clerk, in place of a traditional bond. A frequent error is leaving the bond blank or proposing an amount far below asset value, which makes the judge set the hearing over until a proper figure is fixed. Many filers think the bond is optional or symbolic, but no part of the receivership property may fund it and a claim against the bond must be made within one year of the receiver’s discharge.
8. The Prayer for Relief
The prayer is the closing list of exactly what you want the court to order. You ask the court to appoint your named receiver, define the receiver’s powers, set the bond, and grant any related relief such as a turnover order. Write it as Petitioner requests that the Court appoint Dana Whitfield as general receiver, grant the powers under RCW 7.60.060, set bond at $250,000, and order turnover of all estate property.
Tie each request to a statute so the judge can sign your proposed order without rewriting it. A common mistake is asking for powers the Act does not grant or forgetting to request turnover, which leaves the receiver unable to take possession. People often think a vague “appoint a receiver” request is enough, but a tight, statute-anchored prayer is what gets a clean signed order.
9. Verification and Signature
The verification is your sworn statement that the petition’s facts are true, followed by your signature. You sign under penalty of perjury under the laws of Washington, date it, and add your name, address, and bar number if you are an attorney. Write it as I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington that the foregoing is true and correct. Signed at Seattle, WA on 05/30/2026.
If a business entity files, an authorized officer signs and states their authority, for example Maria Chen, Managing Member. The most damaging mistake is filing without a proper verification or signature, because an unverified petition can be stricken and a receiver appointed on it can be challenged. Many filers believe a signature alone is enough, but the sworn perjury language is what gives the petition evidentiary weight.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common fact patterns, each following one named filer through the petition. The tables show what each person enters in the key sections.
Scenario 1: Cascade Commercial Bank petitions over a defaulting business (general receivership).
| Petition Section | What Cascade Commercial Bank Enters |
|---|---|
| Court | SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR KING COUNTY |
| Petitioner / Role | Cascade Commercial Bank, secured creditor |
| Respondent | Northgate Auto Group, LLC |
| Property described | All inventory, accounts, equipment, and real property at 1400 Northgate Way |
| Type of receiver | General receiver under RCW 7.60.015 |
| Statutory ground | Default and dissipation of collateral under RCW 7.60.025 |
| Proposed receiver | Dana Whitfield, CPA, consents and is eligible under RCW 7.60.035 |
| Proposed bond | $250,000 |
| Prayer | Appoint receiver, grant RCW 7.60.060 powers, order turnover |
Scenario 2: Maria Chen, a small business owner, voluntarily seeks a general receiver as a bankruptcy alternative.
| Petition Section | What Maria Chen Enters |
|---|---|
| Court | SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR PIERCE COUNTY |
| Petitioner / Role | Evergreen Cafe Group, LLC, debtor (by Managing Member Maria Chen) |
| Respondent | Same entity, self-petition |
| Property described | All restaurant equipment, leasehold, accounts, and cash on hand |
| Type of receiver | General receiver under RCW 7.60.015 |
| Statutory ground | Insolvency and orderly wind-down under RCW 7.60.025 |
| Proposed receiver | Sam Ortiz, professional receiver, consents and is eligible |
| Proposed bond | $75,000 |
| Prayer | Appoint receiver to liquidate and distribute to creditors |
Scenario 3: Marcus Lee, an LLC co-owner, seeks a custodial receiver during a member dispute.
| Petition Section | What Marcus Lee Enters |
|---|---|
| Court | SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR SNOHOMISH COUNTY |
| Petitioner / Role | Marcus Lee, 50% member and party in interest |
| Respondent | Summit Builders, LLC, and co-member Janet Park |
| Property described | One disputed project account and the company’s bank accounts only |
| Type of receiver | Custodial receiver under RCW 7.60.015 |
| Statutory ground | Deadlock and risk of waste under RCW 7.60.025 |
| Proposed receiver | Lena Brooks, neutral CPA, consents and is eligible |
| Proposed bond | $40,000 |
| Prayer | Appoint custodial receiver over the named accounts only |
How to File the Completed Petition
You file the petition, declaration, and proposed order with the Clerk of the Superior Court in your chosen county, then note it for a hearing under your local rules. Below are the channels most Washington courts accept, with the details you need for each.
