Welcome to Superior Court

General Information

Chelan County Superior Court is a court of general jurisdiction. Three Superior Court Judges presently serve Chelan County and one full-time Court Commissioner.

Department Number 1 - Judge Lesley A. Allan

Department Number 2 - Judge T.W. Small

Department Number 3 - Judge John E. Bridges

Court Commissioner - L. Bartlett Vandegrift

These judicial officers preside over criminal and civil cases including:

Crimes against persons Property crimes Divorces Juvenile crimes Probate of estates Personal injury actions

Adoptions Mental illness Matters of domestic violence Dependencies Other civil actions

Annual Report for 2009

As you will see in this year's annual report, the operations of your Superior Court has experienced dramatic changes these last several months. Fortunately, we have a number of dedicated persons who help us provide justice to all. Without their hard work and willingness to deal with all the changes, we would not be able to operate as efficiently as we have so far.

To read more << click here>>

 

Mandatory Arbitration

Any case filed in Chelan County in which the sole relief sought is a money judgment and involves no claim in excess of $35,000, exclusive of attorney fees, interest, and costs, is subject to mandatory arbitration. (MAR 1.2)

Cases meeting the above criteria are automatically transferred into arbitration at the same time they are set for trial. Any person wishing to note a case for trial setting and/or arbitration should do so on any given Friday at 9:30 a.m.

Appearance for trial setting motions is not required. Soon after the date that a case is docketed to be set for trial, each attorney or party will receive an arbitration packet from the Chelan County Arbitration Administrator.

Computer Aided Domestic Violence Protection Orders

The Superior Court may issue a domestic violence protection order when there are allegations of threats to do violence or actual violence between persons in a domestic relationship. Persons in a domestic relationship include but are not limited to: married or divorced couples, persons who have lived together or are living together, couples who are dating, and family members. To get a domestic violence protection order you must fill out four forms: (1) a petition for order for protection, (2) a temporary order for protection and notice of hearing, and (3) a law enforcement information sheet, and (4) a proposed order for protection.

Chelan County has a computer program available to help persons get a protection order. This program does not require the person using it to have any computer knowledge. It is designed to be self-guiding. You are simply asked by the computer to answer a series of questions regarding your situation. After answering the questions, the program prints the forms necessary to ask the court for a protection order using the information provided.

Chelan County is one of two counties in the state with this computer program. The interactive computer program is currently available at the Chelan County Courthouse in the Clerk's Office. The Clerk's Office is on the fifth level of the Courthouse and is open between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Persons wishing to use the computer program should contact Liz Hayes, the court facilitator in the Chelan County Clerk's Office, for assistance.

Guardianship Cases
Juvenile Dependency Cases
Domestic Relations Cases
Registry (a list of pre-approved Guardians ad Litem)

 

A Guardian ad Litem is a person appointed by the court to protect and represent the interests of one incapable of acting on his or her own behalf, such as child or incompetent person.

The Laws of Washington require that each court establish a registry of pre-approved guardians ad litem for each case type. The following is a summary of Chelan County procedures for the appointment of guardians ad litem.

 

Guardianship Cases ~ RCW 11.88.090 (3)(a), alleged incapacity, guardians ad litem will be appointed from the registry of those individuals pre-approved to serve in such cases. Appointments are made from a rotational registry except in extraordinary circumstances such as the need for particular expertise. Counsel and litigants may present fill-in-the-name orders appointing a GAL to the court. Counsel and litigants may contact the court’s GAL Registry Administrator for the next name on the rotational registry. Once a GAL has accepted an appointment, counsel and litigants are required to advise the Registry Administrator of the appointment. In the alternative, counsel and litigants may present fill-in-the-name orders appointing a GAL to the court.

 

Juvenile Dependency Cases ~ RCW 13.34.100, juvenile dependency, guardians ad litem appointed are volunteer CASAs from the Chelan-Douglas CASA/GAL Program.

 

Domestic Relations Cases ~ RCW 26.12.175,domestic relations, guardians ad litem will be appointed from the registry of those individuals pre-approved to serve in such cases. In such domestic relations cases the parties may stipulate to the appointment of one of the pre-approved guardians ad litem, and are encouraged to do so. In the event that the parties are not able or willing to so stipulate, one of the parties should contact the GAL Registry Administrator to request the next name on the rotational registry. Once a GAL has accepted an appointment, counsel and litigants are required to advise the Registry Administrator of the appointment. In the alternative, counsel and litigants may present fill-in-the-name orders appointing a GAL to the court.

Court Forms for appointing a GAL in a family law/domestic relations are available on the Washington State Court's webpage at Court Forms: Appointing a Guardian Ad Litem

 

Settlement GALS ~ Civil Matters, this list is NOT a rotational registry, but rather a list of Chelan/Douglas County attorneys who have indicated an interest in serving as guardians ad litem in civil matters requiring a settlement GAL.

 

List of Pre-Approved RCW 11.88 Guardians Ad Litem
List Of Pre-Approved RCW 26 Guardian Ad Litem
List of Minor Settlement Guardian Ad Litem

Weddings

Superior Court judges perform weddings during regular business hours on the Chelan County campus at no cost. Weddings are scheduled on an "as available" basis. Please call (509) 667-6210 to schedule a wedding.

Superior Court judges are also available to perform weddings during the evening and on weekends as their schedules permit. There is a charge for this service . Please contact the Judges' Chambers at (509) 667-6210 for pricing and availability.