What forms do i need to file to tart proceedings to recover a debt of approx $25,000 from a couple

You would have to file a lawsuit against them to try and recover the obligation to you. This is beyond the small claims limits, so you would have to file in a court of general jurisdiction that can get personal jurisdiction over them in Washington. Lawsuits are extremely technical and can be booted out of court for failure to follow all local and state rules of civil procedure. If you're not sure how to proceed, you should definitely hire a lawyer to help you.

I would urge you to obtain an attorney to represent you on this matter. Finding the forms is easy compared to actually collecting the money. To collect on a debt of this size will require a great deal of skill & experience, unless your only objective is to embarrass your sister & start a family feud. Hope this perspective helps!

When deciding if you should sue someone there are two essential requirements. First, did the person who you think violated your rights have a duty to refrain from the activity that you think would form the basis of a suit or did they have a legal duty to do something and they did not do it. It is very difficult to determine the answer to that question based on the facts you list because it will depend on State law and possibly administrative law in your State and under Federal Law. The second essential is where there compensable damages? Damages for which a Court can award you monetary awards or injunctive relief (order the other person to do something or stop doing something). If you have both of these elements you may sue. However, lawsuits take a high degree of expertise and cost money. Many clients have come to me through the years and stated that the money did not matter to them, just the principal of the issue! When I tell them how much I and other lawyers charge by the hour it becomes obvious to them that the value of the lawsuit damages is very important. You can seek out your lawyer referral service to seek counsel. There are agencies of the State and Federal Government you may want to contact. Talk to a lawyer before you decide to sue someone for expert legal advice! REQUEST: Please give this answer a "thumbs up"(below) if you find it valuable. Good Luck!