RCW 26.09.325 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 09 / Section 325
RCW 26.09.325: Child support—Who may make request for abatement based on incarceration—Procedures when multiple orders requiring incarcerated person to pay support exist.
Status: in_force

Either the department, the person required to pay support, the payee under the order, or the person entitled to receive support may make a request for abatement of child support to ten dollars per month under an order for child support when the person required to pay support is currently confined in a jail, prison, or correctional facility for at least six months, or is serving a sentence greater than six months in a jail, prison, or correctional facility. (1) A request for the abatement of child support owed under one child support order does not automatically qualify as a request for abatement of support owed under every order that may exist requiring that person to pay support. However, the request applies to any support order which is being enforced by the department at the time of the request. (2) If there are multiple orders requiring the incarcerated person to pay child support, the issue of whether abatement of support due to incarceration is appropriate must be considered for each order. (a) The payee or person entitled to receive support under each support order is entitled to notice and an opportunity to be heard regarding the potential abatement of support under that order. (b) If the child or children covered by a support order are not residing with the payee under the order, any other person entitled to receive support for the child or children must be provided notice and an opportunity to be heard regarding the potential abatement of support under that order.
RCW 26.09.050 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 09 / Section 050
RCW 26.09.050: Decrees—Contents—Restraining orders—Enforcement—Notice of termination or modification of restraining order.
Status: in_force

(1) In entering a decree of dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership, legal separation, or declaration of invalidity, the court shall determine the marital or domestic partnership status of the parties, make provision for a parenting plan for any minor child of the marriage or domestic partnership, make provision for the support of any child of the marriage or domestic partnership entitled to support, consider or approve provision for the maintenance of either spouse or either domestic partner, make provision for the disposition of property and liabilities of the parties, make provision for the allocation of the children as federal tax exemptions, make provision for any necessary continuing restraining orders including the provisions contained in RCW 9.41.800 , make provision for the issuance within this action of the restraint provisions of a domestic violence protection order or an antiharassment protection order under chapter 7.105 RCW, and make provision for the change of name of any party. (2) Restraining orders issued under this section restraining or enjoining the person from molesting or disturbing another party, or from going onto the grounds of or entering the home, workplace, or school of the other party or the day care or school of any child, or prohibiting the person from knowingly coming within, or knowingly remaining within, a specified distance of a location, a protected party's person, or a protected party's vehicle, shall prominently bear on the front page of the order the legend: VIOLATION OF THIS ORDER WITH ACTUAL NOTICE OF ITS TERMS IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE UNDER CHAPTER 7.105 RCW AND WILL SUBJECT A VIOLATOR TO ARREST. (3) The court shall order that any restraining order bearing a criminal offense legend, any domestic violence protection order, or any antiharassment protection order granted under this section, in addition to the law enforcement information sheet or proof of service of the order, be forwarded by the clerk of the court on or before the next judicial day to the appropriate law enforcement agency specified in the order. Upon receipt of the order, the law enforcement agency shall enter the order into any computer-based criminal intelligence information system available in this state used by law enforcement agencies to list outstanding warrants. The order is fully enforceable in any county in the state. (4) If a restraining order issued pursuant to this section is modified or terminated, the clerk of the court shall notify the law enforcement agency specified in the order on or before the next judicial day. Upon receipt of notice that an order has been terminated, the law enforcement agency shall remove the order from any computer-based criminal intelligence system.
RCW 26.21A.260 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 21A / Section 260
RCW 26.21A.260: Costs and fees.
Status: in_force

(1) The petitioner may not be required to pay a filing fee or other costs. (2) If an obligee prevails, a responding tribunal of this state may assess against an obligor filing fees, reasonable attorneys' fees, other costs, and necessary travel and other reasonable expenses incurred by the obligee and the obligee's witnesses. The tribunal may not assess fees, costs, or expenses against the obligee or the support enforcement agency of either the initiating or responding state or foreign country, except as provided by other law. Attorneys' fees may be taxed as costs, and may be ordered paid directly to the attorney, who may enforce the order in the attorney's own name. Payment of support owed to the obligee has priority over fees, costs, and expenses. (3) The tribunal shall order the payment of costs and reasonable attorneys' fees if it determines that a hearing was requested primarily for delay. In a proceeding under Article 6 of this chapter, a hearing is presumed to have been requested primarily for delay if a registered support order is confirmed or enforced without change.
RCW 26.60.015 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 60 / Section 015
RCW 26.60.015: Intent.
Status: in_force

It is the intent of the legislature that for all purposes under state law, state registered domestic partners shall be treated the same as married spouses. Any privilege, immunity, right, benefit, or responsibility granted or imposed by statute, administrative or court rule, policy, common law or any other law to an individual because the individual is or was a spouse, or because the individual is or was an in-law in a specified way to another individual, is granted on equivalent terms, substantive and procedural, to an individual because the individual is or was in a state registered domestic partnership or because the individual is or was, based on a state registered domestic partnership, related in a specified way to another individual. The provisions of chapter 521, Laws of 2009 shall be liberally construed to achieve equal treatment, to the extent not in conflict with federal law, of state registered domestic partners and married spouses.
RCW 26.21A.130 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 21A / Section 130
RCW 26.21A.130: Determination of controlling child support order.
Status: in_force

(1) If a proceeding is brought under this chapter and only one tribunal has issued a child support order, the order of that tribunal controls and must be so recognized. (2) If a proceeding is brought under this chapter, and two or more child support orders have been issued by tribunals of this state, or another state, or a foreign country with regard to the same obligor and same child, a tribunal of this state having personal jurisdiction over both the obligor and individual obligee shall apply the following rules and by order shall determine which order controls and must be recognized: (a) If only one of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this chapter, the order of that tribunal controls. (b) If more than one of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this chapter: (i) An order issued by a tribunal in the current home state of the child controls; or (ii) If an order has not been issued in the current home state of the child, the order most recently issued controls. (c) If none of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this chapter, the tribunal of this state shall issue a child support order, which controls. (3) If two or more child support orders have been issued for the same obligor and same child, upon request of a party who is an individual or that is a support enforcement agency, a tribunal of this state having personal jurisdiction over both the obligor and the obligee who is an individual shall determine which order controls under subsection (2) of this section. The request may be filed with a registration for enforcement or registration for modification pursuant to Article 6 of this chapter, or may be filed as a separate proceeding. (4) A request to determine which is the controlling order must be accompanied by a copy of every child support order in effect and the applicable record of payments. The requesting party shall give notice of the request to each party whose rights may be affected by the determination. (5) The tribunal that issued the controlling order under subsection (1), (2), or (3) of this section has continuing jurisdiction to the extent provided in RCW 26.21A.120 or 26.21A.125 . (6) A tribunal of this state that determines by order which is the controlling order under subsection (2)(a) or (b) or (3) of this section or that issues a new controlling order under subsection (2)(c) of this section shall state in that order: (a) The basis upon which the tribunal made its determination; (b) The amount of prospective support, if any; and (c) The total amount of consolidated arrears and accrued interest, if any, under all of the orders after all payments made are credited as provided by RCW 26.21A.140 . (7) Within thirty days after issuance of an order determining which is the controlling order, the party obtaining the order shall file a certified copy of it in each tribunal that issued or registered an earlier order of child support. A party or support enforcement agency obtaining the order that fails to file a certified copy is subject to appropriate sanctions by a tribunal in which the issue of failure to file arises. The failure to file does not affect the validity or enforceability of the controlling order. (8) An order that has been determined to be the controlling order, or a judgment for consolidated arrears of support and interest, if any, made pursuant to this section must be recognized in proceedings under this chapter.
RCW 26.52.050 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 52 / Section 050
RCW 26.52.050: Peace officer immunity.
Status: in_force

A peace officer or a peace officer's legal advisor may not be held criminally or civilly liable for making an arrest under this chapter if the peace officer or the peace officer's legal advisor acted in good faith and without malice.
RCW 26.12.030 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 12 / Section 030
RCW 26.12.030: Transfer of cases to presiding judge.
Status: in_force

The judge of the family court may transfer any case before the family court pursuant to this chapter to the department of the presiding judge of the superior court for assignment for trial or other proceedings by another judge of the court, whenever in the opinion of the judge of the family court such transfer is necessary to expedite the business of the family court or to insure the prompt consideration of the case. When any case is so transferred, the judge to whom it is transferred shall act as the judge of the family court in the matter.Upon March 13, 1963 the state of Washington shall assume jurisdiction over offenses as set forth in RCW 37.12.010 committed by or against Indians in the lands prescribed in RCW 37.12.010 to the same extent that this state has jurisdiction over offenses committed elsewhere within this state, and such criminal laws of this state shall have the same force and effect within such lands as they have elsewhere within this state.
RCW 26.09.340 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 09 / Section 340
RCW 26.09.340: Child support—Requests for reversal or termination of abatement based on incarceration—Procedures.
Status: in_force

(1) At any time during the period of incarceration, the department, the payee under the order, or the person entitled to receive support may file a request to reverse or terminate the abatement of support by demonstrating that the incarcerated person has possession of, or access to, income or assets available to provide support while incarcerated. (a) A request for reversal or termination of the abatement may be filed with the department or with the office of administrative hearings. (b) The request must include documents or other evidence showing that the incarcerated person has possession of, or access to, income or assets available to provide support while incarcerated. (c) If the request for a hearing does not include documents or evidence showing that the incarcerated person has possession of, or access to, income or assets, the department may file a motion asking that the request for a hearing be dismissed before a hearing is scheduled or held. (d) The party seeking to reverse or terminate the abatement may seek to vacate the dismissal order by filing a motion which includes the required proof. (e) Depending on the type of evidence provided at the hearing, the administrative law judge may order that the abatement of the support obligation be: (i) Reversed, meaning that the determination that support should be abated is vacated and all amounts owed under the support order are reinstated; or (ii) Terminated, meaning that the abatement of support ends as of the date specified in the order. (2) At any time during the period of incarceration, the person required to pay support may file a request to reverse or terminate the abatement of support. (a) The request for reversal or termination of the abatement may be filed with the department or with the office of administrative hearings. (b) The person required to pay support is not required to provide any documents or other evidence to support the request. (3) Abatement of a support obligation does not constitute modification or adjustment of the order.
RCW 26.09.255 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 09 / Section 255
RCW 26.09.255: Remedies when a child is taken, enticed, or concealed.
Status: in_force

(1) A relative may bring civil action against any other relative if, with intent to deny access to a child by that relative of the child who has a right to physical custody of or visitation with the child or a parent with whom the child resides pursuant to a parenting plan order, the relative takes, entices, or conceals the child from that relative. The plaintiff may be awarded, in addition to any damages awarded by the court, the reasonable expenses incurred by the plaintiff in locating the child, including, but not limited to, investigative services and reasonable attorneys' fees. (2) "Relative" means an ancestor, descendant, or sibling including a relative of the same degree through marriage, domestic partnership, or adoption, or a spouse or domestic partner.
RCW 26.04.120 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 04 / Section 120
RCW 26.04.120: Marriage according to religious ritual.
Status: in_force

All marriages to which there are no legal impediments, solemnized before or in any religious organization or congregation, according to the established ritual or form commonly practiced therein, are valid, and a certificate containing the particulars specified in RCW 26.04.080 and 26.04.090 , shall be made and filed for record by the person or persons presiding or officiating in or recording the proceedings of such religious organization or congregation, in the manner and with like effect as in ordinary cases.
RCW 26.21A.900 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 21A / Section 900
RCW 26.21A.900: Effective date—2002 c 198.
Status: in_force

This act takes effect January 1, 2007.
RCW 26.44.260 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 44 / Section 260
RCW 26.44.260: Family assessment response.
Status: in_force

(1) No later than December 1, 2013, the department shall implement the family assessment response. The department may implement the family assessment response on a phased-in basis, by geographical area. (2) The department shall develop an implementation plan in consultation with stakeholders, including tribes. The department shall submit a report of the implementation plan to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 31, 2012. At a minimum, the following must be developed before implementation and included in the report to the legislature: (a) Description of the family assessment response practice model; (b) Identification of possible additional noninvestigative responses or pathways; (c) Development of an intake screening tool and a family assessment tool specifically to be used in the family assessment response. The family assessment tool must, at minimum, evaluate the safety of the child and determine services needed by the family to improve or restore family well-being; (d) Delineation of staff training requirements; (e) Development of strategies to reduce disproportionality; (f) Development of strategies to assist and connect families with the appropriate private or public housing support agencies, for those parents whose inability to obtain or maintain safe housing creates a risk of harm to the child, risk of out-of-home placement of the child, or a barrier to reunification; (g) Identification of methods to involve local community partners in the development of community-based resources to meet families' needs. Local community partners may include, but are not limited to: Alumni of the foster care system and veteran parents, local private service delivery agencies, schools, local health departments and other health care providers, juvenile court, law enforcement, office of public defense social workers or local defense attorneys, domestic violence victims advocates, and other available community-based entities; (h) Delineation of procedures to assure continuous quality assurance; (i) Identification of current departmental expenditures for services appropriate for the family assessment response, to the greatest practicable extent; (j) Identification of philanthropic funding and other private funding available to supplement public resources in response to identified family needs; (k) Mechanisms to involve the child's Washington state tribe, if any, in any family assessment response, when the child subject to the family assessment response is an Indian child, as defined in RCW 13.38.040 ; (l) A potential phase-in schedule if proposed; and (m) Recommendations for legislative action required to implement the plan.
RCW 26.55.060 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 55 / Section 060
RCW 26.55.060: Other remedies.
Status: in_force

An individual who seeks a remedy under this chapter may seek other legal or equitable remedies.
RCW 26.27.071 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 27 / Section 071
RCW 26.27.071: Priority.
Status: in_force

If a question of existence or exercise of jurisdiction under this chapter is raised in a child custody proceeding, the question, upon proper motion, must be given priority on the calendar and handled expeditiously.
RCW 26.26A.220 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26A / Section 220
RCW 26.26A.220: Effect of acknowledgment or denial of parentage.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as otherwise provided in RCW 26.26A.235 and 26.26A.240 , an acknowledgment of parentage that complies with RCW 26.26A.200 through 26.26A.265 and is filed with the state registrar of vital statistics is equivalent to an adjudication of parentage of the child and confers on the acknowledged parent all rights and duties of a parent. (2) Except as otherwise provided in RCW 26.26A.235 and 26.26A.240 , a denial of parentage by a presumed parent or alleged genetic parent which complies with RCW 26.26A.200 through 26.26A.265 and is filed with the state registrar of vital statistics with an acknowledgment of parentage that complies with RCW 26.26A.200 through 26.26A.265 is equivalent to an adjudication of the nonparentage of the presumed parent or alleged genetic parent and discharges the presumed parent or alleged genetic parent from all rights and duties of a parent.
RCW 26.19.045 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 19 / Section 045
RCW 26.19.045: Veterans' disability pensions, compensation for disability, and aid and attendant care payments.
Status: in_force

Veterans' disability pensions or regular compensation for disability incurred in or aggravated by service in the United States armed forces paid by the veterans' administration shall be disclosed to the court. The court may consider either type of compensation as disposable income for purposes of calculating the child support obligation. Aid and attendant care payments to prevent hospitalization paid by the veterans' administration solely to provide physical home care for a disabled veteran, and special medical compensation paid under 38 U.S.C. Sec. 314 (k) through (r) to provide either special care or special aids, or both, to assist with routine daily functions shall also be disclosed. The court may not include either aid and attendant care or special medical compensation payments in gross income for purposes of calculating the child support obligation or for purposes of deviating from the standard calculation.
RCW 26.09.004 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 09 / Section 004
RCW 26.09.004: Definitions.
Status: in_force

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter. (1) "Military duties potentially impacting parenting functions" means those obligations imposed, voluntarily or involuntarily, on a parent serving in the armed forces that may interfere with that parent's abilities to perform his or her parenting functions under a temporary or permanent parenting plan. Military duties potentially impacting parenting functions include, but are not limited to: (a) "Deployment," which means the temporary transfer of a service member serving in an active-duty status to another location in support of a military operation, to include any tour of duty classified by the member's branch of the armed forces as "remote" or "unaccompanied"; (b) "Activation" or "mobilization," which means the call-up of a national guard or reserve service member to extended active-duty status. For purposes of this definition, "mobilization" does not include national guard or reserve annual training, inactive duty days, or drill weekends; or (c) "Temporary duty," which means the transfer of a service member from one military base or the service member's home to a different location, usually another base, for a limited period of time to accomplish training or to assist in the performance of a noncombat mission. (2) "Parenting functions" means those aspects of the parent-child relationship in which the parent makes decisions and performs functions necessary for the care and growth of the child. Parenting functions include: (a) Maintaining a loving, stable, consistent, and nurturing relationship with the child; (b) Attending to the daily needs of the child, such as feeding, clothing, physical care and grooming, supervision, health care, and day care, and engaging in other activities which are appropriate to the developmental level of the child and that are within the social and economic circumstances of the particular family; (c) Attending to adequate education for the child, including remedial or other education essential to the best interests of the child; (d) Assisting the child in developing and maintaining appropriate interpersonal relationships; (e) Exercising appropriate judgment regarding the child's welfare, consistent with the child's developmental level and the family's social and economic circumstances; and (f) Providing for the financial support of the child. (3) "Permanent parenting plan" means a plan for parenting the child, including allocation of parenting functions, which plan is incorporated in any final decree or decree of modification in an action for dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership, declaration of invalidity, or legal separation. (4) "Temporary parenting plan" means a plan for parenting of the child pending final resolution of any action for dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership, declaration of invalidity, or legal separation which is incorporated in a temporary order.
RCW 26.23.150 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 23 / Section 150
RCW 26.23.150: Recording of social security numbers—Compliance with federal requirement—Restricted disclosure.
Status: in_force