- Online e-filing (primary channel). Most counties require filing through the Washington Courts e-filing portal or their own county portal; the civil filing fee runs about $240, paid by card or e-check, and you receive an electronic conformed copy as your proof of filing, usually accepted within one business day.
- In person at the clerk’s office. You bring originals and copies to the county courthouse, pay the roughly $240 fee by card, check, or cash, and the clerk stamps your copy as proof; processing is same-day during business hours.
- By mail. Some counties accept mailed pleadings to the Clerk of the Superior Court with a check for the fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope for your conformed copy; expect several days for processing and keep the mailing receipt as proof.
- By fax. Fax filing is rare and county-specific; where allowed, you still owe the standard fee and must confirm receipt, so most filers avoid it for something as time-sensitive as a receivership.
After filing, you must serve the respondent and note the appointment hearing as your county requires. In King County, follow LCR 66 for whether the matter goes to the ex parte department or a civil motion calendar. Keep your conformed copies, the receiver’s consent, and proof of service together, because the judge will want them at the hearing.
What Happens After You File
After you file and serve the petition, the court holds a hearing to decide whether to appoint the receiver. If the judge grants it, the judge signs your proposed Order Appointing Receiver, which fixes the receiver’s powers, the property covered, and the bond amount. The receiver cannot act until they execute the bond required by RCW 7.60.045 and file their oath.
Once appointed, a general receiver must notify creditors fast. Under RCW 7.60.200, the receiver publishes notice in a newspaper of general circulation once a week for three weeks, with the first notice within 30 days of appointment, and mails notice to all known creditors within that same 30 days. The notice states the appointment date, the court and case number, and the last day to file claims.
Creditors then file claims on a tight clock. As RCW 7.60.210 explains, ordinary creditors must serve claims on the general receiver within 30 days of the mailed notice, while state agencies get 180 days. The receiver collects assets, manages or sells them, and distributes proceeds by legal priority, then asks the court to approve a final report and discharge.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Petition
Each error below has sunk real petitions, and each one is preventable. Watch these closely.
- Naming no statutory ground from RCW 7.60.025; the judge has no authority to appoint and denies the petition.
- Picking the wrong ground for your facts; the respondent points out the mismatch and the appointment fails.
- Writing a vague property description; the court cannot enter an enforceable order and the receiver cannot take possession.
- Choosing the wrong receiver type, general versus custodial; the wrong notice and claim rules apply and orders get challenged.
- Proposing a conflicted receiver under RCW 7.60.035; the hearing resets and you lose time.
- Forgetting the receiver’s written consent; the court cannot appoint someone who has not agreed to serve.
- Leaving the bond amount blank under RCW 7.60.045; the judge continues the hearing until a figure is set.
- Filing in the wrong county; a venue challenge delays the appointment.
- Skipping the verification language; an unverified petition can be stricken from the record.
- Missing the 30-day creditor-notice deadline in RCW 7.60.200; the receivership’s notice can be attacked and claims reopened.
- Ignoring LCR 66 or your county’s local rule; the clerk rejects the filing or strikes the hearing.
- Requesting powers the Act does not grant; the judge will not sign the proposed order as written.
Do’s and Don’ts
Keep these habits in mind as you draft and file.
Do:
- Do match each fact to a specific subsection of RCW 7.60.025, because the ground is the legal hook for the whole case.
- Do describe property by category and key item, because the order must reasonably identify what the receiver controls.
- Do confirm your receiver is eligible under RCW 7.60.035, so the appointment cannot be unwound for conflict.
- Do attach the receiver’s signed consent and resume, because the judge wants proof the receiver will actually serve.
