FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 2329

                          C 41 L 00

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Changing descriptions in judgments involving real property.

Sponsors:  Representatives McDonald, Lantz and Constantine.

House Committee on Judiciary

Senate Committee on Judiciary

Background:

When a judgment is entered in a court case, the clerk of the court is responsible for processing certain paperwork associated with the judgment.  Included in these responsibilities is entering the judgment in the court execution docket, which allows a record to be kept of the parties' compliance with the requirements of the judgment.  Each judgment for the payment of money must have a summary page that succinctly summarizes information about the judgment creditor and debtor, the amount of the judgment and any interest owed, and the total of costs and attorney fees owed.

In 1999, legislation was enacted requiring that a judgment summary include specific information about real estate that is affected by the judgment.  If the judgment involves an award of any interest in real property, the summary page must include both an abbreviated legal description of the property and the assessor's tax parcel or account number.  In some instances, use of both real property identifiers makes it impossible to confine a summary to one page.

Summary of Bill:

The description of real property on a judgment summary may be either an abbreviated legal description of the property or the assessor's tax parcel or account number.

Votes on Final Passage:

House970

Senate470

Effective:June 8, 2000