This publication is designed to be used in conjunction with other materials in a training session taught by a KCLL reference librarian. If you would like a class designed for your reference staff, please contact the Library at (206) 296-0940. If you would like to incorporate this material in your own class, please call the Library for permission.

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General Legal Resource Sites (1)

King County Law Library – Research Help
The KCLL web site is a good place to begin your Internet legal research, particularly if your topic is very broad. Check out our Self-Help Resources links.

King County Law Library - Glossary of Legal Terms
You may also want to check our glossary of legal terms. The legal terms are often different from the ones we use daily (such as: “Dissolution of marriage” for divorce)

Washington Courts – Court Forms
How and where to find Washington State Pattern forms.

LegalWa.Org – State statutes and cases, county, and city codes

King County Law Library – Sources of the Law
The actual laws that local, state and federal governments are enforcing. This includes ordinances, statutes, treaties, and court decisions.

Legal Resource Sites - Forms (2)

Good web sites for forms will provide you with forms that are up-to-date, full-sized, and accurate for the jurisdiction to which they apply.

Washington Law Help has many good standard and sample forms

Standard or “sample” forms may be blank forms the patron fills in (similar to the state pattern forms for family law). Other forms must follow state law, with the web site providing a guide for structure. However, the individual creates the form from scratch.

Divorce – Legal term is Dissolution of Marriage
www.kcll.org
Choose Research Guides then Family Law, then Dissolution, then Forms from the Court’s web site
www.washingtonlawhelp.org
Choose Family Law, then Dissolution of Marriage, or choose Do-It Yourself Family Law packets.

Eviction – Legal term you need to find is Landlord/Tenant or Just Cause
www.kcll.org
Choose Research Guides, then Residential Landlord/Tenant Law
www.washingtonlawhelp.org
Choose Housing, then Eviction, then Eviction and Your Defense

If your patron needs to know how to respond to an Unlawful Detainer action, choose the portion of the pamphlet on “How do you answer the Summons and Complaint?”. This includes the forms for the Notice of Appearance and the Answer, Affirmative Defenses and Setoffs.

Tenants Union
The Tenants Union website has a lot of good information, including forms for requesting repairs and getting your deposit back.

Immigration forms - Immigration is a federal matter.
However, Washington Law Help web site has some immigration forms. Choose Immigration. This site has some great links to other web sites that may contain the necessary forms.

Many immigration issues are too complicated for the available web sites. For instance, for a polygamy immigration question – you need the legal textbooks dealing with immigration – and an attorney. This is a perfect time to refer them to an attorney or to our library for materials that will address this type of issue..

Power of Attorney (3)
Washington Law Help
Choose Aging/Elder Law, then Guardianships & Powers of Attorney

Petition for Review (such as an appeal of an unemployment benefit decision)
Washington Law Help
Choose Government Benefits, then Unemployment Compensation, then How to Appeal a Denial of Unemployment Benefits to Superior Court.

You will also find a link to this from the KCLL Research Guide Administrative Appeals

Quit claim Deed
Washington Law Help
Choose Housing, then Home Owners or Choose Consumer & Debt , then choose Home Owners

Small Claims Court
How to take someone to Small Claims Court and the forms to use. Small Claims Court is for money only. The current limit is $4000.
Washington Law Help
Choose Consumer and Debt, then Small Claims Court

Or go to the King County District Court Guide to Small Claims Court.
Or for more forms and How to Collect Small Claims Judgment go to the King County Bar Association's page

Living Will – a hot topic currently
Washington Law Help
Choose Aging/Elder Law, then choose Wills, Probate and Alternatives. Then choose Questions and Answers on Living Wills.

Legal Resource Sites - Primary Sources (4)

Can I search for a Seattle city ordinance on the vacation (giving up possession) of a street? I think it was in about 1955 and the street was West Dravus.
To get to the Seattle Municipal Code site, you can go to www.kcll.org. Choose Research Links, then Local Links, then Laws - Seattle Municipal Code.

Or, www.spl.org
Choose Databases and Web sites, then Categories – Government, then Law and Legal, then Seattle Municipal Code. Once you’re there, choose the Home Button at the top left corner of the page then Search Legislative Databases, then City Council Bills and Ordinances. Search the Title field – using street AND vacation AND Dravus – 2 ordinances will show up. The second one is the 1955 vacation.

Where can I find old Session laws for the state of Washington?
Much older primary law is not available via the Internet. The example of Seattle City ordinances is unusual. If you need an old law of the state of Washington – early 1900s – you will need to direct the patron to paper copies.

What are the sentencing guidelines for Washington?
www.kcll.org
Choose Research Links, then Washington State, then Courts - Adult Sentencing Guidelines Manual. This is the current one. Choose Commission Publications to find older ones.

I want to see past years of the CFR (Code of Federal Regulations).
www.kcll.org
Choose Research Links, then Federal, then Code of Federal Regulations. Choose Browse and/or Search. You can find the CFR back to 1996 at this site.

Or, for Federal Register to go www.kcll.org. Choose Research Links, then Federal, then Federal Register. You can search the Federal Register back to 1994.

How can I find out information about my traffic ticket?
The legal term for a traffic ticket is traffic infraction. Traffic is governed by primary law, the Washington state code (RCW) and often by City or County codes. There are a number of good guides for dealing with traffic tickets. Go to www.kcll.org. Choose Research Guides, then Traffic Infraction Research Guide. This guide will lead to the King County District Court’s guide plus the IRLJ – Infraction Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction - the court rules that must be followed when contesting a ticket.