Opinion 2026

It is the opinion of the committee that, whether or not it is practicing law, the production and sale of legal forms for securing evictions under the Residential Landlord Tenant Act along with an informational brochure is authorized. As with any written communication, you must be certain to comply with the requirements for accuracy and completeness of RPC 7.1. Compliance with that rule and with RPC 7.3 also require that you make it clear, as you propose, that you and the library are not undertaking to act as an attorney for the purchaser. The committee does not opine about the civil liability of issuing and distributing the forms and brochures.

Advisory Opinions are provided for the education of the Bar and reflect the opinion of the Committee on Professional Ethics (CPE) or its predecessors. Advisory Opinions are provided pursuant to the authorization granted by the Board of Governors, but are not individually approved by the Board and do not reflect the official position of the Bar association. Laws other than the Washington State Rules of Professional Conduct may apply to the inquiry. The Committee's answer does not include or opine about any other applicable law other than the meaning of the Rules of Professional Conduct.