Group 6: Trials · Last amended September 1, 2005 · Last verified July 13, 2026
In one sentenceRule 52 requires courts to make separate findings of fact and conclusions of law after a trial without a jury, lists when findings are required or unnecessary, and sets deadlines for amending and presenting them.
(1)Generally. In all actions tried upon the facts without a jury or with an advisory jury, the court shall find the facts specially and state separately its conclusions of law. Judgment shall be entered pursuant to rule 58 and may be entered at the same time as the entry of the findings of fact and the conclusions of law.
(2)Specifically required. Without in any way limiting the requirements of subsection (1), findings and conclusions are required:
(A)Temporary injunctions. In granting or refusing temporary injunctions.
(B)Domestic relations. In connection with all final decisions in adoption, custody, and divorce proceedings, whether heard ex parte or not. In all cases in which the court makes specific findings of physical or sexual abuse or exploitation of a child the court shall direct the court clerk to notify the state patrol of the findings pursuant to RCW 43.43.840.
(C)Other. In connection with any other decision where findings and conclusions are specifically required by statute, by another rule, or by a local rule of the superior court.
(3)Proposed. Requests for proposed findings of fact are not necessary for review.
(4)Form. If a written opinion or memorandum of decision is filed, it will be sufficient if formal findings of fact and conclusions of law are included.
(5)When unnecessary. Findings of fact and conclusions of law are not necessary:
(A)Stipulation. Where all parties stipulate in writing that there will be no appeal.
(B)Decision on motions. On decisions of motions under rules 12 or 56 or any other motion, except as provided in rules 41(b)(3) and 55(b)(2).
(C)Temporary restraining orders. On the issuance of temporary restraining orders issued ex parte.
(b)Amendment of findings. Upon motion of a party filed not later than 10 days after entry of judgment the court may amend its findings or make additional findings and may amend the judgment accordingly. The motion may be made with a motion for a new trial pursuant to rule 59. When findings of fact are made in actions tried by the court without a jury, the question of the sufficiency of evidence to support the findings may thereafter be raised whether or not the party raising the question has made in the court an objection to such findings or has made a motion to amend them or a motion for judgment.
(c)Presentation. Unless an emergency is shown to exist, or a party has failed to appear at a hearing or trial, the court shall not sign findings of fact or conclusions of law until the defeated party or parties have received 5 days’ notice of the time and place of the submission, and have been served with copies of the proposed findings and conclusions. Persons who have failed to appear at a hearing or trial after notice, may, in the discretion of the trial court, be deemed to have waived their right to notice of presentation or previous review of the proposed findings and conclusions.
(d)Judgment without findings, etc. A judgment entered in a case tried to the court where findings are required, without findings of fact having been made, is subject to a motion to vacate within the time for the taking of an appeal. After vacation, the judgment shall not be reentered until findings are entered pursuant to this rule.
(e)Time limit for decision. [Reserved. See RCW 2.08.240.]
Amendment History
Prior: 52(a)(1), RPPP Rule 52.04W; 52(c) and (d), RPPP Rule 52.08W. Adopted May 5, 1967, effective July 1, 1967; amended, adopted June 5, 1985, effective Sept. 1, 1985; amended, adopted Dec. 15, 1987, effective Jan. 1, 1988, amended June 2, 2005, effective Sept. 1, 2005.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 52 governs findings of fact and conclusions of law after a case is tried to the court rather than a jury, or with an advisory jury. Section (a) requires the court to find the facts specially and state its legal conclusions separately, with judgment entered under Rule 58, possibly at the same time as the findings and conclusions. Beyond that general requirement, findings and conclusions are specifically required when the court grants or refuses a temporary injunction, in final decisions on adoption, custody, and divorce (including notifying the state patrol under RCW 43.43.840 when the court finds physical or sexual abuse or exploitation of a child), and whenever any other statute, rule, or local rule specifically calls for them. A party does not need to submit proposed findings for the case to be reviewable, and a filed written opinion or memorandum of decision can itself serve as the formal findings and conclusions if it is sufficient. Findings and conclusions are unnecessary where the parties stipulate in writing that there will be no appeal, on decisions of motions under Rule 12 or 56 or most other motions (apart from the exceptions in Rules 41(b)(3) and 55(b)(2)), and on ex parte temporary restraining orders.
Section (b) lets a party move to amend the court's findings, or ask for additional findings and a corresponding amendment to the judgment, within 10 days after entry of judgment; this motion can be combined with a Rule 59 motion for new trial. Even without such a motion or a prior objection to the findings, a party may still challenge whether the evidence was sufficient to support them. Section (c) requires 5 days' notice to the losing party or parties before the court signs findings or conclusions, along with service of the proposed findings and conclusions, unless an emergency exists or the party failed to appear at the hearing or trial — in which case the court may treat that party as having waived notice or a chance to review the proposal beforehand. Section (d) makes a judgment entered without required findings subject to a motion to vacate within the time allowed for appeal, and bars re-entering the judgment until findings are made. Section (e), covering any time limit for decision, is reserved to RCW 2.08.240.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does a Washington superior court have to enter written findings of fact?
Whenever a civil case is tried to the court without a jury, or with only an advisory jury, the court must find the facts specially and state its conclusions of law separately. Findings and conclusions are also specifically required for temporary injunction rulings, final adoption, custody, and divorce decisions, and any other matter where a statute, rule, or local rule requires them.
Does a party have to submit proposed findings to preserve issues for appeal?
No. Section (a)(3) states that requests for proposed findings of fact are not necessary for review.
When are findings and conclusions not required?
They are unnecessary if all parties stipulate in writing that there will be no appeal, on decisions of Rule 12 or 56 motions or most other motions (except as Rules 41(b)(3) and 55(b)(2) provide otherwise), and on temporary restraining orders issued ex parte.
How long does a party have to move to amend the court's findings?
A motion to amend the findings, or for additional findings with a corresponding change to the judgment, must be filed not later than 10 days after entry of judgment. It may be combined with a motion for a new trial under Rule 59.
How much notice does the losing party get before the court signs findings?
Absent an emergency or the party's failure to appear at the hearing or trial, section (c) requires 5 days' notice of the time and place of presentation, along with service of the proposed findings and conclusions.
What happens if a judgment is entered without required findings?
Under section (d), the judgment is subject to a motion to vacate within the time allowed for taking an appeal, and it cannot be re-entered until findings are made as this rule requires.
Does Rule 52 set a deadline for the court itself to decide a case?
Section (e) reserves that question to RCW 2.08.240 rather than setting a deadline in the rule text.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Washington Superior Court Civil Rules, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Washington. Last verified July 13, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:findings of fact and conclusions of lawamending findings after judgmentpresentation of proposed findingsjudgment entered without findingsbench trial findings Washington