In order to assist in child support enforcement as required by federal law, all applicants for an original, replacement, or renewal of a professional license, commercial driver's license, occupational license, or recreational license must furnish the licensing agency with the applicant's social security number, which shall be recorded on the application. No applicant for an original, replacement, or renewal noncommercial driver's license is required to furnish the licensing agency with the applicant's social security number for purposes of assisting in child support enforcement prior to the time necessary to comply with the *federal deadline. The licensing agencies collecting social security numbers shall not display the social security number on the license document. Social security numbers collected by licensing agencies shall not be disclosed except as required by state or federal law or under RCW 26.23.120 .
RCW 26.26A.115 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26A / Section 115
RCW 26.26A.115: Presumption of parentage.
Status: in_force

(1) An individual is presumed to be a parent of a child if: (a) Except as otherwise provided under RCW 26.26A.700 through 26.26A.785 , or law of this state other than this chapter: (i) The individual and the woman who gave birth to the child are married to or in a state registered domestic partnership with each other and the child is born during the marriage or partnership, whether the marriage or partnership is or could be declared invalid; (ii) The individual and the woman who gave birth to the child were married to or in a state registered domestic partnership with each other and the child is born not later than three hundred days after the marriage or partnership is terminated by death, dissolution, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or legal separation, whether the marriage or partnership is or could be declared invalid; or (iii) The individual and the woman who gave birth to the child married or entered into a state registered domestic partnership with each other after the birth of the child, whether the marriage or partnership is or could be declared invalid, the individual at any time asserted parentage of the child, and: (A) The assertion is in a record filed with the state registrar of vital statistics; or (B) The individual agreed to be and is named as a parent of the child on the birth record of the child; or (b) The individual resided in the same household with the child for the first four years of the life of the child, including any period of temporary absence, and openly held out the child as the individual's child. (2) A presumption of parentage under this section may be overcome, and competing claims to parentage may be resolved, only by an adjudication under RCW 26.26A.400 through 26.26A.515 , or a valid denial of parentage under RCW 26.26A.200 through 26.26A.265 .
RCW 26.52.080 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 52 / Section 080
RCW 26.52.080: Child custody disputes.
Status: in_force

(1) Any disputes regarding provisions in foreign protection orders dealing with custody of children, residential placement of children, or visitation with children shall be resolved judicially. The proper venue and jurisdiction for such judicial proceedings shall be determined in accordance with chapter 26.27 RCW and in accordance with the parental kidnapping prevention act, 28 U.S.C. 1738A. (2) A peace officer shall not remove a child from his or her current placement unless: (a) A writ of habeas corpus to produce the child has been issued by a superior court of this state; or (b) There is probable cause to believe that the child is abused or neglected and the child would be injured or could not be taken into custody if it were necessary to first obtain a court order pursuant to RCW 13.34.050 .
RCW 26.09.900 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 09 / Section 900
RCW 26.09.900: Construction—Pending divorce actions.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the repeals of prior laws enumerated in section 30, chapter 157, Laws of 1973 1st ex. sess., actions for divorce which were properly and validly pending in the superior courts of this state as of the effective date of such repealer (July 15, 1973) shall be governed and may be pursued to conclusion under the provisions of law applicable thereto at the time of commencement of such action and all decrees and orders heretofore or hereafter in all other respects regularly entered in such proceedings are declared valid: PROVIDED, That upon proper cause being shown at any time before final decree, the court may convert such action to an action for dissolution of marriage as provided for in RCW 26.09.901 .
RCW 26.33.380 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 33 / Section 380
RCW 26.33.380: Family and social history report required—Identity of birth parents confidential.
Status: in_force

(1) Every person, firm, society, association, corporation, or state agency receiving, securing a home for, or otherwise caring for a minor child shall transmit to the prospective adopting parent prior to placement and shall make available to all persons with whom a child has been placed by adoption, a family background and child and family social history report, which includes a chronological history of the circumstances surrounding the adoptive placement and any available psychiatric reports, psychological reports, court reports pertaining to dependency or custody, or school reports. Such reports or information shall not reveal the identity of the birth parents of the child but shall contain reasonably available nonidentifying information. (2) Entities and persons obligated to provide information under this section shall make reasonable efforts to locate records and information concerning the child's family background and social history. The entities or persons providing the information have no duty, beyond providing the information, to explain or interpret the records or information regarding the child's mental or physical health.
RCW 26.26A.765 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26A / Section 765
RCW 26.26A.765: Genetic surrogacy agreement—Termination.
Status: in_force

(1) A party to a genetic surrogacy agreement may terminate the agreement as follows: (a) An intended parent who is a party to the agreement may terminate the agreement at any time before a gamete or embryo transfer by giving notice of termination in a record to all other parties. If a gamete or embryo transfer does not result in a pregnancy, a party may terminate the agreement at any time before a subsequent gamete or embryo transfer. The notice of termination must be attested by a notarial officer or witnessed. (b) A woman acting as a genetic surrogate who is a party to the agreement may withdraw consent to the agreement any time before forty-eight hours after the birth of a child conceived by assisted reproduction under the agreement. To withdraw consent, the woman acting as a genetic surrogate must execute a notice of termination in a record stating the surrogate's intent to terminate the agreement. The notice of termination must be attested by a notarial officer or witnessed and be delivered to each intended parent any time before forty-eight hours after the birth of the child. (2) On termination of the genetic surrogacy agreement under subsection (1) of this section, the parties are released from all obligations under the agreement except that each intended parent remains responsible for all expenses incurred by the woman acting as a surrogate through the date of termination which are reimbursable under the agreement. Unless the agreement provides otherwise, the woman acting as a surrogate is not entitled to any nonexpense related compensation paid for serving as a surrogate. (3) Except in a case involving fraud, neither a woman acting as a genetic surrogate nor the surrogate's spouse or former spouse, if any, is liable to the intended parent or parents for a penalty or liquidated damages, for terminating a genetic surrogacy agreement under this section.
RCW 26.33.160 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 33 / Section 160
RCW 26.33.160: Consent to adoption—When revocable—Procedure.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as otherwise provided in RCW 26.33.170 , consent to an adoption shall be required of the following if applicable: (a) The adoptee, if fourteen years of age or older; (b) The parents and any *alleged father of an adoptee under eighteen years of age; (c) An agency or the department to whom the adoptee has been relinquished pursuant to RCW 26.33.080 ; and (d) The legal guardian of the adoptee. (2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4)(h) of this section, consent to adoption is revocable by the consenting party at any time before the consent is approved by the court. The revocation may be made in either of the following ways: (a) Written revocation may be delivered or mailed to the clerk of the court before approval; or (b) Written revocation may be delivered or mailed to the clerk of the court after approval, but only if it is delivered or mailed within forty-eight hours after a prior notice of revocation that was given within forty-eight hours after the birth of the child. The prior notice of revocation shall be given to the agency or person who sought the consent and may be either oral or written. (3) Except as provided in subsections (2)(b) and (4)(h) of this section and in this subsection, a consent to adoption may not be revoked after it has been approved by the court. Within one year after approval, a consent may be revoked for fraud or duress practiced by the person, department, or agency requesting the consent, or for lack of mental competency on the part of the person giving the consent at the time the consent was given. A written consent to adoption may not be revoked more than one year after it is approved by the court. (4) Except as provided in (h) of this subsection, the written consent to adoption shall be signed under penalty of perjury and shall state that: (a) It is given subject to approval of the court; (b) It has no force or effect until approved by the court; (c) The birth parent is or is not of Native American or Alaska native ancestry; (d) The consent will not be presented to the court until forty-eight hours after it is signed or forty-eight hours after the birth of the child, whichever occurs later; (e) It is revocable by the consenting party at any time before its approval by the court. It may be revoked in either of the following ways: (i) Written revocation may be delivered or mailed to the clerk of the court before approval of the consent by the court; or (ii) Written revocation may be delivered or mailed to the clerk of the court after approval, but only if it is delivered or mailed within forty-eight hours after a prior notice of revocation that was given within forty-eight hours after the birth of the child. The prior notice of revocation shall be given to the agency or person who sought the consent and may be either oral or written; (f) The address of the clerk of court where the consent will be presented is included; (g) Except as provided in (h) of this subsection, after it has been approved by the court, the consent is not revocable except for fraud or duress practiced by the person, department, or agency requesting the consent or for lack of mental competency on the part of the person giving the consent at the time the consent was given. A written consent to adoption may not be revoked more than one year after it is approved by the court; (h) In the case of a consent to an adoption of an Indian child, no consent shall be valid unless the consent is executed in writing more than ten days after the birth of the child and unless the consent is recorded before a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1913(a). Consent may be withdrawn for any reason at any time prior to the entry of the final decree of adoption. Consent may be withdrawn for fraud or duress within two years of the entry of the final decree of adoption. Revocation of the consent prior to a final decree of adoption, may be delivered or mailed to the clerk of the court or made orally to the court which shall certify such revocation. Revocation of the consent is effective if received by the clerk of the court prior to the entry of the final decree of adoption or made orally to the court at any time prior to the entry of the final decree of adoption. Upon withdrawal of consent, the court shall return the child to the parent unless the child has been taken into custody pursuant to RCW 13.34.050 or 26.44.050 , placed in shelter care pursuant to RCW 13.34.060 , or placed in foster care pursuant to RCW 13.34.130 ; and (i) The following statement has been read before signing the consent: I understand that my decision to relinquish the child is an extremely important one, that the legal effect of this relinquishment will be to take from me all legal rights and obligations with respect to the child, and that an order permanently terminating all of my parental rights to the child will be entered. I also understand that there are social services and counseling services available in the community, and that there may be financial assistance available through state and local governmental agencies. (5) A written consent to adoption which meets all the requirements of this chapter but which does not name or otherwise identify the adopting parent is valid if it contains a statement that it is voluntarily executed without disclosure of the name or other identification of the adopting parent. (6) There must be a witness to the consent of the parent or *alleged father. The witness must be at least eighteen years of age and selected by the parent or *alleged father. The consent document shall contain a statement identifying by name, address, and relationship the witness selected by the parent or *alleged father.
RCW 26.28.020 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 28 / Section 020
RCW 26.28.020: Married persons—When deemed of full age.
Status: in_force

All minor persons married to a person of full age shall be deemed and taken to be of full age.(1) Every interest created in favor of two or more persons in their own right is an interest in common, unless acquired by them in partnership, for partnership purposes, or unless declared in its creation to be a joint tenancy, as provided in RCW 64.28.010 , or unless acquired by executors or trustees. (2) Interests in common held in the names of both spouses or both domestic partners, whether or not in conjunction with others, are presumed to be their community property. (3) Subsection (2) of this section applies as of June 9, 1988, to all existing or subsequently created interests in common.
RCW 26.38.130 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 38 / Section 130
RCW 26.38.130: Advertisements—Prohibitions—Exceptions—Application of consumer protection act.
Status: in_force

(1) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, "advertisement" means communication by newspaper, radio, television, handbills, placards or other print, broadcast, or the electronic medium. This definition applies throughout this section. (2) No person or entity shall cause to be published for circulation, or broadcast on a radio or television station, within the geographic borders of this state, an advertisement of a child or children offered or wanted for adoption or other custody transfer, or shall hold himself or herself out through such advertisement as having the ability to place, locate, dispose, or receive a child or children for adoption or other custody transfer unless such person or entity is: (a) A duly authorized agent, contractee, or employee of the department or a children's agency or institution licensed by the department to care for and place children; (b) A person who has a completed preplacement report as set forth in RCW 26.33.190 (1) and (2) or chapter 26.34 RCW with a favorable recommendation as to the fitness of the person to be an adoptive parent, or such person's duly authorized uncompensated agent, or such person's attorney who is licensed to practice in the state. Verification of compliance with the requirements of this section shall consist of a written declaration by the person or entity who prepared the preplacement report. Nothing in this section prohibits an attorney licensed to practice in Washington state from advertising his or her availability to practice or provide services related to the adoption or other custody transfer of children. (3)(a) A violation of subsection (2) of this section is a matter affecting the public interest and constitutes an unfair or deceptive act or practice in trade or commerce for the purpose of applying chapter 19.86 RCW. (b) The attorney general may bring an action in the name of the state against any person violating the provisions of this section in accordance with the provisions of RCW 19.86.080 . (c) Nothing in this section applies to any radio or television station or any publisher, printer, or distributor of any newspaper, magazine, billboard, or other advertising medium which accepts advertising in good faith without knowledge of its violation of any provision of this section after an attempt to verify the advertising is in compliance with this section.
RCW 26.21A.625 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 21A / Section 625
RCW 26.21A.625: Modification of convention child support order.
Status: in_force

(1) A tribunal of this state may not modify a convention child support order if the obligee remains a resident of the foreign country where the support order was issued unless: (a) The obligee submits to the jurisdiction of a tribunal of this state, either expressly or by defending on the merits of the case without objecting to the jurisdiction at the first available opportunity; or (b) The foreign tribunal lacks or refuses to exercise jurisdiction to modify its support order or issue a new support order. (2) If a tribunal of this state does not modify a convention child support order because the order is not recognized in this state, RCW 26.21A.617 (3) applies.
RCW 26.44.075 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 44 / Section 075
RCW 26.44.075: Inclusion of number of child abuse reports and cases in prosecuting attorney's annual report.
Status: in_force

Commencing in 1986, the prosecuting attorney shall include in the annual report a section stating the number of child abuse reports received by the office under this chapter and the number of cases where charges were filed.
RCW 26.09.090 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 09 / Section 090
RCW 26.09.090: Maintenance orders for either spouse or either domestic partner—Factors.
Status: in_force

(1) In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership, legal separation, declaration of invalidity, or in a proceeding for maintenance following dissolution of the marriage or domestic partnership by a court which lacked personal jurisdiction over the absent spouse or absent domestic partner, the court may grant a maintenance order for either spouse or either domestic partner. The maintenance order shall be in such amounts and for such periods of time as the court deems just, without regard to misconduct, after considering all relevant factors including but not limited to: (a) The financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, including separate or community property apportioned to him or her, and his or her ability to meet his or her needs independently, including the extent to which a provision for support of a child living with the party includes a sum for that party; (b) The time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find employment appropriate to his or her skill, interests, style of life, and other attendant circumstances; (c) The standard of living established during the marriage or domestic partnership; (d) The duration of the marriage or domestic partnership; (e) The age, physical and emotional condition, and financial obligations of the spouse or domestic partner seeking maintenance; and (f) The ability of the spouse or domestic partner from whom maintenance is sought to meet his or her needs and financial obligations while meeting those of the spouse or domestic partner seeking maintenance.
RCW 26.18.035 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 18 / Section 035
RCW 26.18.035: Other civil and criminal remedies applicable.
Status: in_force

Nothing in this chapter limits the authority of the attorney general or prosecuting attorney to use any and all civil and criminal remedies to enforce child support obligations regardless of whether or not the custodial parent receives public assistance payments.
RCW 26.33.060 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 33 / Section 060
RCW 26.33.060: Hearings—Procedure—Witnesses.
Status: in_force

All hearings under this chapter shall be heard by the court without a jury. Unless the parties and the court agree otherwise, proceedings of contested hearings shall be recorded. The general public shall be excluded and only those persons shall be admitted whose presence is requested by any person entitled to notice under this chapter or whom the judge finds to have a direct interest in the case or in the work of the court. Persons so admitted shall not disclose any information obtained at the hearing which would identify the individual adoptee or parent involved. The court may require the presence of witnesses deemed necessary to the disposition of the petition, including persons making any report, study, or examination which is before the court if those persons are reasonably available. A person who has executed a valid waiver need not appear at the hearing. If the court finds that it is in the child's best interest, the child may be excluded from the hearing.
RCW 26.09.140 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 09 / Section 140
RCW 26.09.140: Payment of costs, attorneys' fees, etc.
Status: in_force

The court from time to time after considering the financial resources of both parties may order a party to pay a reasonable amount for the cost to the other party of maintaining or defending any proceeding under this chapter and for reasonable attorneys' fees or other professional fees in connection therewith, including sums for legal services rendered and costs incurred prior to the commencement of the proceeding or enforcement or modification proceedings after entry of judgment. Upon any appeal, the appellate court may, in its discretion, order a party to pay for the cost to the other party of maintaining the appeal and attorneys' fees in addition to statutory costs. The court may order that the attorneys' fees be paid directly to the attorney who may enforce the order in his or her name.
RCW 26.51.030 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 51 / Section 030
RCW 26.51.030: Order restricting abusive litigation—Who may request, when—Instructions, brochures, and forms—Fees.
Status: in_force

