When parents separate or divorce, the court will issue a comprehensive parenting plan that addresses when the child spends time with each parent. As the child grows and situations change, one or both parents may seek a modification to the existing parenting plan. All modifications, whether they are major or minor, must be based on…
In order to qualify for a child support modification under Washington law, it must be two years or more since your child support order was entered by the court or reviewed for a possible modification, or there must be a substantial change in circumstances that occurred since the order was last entered or modified. There…
In the state of Washington, the child’s preferences are one of the factors that a court will consider in making a determination about the contents of a parenting plan, which includes custody and visitation. The court may give more weight to a child’s opinion if the child is older and sufficiently mature to express a…
Genetic testing occurs in the context of a parentage or paternity action, which is a formal legal proceeding in which a male can establish legal rights to a child as his or her biological father. Either the mother of the child or the alleged father begins a parentage action by filing a petition to establish…
Like most states’ laws, Washington’s laws about child custody cases focus on the best interest of the child. There are a variety of factors that contribute to a child’s best interest, and a judge must consider those factors that are relevant in determining what custody and visitation arrangements are best for a child. The goal…
When a child is born to married parents, there is no need for either parent to take steps to establish their parental rights; Washington law presumes that a child born during a marriage is the legal child of both the mother and the father. When a child is born outside of a marriage, however, a…
Washington law does not prohibit parties from getting a divorce if the wife is currently pregnant. However, there are some unique legal issues that are likely to arise in this context regarding the unborn child, whether the child is born during the marriage or in the months following the divorce. Individuals who find themselves in…
Grandparents often wonder whether they have any legal rights to see and visit with their grandchildren under Washington law. This is most often an issue when there is a strained relationship between grandparents and their own children, or some sort of family estrangement. Currently, however, Washington law does not provide for grandparents to have court-ordered…
There are two main ways under Washington law to legally establish paternity for a child who is born outside of a marriage. A father can sign a paternity acknowledgment form, which establishes him as the child’s legal father. Alternatively, a court can issue an order that establishes a man as the legal father of the…