King County, Washington: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is King County District Court, Small Claims Department in Seattle (multiple divisions: Seattle, Shoreline, Kent, Redmond, Burien, Issaquah, Federal Way, Vashon). Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: $50 (statewide fee under RCW 12.40.020). Claims up to $10,000. Washington return time: 30 days. ACS two-bedroom rent: $2,198. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	King County District Court, Small Claims Department
City	Seattle (multiple divisions: Seattle, Shoreline, Kent, Redmond, Burien, Issaquah, Federal Way, Vashon)
Address	516 Third Ave E-327, Seattle, WA 98104
Phone	206-205-9200
Statewide filing fee	$50 (statewide fee under RCW 12.40.020)
E-filing	Yes, see filing page
Small claims limit	$10,000 (statewide)
State deposit return deadline	30 days after Termination of the rental agreement and vacation of the premises (or, if tenant abandons, within 30 days after landlord learns of the abandonment).
Time limit to sue	3 years
Deposit statute	RCW 59.18.260, RCW 59.18.280 (Residential Landlord-Tenant Act)

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Details

Limits: $10,000 (statewide).

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Details of the return rules

Washington statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
Deposit return	30 days	Termination of the rental agreement and vacation of the premises (or, if tenant abandons, within 30 days after landlord learns of the abandonment)

Washington return rule: 30 days. Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: King County District Court, Small Claims Department. Check venue on the official court page or with the clerk.

Free dated DOCX by email. Print-ready state PDF kit: $29. Letter preparation and mailing: $49.

Who do you name in the claim?

Find and compare the legal names

Find and compare the legal names in these records:

The lease: the Landlord or Owner line and who signed.
The deposit receipt or the account your rent went to.
The owner of record in the property records of King County.
The Washington business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Washington Secretary of State

A registered agent receives court papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

This page shows where the names are recorded; it does not decide who is legally liable.

What to bring to the clerk

Your lease.
Deposit receipt or payment record.
The demand letter and proof of delivery.
Move-out photos and an inventory or condition report.

Check the Washington filing procedure before you go.

Court forms

Service methods: private process server; constable or sheriff.

Procedure source (high confidence): The filing fee will be either $35 or $50 depending on whether the county where the case is filed supports a dispute resolution center.

Is it worth filing here?

Illustration: a deposit equal to one month's ACS median gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) for a home in King County. This is calculated from rent, not measured deposits. The statutory amount requires the rule's conditions.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms	Deposit owed	Statutory amount	Total illustration	Limit check
1	$1,813	$1,813	$3,626	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim
2	$2,198	$2,198	$4,396	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim
3	$2,611	$2,611	$5,222	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim
4	$3,087	$3,087	$6,174	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070; accessed 2026-09-21. Penalty rule.

How does King County compare with other Washington counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $2,198: rank 1 of 38 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 43.9% of households rent in King County.

King County two-bedroom rent $2,198, rank 1 of 38 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
King County	$2,198
Snohomish County	$1,841
Kitsap County	$1,719
Pierce County	$1,705
Thurston County	$1,605
San Juan County	$1,586

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 38 of 39 listed counties. Census source.

Places in King County

Algona
Auburn
Beaux Arts Village
Bellevue
Black Diamond
Bothell
Burien
Carnation
Clyde Hill
Covington
Des Moines
Duvall
Enumclaw
Federal Way
Hunts Point
Issaquah
Kenmore
Kent
Kirkland
Lake Forest Park
Maple Valley
Medina
Mercer Island
Milton
Newcastle

And 14 more.

These are Census places in the county. Check the rental's address with the clerk to find the court.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file

Free legal help

Northwest Justice Project: Free legal help for eligible Washington renters facing eviction; phone is the statewide Eviction Defense Screening Line.
Tenants Union of Washington State: Free tenant-rights education and counseling by trained non-attorney counselors, including landlord-tenant questions and preventing housing loss; not attorney representation.

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in King County?

Statewide filing fee: $50 (statewide fee under RCW 12.40.020).

Where do I file a deposit claim in King County?

King County District Court, Small Claims Department is listed. Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk. Court page

Who should I name in the claim?

Compare the legal names on the lease, deposit receipt, property records and business registry. A registered agent receives papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

What should I bring to the clerk?

Bring your lease, deposit receipt, demand letter, proof of delivery, photos and any move-out inventory.