A Death Somebody Caused
RCW 4.20.020 — spouse, partner and children first, then parents or siblings
In Washington, when a death is caused by the wrongful act, neglect or default of another person, the personal representative may sue the person who caused it for the economic and noneconomic damages the listed beneficiaries sustained, in amounts the trier of fact finds just, whether or not the death amounts in law to a felony.
For whom. The action is for the spouse, state registered domestic partner, and children, including stepchildren. If there is none of them, it may be maintained for the parents or siblings of the deceased.
| The question | The statute's answer |
|---|---|
| The questionWho files | The statute's answerThe personal representative |
| The questionFor whom | The statute's answerSpouse, registered domestic partner and children including stepchildren, or if none, parents or siblings |
| The questionWhat is compensated | The statute's answerEconomic and noneconomic damages to those beneficiaries, as the trier of fact finds just |
The time limit for filing, the separate survival action and the rules on a parent's claim for a child are not all on this page. Whether a particular death gives rise to an action, and who should bring it, are questions for a licensed Washington attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- RCW 4.20.010 — Wrongful death — Right of action
- RCW 4.20.020 — Wrongful death — Beneficiaries of action
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Washington attorney.