(1) A party to a case may request from the court an order restricting abusive litigation if the parties are current or former intimate partners and one party has been found by the court to have committed domestic violence against the other party: (a) In any answer or response to the litigation being filed, initiated, advanced, or continued; (b) By motion made at any time during any open or ongoing case; or (c) By separate motion made under this chapter, within five years of the entry of an order for protection even if the order has since expired. (2) Any court of competent jurisdiction may, on its own motion, determine that a hearing pursuant to RCW 26.51.040 is necessary to determine if a party is engaging in abusive litigation. (3) The administrative office of the courts shall update the instructions, brochures, standard petition, and order for protection forms, and create new forms for the motion for order restricting abusive litigation and order restricting abusive litigation, and update the court staff handbook when changes in the law make an update necessary. (4) No filing fee may be charged to the unrestricted party for proceedings under this section regardless of whether it is filed under this chapter or another action in this title. Forms and instructional brochures shall be provided free of charge. (5) The provisions of this section are nonexclusive and do not affect any other remedy available.
RCW 26.21A.505 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 21A / Section 505
RCW 26.21A.505: Procedure to register order for enforcement.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as otherwise provided in RCW 26.21A.613 , a support order or income-withholding order of another state or a foreign support order may be registered in this state by sending the following records to the appropriate tribunal in this state: (a) A letter of transmittal to the tribunal requesting registration and enforcement; (b) Two copies, including one certified copy, of the order to be registered, including any modification of the order; (c) A sworn statement by the person requesting registration or a certified statement by the custodian of the records showing the amount of any arrearage; (d) The name of the obligor and, if known: (i) The obligor's address and social security number; (ii) The name and address of the obligor's employer and any other source of income of the obligor; and (iii) A description and the location of property of the obligor in this state not exempt from execution; and (e) Except as otherwise provided in RCW 26.21A.255 , the name and address of the obligee and, if applicable, the person to whom support payments are to be remitted. (2) On receipt of a request for registration, the registering tribunal shall cause the order to be filed as an order of a tribunal of another state or a foreign support order, together with one copy of the documents and information, regardless of their form. (3) A petition or comparable pleading seeking a remedy that must be affirmatively sought under other law of this state may be filed at the same time as the request for registration or later. The pleading must specify the grounds for the remedy sought. (4) If two or more orders are in effect, the person requesting registration shall: (a) Furnish to the tribunal a copy of every support order asserted to be in effect in addition to the documents specified in this section; (b) Specify the order alleged to be the controlling order, if any; and (c) Specify the amount of consolidated arrears, if any. (5) A request for a determination of which is the controlling order may be filed separately or with a request for registration and enforcement or for registration and modification. The person requesting registration shall give notice of the request to each party whose rights may be affected by the determination.
RCW 26.18.055 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 18 / Section 055
RCW 26.18.055: Child support liens.
Status: in_force

Child support debts, not paid when due, become liens by operation of law against all property of the debtor with priority of a secured creditor. This lien shall be separate and apart from, and in addition to, any other lien created by, or provided for, in this title. The lien attaches to all real and personal property of the debtor on the date of filing with the county auditor of the county in which the property is located. Liens filed by other states or jurisdictions that comply with the procedural rules for filing liens under chapter 65.04 RCW shall be accorded full faith and credit and are enforceable without judicial notice or hearing.
RCW 26.14.040 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 14 / Section 040
RCW 26.14.040: Arbitration agreement.
Status: in_force

(1) An arbitration agreement must: (a) Be in a record signed by the parties; (b) Identify the arbitrator, an arbitration organization, or a method of selecting an arbitrator; and (c) Identify the family law dispute the parties intend to arbitrate. (2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section, an agreement in a record to arbitrate a family law dispute that arises between the parties before, at the time, or after the agreement is made is valid and enforceable as any other contract and irrevocable except on a ground that exists at law or in equity for the revocation of a contract. (3) An agreement to arbitrate a child-related dispute that arises between the parties after the agreement is made is unenforceable unless: (a) The parties affirm the agreement in a record after the dispute arises; or (b) The agreement was entered during a family law proceeding and the court approved or incorporated the agreement in an order issued in the proceeding. (4) If a party objects to arbitration on the ground the arbitration agreement is unenforceable or the agreement does not include a family law dispute, the court shall decide whether the agreement is enforceable or includes the family law dispute.
RCW 26.52.040 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 52 / Section 040
RCW 26.52.040: Filed foreign protection orders—Transmittal to law enforcement agency—Entry into law enforcement information system.
Status: in_force

(1) The clerk of the court shall forward a copy of a foreign protection order that is filed under this chapter on or before the next judicial day to the county sheriff along with the completed information form. The clerk may forward the foreign protection order to the county sheriff by facsimile or electronic transmission. Upon receipt of a filed foreign protection order, the county sheriff shall immediately enter the foreign protection order into any computer-based criminal intelligence information system available in this state used by law enforcement agencies to list outstanding warrants. The foreign protection order must remain in the computer for the period stated in the order. The county sheriff shall only expunge from the computer-based criminal intelligence information system foreign protection orders that are expired, vacated, or superseded. Entry into the law enforcement information system constitutes notice to all law enforcement agencies of the existence of the foreign protection order. The foreign protection order is fully enforceable in any county in the state. (2) The information entered into the computer-based criminal intelligence information system must include, if available, notice to law enforcement whether the foreign protection order was served and the method of service.
RCW 26.27.561 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 27 / Section 561
RCW 26.27.561: Costs and expenses.
Status: in_force

If the respondent is not the prevailing party, the court may assess against the respondent all direct expenses and costs incurred by the prosecutor or attorney general and law enforcement officers under RCW 26.27.541 or 26.27.551 .
RCW 26.23.065 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 23 / Section 065
RCW 26.23.065: Requirement to remit payments by electronic funds transfer—Employer, business, or payroll processor—Waiver.
Status: in_force

(1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (a) "Electronic funds transfer" means any transfer of funds, other than a transaction originated or accomplished by conventional check, drafts, or similar paper instrument, which is initiated through an electronic terminal, telephonic instrument, or computer or magnetic tape so as to order, instruct, or authorize a financial institution to debit or credit a checking or other deposit account. "Electronic funds transfer" includes payments made: (i) By electronic check (echeck); and (ii) By any means made available through the division of child support's web-based payment services. (b) "Income withholding order" means an order to withhold income, order to withhold and deliver, or notice of payroll deduction issued under this chapter or chapter *26.10, 26.18, 74.20, or 74.20A RCW. (c) "Payroll processor" means a person, entity, agent, or company which provides payroll services to an employer or other business such as calculating paychecks and providing electronic funds transfer services for payments to employees and other entities. (2) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, an employer or other business that has received an income withholding order from the department of social and health services requiring payment to the Washington state support registry must remit payments through electronic funds transfer when the following conditions apply: (a) The income withholding order applies to a person who is either an employee or contractor of the business, and the employer or business has: (i) Ten or more employees; or (ii) Ten or more contractors; (b) The employer or business has received an income withholding order for more than one employee or contractor, even if the employer or business has fewer than ten employees or contractors, but has received an income withholding order for more than one employee or contractor; (c) The employer or business uses a payroll processor to handle its payroll, payment, and tax processes and the payroll processor has the capacity to transmit payments through electronic funds transfer; or (d) The employer or business is required by the department of revenue to file and pay taxes electronically under RCW 82.32.080 . (3) All electronic funds transfer payments must identify the person from whom the payment was withheld, the amount of the payment, the person's identifying number assigned by the division of child support, or the division of child support case number to which the payment is to be applied. If a business, employer, or payroll processor required to remit payments by electronic funds transfer under this section fails to comply with this requirement, the division of child support may issue a notice of noncompliance pursuant to RCW 74.20A.350 . (4) The department may waive the requirement to remit payments electronically for a business, employer, or payroll processor that is unable to comply despite good faith efforts or due to circumstances beyond that entity's reasonable control. Grounds for approving a waiver include, but are not limited to, circumstances in which: (a) The business, employer, or payroll processor does not have a computer that meets the minimum standards necessary for electronic remittance; (b) Additional time is needed to program the entity's computer; (c) The business, employer, or payroll processor does not currently file data electronically with any business or government agency; (d) Compliance conflicts with the entity's business procedures; (e) Compliance would cause a financial hardship. (5) The department has the discretion to terminate a waiver granted under subsection (4) of this section if: (a) The business or employer has received at least one income withholding order for a person or employee and has failed to withhold or failed to withhold within the time provided in the order at least twice; (b) The business, employer, or payroll processor has submitted at least one dishonored check; or (c) The business, employer, or payroll processor continues to incorrectly identify withholdings or makes other errors that affect proper distribution of the support, despite contact and information from the department on how to correct the error. (6) The department of social and health services has rule-making authority to enact rules in compliance with this section, including, but not limited to: (a) The necessary conditions required for a business, employer, or payroll processor to electronically remit child support payments to the Washington state support registry; (b) Options for electronic funds transfers and the process by which one must comply in order to establish such payment arrangements; (c) Which types of payment meet the definition of electronic funds transfer; and (d) Reasons for exemption from the requirement to remit funds by electronic funds transfer.
RCW 26.34.050 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 34 / Section 050
RCW 26.34.050: Authority of state officers and agencies to enter into agreements—Approval.
Status: in_force

The officers and agencies of this state and its subdivisions having authority to place children are hereby empowered to enter into agreements with appropriate officers or agencies of or in other party states pursuant to paragraph (b) of Article V of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. Any such agreement which contains a financial commitment or imposes a financial obligation on this state or subdivision or agency thereof shall not be binding unless it has the approval in writing of the director of financial management in the case of the state and of the treasurer in the case of a subdivision of the state.
RCW 26.21A.200 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 21A / Section 200
RCW 26.21A.200: Proceedings under this chapter.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, this article applies to all proceedings under this chapter. (2) An individual petitioner or a support enforcement agency may initiate a proceeding authorized under this chapter by filing a petition in an initiating tribunal for forwarding to a responding tribunal or by filing a petition or a comparable pleading directly in a tribunal of another state or a foreign country which has or can obtain personal jurisdiction over the respondent.
RCW 26.21A.280 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 21A / Section 280
RCW 26.21A.280: Communications between tribunals.
Status: in_force

A tribunal of this state may communicate with a tribunal outside this state in a record, or by telephone, email, or other means, to obtain information concerning the laws, the legal effect of a judgment, decree, or order of that tribunal, and the status of a proceeding. A tribunal of this state may furnish similar information by similar means to a tribunal outside this state.
RCW 26.55.902 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 55 / Section 902
RCW 26.55.902: Applicability.
Status: in_force

This chapter applies to a Canadian domestic violence protection order issued before, on, or after January 1, 2020, and to a continuing action for enforcement of a Canadian domestic violence protection order commenced before, on, or after January 1, 2020. A request for enforcement of a Canadian domestic violence protection order made on or after January 1, 2020, for a violation of the order occurring before, on, or after January 1, 2020, is governed by this chapter.
RCW 26.27.051 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 27 / Section 051
RCW 26.27.051: International application of chapter.
Status: in_force

(1) A court of this state shall treat a foreign country as if it were a state of the United States for the purpose of applying Articles 1 and 2. (2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) or (4) of this section, a child custody determination made in a foreign country under factual circumstances in substantial conformity with the jurisdictional standards of this chapter must be recognized and enforced under Article 3. (3) A court of this state need not apply this chapter if the child custody law of a foreign country violates fundamental principles of human rights. (4) A court of this state need not apply this chapter if the law of a foreign country holds that apostasy, or a sincerely held religious belief or practice, or homosexuality are punishable by death, and a parent or child may be at demonstrable risk of being subject to such laws. For the purposes of this subsection, "apostasy" means the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief.
RCW 26.44.010 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 44 / Section 010
RCW 26.44.010: Declaration of purpose.
Status: in_force

The Washington state legislature finds and declares: The bond between a child and his or her parent, custodian, or guardian is of paramount importance, and any intervention into the life of a child is also an intervention into the life of the parent, custodian, or guardian; however, instances of nonaccidental injury, neglect, death, sexual abuse and cruelty to children by their parents, custodians or guardians have occurred, and in the instance where a child is deprived of his or her right to conditions of minimal nurture, health, and safety, the state is justified in emergency intervention based upon verified information; and therefore the Washington state legislature hereby provides for the reporting of such cases to the appropriate public authorities. It is the intent of the legislature that, as a result of such reports, protective services shall be made available in an effort to prevent further abuses, and to safeguard the general welfare of such children. When the child's physical or mental health is jeopardized, or the safety of the child conflicts with the legal rights of a parent, custodian, or guardian, the health and safety interests of the child should prevail. When determining whether a child and a parent, custodian, or guardian should be separated during or immediately following an investigation of alleged child abuse or neglect, the safety of the child shall be the department's paramount concern. Reports of child abuse and neglect shall be maintained and disseminated with strictest regard for the privacy of the subjects of such reports and so as to safeguard against arbitrary, malicious or erroneous information or actions. This chapter shall not be construed to authorize interference with child-raising practices, including reasonable parental discipline, which are not proved to be injurious to the child's health, welfare and safety.As used in this chapter: (1) "Abuse of a supervisory position" means: (a) To use a direct or indirect threat or promise to exercise authority to the detriment or benefit of a minor; or (b) To exploit a significant relationship in order to obtain the consent of a minor. (2) "Consent" means that at the time of the act of sexual intercourse or sexual contact there are actual words or conduct indicating freely given agreement to have sexual intercourse or sexual contact. (3) "Forcible compulsion" means physical force which overcomes resistance, or a threat, express or implied, that places a person in fear of death or physical injury to herself or himself or another person, or in fear that she or he or another person will be kidnapped. (4) "Frail elder or vulnerable adult" means a person sixty years of age or older who has the functional, mental, or physical inability to care for himself or herself. "Frail elder or vulnerable adult" also includes a person who has been placed under a guardianship under RCW 11.130.265 or a conservatorship under RCW 11.130.360 , a person over eighteen years of age who has a developmental disability under chapter 71A.10 RCW, a person admitted to a long-term care facility that is licensed or required to be licensed under chapter 18.20 , 18.51, 72.36, or 70.128 RCW, and a person receiving services from a home health, hospice, or home care agency licensed or required to be licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW. (5) "Health care provider" for purposes of RCW 9A.44.050 and 9A.44.100 means a person who is, holds himself or herself out to be, or provides services as if he or she were: (a) A member of a health care profession under chapter 18.130 RCW; or (b) registered under chapter 18.19 RCW or licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW, regardless of whether the health care provider is licensed, certified, or registered by the state. (6) "Married" means one who is legally married to another, but does not include a person who is living separate and apart from his or her spouse and who has filed in an appropriate court for legal separation or for dissolution of his or her marriage. (7) "Mental incapacity" is that condition existing at the time of the offense which prevents a person from understanding the nature or consequences of the act of sexual intercourse whether that condition is produced by illness, defect, the influence of a substance or from some other cause. (8) "Person with a developmental disability," for purposes of RCW 9A.44.050 (1)(c) and 9A.44.100 (1)(c), means a person with a developmental disability as defined in RCW 71A.10.020 . (9) "Person with a mental disorder" for the purposes of RCW 9A.44.050 (1)(e) and 9A.44.100 (1)(e) means a person with a "mental disorder" as defined in RCW 71.05.020 . (10) "Person with a substance use disorder" for purposes of RCW 9A.44.050 (1)(e) and 9A.44.100 (1)(e) means a person with a "substance use disorder" as defined in RCW 71.05.020 . (11) "Person with supervisory authority," for purposes of RCW 9A.44.050 (1) (c) or (e) and 9A.44.100 (1) (c) or (e), means any proprietor or employee of any public or private care or treatment facility who directly supervises developmentally disabled, mentally disordered, or chemically dependent persons at the facility. (12) "Physically helpless" means a person who is unconscious or for any other reason is physically unable to communicate unwillingness to an act. (13) "Sexual contact" means any touching of the sexual or other intimate parts of a person done for the purpose of gratifying sexual desire of either party or a third party. (14) "Sexual intercourse" (a) has its ordinary meaning and occurs upon any penetration, however slight, and (b) Also means any penetration of the vagina or anus however slight, by an object, when committed on one person by another, whether such persons are of the same or opposite sex, except when such penetration is accomplished for medically recognized treatment or diagnostic purposes, and (c) Also means any act of sexual contact between persons involving the sex organs of one person and the mouth or anus of another whether such persons are of the same or opposite sex. (15) "Significant relationship" means a situation in which the perpetrator is: (a) A person who undertakes the responsibility, professionally or voluntarily, to provide education, health, welfare, or organized recreational activities principally for minors; (b) A person who in the course of his or her employment supervises minors; or (c) A person who provides welfare, health or residential assistance, personal care, or organized recreational activities to frail elders or vulnerable adults, including a provider, employee, temporary employee, volunteer, or independent contractor who supplies services to long-term care facilities licensed or required to be licensed under chapter 18.20 , 18.51, 72.36, or 70.128 RCW, and home health, hospice, or home care agencies licensed or required to be licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW, but not including a consensual sexual partner. (16) "Treatment" for purposes of RCW 9A.44.050 and 9A.44.100 means the active delivery of professional services by a health care provider which the health care provider holds himself or herself out to be qualified to provide.
RCW 26.21A.245 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 21A / Section 245
RCW 26.21A.245: Duties of state information agency.
Status: in_force

(1) The Washington state support registry under chapter 26.23 RCW is the state information agency under this chapter. (2) The state information agency shall: (a) Compile and maintain a current list, including addresses, of the tribunals in this state which have jurisdiction under this chapter and any support enforcement agencies in this state and transmit a copy to the state information agency of every other state; (b) Maintain a register of names and addresses of tribunals and support enforcement agencies received from other states; (c) Forward to the appropriate tribunal in the county in this state in which the obligee who is an individual or the obligor resides, or in which the obligor's property is believed to be located, all documents concerning a proceeding under this chapter received from another state or a foreign country; and (d) Obtain information concerning the location of the obligor and the obligor's property within this state not exempt from execution, by such means as postal verification and federal or state locator services, examination of telephone directories, requests for the obligor's address from employers, and examination of governmental records, including, to the extent not prohibited by other law, those relating to real property, vital statistics, law enforcement, taxation, motor vehicles, driver's licenses, and social security.
RCW 26.27.461 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 27 / Section 461
RCW 26.27.461: Simultaneous proceedings.
Status: in_force

