Washington § 5.56.010 - When witnesses must attend — Fees and allowances.

Full text of Washington Revised Code of Washington § 5.56.010 — When witnesses must attend — Fees and allowances., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 5.56.010. When witnesses must attend — Fees and allowances.

Except as provided in RCW 7.115.020, any person may be compelled to attend as a witness before any court of record, judge, commissioner, or referee, in any civil action or proceeding in this state. No such person shall be compelled to attend as a witness in any civil action or proceeding unless the fees are paid or tendered to such person which are allowed by law for one day's attendance as a witness and for traveling to and returning from the place where he or she is required to attend, together with any allowance for meals and lodging theretofore fixed as specified herein: PROVIDED, That such fees be demanded by any witness residing within the same county where such court of record, judge, commissioner, or referee is located, or within twenty miles of the place where such court is located, at the time of service of the subpoena: PROVIDED FURTHER, That a party desiring the attendance of a witness residing outside of the county in which such action or proceeding is pending, or more than twenty miles of the place where such court is located, shall apply ex parte to such court, or to the judge, commissioner, referee, or clerk thereof, who, if such application be granted and a subpoena issued, shall fix without notice an allowance for meals and lodging, if any to be allowed, together with necessary travel expenses, and the amounts so fixed shall be endorsed upon the subpoena and tendered to such witness at the time of the service of the subpoena: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the court shall fix and allow at or after trial such additional amounts for meals, lodging, and travel as it may deem reasonable for the attendance of such witness.
[ 2023 c 193 s 4; 2011 c 336 s 141; 1963 c 19 s 1; 1891 c 19 s 2; Code 1881 s 393; 1877 p 87 s 395; 1869 p 104 s 388; 1863 p 156 s 69; 1854 p 187 s 295; RRS s 1215.]

Notes

Rules of court: Cf. CR 4(f).
Effective date—2023 c 193: See note following RCW 7.115.020.
District court, attachment, damages for nonappearance: RCW 12.16.030, 12.16.050.
Power to compel attendance of persons to testify: RCW 2.28.010, 2.28.020, 2.28.060, 2.28.070.
Salaried public officers shall not receive additional compensation as witness on behalf of employer, and in certain other cases: RCW 42.16.020.
Witness fees and mileage: Chapter 2.40 RCW.

Source: official Washington text · Last verified 2026-08-27

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Frequently Asked Questions About Washington § 5.56.010

What does Revised Code of Washington § 5.56.010 cover?

Section 5.56.010 ("When witnesses must attend — Fees and allowances.") is part of the Revised Code of Washington, the codified statutory law of Washington. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

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