Can I record a call in Washington?

Not without everyone agreeing, but an announcement counts. Washington requires the consent of all parties to record a private communication, and treats consent as given when the recording is announced to everyone and the announcement is recorded.

All-party consent Everyone in the conversation has to agree before it is recorded.

General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed September 2026. Laws change and facts differ; check before you rely on any line here, and ask a lawyer licensed where you record for anything that matters.

What the rule means

The announcement has to be made in a reasonably effective way to all parties, and it has to be part of the recording.
In practice: start recording, then say that the call is being recorded. That sentence on the recording is your record of consent.
Information obtained in breach of the statute is generally inadmissible in court.

Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 2511(2)(d)) allows a participant to record unless the recording is made to commit a crime or a tort. State law can ask for more.

The law

RCW 9.73.030 (intercepting or recording private communication)
RCW 9.73.060 (civil action)
RCW 9.73.080 (penalties)

A violation is a gross misdemeanour, and the person recorded can bring a civil claim.

When the others are somewhere else

The announce-and-record method also satisfies most other all-party places, which makes it a sensible default for any call. Video meetings are treated like phone calls, and the strictest rule that applies to anyone on the call is the one to follow.

What to say

Say it at the start, before anything else, and say it again when someone joins late.

“Quick note before we start: I’m recording and transcribing this meeting on my own computer for my notes. It isn’t shared with anyone unless I send it to you. Let me know if you’d rather I didn’t.”

How Recordist fits

You are the participant. Recordist records your own microphone and the audio arriving at your computer. No bot joins the call.
It asks before every recording. Nothing records until you confirm, and the confirm card can show the sentence above as a reminder.
The notice is still yours to give. Software cannot give consent for the other people. In Washington State, tell them and get their agreement first.

Recordist is opening in small waves. Ask for a place.