If a proceeding for enforcement under this article is commenced in a court of this state and the court determines that a proceeding to modify the determination is pending in a court of another state having jurisdiction to modify the determination under Article 2, the enforcing court shall immediately communicate with the modifying court. The proceeding for enforcement continues unless the enforcing court, after consultation with the modifying court, stays or dismisses the proceeding.
RCW 26.09.430 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 09 / Section 430
RCW 26.09.430: Notice requirement.
Status: in_force

Except as provided in RCW 26.09.460 , a person with whom the child resides a majority of the time, or a person with substantially equal residential time, shall notify every other person entitled to residential time or visitation with the child under a court order if the person intends to relocate. Notice shall be given as prescribed in RCW 26.09.440 and 26.09.450 .
RCW 26.33.180 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 33 / Section 180
RCW 26.33.180: Preplacement report required before placement with adoptive parents—Exception.
Status: in_force

Except as provided in RCW 26.33.220 , a child shall not be placed with prospective adoptive parents until a preplacement report has been filed with the court.
RCW 26.26A.470 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26A / Section 470
RCW 26.26A.470: Proceeding to adjudicate parentage—Temporary child support orders, restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, domestic violence protection orders, antiharassment protection orders, and other court orders—Preservation of support debt.
Status: in_force

(1) In a proceeding under RCW 26.26A.400 through 26.26A.515 , the court may issue a temporary order for child support if the order is consistent with law of this state other than this chapter and the individual ordered to pay support is: (a) A presumed parent of the child; (b) Petitioning to be adjudicated a parent; (c) Identified as a genetic parent through genetic testing under RCW 26.26A.325 ; (d) An alleged genetic parent who has declined to submit to genetic testing; (e) Shown by clear and convincing evidence to be a parent of the child; or (f) A parent under this chapter. (2) A temporary order may include a provision for parenting time and visitation under law of this state other than this chapter. (3) Any party may request the court to issue a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction, providing relief proper in the circumstances, and restraining or enjoining any party from: (a) Molesting or disturbing the peace of another party; (b) Going onto the grounds of or entering the home, workplace, or school of another party or the day care or school of any child; (c) Knowingly coming within, or knowingly remaining within, a specified distance from a specified location, a protected party's person, or a protected party's vehicle; and (d) Removing a child from the jurisdiction of the court. (4) Either party may request a domestic violence protection order or an antiharassment protection order under chapter 7.105 RCW on a temporary basis. The court may grant any of the relief provided in RCW 7.105.310 except relief pertaining to residential provisions for the children which provisions shall be provided for under this chapter. Ex parte orders issued under this subsection shall be effective for a fixed period not to exceed fourteen days, or upon court order, not to exceed twenty-four days if necessary to ensure that all temporary motions in the case can be heard at the same time. (5) Restraining orders issued under this section restraining or enjoining the person from molesting or disturbing another party, or from going onto the grounds of or entering the home, workplace, or school of the other party or the day care or school of any child, or prohibiting the person from knowingly coming within, or knowingly remaining within, a specified distance of a location, a protected party's person, or a protected party's vehicle, shall prominently bear on the front page of the order the legend: VIOLATION OF THIS ORDER WITH ACTUAL NOTICE OF ITS TERMS IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE UNDER CHAPTER 7.105 RCW AND WILL SUBJECT A VIOLATOR TO ARREST. (6) The court shall order that any temporary restraining order bearing a criminal offense legend, any domestic violence protection order, or any antiharassment protection order granted under this section be forwarded by the clerk of the court on or before the next judicial day to the appropriate law enforcement agency specified in the order. Upon receipt of the order, the law enforcement agency shall enter the order into any computer-based criminal intelligence information system available in this state used by law enforcement agencies to list outstanding warrants. The order is fully enforceable in any county in the state. (7) If a restraining order issued pursuant to this section is modified or terminated, the clerk of the court shall notify the law enforcement agency specified in the order on or before the next judicial day. Upon receipt of notice that an order has been terminated, the law enforcement agency shall remove the order from any computer-based criminal intelligence information system. (8) The court may issue a temporary restraining order without requiring notice to the other party only if it finds on the basis of the moving affidavit or other evidence that irreparable injury could result if an order is not issued until the time for responding has elapsed. (9) The court may issue a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction and an order for temporary support in such amounts and on such terms as are just and proper in the circumstances. In issuing the order, the court shall consider the provisions of RCW 9.41.800 . (10) A temporary order, temporary restraining order, or preliminary injunction: (a) Does not prejudice the rights of a party or any child which are to be adjudicated at subsequent hearings in the proceeding; (b) May be revoked or modified; (c) Terminates when the final order is entered or when the petition is dismissed; and (d) May be entered in a proceeding for the modification of an existing order. (11) A support debt owed to the state for public assistance expenditures which has been charged against a party pursuant to RCW 74.20A.040 and/or 74.20A.055 shall not be merged in, or otherwise extinguished by, the final decree or order, unless the office of support enforcement has been given notice of the final proceeding and an opportunity to present its claim for the support debt to the court and has failed to file an affidavit as provided in this subsection. Notice of the proceeding shall be served upon the office of support enforcement personally, or by certified mail, and shall be given no fewer than thirty days prior to the date of the final proceeding. An original copy of the notice shall be filed with the court either before service or within a reasonable time thereafter. The office of support enforcement may present its claim, and thereby preserve the support debt, by filing an affidavit setting forth the amount of the debt with the court, and by mailing a copy of the affidavit to the parties or their attorney prior to the date of the final proceeding. (12) Any party may request the court to issue any order referenced by RCW 9.41.800 .
RCW 26.26A.490 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26A / Section 490
RCW 26.26A.490: Proceeding to adjudicate parentage—Without jury.
Status: in_force

The court shall adjudicate parentage of a child without a jury.
RCW 26.14.050 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 14 / Section 050
RCW 26.14.050: Notice of arbitration.
Status: in_force

A party may initiate arbitration by giving notice to arbitrate to the other party in the manner specified in the arbitration agreement or, in the absence of a specified manner, under the law and procedural rules of this state other than this chapter governing contractual arbitration.
RCW 26.26A.410 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26A / Section 410
RCW 26.26A.410: Notice of proceeding to adjudicate parentage.
Status: in_force

(1) The petitioner shall give notice of a proceeding to adjudicate parentage to the following individuals: (a) The woman who gave birth to the child, unless a court has adjudicated that she is not a parent; (b) An individual who is a parent of the child under this chapter; (c) A presumed, acknowledged, or adjudicated parent of the child; and (d) An individual whose parentage of the child is to be adjudicated. (2) An individual entitled to notice under subsection (1) of this section has a right to intervene in the proceeding. (3) Lack of notice required by subsection (1) of this section does not render a judgment void. Lack of notice does not preclude an individual entitled to notice under subsection (1) of this section from bringing a proceeding under RCW 26.26A.450 (2). (4) Notice must be by service of the summons and complaint on all parties entitled to receive notice under subsection (1) of this section. (5) In cases where the child is dependent or alleged to be dependent under chapter 13.34 RCW, the petitioner shall give notice to the state agency administering the plan under Title IV-E of the social security act.
RCW 26.09.015 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 09 / Section 015
RCW 26.09.015: Mediation proceedings.
Status: in_force

(1) In any proceeding under this chapter, the matter may be set for mediation of the contested issues before, or concurrent with, the setting of the matter for hearing. The purpose of the mediation proceeding shall be to reduce acrimony which may exist between the parties and to develop an agreement assuring the child's close and continuing contact with both parents after the marriage or the domestic partnership is dissolved. The mediator shall use his or her best efforts to effect a settlement of the dispute. (2)(a) Each superior court may make available a mediator. The court shall use the most cost-effective mediation services that are readily available unless there is good cause to access alternative providers. The mediator may be a member of the professional staff of a family court or mental health services agency, or may be any other person or agency designated by the court. In order to provide mediation services, the court is not required to institute a family court. (b) In any proceeding involving issues relating to residential time or other matters governed by a parenting plan, the matter may be set for mediation of the contested issues before, or concurrent with, the setting of the matter for hearing. Counties may, and to the extent state funding is provided therefor counties shall, provide both predecree and postdecree mediation at reduced or waived fee to the parties within one year of the filing of the dissolution petition. (3)(a) Mediation proceedings under this chapter shall be governed in all respects by chapter 7.07 RCW, except as follows: (i) Mediation communications in postdecree mediations mandated by a parenting plan are admissible in subsequent proceedings for the limited purpose of proving: (A) Abuse, neglect, abandonment, exploitation, or unlawful harassment, as defined in RCW 9A.46.020 (1), of a child; (B) Abuse or unlawful harassment as defined in RCW 9A.46.020 (1), of a family or household member or intimate partner, each as defined in RCW 10.99.020 ; or (C) That a parent used or frustrated the dispute resolution process without good reason for purposes of RCW 26.09.184 (4)(d). (ii) If a postdecree mediation-arbitration proceeding is required pursuant to a parenting plan and the same person acts as both mediator and arbitrator, mediation communications in the mediation phase of such a proceeding may be admitted during the arbitration phase, and shall be admissible in the judicial review of such a proceeding under RCW 26.09.184 (4)(e) to the extent necessary for such review to be effective. (b) None of the exceptions under (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection shall subject a mediator to compulsory process to testify except by court order for good cause shown, taking into consideration the need for the mediator's testimony and the interest in the mediator maintaining an appearance of impartiality. If a mediation communication is not privileged under (a)(i) of this subsection or that portion of (a)(ii) of this subsection pertaining to judicial review, only the portion of the communication necessary for the application of the exception may be admitted, and such admission of evidence shall not render any other mediation communication discoverable or admissible except as may be provided in chapter 7.07 RCW. (4) The mediator shall assess the needs and interests of the child or children involved in the controversy and may interview the child or children if the mediator deems such interview appropriate or necessary. (5) Any agreement reached by the parties as a result of mediation shall be reported to the court and to counsel for the parties by the mediator on the day set for mediation or any time thereafter designated by the court.
RCW 26.26A.750 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26A / Section 750
RCW 26.26A.750: Gestational surrogacy agreement—Order of parentage.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as otherwise provided in RCW 26.26A.740 (3) or 26.26A.755 , before, on, or after the birth of a child conceived by assisted reproduction under a gestational surrogacy agreement, a party to the agreement may commence a proceeding in the superior court for an order or judgment: (a) Declaring that each intended parent is a parent of the child and ordering that parental rights and duties vest immediately on the birth of the child exclusively in each intended parent; (b) Declaring that the woman acting as a gestational surrogate and the surrogate's spouse or former spouse, if any, are not the parents of the child; (c) Directing the state registrar of vital statistics to list each intended parent as a parent of the child on the birth record; (d) To protect the privacy of the child and the parties, declaring that the court record is not open to inspection except as authorized under RCW 26.26A.725 ; (e) If necessary, that the child be surrendered to the intended parent or parents; and (f) For other relief the court determines necessary and proper. (2) The court may issue an order or judgment under subsection (1) of this section before the birth of the child. The court shall stay enforcement of the order or judgment until the birth of the child. (3) Neither this state nor the state registrar of vital statistics is a necessary party to a proceeding under subsection (1) of this section.
RCW 26.18.160 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 18 / Section 160
RCW 26.18.160: Costs.
Status: in_force

In any action to enforce a support or maintenance order under this chapter, the prevailing party is entitled to a recovery of costs, including an award for reasonable attorney fees. An obligor may not be considered a prevailing party under this section unless the obligee has acted in bad faith in connection with the proceeding in question.
RCW 26.21A.610 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 21A / Section 610
RCW 26.21A.610: Direct request.
Status: in_force

(1) A petitioner may file a direct request seeking establishment or modification of a support order or determination of parentage of a child. In such a proceeding, the law of this state applies. (2) A petitioner may file a direct request seeking recognition and enforcement of a support order or support agreement. In the proceeding, RCW 26.21A.613 through 26.21A.630 apply. (3) In a direct request for recognition and enforcement of a convention support order or foreign support agreement: (a) A security, bond, or deposit is not required to guarantee the payment of costs and expenses; and (b) An obligee or obligor that in the issuing country has benefited from free legal assistance is entitled to benefit, at least to the same extent, from any free legal assistance provided for by the law of this state under the same circumstances. (4) A petitioner filing a direct request is not entitled to assistance from the department of social and health services. (5) This article does not prevent the application of laws of this state that provide simplified, more expeditious rules regarding a direct request for recognition and enforcement of a foreign support order or foreign support agreement.
RCW 26.26A.050 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26A / Section 050
RCW 26.26A.050: Data privacy.
Status: in_force

A proceeding under this chapter is subject to law of this state other than this chapter which governs the health, safety, privacy, and liberty of a child or other individual who could be affected by disclosure of information that could identify the child or other individual, including address, telephone number, digital contact information, place of employment, social security number, and the child's day care facility or school.
RCW 26.60.060 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 60 / Section 060
RCW 26.60.060: Domestic partnerships created by subdivisions of the state.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) A domestic partnership created by a subdivision of the state is not a state registered domestic partnership for the purposes of a state registered domestic partnership under this chapter. Those persons desiring to become state registered domestic partners under this chapter must register pursuant to RCW 26.60.040 . (b) A subdivision of the state that provides benefits to the domestic partners of its employees and chooses to use the definition of state registered domestic partner as set forth in RCW 26.60.020 must allow the certificate issued by the secretary of state to satisfy any registration requirements of the subdivision. A subdivision that uses the definition of state registered domestic partner as set forth in RCW 26.60.020 shall notify the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall compile and maintain a list of all subdivisions that have filed such notice. The secretary of state shall post this list on the secretary's web page and provide a copy of the list to each person that receives a certificate of state registered domestic partnership under RCW 26.60.040 (2). (c) Nothing in this section shall affect domestic partnerships created by any public entity. (2) Nothing in chapter 156, Laws of 2007 affects any remedy available in common law.
RCW 26.04.250 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 04 / Section 250
RCW 26.04.250: Penalty for unlawful solemnization—1909 c 249.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall solemnize a marriage when either party thereto is known to him or her to be under the age of legal consent or a marriage to which, within his or her knowledge, any legal impediment exists, shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
RCW 26.44.187 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 44 / Section 187
RCW 26.44.187: Child forensic interviews—Audio/video recordings exempt from disclosure under public records act—Court order required for disclosure.
Status: in_force

Any and all audio and video recordings of child forensic interviews as defined in this chapter are exempt from disclosure under the public records act, chapter 42.56 RCW. Such recordings are confidential under chapter 13.50 RCW and federal law and may only be disclosed pursuant to a court order entered upon a showing of good cause and with advance notice to the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian. However, if the child is an emancipated minor or has attained the age of majority as defined in RCW 26.28.010 , advance notice must be to the child. Failure to disclose an audio or video recording of a child forensic interview as defined in this chapter is not grounds for penalties or other sanctions available under chapter 42.56 RCW or RCW 13.50.100 (10). Nothing in this section is intended to restrict the ability of the department or law enforcement to share child welfare information as authorized or required by state or federal law.
RCW 26.04.160 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 04 / Section 160
RCW 26.04.160: Application for license—Contents—Oath.
Status: in_force

(1) Application for a marriage license must be made and filed with the appropriate county auditor upon blanks to be provided by the county auditor for that purpose, which application shall be under the oath of each of the applicants, and each application shall state the name, address at the time of execution of application, age, social security number, birthplace, whether single, widowed or divorced, and whether under control of a guardian, residence during the past six months: PROVIDED, That each county may require such other and further information on said application as it shall deem necessary. (2) The county legislative authority may impose an additional fee up to fifteen dollars on a marriage license for the purpose of funding family services such as family support centers.
RCW 26.44.901 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 44 / Section 901
RCW 26.44.901: Construction—Prevention services.
Status: in_force

Nothing in this chapter may be construed to limit the department's authority to offer or provide prevention services or primary prevention services as defined in chapters 13.34 and 74.13 RCW, respectively.The sections decodified by RCW 9A.44.900 and added to Title 9A RCW as a new chapter with the designation chapter 9A.44 RCW shall be construed as part of Title 9A RCW.
RCW 26.18.040 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 18 / Section 040
RCW 26.18.040: Support or maintenance proceedings.
Status: in_force

(1) A proceeding to enforce a duty of support or maintenance is commenced: (a) By filing a petition for an original action; or (b) By motion in an existing action or under an existing cause number. (2) Venue for the action is in the superior court of the county where the dependent child resides or is present, where the obligor or obligee resides, or where the prior support or maintenance order was entered. The petition or motion may be filed by the obligee, the state, or any agency providing care or support to the dependent child. A filing fee shall not be assessed in cases brought on behalf of the state of Washington. (3) The court retains continuing jurisdiction under this chapter until all duties of either support or maintenance, or both, of the obligor, including arrearages, have been satisfied.
RCW 26.44.061 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 44 / Section 061
RCW 26.44.061: False reporting—Statement warning against—Determination letter and referral.
Status: in_force

(1) The child protective services section shall prepare a statement warning against false reporting of alleged child abuse or neglect for inclusion in any instructions, informational brochures, educational forms, and handbooks developed or prepared for or by the department and relating to the reporting of abuse or neglect of children. Such statement shall include information on the criminal penalties that apply to false reports of alleged child abuse or neglect under RCW 26.44.060 (4). It shall not be necessary to reprint existing materials if any other less expensive technique can be used. Materials shall be revised when reproduced. (2) The child protective services section shall send a letter by certified mail to any person determined by the section to have made a false report of child abuse or neglect informing the person that such a determination has been made and that a second or subsequent false report will be referred to the proper law enforcement agency for investigation.
RCW 26.23.063 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 23 / Section 063
RCW 26.23.063: Income withholding order—Employer notice requirements of lump sum payments.
Status: in_force

