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<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks all for the conversatoin on writs. I finally discovered some actual discussion in Am.Jur., so for everyone’s edification (or to promptly delete): Writs of assistance are also called writs of possession, and they are basically the
same as writs of execution and writs of restitution, all of which are designed to restore possession of property to a plaintiff. The difference, as Steve Whitehouse said, is purely historical and reflects the past distinction between chancery courts and courts
of law. Writs of assistance/possession were issued in equity courts, writs of execution and writs of restitution in courts of law. Since Washington’s Superior Court is a unified court of law and equity, it makes no never mind. Though in the LL/T context, it’s
definitely best to use the term writ of restitution since that’s how the statutes read.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com"><span style="color:#0563C1">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"> wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Patrick McDonald<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, December 20, 2023 7:14 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv <wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] Writ of Assistance vs Writ of Restitution?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My experience has been consistent with what Rob is saying. Writs of assistance issue following a judicial foreclosure or some other action to gain possession of real property with the exception of unlawful detainers, in which writs of restitution
are issued. The content of both writs seem to be substantially similar. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Patrick McDonald <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>ญญญญญญญญญญญ___________________________<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Pody & McDonald, PLLC<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1000 Second Avenue, Ste. 1605<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seattle, WA 98104<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">T: 206-467-1559<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">
<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> <<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Rod Harmon<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, December 19, 2023 11:01 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBARP] Writ of Assistance vs Writ of Restitution?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">I meant to include the following in my below post:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Washington courts have long used writs of assistance to place purchasers at judicial sales in possession of the property they have purchased when a prior occupant refuses to
vacate. <span style="color:black;background:white">Marjorie Dick Rombauer, </span>
27 Washington Practice, Creditors' Remedies ง 3.16 (2021); <i>Debenture Corp. v. Warren</i>, 9 Wn. 312, 314-15 (1894) (reversing denial of writ of assistance);
<i>Hagerman v. Heltzel</i>, 21 Wn. 444, 445-46 (1899) (affirming grant of writ of assistance). Washington courts issue writs of assistance when they have jurisdiction over the purchaser, the party in possession, and the property at issue.
<i>Security Savings and Loan Assoc. v. Busch</i>, 84 Wn.2d 52, 54 (1974) (affirming grant of writ of assistance). A writ of assistance is the appropriate process to issue from a court to place a execution sale purchaser in possession of the property as against
parties who are bound by the judgment and who refuse to surrender possession. <i>
Terrell v. Allison</i>, 88 U.S. 289, 291 (1874)). “It would be destructive of the due administration of justice if any court having custody of the res and authority to sell it should be without jurisdiction to put the purchaser in possession.”
<i> In re Benson-Beckmann Paint Co</i>., 36 F.2d 580, 580 (5th Cir. 1929).</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Rod Harmon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">RODNEY T. HARMON</span></b><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"> Attorney at Law</span></b><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"> P.O. Box 1066</span><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"> Bothell, WA 98041</span><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"> Tel: (425) 402-7800</span><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"> Fax: (425) 458-9096</span><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"> <a href="http://www.rodharmon.com/">www.rodharmon.com</a></span><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"> <a href="mailto:rodharmon@msn.com">rodharmon@msn.com</a></span><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"> Rod Harmon
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, December 19, 2023 10:56 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> RE: Writ of Assistance vs Writ of Restitution?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">I have always used a writ of assistance to gain possession after the expiration of the redemption period after a judicial execution or foreclosure sale, and a writ of restitution in a landlord
– tenant situation..<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Rod Harmon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">RODNEY T. HARMON</span></b><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"> Attorney at Law</span></b><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"> P.O. Box 1066</span><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"> Bothell, WA 98041</span><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"> Tel: (425) 402-7800</span><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"> Fax: (425) 458-9096</span><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"> <a href="http://www.rodharmon.com/">www.rodharmon.com</a></span><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"> <a href="mailto:rodharmon@msn.com">rodharmon@msn.com</a></span><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">
<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> <<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Eric Nelsen<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, December 19, 2023 4:06 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBARP] Writ of Assistance vs Writ of Restitution?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Is there a legal or practical difference between a “writ of assistance” to recover possession of real property, and a “writ of restitution” to recover possession of real property? The tenancy statutes refer to writ of restitution, many
old cases refer to writ of assistance, and I’ve seen both in use but it’s not clear to me if the sheriff cares which one is used.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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