Washington Order on Demand for Arbitration is a form of dispute resolution in which parties consent to binding arbitration. It is commonly used in Washington state and is authorized by the Revised Code of Washington (R.C.W.) Chapter 7.04. It is available to parties who are in a dispute and agree to have their dispute settled through arbitration rather than in court. There are two types of Washington Order on Demand for Arbitration: voluntary and mandatory. Voluntary arbitration is initiated by the parties who are in dispute, who agree to submit their dispute to arbitration, and who sign a written agreement to do so. Mandatory arbitration is initiated by a court order, typically issued after a motion is filed by one of the parties. The process of arbitration typically involves the appointment of an arbitrator (or a panel of arbitrators) who will hear evidence, weigh arguments, and render a final decision that is legally binding on the parties. The decision of the arbitrator is typically final and cannot be appealed, except in very limited circumstances. The costs of arbitration may be shared by the parties, or the court may order one party to pay all the costs.