(1) An employer who has been served with an income withholding order for a responsible parent under this chapter, or chapter 74.20A or 26.21A RCW, that includes a provision for payment toward child support arrears shall notify the division of child support before making any lump sum payment of more than $500 to the responsible parent. An employer may report a lump sum payment of a smaller amount or an amount yet to be determined by the division of child support. (2) The employer provides notice by contacting: (a) The division of child support; or (b) The federal office of child support enforcement. (3) An employer who reports a lump sum payment under this section shall determine the portion of the lump sum payment which consists of disposable earnings and may disburse 50 percent of that amount to the responsible parent. (4) The employer must withhold and remit to the division of child support the amount needed to comply with the income withholding order. (5) Notwithstanding any other provision of state law, unless otherwise agreed to by the employer and the division of child support, the employer may not disburse the remaining amount of the lump sum payment before the earlier of: (a) The 15th calendar day after the date on which the employer reports the lump sum payment; or (b) The date on which the income payer receives authorization from the division of child support to make all or a portion of the lump sum payment. (6) Upon receipt of notice of a lump sum payment under this section, the division of child support shall respond to the employer within 14 calendar days after receiving the employer's report of a lump sum payment by providing: (a) A written release indicating that some or all of the portion of the lump sum payment retained by the income payer may be disbursed to the obligor; or (b) An amended or supplemental income withholding order or other written demand specifying the amount of the lump sum payment to be remitted to the division of child support on behalf of the responsible parent. (7) The duties of an employer under this section are governed by the laws of the state of the responsible parent's principal place of employment. (8) Failure to timely provide notice of a lump sum payment may constitute noncompliance under RCW 74.20A.350 .
RCW 26.23.130 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 23 / Section 130
RCW 26.23.130: Notice to department of child support or maintenance orders.
Status: in_force

The department shall be given twenty calendar days prior notice of the entry of any final order and five days prior notice of the entry of any temporary order in any proceeding involving child support or maintenance if the department has a financial interest based on an assignment of support rights under RCW 74.20.330 or the state has a subrogated interest under RCW 74.20A.030 . Service of this notice upon the department shall be by personal service on, or mailing by any form of mail requiring a return receipt to, the office of the attorney general; except that notice shall be given to the office of the prosecuting attorney for the county in which the action is filed in lieu of the office of the attorney general in those counties and in the types of cases as designated by the office of the attorney general by letter sent to the presiding superior court judge of that county. The department shall not be entitled to terms for a party's failure to serve the department within the time requirements for this section, unless the department proves that the party knew that the department had an assignment of support rights or a subrogated interest and that the failure to serve the department was intentional.
RCW 26.26B.030 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26B / Section 030
RCW 26.26B.030: Support orders—Compliance with RCW 26.23.050.
Status: in_force

Every court order or decree establishing a child support obligation shall be entered in compliance with RCW 26.23.050 .
RCW 26.26A.105 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26A / Section 105
RCW 26.26A.105: No discrimination based on marital status of parent.
Status: in_force

A parent-child relationship extends equally to every child and parent, regardless of the marital status of the parent.
RCW 26.18.110 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 18 / Section 110
RCW 26.18.110: Wage assignment order or income withholding order—Employer's answer, duties, and liability—Priorities.
Status: in_force

(1) An employer upon whom service of a wage assignment order or income withholding order has been made shall answer the order by sworn affidavit within twenty days after the date of service. The answer shall state whether the obligor is employed by or receives earnings or other remuneration from the employer, whether the employer will honor the wage assignment order or income withholding order, and whether there are either multiple child support or maintenance attachments, or both, against the obligor. (2) If the employer possesses any earnings or remuneration due and owing to the obligor, the earnings subject to the wage assignment order or income withholding order shall be withheld immediately upon receipt of the wage assignment order or income withholding order. The withheld earnings shall be delivered to the Washington state support registry or, if the wage assignment order is to satisfy a duty of maintenance, to the addressee specified in the assignment within five working days of each regular pay interval. (3) The employer shall continue to withhold the ordered amounts from nonexempt earnings or remuneration of the obligor until notified by: (a) The court that the wage assignment has been modified or terminated; or (b) In the case of an income withholding order, the Washington state support registry that the accrued child support or maintenance debt has been paid. The employer shall promptly notify the addressee specified in the assignment when the employee is no longer employed. If the employer no longer employs the employee, the wage assignment order shall remain in effect for one year after the employee has left the employment or the employer has been in possession of any earnings or remuneration owed to the employee, whichever is later. The employer shall continue to hold the wage assignment order during that period. If the employee returns to the employer's employment during the one-year period the employer shall immediately begin to withhold the employee's earnings or remuneration according to the terms of the wage assignment order. If the employee has not returned within one year, the wage assignment shall cease to have effect at the expiration of the one-year period, unless the employer continues to owe remuneration for employment to the obligor. (4) The employer may deduct a processing fee from the remainder of the employee's earnings after withholding under the wage assignment order or income withholding order, even if the remainder is exempt under RCW 26.18.090 . The processing fee may not exceed (a) ten dollars for the first disbursement made by the employer to the Washington state support registry; and (b) one dollar for each subsequent disbursement to the clerk. (5) An income withholding order for support for a dependent child entered under this chapter shall have priority over any other wage assignment or garnishment, except for another wage assignment or garnishment for child support, or order to withhold and deliver under chapter 74.20A RCW. An order for wage assignment for spousal maintenance entered under this chapter shall have priority over any other wage assignment or garnishment, except for a wage assignment, garnishment, or order to withhold and deliver under chapter 74.20A RCW for support of a dependent child, and except for another wage assignment or garnishment for maintenance. (6) An employer who fails to withhold earnings as required by a wage assignment order or income withholding order issued under this chapter may be held liable to the obligee for one hundred percent of the support or maintenance debt, or the amount of support or maintenance moneys that should have been withheld from the employee's earnings whichever is the lesser amount, if the employer: (a) Fails or refuses, after being served with a wage assignment order or income withholding order, to deduct and promptly remit from the unpaid earnings the amounts of money required in the order; (b) Fails or refuses to submit an answer to the notice of wage assignment or income withholding after being served; or (c) Is unwilling to comply with the other requirements of this section. Liability may be established in superior court. Awards in superior court shall include costs, interest under RCW 19.52.020 and 4.56.110 , and reasonable attorneys' fees. (7) No employer who complies with a wage assignment order or income withholding order issued under this chapter may be liable to the employee for wrongful withholding. (8) No employer may discharge, discipline, or refuse to hire an employee because of the entry or service of a wage assignment or income withholding order issued and executed under this chapter. If an employer discharges, disciplines, or refuses to hire an employee in violation of this section, the employee or person shall have a cause of action against the employer. The employer shall be liable for double the amount of damages suffered as a result of the violation and for costs and reasonable attorneys' fees, and shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than two thousand five hundred dollars for each violation. The employer may also be ordered to hire, rehire, or reinstate the aggrieved individual. (9) For wage assignments or income withholding payable to the Washington state support registry, an employer may combine amounts withheld from various employees into a single payment to the Washington state support registry, if the payment includes a listing of the amounts attributable to each employee and other information as required by the registry. (10) An employer shall deliver a copy of the wage assignment order or income withholding order to the obligor as soon as is reasonably possible.
RCW 26.26A.800 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26A / Section 800
RCW 26.26A.800: Definitions—Information about donor—RCW 26.26A.800 through 26.26A.825.
Status: in_force

The definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 26.26A.800 through 26.26A.825 , unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Identifying information" means: (a) The full name of a donor; (b) The date of birth of the donor; and (c) The permanent and, if different, current address of the donor at the time of the donation. (2) "Medical history" means information regarding any: (a) Present illness of a donor; (b) Past illness of the donor; and (c) Social, genetic, and family history pertaining to the health of the donor.
RCW 26.09.405 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 09 / Section 405
RCW 26.09.405: Applicability.
Status: in_force

(1) The provisions of RCW 26.09.405 through 26.09.560 and the chapter 21, Laws of 2000 amendments to RCW 26.09.260 , * 26.10.190 , and 26.26B.090 apply to a court order regarding residential time or visitation with a child issued: (a) After June 8, 2000; and (b) Before June 8, 2000, if the existing court order does not expressly govern relocation of the child. (2) To the extent that a provision of RCW 26.09.405 through 26.09.560 and the chapter 21, Laws of 2000 amendments to RCW 26.09.260 , * 26.10.190 , and 26.26B.090 conflicts with the express terms of a court order existing prior to June 8, 2000, then RCW 26.09.405 through 26.09.560 and the chapter 21, Laws of 2000 amendments to RCW 26.09.260 , * 26.10.190 , and 26.26B.090 do not apply to those terms of that order governing relocation of the child. (3) The provisions of RCW 26.09.405 through 26.09.560 do not apply to visitation orders entered in dependency proceedings as provided in RCW 13.34.385 .
RCW 26.09.194 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 09 / Section 194
RCW 26.09.194: Proposed temporary parenting plan—Temporary order—Amendment—Vacation of order.
Status: in_force

(1) A parent seeking a temporary order relating to parenting shall file and serve a proposed temporary parenting plan by motion. The other parent, if contesting the proposed temporary parenting plan, shall file and serve a responsive proposed parenting plan. Either parent may move to have a proposed temporary parenting plan entered as part of a temporary order. The parents may enter an agreed temporary parenting plan at any time as part of a temporary order. The proposed temporary parenting plan may be supported by relevant evidence and shall be accompanied by an affidavit or declaration which shall state at a minimum the following: (a) The name, address, and length of residence with the person or persons with whom the child has lived for the preceding twelve months; (b) The performance by each parent during the last twelve months of the parenting functions relating to the daily needs of the child; (c) The parents' work and child-care schedules for the preceding twelve months; (d) The parents' current work and child-care schedules; and (e) Any of the circumstances set forth in RCW 26.09.191 or 26.09.192 that are likely to pose a serious risk to the child and that warrant limitation on the award to a parent of temporary residence or time with the child pending entry of a permanent parenting plan. (2) At the hearing, the court shall enter a temporary parenting order incorporating a temporary parenting plan which includes: (a) A schedule for the child's time with each parent when appropriate; (b) Designation of a temporary residence for the child; (c) Allocation of decision-making authority, if any. Absent allocation of decision-making authority consistent with RCW 26.09.187 (2), neither party shall make any decision for the child other than those relating to day-to-day or emergency care of the child, which shall be made by the party who is present with the child; (d) Provisions for temporary support for the child; and (e) Restraining orders, if applicable, under RCW 26.09.060 . (3) A parent may make a motion for an order to show cause and the court may enter a temporary order, including a temporary parenting plan, upon a showing of necessity. (4) A parent may move for amendment of a temporary parenting plan, and the court may order amendment to the temporary parenting plan, if the amendment conforms to the limitations of RCW 26.09.191 and 26.09.192 and is in the best interest of the child. (5) If a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or dissolution of domestic partnership, legal separation, or declaration of invalidity is dismissed, any temporary order or temporary parenting plan is vacated.
RCW 26.26A.335 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26A / Section 335
RCW 26.26A.335: Additional genetic testing.
Status: in_force

The court or child support agency shall order additional genetic testing on request of an individual who contests the result of the initial testing under RCW 26.26A.325 . If initial genetic testing under RCW 26.26A.325 identified an individual as a genetic parent of the child, the court or agency may not order additional testing unless the contesting individual pays for the testing in advance.
RCW 26.33.090 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 33 / Section 090
RCW 26.33.090: Petition for relinquishment—Hearing—Temporary custody order—Notice—Order of relinquishment.
Status: in_force

(1) The court shall set a time and place for a hearing on the petition for relinquishment. The hearing may not be held sooner than forty-eight hours after the child's birth or the signing of all necessary consents to adoption, whichever is later. However, if the child is an Indian child, the hearing shall not be held sooner than ten days after the child's birth, and no consent shall be valid unless signed at least ten days after the child's birth and recorded before a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1913(a). Except where the child is an Indian child, the court may enter a temporary order giving custody of the child to the prospective adoptive parent, if a preplacement report has been filed, or to the department or agency to whom the child will be relinquished pending the court's hearing on the petition. If the child is an Indian child, the court may enter a temporary custody order under this subsection only if the requirements of 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1913(a) regarding voluntary foster care placement have been satisfied. (2) Notice of the hearing shall be served on any relinquishing parent or *alleged father, and the department or agency in the manner prescribed by RCW 26.33.310 . If the child is an Indian child, notice of the hearing shall also be served on the child's tribe in the manner prescribed by RCW 26.33.310 . (3) The court may require the parent to appear personally and enter his or her consent to adoption on the record. However, if the child is an Indian child, the court shall require the consenting parent to appear personally before a court of competent jurisdiction to enter on the record his or her consent to the relinquishment or adoption. The court shall determine that any written consent has been validly executed, and if the child is an Indian child, such court shall further certify that the requirements of 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1913(a) have been satisfied. If the court determines it is in the best interests of the child, the court shall approve the petition for relinquishment. (4) If the court approves the petition, it shall award custody of the child to the department, agency, or prospective adoptive parent, who shall be appointed legal guardian. The legal guardian shall be financially responsible for support of the child until further order of the court. The court shall also enter an order pursuant to RCW 26.33.130 terminating the parent-child relationship of the parent and the child. (5) An order of relinquishment to an agency or the department shall include an order authorizing the agency to place the child with a prospective adoptive parent.
RCW 26.23.020 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 23 / Section 020
RCW 26.23.020: Definitions.
Status: in_force

The definitions contained in RCW 74.20A.020 shall be incorporated into and made a part of this chapter. (1) "Disposable earnings" means that part of the earnings of an individual remaining after the deduction from those earnings of an amount required by law to be withheld. (2) "Earnings" means compensation paid or payable for personal services, whether denominated as wages, salary, commission, bonus, or otherwise, and, notwithstanding any other provision of law making the payments exempt from garnishment, attachment, or other process to satisfy support obligations, specifically includes periodic payments pursuant to pension or retirement programs, or insurance policies of any type, but does not include payments made under Title 50 RCW, except as provided in RCW 50.40.020 and 50.40.050 , or Title 74 RCW. Earnings shall specifically include all gain from capital, from labor, or from both combined, not including profit gained through sale or conversion of capital assets. (3) "Employee" means a person in employment as defined in Title 50 RCW to whom an employer is paying, owes or anticipates paying earnings as a result of services performed. (4) "Employer" means any person or entity who pays or owes earnings in employment as defined in Title 50 RCW to the responsible parent including but not limited to the United States government, or any state or local unit of government. (5) "Lump sum payment" means income other than a periodic recurring payment of earnings on regular paydays and does not include reimbursement for expenses. Lump sum payment includes, but is not limited to, discretionary and nondiscretionary bonuses, commissions, performance bonuses, merit increases, safety awards, signing bonuses, moving and relocation incentive payments, holiday pay, termination pay, and severance pay. Lump sum payment also includes workers' compensation, insurance settlements, and personal injury settlements paid as replacement for wages owed. (6) "Support order" means a superior court order or administrative order, as defined in RCW 74.20A.020 .
RCW 26.33.140 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 33 / Section 140
RCW 26.33.140: Who may adopt or be adopted.
Status: in_force

(1) Any person may be adopted, regardless of his or her age or residence. (2) Any person who is legally competent and who is eighteen years of age or older may be an adoptive parent.
RCW 26.14.150 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 14 / Section 150
RCW 26.14.150: Confirmation of award.
Status: in_force

(1) After an arbitrator gives notice under RCW 26.14.140 (1) of an award, including an award corrected under RCW 26.14.160 , a party may move the court for an order confirming the award. (2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section, the court shall confirm an award under this chapter if: (a) The parties agree in a record to confirmation; or (b) The time has expired for making a motion, and no motion is pending, under RCW 26.14.170 or 26.14.180 . (3) If an award determines a child-related dispute, the court shall confirm the award under subsection (2) of this section if the court finds, after a review of the record if necessary, that the award on its face: (a) Complies with RCW 26.14.140 and law of this state other than this chapter governing a child-related dispute; and (b) Is in the best interests of the child. (4) On confirmation, an award under this chapter is enforceable as a judgment.
RCW 26.55.010 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 55 / Section 010
RCW 26.55.010: Definitions.
Status: in_force

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Canadian domestic violence protection order" means a judgment or part of a judgment or order issued in a civil proceeding by a court of Canada under law of the issuing jurisdiction which relates to domestic violence. (2) "Domestic violence protection order" means an injunction or other order issued by a court which relates to domestic or family violence laws to prevent an individual from engaging in violent or threatening acts against, harassment of, direct or indirect contact or communication with, or being in physical proximity to another individual. (3) "Issuing court" means the court that issues a Canadian domestic violence protection order. (4) "Law enforcement officer" means an individual authorized by law of this state other than this chapter to enforce a domestic violence protection order. (5) "Person" means an individual, estate, business or nonprofit entity, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or other legal entity. (6) "Protected individual" means an individual protected by a Canadian domestic violence protection order. (7) "Record" means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form. (8) "Respondent" means an individual against whom a Canadian domestic violence protection order is issued. (9) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The term includes a federally recognized Indian tribe.
RCW 26.19.100 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 19 / Section 100
RCW 26.19.100: Federal income tax exemptions.
Status: in_force

The parties may agree which parent is entitled to claim the child or children as dependents for federal income tax exemptions. The court may award the exemption or exemptions and order a party to sign the federal income tax dependency exemption waiver. The court may divide the exemptions between the parties, alternate the exemptions between the parties, or both.
RCW 26.16.230 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 16 / Section 230
RCW 26.16.230: Quasi-community property—Disposition at death.
Status: in_force