- Do propose a realistic bond tied to asset value, since the receiver cannot act without it under RCW 7.60.045.
- Do read your county’s local rules, because filing and hearing steps differ by court.
Don’t:
- Don’t file on a bare allegation of unpaid debt, because the Act demands a stated ground plus necessity.
- Don’t name a trade name instead of the registered legal entity, because it breaks creditor notice.
- Don’t propose a receiver tied to one party, because a conflict draws an objection.
- Don’t forget the perjury verification, because an unverified petition can be stricken.
- Don’t miss the 30-day notice and claim deadlines, because late notice exposes the receivership to attack.
- Don’t assume a vague prayer for relief is enough, because the judge signs the order you draft.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With an Attorney
Receivership is a sophisticated remedy, so weigh handling it yourself against hiring counsel.
Pros of using an attorney:
- An attorney picks the correct ground among the 38 in RCW 7.60.025, reducing the risk of denial.
- Counsel drafts a proposed order the judge can sign without changes, saving a hearing.
- A lawyer vets the receiver’s eligibility under RCW 7.60.035 so the appointment holds up.
- Counsel manages the strict notice and claim deadlines in RCW 7.60.200 and RCW 7.60.210.
- A lawyer handles objections from the respondent that a pro se filer may not anticipate.
Cons of using an attorney:
- Legal fees add cost to a process already meant to be cheaper than bankruptcy.
- You depend on the attorney’s schedule, which can slow an urgent filing.
- Some simple, consented self-petitions may not need full representation.
- A pro se business owner who knows the assets can sometimes draft faster on routine facts.
- You lose hands-on control of strategy when counsel runs the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an official statewide Washington receivership petition form?
No. Washington does not publish one statewide fill-in form; you draft the petition as a pleading that follows Chapter 7.60 RCW and your county’s local rules.
Can a creditor file the petition, or only the debtor?
Yes. A creditor, the debtor, a secured lender, a co-owner, or an assignee may file, because the Act lets any qualifying party in interest petition for a receiver.
Do I write “general receiver” or “custodial receiver” in the petition?
Yes. You must state one; write general receiver if the receiver takes all or substantially all property, and custodial receiver if only limited property under RCW 7.60.015.
What do I put in the property description box?
Yes. List the property by category and key items, such as inventory, accounts, equipment, and real estate, because RCW 7.60.025(4) requires a reasonable description.
Do I name a specific receiver in the petition?
Yes. You name a proposed receiver, attach their written consent, and state they are eligible under RCW 7.60.035, or the court cannot appoint anyone.
Do I have to state a bond amount in the petition?
Yes. You propose a bond figure tied to asset value, because RCW 7.60.045 requires the receiver to post bond before acting.
Is receivership cheaper than bankruptcy?
Yes. Receivership is usually cheaper and faster, because, as one guide notes, it avoids the strict deadlines and high cost of federal bankruptcy.
How much is the filing fee?
Yes. Expect a superior court civil filing fee of about $240, paid through the county e-filing portal or at the clerk’s office, unless you qualify for a fee waiver.
How fast must creditors get notice after appointment?
Yes. A general receiver must publish and mail notice within 30 days of appointment under RCW 7.60.200, stating the claim deadline.
How long do creditors have to file claims?
Yes. Ordinary creditors must serve claims within 30 days of mailed notice, and state agencies within 180 days, under RCW 7.60.210.
Do I file in any superior court I choose?
No. You file in the county where the property or dispute sits, because venue rules apply and a wrong county invites a challenge.
Can the same person who is a party serve as the receiver?
No. A party or a conflicted affiliate cannot serve, because RCW 7.60.035 requires a disinterested, eligible receiver, or the appointment can be undone.
Do I need the verification signed under penalty of perjury?
Yes. You sign under penalty of perjury under Washington law, because an unverified petition can be stricken and any resulting appointment challenged.
Can I file the petition inside an existing lawsuit?
Yes. Under LCR 66, you may file in an underlying proceeding or as a new action, depending on your facts and county rules.
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