Opinion ID: 2633484
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Failure to Issue a Citation Deprives the Court of Personal Jurisdiction Over a Party to a Will Contest

Text: ¶ 7 A will contest is a statutory proceeding governed by chapter 11.24 RCW. A party contesting a will must file a petition in the court with jurisdiction over the will. RCW 11.24.010. The party contesting the will must then request and serve a citation on all executors, administrators, and legatees of the will. [2] RCW 11.24.020. ¶ 8 A citation is equivalent to a civil summons, conferring personal jurisdiction over a party to a will contest. See In re Estate of Wheeler, 71 Wash.2d 789, 795, 431 P.2d 608 (1967). See also In re Murphy's Estate, 98 Wash. 548, 553, 168 P. 175 (1917) (A citation is the process designated by the statute in probate proceedings for bringing adverse parties into court. It is the counterpart of the summons in ordinary civil proceedings.). Proper service of process is essential to invoke personal jurisdiction over a party. In re Marriage of Markowski, 50 Wash.App. 633, 635-36, 749 P.2d 754 (1988). Accordingly, under RCW 11.24.020, failure to issue a citation deprives the court of personal jurisdiction over the party denied process.