Upon the death of any person domiciled in this state, one-half of any quasi-community property shall belong to the surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner and the other one-half of such property shall be subject to disposition at death by the decedent, and in the absence thereof, shall descend in the manner provided for community property under chapter 11.04 RCW.
RCW 26.33.430 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 33 / Section 430
RCW 26.33.430: Postadoption contact between siblings—Duty of court.
Status: in_force

The court, in reviewing and approving an agreement under RCW 26.33.295 for the adoption of a child from foster care, shall encourage the adoptive parents, birth parents, foster parents, kinship caregivers, and the department or other supervising agency to seriously consider the long-term benefits to the child adoptee and siblings of the child adoptee of providing for and facilitating continuing postadoption contact between siblings. To the extent feasible, and when in the best interests of the child adoptee and siblings of the child adoptee, contact between the siblings should be frequent and of a similar nature as that which existed prior to the adoption. If the child adoptee or known siblings of the child adoptee are represented by an attorney or guardian ad litem in a proceeding under this chapter or in any other child custody proceeding, the court shall inquire of each attorney and guardian ad litem regarding the potential benefits of continuing contact between the siblings and the potential detriments of severing contact.
RCW 26.27.541 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 27 / Section 541
RCW 26.27.541: Role of prosecutor or attorney general.
Status: in_force

(1) In a case arising under this chapter or involving the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the prosecutor or attorney general may take any lawful action, including resorting to a proceeding under this article or any other available civil proceeding to locate a child, obtain the return of a child, or enforce a child custody determination if there is: (a) An existing child custody determination; (b) A request to do so from a court in a pending child custody proceeding; (c) A reasonable belief that a criminal statute has been violated; or (d) A reasonable belief that the child has been wrongfully removed or retained in violation of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. (2) A prosecutor or attorney general acting under this section acts on behalf of the court and may not represent any party.
RCW 26.21A.140 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 21A / Section 140
RCW 26.21A.140: Credit for payments.
Status: in_force

A tribunal of this state shall credit amounts collected for a particular period pursuant to any child support order against the amounts owed for the same period under any other child support order for support of the same child issued by a tribunal of this state, another state, or a foreign country.
RCW 26.16.140 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 16 / Section 140
RCW 26.16.140: Earnings and accumulations of spouses or domestic partners living apart, minor children.
Status: in_force

When spouses or domestic partners are living separate and apart, their respective earnings and accumulations shall be the separate property of each. The earnings and accumulations of minor children shall be the separate property of the spouse or domestic partner who has their custody or, if no custody award has been made, then the separate property of the spouse or domestic partner with whom said children are living.
RCW 26.09.181 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 09 / Section 181
RCW 26.09.181: Procedure for determining permanent parenting plan.
Status: in_force

(1) SUBMISSION OF PROPOSED PLANS. (a) In any proceeding under this chapter, except a modification, each party shall file and serve a proposed permanent parenting plan on or before the earliest date of: (i) Thirty days after filing and service by either party of a notice for trial; or (ii) One hundred eighty days after commencement of the action which one hundred eighty day period may be extended by stipulation of the parties. (b) In proceedings for a modification of custody or a parenting plan, a proposed parenting plan shall be filed and served with the motion for modification and with the response to the motion for modification. (c) No proposed permanent parenting plan shall be required after filing of an agreed permanent parenting plan, after entry of a final decree, or after dismissal of the cause of action. (d) A party who files a proposed parenting plan in compliance with this section may move the court for an order of default adopting that party's parenting plan if the other party has failed to file a proposed parenting plan as required in this section. (2) AMENDING PROPOSED PARENTING PLANS. Either party may file and serve an amended proposed permanent parenting plan according to the rules for amending pleadings. (3) GOOD FAITH PROPOSAL. The parent submitting a proposed parenting plan shall attach a verified statement that the plan is proposed by that parent in good faith. (4) AGREED PERMANENT PARENTING PLANS. The parents may make an agreed permanent parenting plan. (5) MANDATORY SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE. Where mandatory settlement conferences are provided under court rule, the parents shall attend a mandatory settlement conference. The mandatory settlement conference shall be presided over by a judge or a court commissioner, who shall apply the criteria in RCW 26.09.187 and 26.09.191 . The parents shall in good faith review the proposed terms of the parenting plans and any other issues relevant to the cause of action with the presiding judge or court commissioner. Facts and legal issues that are not then in dispute shall be entered as stipulations for purposes of final hearing or trial in the matter. (6) TRIAL SETTING. Trial dates for actions involving minor children brought under this chapter shall receive priority. (7) ENTRY OF FINAL ORDER. The final order or decree shall be entered not sooner than ninety days after filing and service. This subsection does not apply to decrees of legal separation.
RCW 26.52.060 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 52 / Section 060
RCW 26.52.060: Fees not permitted for filing, preparation, or copies.
Status: in_force

A public agency may not charge a fee for filing or preparation of certified, authenticated, or exemplified copies to a person entitled to protection who seeks relief under this chapter or to a foreign prosecutor or a foreign law enforcement agency seeking to enforce a protection order entered by a Washington court. A person entitled to protection and foreign prosecutors or law enforcement agencies must be provided the necessary number of certified, authenticated, or exemplified copies at no cost.
RCW 26.23.037 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 23 / Section 037
RCW 26.23.037: Insurer information exchange—Child support debt—Reporting requirements.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (8) of this section, each insurer shall, not later than 10 days after opening a tort liability claim for bodily injury or wrongful death, a workers' compensation claim, or a claim under a policy of life insurance, exchange information with the division of child support in the manner prescribed by the department to verify whether the claimant owes debt for the support of one or more children to the department or to a person receiving services from the division of child support. To the extent feasible, the division of child support shall facilitate a secure electronic process to exchange information with insurers pursuant to this subsection. The obligation of an insurer to exchange information with the division of child support is discharged upon complying with the requirements of this subsection. (b) The exchange of information pursuant to chapter 168, Laws of 2021 must comply with privacy protections under applicable state and federal laws and regulations, including the federal health insurance portability and accountability act. (2) In order to determine whether a claimant owes a debt being enforced by the division of child support, all insurance companies doing business in the state of Washington that issue qualifying payments to claimants must provide minimum identifying information about the claimant to: (a) An insurance claim data collection organization; (b) The federal office of child support enforcement or the child support lien network; or (c) The division of child support directly in a manner satisfactory to the department; however, the division of child support shall minimize the use of directly reported social security numbers unless the claimant cannot be identified using the claimant's full name, current physical address, and date of birth. (3) Insurers must take the steps necessary to authorize an insurance claim data collection organization to share minimum identifying information with the federal office of child support enforcement and the child support claim lien network. (4) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (5) and (7) of this section, if an insurer is notified by the division of child support that a claimant owes debt for the support of one or more children to the department or to a person receiving services from the division of child support, the insurer shall, upon the receipt of a notice issued by the department identifying the amount of debt owed pursuant to chapter 74.20A RCW: (a) Withhold from payment on the claim the amount specified in the notice; and (b) Remit the amount withheld from payment to the department within 20 days. (5) The department shall give any lien, claim, or demand for reasonable claim-related attorneys' fees, property damage, and medical costs priority over any withholding of payment pursuant to subsection (4) of this section. (6) Any information obtained pursuant to chapter 168, Laws of 2021 must be used only for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of chapter 168, Laws of 2021. An insurer or other entity described in subsection (2) of this section may not be held liable in any civil or criminal action for any act made in good faith pursuant to this section including, but not limited to: (a) Any disclosure of information to the department or the division of child support; or (b) The withholding of any money from payment on a claim or the remittance of such money to the department. (7) An insurer may not delay the disbursement of a payment on a claim to comply with the requirements of this section. An insurer is not required to comply with subsection (4) of this section if the notice issued by the department is received by the insurer after the insurer has disbursed the payment on the claim. In the case of a claim that will be paid through periodic payments, the insurer: (a) Is not required to comply with the provisions of subsection (4) of this section with regard to any payments on the claim disbursed to the claimant before the notice was received by the insurer; and (b) Must comply with the provisions of subsection (4) of this section with regard to any payments on the claim scheduled to be made after the receipt of the notice. (8) If periodic payment will be made to a claimant, an insurer is only required to engage in the exchange of information pursuant to subsection (1) of this section before issuing the initial payment. (9) An insurance company's failure to comply with the reporting requirements of chapter 168, Laws of 2021 does not amount to noncompliance with a requirement of the division of child support as described in RCW 74.20A.350 . (10) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (a) "Claimant" means any person who: (i) Brings a tort liability claim for bodily injury or wrongful death; (ii) is receiving workers' compensation benefits; or (iii) is a beneficiary under a life insurance policy. "Claim for bodily injury" does not include a claim for uninsured or underinsured vehicle coverage or medical payments coverage under a motor vehicle liability policy. (b) "Insurance claim data collection organization" means an organization that maintains a centralized database of information concerning insurance claims to assist insurers that subscribe to the database in processing claims and detecting and preventing fraud, and also cooperates and coordinates with the federal or state child support entities to share relevant information for insurance intercept purposes. (c) "Insurer" means: (i) A person who holds a certificate of authority to transact insurance in the state; or (ii) a chapter 48.15 RCW unauthorized insurer. (d) "Qualifying payment" means a payment that is either a one-time lump sum or an installment payment issued by an insurance company doing business in the state of Washington, which is made for the purpose of satisfying, compromising, or settling, a tort or insurance claim where the payment is in excess of $500 and is intended to go directly to the claimant and not to a third party, such as a health care provider. (e) "Tort or insurance claim" means: (i) A claim for general damages, which are also called noneconomic damages; or (ii) a claim for lost wages. "Tort or insurance claim" does not include claims for property damage under either liability insurance or uninsured motorist insurance.
RCW 26.26B.040 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26B / Section 040
RCW 26.26B.040: Support orders—Time limit, exception.
Status: in_force

A court may not order payment for support provided or expenses incurred more than five years prior to the commencement of the action. Any period of time in which the responsible party has concealed himself or herself or avoided the jurisdiction of the court under this chapter or chapter 26.26A RCW shall not be included within the five-year period.
RCW 26.44.250 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 44 / Section 250
RCW 26.44.250: Arrest upon drug or alcohol-related driving offense—Child protective services notified if child is present and operator is a parent, guardian, or custodian.
Status: in_force

A law enforcement officer shall promptly notify child protective services whenever a child is present in a vehicle being driven by his or her parent, guardian, or legal custodian and that person is being arrested for a drug or alcohol-related driving offense. This section does not require law enforcement to take custody of the child unless there is no other responsible person, or an agency having the right to physical custody of the child that can be contacted, or the officer has reasonable grounds to believe the child should be taken into custody pursuant to RCW 13.34.050 or 26.44.050 . For purposes of this section, "child" means any person under thirteen years of age.
RCW 9A.44.120 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 44 / Section 120
RCW 9A.44.120: Admissibility of child's statement—Conditions.
Status: in_force

(1) A statement not otherwise admissible by statute or court rule, is admissible in evidence in dependency proceedings under Title 13 RCW and criminal proceedings, including juvenile offense adjudications, in the courts of the state of Washington if: (a)(i) It is made by a child when under the age of ten describing any act of sexual contact performed with or on the child by another, describing any attempted act of sexual contact with or on the child by another, or describing any act of physical abuse of the child by another that results in substantial bodily harm as defined by RCW 9A.04.110 ; or (ii) It is made by a child when under the age of 18 describing any of the following acts or attempted acts performed with or on the child: Trafficking under RCW 9A.40.100 ; commercial sexual abuse of a minor under RCW 9.68A.100 ; promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor under RCW 9.68A.101 ; or promoting travel for commercial sexual abuse of a minor under RCW 9.68A.102 ; (b) The court finds, in a hearing conducted outside the presence of the jury, that the time, content, and circumstances of the statement provide sufficient indicia of reliability; and (c) The child either: (i) Testifies at the proceedings; or (ii) Is unavailable as a witness, except that when the child is unavailable as a witness, such statement may be admitted only if there is corroborative evidence of the act. (2) A statement may not be admitted under this section unless the proponent of the statement makes known to the adverse party his or her intention to offer the statement and the particulars of the statement sufficiently in advance of the proceedings to provide the adverse party with a fair opportunity to prepare to meet the statement.Whenever the child protective services worker is required to notify parents and children of their basic rights and other specific information as set forth in RCW 26.44.105 through 26.44.115 , the child protective services worker shall also make a reasonable effort to notify the noncustodial parent of the same information in a timely manner.
RCW 26.21A.623 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 21A / Section 623
RCW 26.21A.623: Foreign support agreement.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (3) and (4) of this section, a tribunal of this state shall recognize and enforce a foreign support agreement registered in this state. (2) An application or direct request for recognition and enforcement of a foreign support agreement must be accompanied by: (a) A complete text of the foreign support agreement; and (b) A record stating that the foreign support agreement is enforceable as an order of support in the issuing country. (3) A tribunal of this state may vacate the registration of a foreign support agreement only if, acting on its own motion, the tribunal finds that recognition and enforcement would be manifestly incompatible with public policy. (4) In a contest of a foreign support agreement, a tribunal of this state may refuse recognition and enforcement of the agreement if it finds: (a) Recognition and enforcement of the agreement is manifestly incompatible with public policy; (b) The agreement was obtained by fraud or falsification; (c) The agreement is incompatible with a support order involving the same parties and having the same purpose in this state, another state, or a foreign country if the support order is entitled to recognition and enforcement under this chapter in this state; or (d) The record submitted under subsection (2) of this section lacks authenticity or integrity. (5) A proceeding for recognition and enforcement of a foreign support agreement must be suspended during the pendency of a challenge to or appeal of the agreement before a tribunal of another state or a foreign country.
RCW 26.33.200 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 33 / Section 200
RCW 26.33.200: Post-placement report—Requirements—Exception—Fees.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in RCW 26.33.220 , at the time the petition for adoption is filed, the court shall order a post-placement report made to determine the nature and adequacy of the placement and to determine if the placement is in the best interest of the child. The report shall be prepared by an agency, the department, an individual approved by the court, or a qualified salaried court employee appointed by the court. A certificate signed under penalty of perjury by the person preparing the report specifying his or her qualifications as required in this chapter shall be attached to or filed with each post-placement report. The report shall be in writing and contain all reasonably available information concerning the physical and mental condition of the child, home environment, family life, health, facilities and resources of the petitioners, and any other facts and circumstances relating to the propriety and advisability of the adoption. The report shall also include, if relevant, information on the child's special cultural heritage, including membership in any Indian tribe or band. The report shall be filed within sixty days of the date of appointment, unless the time is extended by the court. The preplacement report shall be made available to the person appointed to make the post-placement report. (2) A fee may be charged for preparation of the post-placement report in the same manner as for a preplacement report under RCW 26.33.190 .
RCW 26.52.020 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 52 / Section 020
RCW 26.52.020: Foreign protection orders—Validity.
Status: in_force

A foreign protection order is valid if the issuing court had jurisdiction over the parties and matter under the law of the state, territory, possession, tribe, or United States military tribunal. There is a presumption in favor of validity where an order appears authentic on its face. A person under restraint must be given reasonable notice and the opportunity to be heard before the order of the foreign state, territory, possession, tribe, or United States military tribunal was issued, provided, in the case of ex parte orders, notice and opportunity to be heard was given as soon as possible after the order was issued, consistent with due process.
RCW 26.14.020 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 14 / Section 020
RCW 26.14.020: Scope.
Status: in_force

(1) This chapter governs arbitration of a family law dispute. (2) This chapter does not authorize an arbitrator to make an award that: (a) Grants a legal separation or dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership, or annulment; (b) Terminates parental rights; (c) Grants an adoption or a guardianship of a child or incapacitated individual; or (d) Determines the status of dependency. (3) This chapter does not apply to: (a) Any arbitration governed by chapter 7.06 RCW; (b) Proceedings under Title 13 RCW; (c) Jurisdictional determinations under chapter 26.27 RCW; (d) Proceedings under RCW 26.26A.465 ; (e) Writs of habeas corpus; (f) Disputes as to personal or subject matter jurisdiction; (g) Determination of venue; (h) Issuance, modification, or termination of protection orders under chapter 7.105 RCW; and (i) Delegation of the court's authority to permanently modify a parenting plan based on a finding of substantial change in circumstances.
RCW 26.14.901 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 14 / Section 901
RCW 26.14.901: Relation to electronic signatures in global and national commerce act.
Status: in_force

This chapter modifies, limits, or supersedes the electronic signatures in global and national commerce act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 7001 et seq., but does not modify, limit, or supersede section 101(c) of that act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 7001(c), or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in section 103(b) of that act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 7003(b).
RCW 26.28.900 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 28 / Section 900
RCW 26.28.900: Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to marital relationships and married persons, and references to dissolution of marriage shall apply equally to state registered domestic partnerships that have been terminated, dissolved, or invalidated, to the extent that such interpretation does not conflict with federal law. Where necessary to implement chapter 521, Laws of 2009, gender-specific terms such as husband and wife used in any statute, rule, or other law shall be construed to be gender neutral, and applicable to individuals in state registered domestic partnerships.
RCW 26.09.160 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 09 / Section 160
RCW 26.09.160: Failure to comply with decree or temporary injunction—Obligation to make support or maintenance payments or permit contact with children not suspended—Penalties.
Status: in_force

