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Washington Juvenile Court Rules – 2026

The Washington Juvenile Court Rules (JuCR) govern proceedings in the juvenile courts of Washington State, including shelter care, dependency, termination of the parent-child relationship, and juvenile offense proceedings.

Browse all 82 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

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Title 1 - Scope and Application of Rules Title 2 - Shelter Care Proceedings Title 3 - Dependency Proceedings Title 4 - Proceedings to Terminate Parent-Child Relationship Title 5 - Proceedings For Alternative Residential Placement Title 5A Proceedings For At-Risk Youth Title 6 - Juvenile Offense Proceedings--Diversion Agreements Title 7 - Juvenile Offense Proceedings in Juvenile Court Title 8 - Declining Juvenile Court Jurisdiction Over An Alleged Juvenile Offender Title 9 - Right to Lawyer and Experts in All Juvenile Court Proceedings Title 10 - Juvenile Court Records Title 11 - Supplemental Provisions

Title 1 - Scope and Application of Rules

Rule 1.1 Scope of Rules Rule 1.2 Jurisdiction of Juvenile Court Rule 1.3 Definitions Rule 1.4 Applicability of Other Rules Rule 1.5 Continuation of Actions Rule 1.6 Physical Restraints in the Courtroom

Title 2 - Shelter Care Proceedings

Rule 2.1 Placement of Juvenile in Shelter Care Generally Rule 2.2 Release of Juvenile From Shelter Care Without Hearing Rule 2.3 Right to and Notice of Shelter Care Hearing Rule 2.4 Procedure at Shelter Care Hearing Rule 2.5 Amendment of Shelter Care Order

Title 3 - Dependency Proceedings

Rule 3.1 Invoking Jurisdiction of Juvenile Court Rule 3.2 Who May File Petition--Venue Rule 3.3 Content of Dependency Petition Rule 3.4 Notice and Summons--Scheduling of Factfinding Hearing Rule 3.5 Amendment of Petition Rule 3.6 Answer to Petition Rule 3.7 Factfinding Hearing Rule 3.8 Disposition Hearing Rule 3.9 Review Hearing Rule 3.10 Modification of Order Rule 3.11 Guardianship in Juvenile Court

Title 4 - Proceedings to Terminate Parent-Child Relationship

Rule 4.1 Invoking Jurisdiction of Juvenile Court Rule 4.2 Pleadings Rule 4.3 Notice of Termination Hearing

Title 5 - Proceedings For Alternative Residential Placement

Rule 5.1 Invoking Jurisdiction of Juvenile Court Rule 5.2 Pleadings Rule 5.3 Scheduling of Factfinding Hearing Rule 5.4 Notice of Factfinding Hearing Rule 5.5 Procedure at Factfinding Hearing Rule 5.6 Disposition Hearing Rule 5.7 Review Hearing

Title 5A Proceedings For At-Risk Youth

Rule 5A.1 Invoking Jurisdiction of Juvenile Court Rule 5A.2 Scheduling of Fact-Finding Hearing Rule 5A.3 Notice of Fact-Finding Hearing Rule 5A.4 Procedure at Fact-Finding Hearing Rule 5A.5 Disposition Hearing Rule 5A.6 Review Hearing

Title 6 - Juvenile Offense Proceedings--Diversion Agreements

Rule 6.1 Eligibility for Diversion Rule 6.2 Right To Consult With a Lawyer Rule 6.3 Waiver of Right to Lawyer Rule 6.4 Advice About Diversion Process Rule 6.5 Rescinded Rule 6.6 Termination of Diversion Agreement

Title 7 - Juvenile Offense Proceedings in Juvenile Court

Rule 7.1 Invoking Juvenile Court Jurisdiction Rule 7.2 Information Rule 7.3 Detention and Release Rule 7.4 Detention Hearing Rule 7.5 Issuance of Summons or Warrant Rule 7.6 Arraignment and Pleas Rule 7.7 Statement of Juvenile on Plea of Guilty Rule 7.8 Time for Adjudicatory Hearing Rule 7.9 Joinder of Offenses and Consolidation of Adjudicatory Hearings Rule 7.10 Severance of Offenses and Consolidated Hearings Rule 7.11 Adjudicatory Hearing Rule 7.12 Disposition Hearing Rule 7.13 Release Pending Appellate Review Rule 7.14 Modification of Disposition Order Rule 7.15 Waiver of Right to Counsel Rule 7.16 Quashing and Issuing Warrants

Title 8 - Declining Juvenile Court Jurisdiction Over An Alleged Juvenile Offender

Rule 8.1 Time for Decline Hearing Rule 8.2 Procedure at Decline Hearing

Title 9 - Right to Lawyer and Experts in All Juvenile Court Proceedings

Rule 9.1 Child in Need of Services and at Risk Youth Petition-Mandatory Appointment of Layer Rule 9.2 Additional Right to Representation by Lawyer Rule 9.2 Stds Standards for Indigent Defense Rule 9.3 Right to Appointment of Experts in Juvenile Offense Proceedings and Assignment of Lawyer

Title 10 - Juvenile Court Records

Rule 10.1 Scope of Title 10 Rule 10.2 Recording Juvenile Court Proceedings Rule 10.3 Access of Parent to Records (Rescinded) Rule 10.4 Motions Concerning Juvenile Records (Rescinded) Rule 10.5 Access to Official Juvenile Court Files (Reserved) Rule 10.6 Challenging Juvenile Court Records (Reserved) Rule 10.7 Sealing Juvenile Court Records (Reserved) Rule 10.8 Destruction of Juvenile Court Records (Reserved) Rule 10.9 Only Complete Information Released (Reserved)

Title 11 - Supplemental Provisions

Rule 11.1 Computing Time Rule 11.2 Notice of Proceeding Rule 11.3 Notice to Foster Parents, Preadoptive Parents, Nonrelative Caregivers, or Relative Caregivers Rule 11.21 Title and Citation of Rules Rule 11.22 Rules Superseded Rule 11.23 Proceedings Using Remote Technology Authorized Rule 11.4-11.20 Reserved