Service of Legal Documents

The Civil Unit accepts legal documents for service, such as Notices of Small Claim, petitions for dissolution, summons, complaints and more. Due to the nature of process of service, it can take several weeks or more before service may be effected. Our office serves Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm and we require payment of our fees in advance.

Information Needed to Serve

To more effectively assist you, we will need to know information about the person(s) to be served. Information needed includes address(es), physical description, phone numbers, hazard information, and service deadlines and requirements. You may use the Request to Serve Documents to provide us with this information. It is your responsibility to provide this information to our office. We are unable to attempt service without a valid, physical address; we cannot serve papers at a P.O. Box. It is important to note we do not guarantee service.

Fees Charged

Fees are required in advance. Acceptable methods of payment are cash, check, or money order, if mailing in the paperwork, or cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card if bringing the paperwork in person. Check or money order should be made payable to "Spokane County Sheriff's Office".  Refunds may not apply regardless of completion of service.   

Below is a simplified version showing the minimum service fee per category. Additional fees may apply:

$55.00 - Summons & Complaint, Notice & Complaint, Summons & Petition, Notice of Small Claim (one person)

$80.00 - Summons & Complaint, Notice & Complaint, Summons & Petition, Notice of Small Claim (two people at the same address) - if more than 2 people to serve at the same address, add an additional $15.00 per person.

$85.00 - Subpoena

$120.00 - Writ of Restitution

See fee schedule below - For Executions, Order of Sale, Writ of Replevin, Writ of Attachment, Habeas Corpus and Garnishment

$60.00 - All other documents & supporting papers for which no fee is provided

$10.00 - Notary fee. Out of state paperwork is automatically notarized unless declined in writing

Please see the Sheriff's Fee Schedule for all fee requirements.   

ALERT: Mileage rate increase for 2023. The current rate is 65.5 cents per mile or $1.31 round trip. We comply with the federal government mileage business rates located on the IRS website

Mail to:

Spokane County Sheriff's Office
Attn:  Civil Division
1100 W Mallon Ave
Spokane, WA  99260


Paying a bill? Click Pay Online to pay by credit card.  You will need the Sheriff Number from your Statement of Fees letter.