(1) The performance of parental functions and the duty to provide child support are distinct responsibilities in the care of a child. If a party fails to comply with a provision of a decree or temporary order of injunction, the obligation of the other party to make payments for support or maintenance or to permit contact with children is not suspended. An attempt by a parent, in either the negotiation or the performance of a parenting plan, to condition one aspect of the parenting plan upon another, to condition payment of child support upon an aspect of the parenting plan, to refuse to pay ordered child support, to refuse to perform the duties provided in the parenting plan, or to hinder the performance by the other parent of duties provided in the parenting plan, shall be deemed bad faith and shall be punished by the court by holding the party in contempt of court and by awarding to the aggrieved party reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incidental in bringing a motion for contempt of court. (2)(a) A motion may be filed to initiate a contempt action to coerce a parent to comply with an order establishing residential provisions for a child. If the court finds there is reasonable cause to believe the parent has not complied with the order, the court may issue an order to show cause why the relief requested should not be granted. (b) If, based on all the facts and circumstances, the court finds after hearing that the parent, in bad faith, has not complied with the order establishing residential provisions for the child, the court shall find the parent in contempt of court. Upon a finding of contempt, the court shall order: (i) The noncomplying parent to provide the moving party additional time with the child. The additional time shall be equal to the time missed with the child, due to the parent's noncompliance; (ii) The parent to pay, to the moving party, all court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred as a result of the noncompliance, and any reasonable expenses incurred in locating or returning a child; and (iii) The parent to pay, to the moving party, a civil penalty, not less than the sum of one hundred dollars. The court may also order the parent to be imprisoned in the county jail, if the parent is presently able to comply with the provisions of the court-ordered parenting plan and is presently unwilling to comply. The parent may be imprisoned until he or she agrees to comply with the order, but in no event for more than one hundred eighty days. (3) On a second failure within three years to comply with a residential provision of a court-ordered parenting plan, a motion may be filed to initiate contempt of court proceedings according to the procedure set forth in subsection (2)(a) and (b) of this section. On a finding of contempt under this subsection, the court shall order: (a) The noncomplying parent to provide the other parent or party additional time with the child. The additional time shall be twice the amount of the time missed with the child, due to the parent's noncompliance; (b) The noncomplying parent to pay, to the other parent or party, all court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred as a result of the noncompliance, and any reasonable expenses incurred in locating or returning a child; and (c) The noncomplying parent to pay, to the moving party, a civil penalty of not less than two hundred fifty dollars. The court may also order the parent to be imprisoned in the county jail, if the parent is presently able to comply with the provisions of the court-ordered parenting plan and is presently unwilling to comply. The parent may be imprisoned until he or she agrees to comply with the order but in no event for more than one hundred eighty days. (4) For purposes of subsections (1), (2), and (3) of this section, the parent shall be deemed to have the present ability to comply with the order establishing residential provisions unless he or she establishes otherwise by a preponderance of the evidence. The parent shall establish a reasonable excuse for failure to comply with the residential provision of a court-ordered parenting plan by a preponderance of the evidence. (5) Any monetary award ordered under subsections (1), (2), and (3) of this section may be enforced, by the party to whom it is awarded, in the same manner as a civil judgment. (6) Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of this section authorize the exercise of the court's power to impose remedial sanctions for contempt of court and is in addition to any other contempt power the court may possess. (7) Upon motion for contempt of court under subsections (1) through (3) of this section, if the court finds the motion was brought without reasonable basis, the court shall order the moving party to pay to the nonmoving party, all costs, reasonable attorneys' fees, and a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars.
RCW 26.09.530 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 09 / Section 530
RCW 26.09.530: Factor not to be considered.
Status: in_force

In determining whether to permit or restrain the relocation of the child, the court may not admit evidence on the issue of whether the person seeking to relocate the child will forego his or her own relocation if the child's relocation is not permitted or whether the person opposing relocation will also relocate if the child's relocation is permitted. The court may admit and consider such evidence after it makes the decision to allow or restrain relocation of the child and other parenting, custody, or visitation issues remain before the court, such as what, if any, modifications to the parenting plan are appropriate and who the child will reside with the majority of the time if the court has denied relocation of the child and the person is relocating without the child.
RCW 26.33.902 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 33 / Section 902
RCW 26.33.902: Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to marital relationships and married persons, and references to dissolution of marriage shall apply equally to state registered domestic partnerships that have been terminated, dissolved, or invalidated, to the extent that such interpretation does not conflict with federal law. Where necessary to implement chapter 521, Laws of 2009, gender-specific terms such as husband and wife used in any statute, rule, or other law shall be construed to be gender neutral, and applicable to individuals in state registered domestic partnerships.
RCW 26.26A.480 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26A / Section 480
RCW 26.26A.480: Proceeding to adjudicate parentage—Before birth of child.
Status: in_force

Except as otherwise provided in RCW 26.26A.700 through 26.26A.785 , a proceeding to adjudicate parentage may be commenced before the birth of the child and an order or judgment may be entered before birth, but enforcement of the order or judgment must be stayed until the birth of the child. It is the responsibility of the parent to present the order or judgment to the hospital, midwife, or other party handling the delivery of the child so that the birth record may be entered properly.
RCW 26.12.187 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 12 / Section 187
RCW 26.12.187: Guardian ad litem, special advocate, or investigator—Ex parte communications—Removal.
Status: in_force

A guardian ad litem, court-appointed special advocate, or investigator shall not engage in ex parte communications with any judicial officer involved in the matter for which he or she is appointed during the pendency of the proceeding, except as permitted by court rule or statute for ex parte motions. Ex parte motions shall be heard in open court on the record. The record may be preserved in a manner deemed appropriate by the county where the matter is heard. The court, upon its own motion, or upon the motion of a party, may consider the removal of any guardian ad litem, court-appointed special advocate, or investigator who violates this section from any pending case or from any court-authorized registry, and if so removed may require forfeiture of any fees for professional services on the pending case.
RCW 26.12.220 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 12 / Section 220
RCW 26.12.220: Funding family court or family court services—Increase in marriage license fee authorized—Family court services program—Fees.
Status: in_force

(1) The legislative authority of any county may authorize family court services as provided in RCW 26.12.230 . The legislative authority may impose a fee in excess of that prescribed in RCW 36.18.010 for the issuance of a marriage license. The fee shall not exceed eight dollars. (2) In addition to any other funds used therefor, the governing body of any county shall use the proceeds from the fee increase authorized by this section to pay the expenses of the family court and the family court services under chapter 26.12 RCW. If there is no family court in the county, the legislative authority may provide such services through other county agencies or may contract with a public or private agency or person to provide such services. Family court services also may be provided jointly with other counties as provided in RCW 26.12.230 . (3) The family court services program may hire professional employees to provide the investigation, evaluation and reporting, and mediation services, or the county may contract for these services, or both. To facilitate and promote the purposes of this chapter, the court may order or recommend the aid of physicians, psychiatrists, or other specialists. (4) The family court services program may provide or contract for: (a) Mediation; (b) investigation, evaluation, and reporting to the court; and (c) reconciliation; and may provide a referral mechanism for drug and alcohol testing, monitoring, and treatment; and any other treatment, parenting, or anger management programs the family court professional considers necessary or appropriate. (5) Services other than family court investigation, evaluation, reconciliation, and mediation services shall be at the expense of the parties involved absent a court order to the contrary. The parties shall bear all or a portion of the cost of parenting seminars and family court investigation, evaluation, reconciliation, and mediation services according to the parties' ability to pay. (6) The county legislative authority may establish rules of eligibility for the family court services funded under this section. The rules shall not conflict with rules of the court adopted under chapter 26.12 RCW or any other statute. (7) The legislative authority may establish fees for family court investigation, evaluation, reconciliation, and mediation services under this chapter according to the parties' ability to pay for the services. Fees collected under this section shall be collected and deposited in the same manner as other county funds are collected and deposited, and shall be maintained in a separate account to be used as provided in this section.
RCW 26.26A.260 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26A / Section 260
RCW 26.26A.260: Release of information relating to an acknowledgment or denial of parentage.
Status: in_force

The state registrar of vital statistics may release information relating to an acknowledgment of parentage or denial of parentage to a signatory of the acknowledgment or denial, a court, a federal agency, an agency operating a child welfare program under Title IV-E of the social security act, and a child support agency of this or another state.
RCW 26.34.010 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 34 / Section 010
RCW 26.34.010: Compact enacted—Provisions.
Status: in_force

The interstate compact on the placement of children is hereby enacted into law and entered into with all other jurisdictions legally joining therein in form substantially as follows: ARTICLE I. Purpose and Policy It is the purpose and policy of the party states to cooperate with each other in the interstate placement of children to the end that: (a) Each child requiring placement shall receive the maximum opportunity to be placed in a suitable environment and with persons or institutions having appropriate qualifications and facilities to provide a necessary and desirable degree and type of care. (b) The appropriate authorities in a state where a child is to be placed may have full opportunity to ascertain the circumstances of the proposed placement, thereby promoting full compliance with applicable requirements for the protection of the child. (c) The proper authorities of the state from which the placement is made may obtain the most complete information on the basis of which to evaluate a projected placement before it is made. (d) Appropriate jurisdictional arrangements for the care of children will be promoted. ARTICLE II. Definitions As used in this compact: (a) "Child" means a person who, by reason of minority, is legally subject to parental, guardianship or similar control. (b) "Sending agency" means a party state, officer or employee thereof; a subdivision of a party state, or officer or employee thereof; a court of a party state; a person, corporation, association, charitable agency or other entity which sends, brings, or causes to be sent or brought any child to another party state. (c) "Receiving state" means the state to which a child is sent, brought, or caused to be sent or brought, whether by public authorities or private persons or agencies, and whether for placement with state or local public authorities or for placement with private agencies or persons. (d) "Placement" means the arrangement for the care of a child in a family free or boarding home or in a child-caring agency or institution but does not include any institution caring for the mentally ill, mentally defective or epileptic or any institution primarily educational in character, and any hospital or other medical facility. ARTICLE III. Conditions for Placement (a) No sending agency shall send, bring, or cause to be sent or brought into any other party state any child for placement in foster care or as a preliminary to a possible adoption unless the sending agency shall comply with each and every requirement set forth in this article and with the applicable laws of the receiving state governing the placement of children therein. (b) Prior to sending, bringing or causing any child to be sent or brought into a receiving state for placement in foster care or as a preliminary to a possible adoption, the sending agency shall furnish the appropriate public authorities in the receiving state written notice of the intention to send, bring, or place the child in the receiving state. The notice shall contain: (1) The name, date and place of birth of the child. (2) The identity and address or addresses of the parents or legal guardian. (3) The name and address of the person, agency or institution to or with which the sending agency proposes to send, bring, or place the child. (4) A full statement of the reasons for such proposed action and evidence of the authority pursuant to which the placement is proposed to be made. (c) Any public officer or agency in a receiving state which is in receipt of a notice pursuant to paragraph (b) of this article may request of the sending agency, or any other appropriate officer or agency of or in the sending agency's state, and shall be entitled to receive therefrom, such supporting or additional information as it may deem necessary under the circumstances to carry out the purpose and policy of this compact. (d) The child shall not be sent, brought, or caused to be sent or brought into the receiving state until the appropriate public authorities in the receiving state shall notify the sending agency, in writing, to the effect that the proposed placement does not appear to be contrary to the interests of the child. ARTICLE IV. Penalty for Illegal Placement The sending, bringing, or causing to be sent or brought into any receiving state of a child in violation of the terms of this compact shall constitute a violation of the laws respecting the placement of children of both the state in which the sending agency is located or from which it sends or brings the child and of the receiving state. Such violation may be punished or subjected to penalty in either jurisdiction in accordance with its laws. In addition to liability for any such punishment or penalty, any such violation shall constitute full and sufficient grounds for the suspension or revocation of any license, permit, or other legal authorization held by the sending agency which empowers or allows it to place, or care for children. ARTICLE V. Retention of Jurisdiction (a) The sending agency shall retain jurisdiction over the child sufficient to determine all matters in relation to the custody, supervision, care, treatment and disposition of the child which it would have had if the child had remained in the sending agency's state, until the child is adopted, reaches majority, becomes self-supporting or is discharged with the concurrence of the appropriate authority in the receiving state. Such jurisdiction shall also include the power to effect or cause the return of the child or its transfer to another location and custody pursuant to law. The sending agency shall continue to have financial responsibility for support and maintenance of the child during the period of the placement. Nothing contained herein shall defeat a claim of jurisdiction by a receiving state sufficient to deal with an act of delinquency or crime committed therein. (b) When the sending agency is a public agency, it may enter into an agreement with an authorized public or private agency in the receiving state providing for the performance of one or more services in respect of such case by the latter as agent for the sending agency. (c) Nothing in this compact shall be construed to prevent a private charitable agency authorized to place children in the receiving state from performing services or acting as agent in that state for a private charitable agency of the sending state; nor to prevent the agency in the receiving state from discharging financial responsibility for the support and maintenance of a child who has been placed on behalf of the sending agency without relieving the responsibility set forth in paragraph (a) hereof. ARTICLE VI. Institutional Care of Delinquent Children A child adjudicated delinquent may be placed in an institution in another party jurisdiction pursuant to this compact but no such placement shall be made unless the child is given a court hearing on notice to the parent or guardian with opportunity to be heard, prior to his being sent to such other party jurisdiction for institutional care and the court finds that: (1) Equivalent facilities for the child are not available in the sending agency's jurisdiction; and (2) Institutional care in the other jurisdiction is in the best interest of the child and will not produce undue hardship. ARTICLE VII. Compact Administrator The executive head of each jurisdiction party to this compact shall designate an officer who shall be general coordinator of activities under this compact in his jurisdiction and who, acting jointly with like officers of other party jurisdictions, shall have power to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out more effectively the terms and provisions of this compact. ARTICLE VIII. Limitations This compact shall not apply to: (a) The sending or bringing of a child into a receiving state by his parent, stepparent, grandparent, adult brother or sister, adult uncle or aunt, or his guardian and leaving the child with any such relative or nonagency guardian in the receiving state. (b) Any placement, sending or bringing of a child into a receiving state pursuant to any other interstate compact to which both the state from which the child is sent or brought and the receiving state are party, or to any other agreement between said states which has the force of law. ARTICLE IX. Enactment and Withdrawal This compact shall be open to joinder by any state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and, with the consent of Congress, the Government of Canada or any province thereof. It shall become effective with respect to any such jurisdiction when such jurisdiction has enacted the same into law. Withdrawal from this compact shall be by the enactment of a statute repealing the same, but shall not take effect until two years after the effective date of such statute and until written notice of the withdrawal has been given by the withdrawing state to the governor of each other party jurisdiction. Withdrawal of a party state shall not affect the rights, duties and obligations under this compact of any sending agency therein with respect to a placement made prior to the effective date of withdrawal. ARTICLE X. Construction and Severability The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any party state or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state party thereto, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining states and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.
RCW 26.26A.420 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26A / Section 420
RCW 26.26A.420: Proceeding to adjudicate parentage—Venue.
Status: in_force

Except as otherwise provided in RCW 26.26A.730 , venue for a proceeding to adjudicate parentage is in the county of this state in which: (1) The child resides or is located; (2) If the child does not reside in this state, the respondent resides or is located; or (3) A proceeding has been commenced for administration of the estate of an individual who is or may be a parent under this chapter.
RCW 26.27.271 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 27 / Section 271
RCW 26.27.271: Jurisdiction declined by reason of conduct.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as otherwise provided in RCW 26.27.231 or by other law of this state, if a court of this state has jurisdiction under this chapter because a person seeking to invoke its jurisdiction has engaged in unjustifiable conduct, the court shall decline to exercise its jurisdiction unless: (a) The parents and all persons acting as parents have acquiesced in the exercise of jurisdiction; (b) A court of the state otherwise having jurisdiction under RCW 26.27.201 through 26.27.221 determines that this state is a more appropriate forum under RCW 26.27.261 ; or (c) No court of any other state would have jurisdiction under the criteria specified in RCW 26.27.201 through 26.27.221 . (2) If a court of this state declines to exercise its jurisdiction pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, it may fashion an appropriate remedy to ensure the safety of the child and prevent a repetition of the unjustifiable conduct, including staying the proceeding until a child custody proceeding is commenced in a court having jurisdiction under RCW 26.27.201 through 26.27.221 . (3) If a court dismisses a petition or stays a proceeding because it declines to exercise its jurisdiction pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, it shall assess against the party seeking to invoke its jurisdiction necessary and reasonable expenses including costs, communication expenses, attorneys' fees, investigative fees, expenses for witnesses, travel expenses, and child care during the course of the proceedings, unless the party from whom fees are sought establishes that the assessment would be clearly inappropriate. The court may not assess fees, costs, or expenses against this state unless authorized by law other than this chapter.
RCW 26.14.900 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 14 / Section 900
RCW 26.14.900: Uniformity of application and construction.
Status: in_force

In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.
RCW 26.09.410 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 09 / Section 410
RCW 26.09.410: Definitions.
Status: in_force

The definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 26.09.405 through 26.09.560 and 26.09.260 unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Court order" means a temporary or permanent parenting plan, custody order, visitation order, or other order governing the residence of a child under this title. (2) "Relocate" means a change in principal residence either permanently or for a protracted period of time, or a change in residence in cases where parents have substantially equal residential time as defined by RCW 26.09.525 .
RCW 26.16.125 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 16 / Section 125
RCW 26.16.125: Custody of children.
Status: in_force

Henceforth the rights and responsibilities of the parents in the absence of misconduct shall be equal, and one parent shall be as fully entitled to the custody, control and earnings of the children as the other parent, and in case of one parent's death, the other parent shall come into full and complete control of the children and their estate.
RCW 26.51.900 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 51 / Section 900
RCW 26.51.900: Construction—2020 c 311.
Status: in_force

