Listing of self-help materials and informational publications.
There are 30 resources
General information
Parenting Plans (court orders about child custody)
3230EN - This publication provides general information about what a parenting plan is and how to get one. It also explains how to enforce or change a permanent parenting plan.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Child Custody Modification
3104EN - The word modification means a change. A custody modification is a court action that you can file when you want to change a final court order that sets out where your child lives and with whom he or she visits.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Read this in:
Chinese / 中文
Moving with Children: Washington's Relocation Law
3232EN - Washington State has recently changed the legal requirements for primary residential parents (the parent with whom a child resides the majority of the time, sometimes called "custodial" parent) who wish to move and take their children with them. These requirements became effective on June 8, 2000, but may apply to orders entered before that date, so it is important to read this publication step by step if you are thinking about relocating with your child.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How to Request a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) for Dissolution (Divorce) Cases 3103EN - A guardian ad litem (GAL) may be appointed when a court case involves custody or visitation rights. In dissolution (divorce) actions, a GAL may be involved when the parties are divorcing or when an action has been filed to modify the parenting plan established previously as part of a dissolution action. You will probably want to ask the court to appoint a GAL if you or your children have been physically or sexually abused. Even when there has not been abuse but there are serious issues as to the other party's ability to be an adequate parent, it is often necessary to appoint a GAL.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Working With GALs and Parenting Evaluators: Tips for Parents in Family Law Cases
3106EN - If you are involved in a divorce, paternity or nonparental custody case where the other parent does not agree with you, the court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) or Parenting Evaluator. This publication contains tips to help you work successfully with the GAL.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Mediation: Should I Use It?
(Separate Website)
3226EN - Mediation is an informal way to resolve disputes without going to court. The parties attempt to negotiate a mutually agreeable settlement with the help of a neutral mediator. Mediation can be used in many types of disputes.
By: Legal Voice
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Contempt of Court in a Family Law Case: The Basics
3107EN - This publication gives general information about the law concerning contempt in family law cases. It covers only the type of contempt most commonly used in family law cases, here called "coercive civil contempt". The main goal is to have a person who is violating a court order obey that order in the future.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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PDF File
Basic Tips on How to Prepare for a Court Hearing or Trial
3210EN - Tips on how to prepare for a hearing.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
How to Write a Declaration in a Family Law Case 3917EN - This publication tell you what a declaration is, what should be included and tips on how to write one. There is a family law declaration and forms attached that you can fill out.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Military Service and Parenting Plan Modifications: New Rights in Washington State
Parents serving in the armed forces who are involved in parenting plan modification cases should be aware of new laws passed for your protection effective July 26, 2009.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
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Filing an Agreed Petition for Parenting Plan (Custody) When Parentage Has Been Established 3603EN - This packet is intended to help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need if you are not married to the other parent of your child, the paternity of your child has already been established, and you and the other parent want to ask the court to enter an agreed residential schedule, parenting plan and/or child support court order. You should use this packet only if you and the other parent agree 100% about your parenting plan or child support and you just want to ask the court to enter final court orders that follow your agreement.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Petition to Modify/Adjust a Parenting Plan/Custody Decree in a Dissolution Case 3260EN - This packet contains forms and instructions for filing a petition to modify/adjust a parenting plan or custody decree. Use this packet only if you and the other parent have been divorced and already have a parenting plan/custody decree from a Washington State court.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Responding to a Petition to Modify/Adjust a Parenting Plan or Custody Decree in a Dissolution Case 3261EN - This packet is intended to help you respond to a Petition to Modify/Adjust an existing parenting plan or custody decree. Use it only if:
*you and the other parent have been divorced and *you already have a parenting plan/custody decree and *you have been served with a Petition for Modification/Adjustment of Custody Decree/Parenting Plan.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Parenting Plans and Child Support for Dissolution (Divorce) Cases and Modifications of Dissolution 3209EN - This packet is intended to help you fill out the forms and papers for parenting plans and child support. You should not use this packet by itself. You should use this packet only if you are the petitioner (the one who is starting the court case) or the respondent (the one who is responding to the court case) in a dissolution of marriage (divorce), if you are the petitioner or respondent in an action to modify a custody decree or parenting plan in a dissolution of marriage.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Finishing Your Modification/Adjustment of a Parenting Plan or Custody Decree in a Dissolution Case 3262EN - This packet will help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need to finish a petition for modification/adjustment of a parenting plan/custody decree in a dissolution case. It will help you prepare the final orders in your case and present them to the judge.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Motion for Contempt in a Dissolution Case 3108EN - This packet is intended to help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need if you already have a temporary or permanent parenting plan, child support order, or other family law order in a dissolution (divorce) case, and you want to ask the court in Washington for an order holding the other party in contempt for violating it.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Responding to a Motion for Contempt in a Family Law Case 3110EN - This packet is intended to help you fill out and file court forms if you have been served with a Motion or Petition for Contempt for violating a temporary or permanent parenting plan/residential schedule, a child support order, or other family law order.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Motion for Change of Venue in a Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce) or Modification... 3206EN - This packet contains the instructions and forms you will need to ask the court to move a marital dissolution or a modification of a parenting plan, child support order, or decree entered in a dissolution to a different county - this is called a Motion for Change of Venue.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Declaration Form - Family Law
(Separate Website)
Family Law Decarlation court form that can be used in all family law cases.
