The Washington Petition for Instruction (WEI) is a process used by Washington courts to allow interested persons to request a court to provide instruction on a legal issue that is within the court’s jurisdictionTheirPI is an alternative to filing a lawsuit, and is typically used when the petitioner cannot find a legal remedy within the existing law or when the petitioner believes the court should provide direction on a legal issue. The WEI is divided into two types: the petition for advisory opinion and the petition for declaratory judgment. A petition for advisory opinion is used when the petitioner requests the court’s opinion on a legal matter without the need for a court order or judgment. A petition for declaratory judgment is used when the petitioner requests a court order or judgment to resolve a legal dispute. Both types of petitions include a statement of facts and the law that the petitioner believes is applicable to the situation. Once the petition has been submitted, the court has the discretion to either deny or accept the case and provide an instruction or judgment. If the court accepts the case, the petitioner may be required to provide additional information or to engage in further proceedings.