Civil Order Legal Fees

Summary

In Washington, each party usually covers their own legal fees in civil cases unless specified otherwise by statute or agreement. Courts may order you to pay the respondents attorney fees if your petition is deemed frivolous or filed in bad faith. A case is considered frivolous if it lacks merit, factual basis, or credible evidence, or if it aims to harass or burden the respondent. Ensure your petition is supported by credible evidence and a legitimate reason to avoid it being considered frivolous or in bad faith.

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If I'm filing a civil anti-harassment order in pierce county and the respondent has a lawyer, can he make me pay his lawyer fees if the order doesn't pass?
In Washington, generally, each party is responsible for their own attorney's fees unless there is a specific statute or contractual agreement stating otherwise. However, the court has discretion and may order you to pay the respondent's attorney's fees if it finds your petition to be frivolous or brought in bad faith.
Do you need information on how to proceed with your filing?
What constitutes as brough in bad faith or frivolous?
In Washington, a case is considered brought in bad faith or frivolous if:
- The claim has no merit or factual basis.
- It is intended to harass, delay, or improperly burden the respondent.
- There is a lack of credible evidence supporting the claim.
Would you like more information on how to ensure your petition is not considered frivolous or brought in bad faith?
Thank you for responding
You're welcome, ****! To ensure your petition is not considered frivolous or brought in bad faith, make sure you have credible evidence and a legitimate reason for your claim, and avoid any intent to harass or improperly burden the respondent.
Would you like more details on the filing process or evidence gathering?