By: Administrative Office Of The Courts
Filing a Petition for Parenting Plan (Custody) or Child Support When Parentage Has Been Established 3602EN - This packet is intended to help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need if you are not married to the other parent of your child, the parentage (paternity) of your child has already been established, and you want to ask the court in Washington for a residential schedule, parenting plan or child support court order.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Petition to Modify/Adjust a Parenting Plan, Res. Schedule or Custody Decree in a Parentage 3622EN - This packet contains forms and instructions for filing a petition to modify/adjust a parenting plan, residential schedule, or custody decree. Use this packet only if paternity of the child has already been established, and you and the other parent already have a parenting plan, residential schedule or custody decree for the child from a Washington State court.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Motion for Temporary Orders for Parentage Cases and Modifications of Parentage Cases 3607EN - A Motion for Temporary Orders is one way for you to ask the court to enter a court order that gives you certain rights and/or protections after your family law case has been filed, but before it is finished. You may ask the court to enter temporary (short-term) orders for restraining orders, a parenting plan or residential schedule, child support, a guardian ad litem (GAL), genetic testing, attorney·s fees and costs or other relief.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Motion for Emergency Orders for Parentage Cases and Modifications of Parentage Cases 3608EN - A Motion for an Emergency Order is officially called a Motion for an Ex Parte Restraining Order/Order to Show Cause. This type of motion is a way for you or another party to ask the court to enter a court order that gives you certain rights and/or protections in your family law case between the time your case is filed and the date it is finished. The main difference between this type of motion and a Motion for Temporary Orders is that you use it in an emergency -- you will be asking the court for a court order that takes effect immediately, without prior notice to the other party. Because the court usually does not want to enter an order before the other party has a chance to tell her/his side of the story, you usually should only file a Motion for Emergency Orders if there is an emergency or urgent reason why you need an order entered before you can have a temporary orders hearing.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Parenting Plans, Residential Schedules and Child Support for Parentage Cases and Modifications of 3604EN - This packet is intended to help you fill out the forms and papers for parenting plans, residential schedules, and child support in parentage (paternity) cases, which are family law cases for parents of a child who are not married. You should not use this packet by itself. You should use this packet only if you are the petitioner (the one who is starting the court case) or the respondent (the one who is responding to the court case) in a Petition for a Residential Schedule/Parenting Plan or Child Support, a Petition to Establish Parentage, or another type of parentage (Paternity) case, or if you are the petitioner or respondent in an action to modify a custody decree or parenting plan in a Parentage case.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Motion for Contempt in a Parentage Case 3109EN - This packet is intended to help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need if you already have a temporary or permanent parenting plan, residential schedule, child support order, or other family law order in a parentage (paternity) case, and you want to ask the court in Washington for an order holding the other party in contempt for violating it.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Motion to Vacate Judgment/Order in a Family Law Case 3215EN - A Motion To Vacate is a request to the court to withdraw a previous order or judgment it entered.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Child Relocation Forms - Instructions on How to Fill Out
By: Northwest Justice Project
Which Court Has the Right to Enter a Custody Order? Questions and Answers about Jurisdiction 3102EN - These questions and answers describe when a Washington court may decide custody if a child has lived in more than one state, should enforce (follow) custody/visitation orders from other states, or may modify (change) custody/visitation orders from other states.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Family Law Forms in Spanish
(Separate Website)
The King County Superior Court has the following forms and instructions available in Spanish at its website at www.metrokc.gov/kscc/famlaw/spanish.htm. The same forms are also available in English at www.metrokc.gov/kscc/forms and at www.courts.wa.gov/forms, the Washington Courts website. You can find additional forms and instructions available in Spanish and in English at this website: www.washingtonlawhelp.org.
By: King County Superior Court
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
How to Withdraw a Joinder in a Family Law Case Parties to a family law court case may sign a form called a Joinder to show the court that they're in agreement as to all the issues that a court must rule on in that case. If you signed this form but later decide that you are not in agreement, use this packet to file a withdrawal of the joinder.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Washington LawHelp is provided as a public service by the Northwest Justice Project in collaboration with other legal aid providers in the Alliance for Equal Justice and Washington courts.
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