S-1582

AN ACT Relating to the administration of county clerks' offices; amending RCW 6.36.035, 4.64.110, 7.68.290, 4.56.100, 4.64.030, 4.64.060, and 5.44.010; and repealing RCW 4.64.070.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 6.36.035 and 1994 c 185 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) At the time of the filing of the foreign judgment, the judgment creditor or the judgment creditor's lawyer shall make and file with the clerk of court an affidavit setting forth the name and last known post office address of the judgment debtor, and the judgment creditor.

(2) Promptly upon the filing of the foreign judgment and the affidavit, the ((~~clerk~~)) judgment creditor shall mail notice of the filing of the foreign judgment to the judgment debtor at the address given ((~~and shall make a note of the mailing in the docket~~)). The notice shall include the name and post office address of the judgment creditor and the judgment creditor's lawyer if any in this state. In addition, the judgment creditor ((~~may mail a notice of the filing of the judgment to the judgment debtor and may~~)) shall file proof of mailing with the clerk. ((~~Lack of notice of filing by the clerk shall not affect the enforcement proceedings if proof of mailing by the judgment creditor has been filed.~~)) The superior court may, in its discretion, remand the cause to district court for determination of any motion to vacate or modify the original judgment.

(3)(a) No execution or other process for enforcement of a foreign judgment filed in the office of the clerk of a superior court shall ((~~issue until ten days after the date the judgment is filed, or~~)) be allowed until ten days after mailing the notice of filing((~~, whether mailed by the clerk or~~)) by the judgment creditor((~~, whichever is later~~)).

(b) No execution or other process for enforcement of a foreign judgment filed in the office of the clerk of a district court shall ((~~issue until fourteen days after the date the judgment is filed, or~~)) be allowed until fourteen days after mailing the notice of filing((~~, whether mailed by the clerk or~~)) by the judgment creditor((~~, whichever is later~~)).

Sec. 2. RCW 4.64.110 and 1987 c 202 s 118 are each amended to read as follows:

A transcript of the district court docket shall contain an exact copy of the district court judgment from the docket. Jurisdiction over the judgment, including modification to or vacation of the original judgment, transfers to the superior court.

Sec. 3. RCW 7.68.290 and 1987 c 281 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

If a defendant has paid restitution pursuant to court order under RCW 9.92.060, 9.94A.140, 9.94A.142, 9.95.210, or 9A.20.030 and the victim entitled to restitution cannot be found or has died, the clerk of the court shall deposit with the county treasurer the amount of restitution unable to be paid to the victim. The county treasurer shall monthly transmit the money to the state treasurer for deposit as provided in RCW 43.08.250. Moneys deposited under this section shall be used to compensate victims of crimes through the crime victims compensation fund.

Sec. 4. RCW 4.56.100 and 1994 c 185 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) When any judgment for the payment of money only shall have been paid or satisfied by the judgment creditor or the court, the clerk of the court in which such judgment was rendered shall note upon the record in the execution docket satisfaction thereof giving the date of such satisfaction upon either the payment to such clerk of the amount of such judgment, costs and interest and any accrued costs by reason of the issuance of any execution, or the filing with such clerk of a satisfaction entitled in such action and identifying the same executed by the judgment creditor or his or her attorney of record in such action or his or her assignee acknowledged as deeds are acknowledged. The clerk has the authority to satisfy judgments for criminal and juvenile legal financial obligations when the clerk's record indicates payment in full or as directed by the court. Every satisfaction of judgment and every partial satisfaction of judgment which provides for the payment of money shall clearly designate the judgment creditor and his or her attorney if any, the judgment debtor, the amount or type of satisfaction, whether the satisfaction is full or partial, the cause number, and the date of entry of the judgment. A certificate by such clerk of the entry of such satisfaction by him or her may be filed in the office of the clerk of any county in which an abstract of such judgment has been filed. When so satisfied by the clerk or the filing of such certificate the lien of such judgment shall be discharged.

(2) The department of social and health services shall file a satisfaction of judgment for welfare fraud conviction if a person does not pay money through the clerk as required under subsection (1) of this section.

(3) The department of corrections shall file a satisfaction of judgment if a person does not pay money through the clerk's office as required under subsection (1) of this section.

Sec. 5. RCW 4.64.030 and 1995 c 149 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The clerk shall enter all judgments in the execution docket, subject to the direction of the court and shall specify clearly the amount to be recovered, the relief granted, or other determination of the action.

On the first page of each judgment which provides for the payment of money, including judgments in rem, mandates of judgments, and judgments on garnishments, the following shall be succinctly summarized: The judgment creditor and the name of his or her attorney, the judgment debtor, the amount of the judgment, the interest owed to the date of the judgment, and the total of the taxable costs and attorney fees, if known at the time of the entry of the judgment. If the attorney fees and costs are not included in the judgment, they shall be summarized in the cost bill when filed. ((~~This information is included in the judgment to assist the county clerk in his or her record-keeping function.~~)) The clerk may not ((~~sign or file~~)) enter a judgment, and a judgment does not take effect, until the judgment has a summary in compliance with this section. The clerk is not liable for an incorrect summary.

Sec. 6. RCW 4.64.060 and 1987 c 442 s 1105 are each amended to read as follows:

Every county clerk shall keep in the clerk's office a record, to be called the execution docket, which shall be a public record and open during the usual business hours to all persons desirous of inspecting it. The record must be indexed both direct and inverse, and include all judgments, abstracts, and transcripts of judgments in the clerk's office. The index must refer to each party against whom the judgment is rendered or whose property is affected by the judgment.

Sec. 7. RCW 5.44.010 and Code 1881 s 430 are each amended to read as follows:

The records and proceedings of any court of the United States, or any state or territory, shall be admissible in evidence in all cases in this state when duly ((~~authenticated~~)) certified by the attestation of the clerk, prothonotary or other officer having charge of the records of such court, with the seal of such court annexed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. RCW 4.64.070 and 1987 c 442 s 1106, 1935 c 22 s 1, & 1929 c 60 s 5 are each repealed.