This act shall be construed liberally so as to effectuate the goal of protecting survivors of domestic violence from abusive litigation.
RCW 26.33.110 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 33 / Section 110
RCW 26.33.110: Petition for termination—Time and place of hearing—Notice of hearing and petition—Contents.
Status: in_force

(1) The court shall set a time and place for a hearing on the petition for termination of the parent-child relationship, which shall not be held sooner than forty-eight hours after the child's birth. However, if the child is an Indian child, the hearing shall not be held sooner than ten days after the child's birth and the time of the hearing shall be extended up to twenty additional days from the date of the scheduled hearing upon the motion of the parent, Indian custodian, or the child's tribe. (2) Notice of the hearing shall be served on the petitioner, the nonconsenting parent or alleged genetic parent, the legal guardian of a party, and the guardian ad litem of a party, in the manner prescribed by RCW 26.33.310 . If the child is an Indian child, notice of the hearing shall also be served on the child's tribe in the manner prescribed by 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1912(a). (3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the notice of the petition shall: (a) State the date and place of birth. If the petition is filed prior to birth, the notice shall state the approximate date and location of conception of the child and the expected date of birth, and shall identify the mother; (b) Inform the nonconsenting parent or alleged genetic parent that: (i) He or she has a right to be represented by counsel and that counsel will be appointed for an indigent person who requests counsel; and (ii) failure to respond to the termination action within twenty days of service if served within the state or thirty days if served outside of this state, will result in the termination of his or her parent-child relationship with respect to the child; (c) Inform an alleged genetic parent that failure to file a claim of parentage under chapter 26.26A or 26.26B RCW or to respond to the petition, within twenty days of the date of service of the petition is grounds to terminate his or her parent-child relationship with respect to the child; (d) Inform an alleged genetic parent of an Indian child that if he or she acknowledges parentage of the child or if his or her parentage of the child is established prior to the termination of the parent-child relationship, that his or her parental rights may not be terminated unless he or she: (i) Gives valid consent to termination, or (ii) his or her parent-child relationship is terminated involuntarily pursuant to chapter 26.33 or 13.34 RCW.
RCW 26.19.001 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 19 / Section 001
RCW 26.19.001: Legislative intent and finding.
Status: in_force

The legislature intends, in establishing a child support schedule, to insure [ensure] that child support orders are adequate to meet a child's basic needs and to provide additional child support commensurate with the parents' income, resources, and standard of living. The legislature also intends that the child support obligation should be equitably apportioned between the parents. The legislature finds that these goals will be best achieved by the adoption and use of a statewide child support schedule. Use of a statewide schedule will benefit children and their parents by: (1) Increasing the adequacy of child support orders through the use of economic data as the basis for establishing the child support schedule; (2) Increasing the equity of child support orders by providing for comparable orders in cases with similar circumstances; and (3) Reducing the adversarial nature of the proceedings by increasing voluntary settlements as a result of the greater predictability achieved by a uniform statewide child support schedule.
RCW 26.27.901 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 27 / Section 901
RCW 26.27.901: Application—Construction.
Status: in_force

In applying and construing this chapter, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.
RCW 26.12.175 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 12 / Section 175
RCW 26.12.175: Appointment of guardian ad litem—Independent investigation—Court-appointed special advocate program—Background information—Review of appointment.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) The court may appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the interests of a minor or dependent child when the court believes the appointment of a guardian ad litem is necessary to protect the best interests of the child in any proceeding under this chapter. The court may appoint a guardian ad litem from the court-appointed special advocate program, if that program exists in the county. The court shall attempt to match a child with special needs with a guardian ad litem who has specific training or education related to the child's individual needs. The family court services professionals may also make a recommendation to the court regarding whether a guardian ad litem should be appointed for the child. (b) The guardian ad litem's role is to investigate and report factual information regarding the issues ordered to be reported or investigated to the court. The guardian ad litem shall always represent the best interests of the child. Guardians ad litem under this title may make recommendations based upon his or her investigation, which the court may consider and weigh in conjunction with the recommendations of all of the parties. If a child expresses a preference regarding the parenting plan, the guardian ad litem shall report the preferences to the court, together with the facts relative to whether any preferences are being expressed voluntarily and the degree of the child's understanding. The court may require the guardian ad litem to provide periodic reports to the parties regarding the status of his or her investigation. The guardian ad litem shall file his or her report at least sixty days prior to trial. (c) The parties to the proceeding may file with the court written responses to any report filed by the guardian ad litem. The court shall consider any written responses to a report filed by the guardian ad litem, including any factual information or recommendations provided in the report. (d) The court shall enter an order for costs, fees, and disbursements to cover the costs of the guardian ad litem. The court may order either or both parents to pay for the costs of the guardian ad litem, according to their ability to pay. If both parents are indigent, the county shall bear the cost of the guardian, subject to appropriation for guardians' ad litem services by the county legislative authority. Guardians ad litem who are not volunteers shall provide the parties with an itemized accounting of their time and billing for services each month. (2)(a) If the guardian ad litem appointed is from the county court-appointed special advocate program, the program shall supervise any guardian ad litem assigned to the case. The court-appointed special advocate program shall be entitled to notice of all proceedings in the case. (b) The legislative authority of each county may authorize creation of a court-appointed special advocate program. The county legislative authority may adopt rules of eligibility for court-appointed special advocate program services that are not inconsistent with this section. (3) Each guardian ad litem program for compensated guardians ad litem and each court-appointed special advocate program shall maintain a background information record for each guardian ad litem in the program. The background information record shall include, but is not limited to, the following information: (a) Level of formal education; (b) General training related to the guardian ad litem's duties; (c) Specific training related to issues potentially faced by children in dissolution, custody, paternity, and other family law proceedings; (d) Specific training or education related to child disability or developmental issues; (e) Number of years' experience as a guardian ad litem; (f) Number of appointments as a guardian ad litem and county or counties of appointment; (g) The names of any counties in which the person was removed from a guardian ad litem registry pursuant to a grievance action, and the name of the court and the cause number of any case in which the court has removed the person for cause; (h) Founded allegations of abuse or neglect as defined in RCW 26.44.020 ; (i) The results of an examination that shall consist of a background check as allowed through the Washington state criminal records privacy act under RCW 10.97.050 and the Washington state patrol criminal identification system under RCW 43.43.832 through 43.43.834 . This background check shall be done through the Washington state patrol criminal identification section; and (j) Criminal history, as defined in RCW 9.94A.030 , for the period covering ten years prior to the appointment. The background information record shall be updated annually. As a condition of appointment, the guardian ad litem's background information record shall be made available to the court. If the appointed guardian ad litem is not a member of a guardian ad litem program the person appointed as guardian ad litem shall provide the background information record to the court. Upon appointment, the guardian ad litem, court-appointed special advocate program or guardian ad litem program, shall provide the parties or their attorneys with a copy of the background information record. The portion of the background information record containing the results of the criminal background check and the criminal history shall not be disclosed to the parties or their attorneys. The background information record shall not include identifying information that may be used to harm a guardian ad litem, such as home addresses and home telephone numbers, and for volunteer guardians ad litem the court may allow the use of maiden names or pseudonyms as necessary for their safety. (4) When a court-appointed special advocate or volunteer guardian ad litem is requested on a case, the program shall give the court the name of the person it recommends. The court shall immediately appoint the person recommended by the program. (5) If a party in a case reasonably believes the court-appointed special advocate or volunteer guardian ad litem is inappropriate or unqualified, the party may request a review of the appointment by the program. The program must complete the review within five judicial days and remove any appointee for good cause. If the party seeking the review is not satisfied with the outcome of the review, the party may file a motion with the court for the removal of the court-appointed special advocate or volunteer guardian ad litem on the grounds the advocate or volunteer is inappropriate or unqualified.
RCW 26.30.020 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 30 / Section 020
RCW 26.30.020: Minors—Contracts—Educational purposes—Enforceability.
Status: in_force

Any written obligation signed by a minor sixteen or more years of age in consideration of an educational loan received by him or her from any person is enforceable as if he or she were an adult at the time of execution, but only if prior to the making of the educational loan an educational institution has certified in writing to the person making the educational loan that the minor is enrolled, or has been accepted for enrollment, in the educational institution.
RCW 26.27.121 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 27 / Section 121
RCW 26.27.121: Cooperation between courts—Preservation of records.
Status: in_force

(1) A court of this state may request the appropriate court of another state to: (a) Hold an evidentiary hearing; (b) Order a person to produce or give evidence pursuant to procedures of that state; (c) Order that an evaluation be made with respect to the custody of a child involved in a pending proceeding; (d) Forward to the court of this state a certified copy of the transcript of the record of the hearing, the evidence otherwise presented, and any evaluation prepared in compliance with the request; and (e) Order a party to a child custody proceeding or any person having physical custody of the child to appear in the proceeding with or without the child. (2) Upon request of a court of another state, a court of this state may hold a hearing or enter an order described in subsection (1) of this section. (3) Travel and other necessary and reasonable expenses incurred under subsections (1) and (2) of this section may be assessed against the parties according to the law of this state. (4) A court of this state shall preserve the pleadings, orders, decrees, records of hearings, evaluations, and other pertinent records with respect to a child custody proceeding until the child attains eighteen years of age. Upon appropriate request by a court or law enforcement official of another state, the court shall forward a certified copy of those records.
RCW 26.11.040 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 11 / Section 040
RCW 26.11.040: Orders granting visitation—Factors for consideration by the court—Best interest of the child—Presumption in favor of fit parent's decision—Rebuttal.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) At a hearing pursuant to RCW 26.11.030 (8), the court shall enter an order granting visitation if it finds that the child would likely suffer harm or the substantial risk of harm if visitation between the petitioner and the child is not granted and that granting visitation between the child and the petitioner is in the best interest of the child. (b) An order granting visitation does not confer upon the petitioner the rights and duties of a parent. (2) In making its determination, the court shall consider the respondent's reasons for denying visitation. It is presumed that a fit parent's decision to deny visitation is in the best interest of the child and does not create a likelihood of harm or a substantial risk of harm to the child. (3) To rebut the presumption in subsection (2) of this section, the petitioner must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the child would likely suffer harm or the substantial risk of harm if visitation between the petitioner and the child were not granted. (4) If the court finds that the petitioner has met the standard for rebutting the presumption in subsection (2) of this section, or if there is no presumption because no parent has custody of the child, the court shall consider whether it is in the best interest of the child to enter an order granting visitation. The petitioner must prove by clear and convincing evidence that visitation is in the child's best interest. In determining whether it is in the best interest of the child, the court shall consider the following, nonexclusive factors: (a) The love, affection, and strength of the current relationship between the child and the petitioner and how the relationship is beneficial to the child; (b) The length and quality of the prior relationship between the child and the petitioner before the respondent denied visitation, including the role performed by the petitioner and the emotional ties that existed between the child and the petitioner; (c) The relationship between the petitioner and the respondent; (d) The love, affection, and strength of the current relationship between the child and the respondent; (e) The nature and reason for the respondent's objection to granting the petitioner visitation; (f) The effect that granting visitation will have on the relationship between the child and the respondent; (g) The residential time-sharing arrangements between the parties having residential time with the child; (h) The good faith of the petitioner and respondent; (i) Any history of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse or neglect by the petitioner, or any history of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse or neglect by a person residing with the petitioner if visitation would involve contact between the child and the person with such history; (j) The child's reasonable preference, if the court considers the child to be of sufficient age to express a preference; (k) Any other factor relevant to the child's best interest; and (l) The fact that the respondent has not lost his or her parental rights by being adjudicated as an unfit parent.
RCW 26.26B.130 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26B / Section 130
RCW 26.26B.130: Judicial proceedings for parenting and support of a child.
Status: in_force

(1) After the period for rescission of an acknowledgment of parentage provided in RCW 26.26A.235 has passed, a parent executing an acknowledgment of parentage of the child named therein may commence a judicial proceeding for: (a) Making residential provisions or a parenting plan with regard to the minor child on the same basis as provided in chapter 26.09 RCW; or (b) Establishing a child support obligation under chapter 26.19 RCW and maintaining health care coverage under RCW 26.09.105 . (2) Pursuant to RCW 26.09.010 (3), a proceeding authorized by this section shall be titled "In re the parenting and support of...." (3) Before the period for a challenge to the acknowledgment or denial of parentage has elapsed under RCW 26.26A.240 , the petitioner must specifically allege under penalty of perjury, to the best of the petitioner's knowledge, that: (a) No person other than a person who executed the acknowledgment of parentage is a parent of the child; (b) there is not currently pending a proceeding to adjudicate the parentage of the child or that another person is adjudicated the child's parent; and (c) the petitioner has provided notice of the proceeding to any other persons who have claimed parentage of the child. Should the respondent or any other person appearing in the action deny the allegations, a permanent parenting plan or residential schedule may not be entered for the child without the matter being converted to a proceeding to challenge the acknowledgment of parentage under RCW 26.26A.240 and 26.26A.445 . A copy of the acknowledgment of parentage or the birth certificate issued by the state in which the child was born must be filed with the petition or response. The court may convert the matter to a proceeding to challenge the acknowledgment on its own motion.
RCW 26.26A.400 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26A / Section 400
RCW 26.26A.400: Proceeding to adjudicate parentage—Authorization.
Status: in_force

(1) A proceeding may be commenced to adjudicate the parentage of a child. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the proceeding is governed by the rules of civil procedure. (2) A proceeding to adjudicate the parentage of a child born under a surrogacy agreement is governed by RCW 26.26A.700 through 26.26A.785 .
RCW 26.26A.600 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26A / Section 600
RCW 26.26A.600: Scope—Assisted reproduction—RCW 26.26A.600 through 26.26A.635.
Status: in_force

This subchapter, RCW 26.26A.600 through 26.26A.635 , does not apply to the birth of a child conceived by sexual intercourse or assisted reproduction under a surrogacy agreement under RCW 26.26A.700 through 26.26A.785 .
RCW 26.55.030 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 55 / Section 030
RCW 26.55.030: Enforcement of Canadian domestic violence protection order by court.
Status: in_force

(1) A court may issue an order granting recognition and enforcement or denying recognition and enforcement of a Canadian domestic violence protection order on petition of: (a) A protected individual; (b) A person authorized by law of this state other than this chapter to seek enforcement of a domestic violence protection order; or (c) A respondent. (2) A petitioner is not required to post a bond to obtain relief in any proceeding under this section. No fees for any type of filing or service of process may be charged by a court or any public agency to petitioners seeking relief under this chapter. Courts may not charge petitioners any fees or surcharges the payment of which is a condition precedent to the petitioner's ability to secure access to relief under this chapter. Petitioners shall be provided the necessary number of certified copies, forms, and instructional brochures free of charge. A respondent who is served electronically with a protection order shall be provided a certified copy of the order free of charge upon request. (3) Upon receipt of the petition, the court shall order a hearing, which shall be held not later than 14 days from the date of the order. Service shall be provided as required in RCW 7.105.080 and 7.105.150 through 7.105.165 . (4) The hearing shall be conducted as required by RCW 7.105.200 and 7.105.205 . (5) Interpreters must be appointed as required in RCW 7.105.245 . An interpreter shall interpret for the party in the presence of counsel or court staff in preparing forms and participating in the hearing and court-ordered assessments, and the interpreter shall sight translate any orders. (6) A Canadian domestic violence protection order is enforceable under this section if: (a) The order identifies a protected individual and a respondent; (b) The order is valid and in effect; (c) The issuing court had jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter under law applicable in the issuing court; and (d) The order was issued after: (i) The respondent was given reasonable notice and had an opportunity to be heard before the court issued the order; or (ii) In the case of an ex parte temporary protection order, the respondent was given reasonable notice and had or will have an opportunity to be heard within a reasonable time after the order was issued, in a manner consistent with the right of the respondent to due process. (7) A claim that a Canadian domestic violence protection order does not comply with subsection (6) of this section is an affirmative defense in a proceeding seeking enforcement of the order. If the court determines that the order is not enforceable, the court shall issue an order that the Canadian domestic violence protection order is not enforceable under this section and RCW 26.55.020 and may not be filed under RCW 26.55.040 .
RCW 26.34.030 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 34 / Section 030
RCW 26.34.030: "Appropriate public authorities" defined.
Status: in_force

The "appropriate public authorities" as used in Article III of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children shall, with reference to this state, mean the department of children, youth, and families, and said agency shall receive and act with reference to notices required by said Article III.
RCW 26.33.150 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 33 / Section 150
RCW 26.33.150: Petition for adoption—Filing—Contents—Preplacement report required.
Status: in_force

(1) An adoption proceeding is initiated by filing with the court a petition for adoption. The petition shall be filed by the prospective adoptive parent. (2) A petition for adoption shall contain the following information: (a) The name and address of the petitioner; (b) The name, if any, gender, and place and date of birth, if known, of the adoptee; (c) A statement that the child is or is not an Indian child covered by the Indian Child Welfare Act; and (d) The name and address of the department or any agency, legal guardian, or person having custody of the child. (3) The written consent to adoption of any person, the department, or agency which has been executed shall be filed with the petition. (4) The petition shall be signed under penalty of perjury by the petitioner. If the petitioner is married, the petitioner's spouse shall join in the petition. (5) If a preplacement report prepared pursuant to RCW 26.33.190 has not been previously filed with the court, the preplacement report shall be filed with the petition for adoption.
RCW 26.21A.620 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 21A / Section 620
RCW 26.21A.620: Partial enforcement.
Status: in_force

If a tribunal of this state does not recognize and enforce a convention support order in its entirety, it shall enforce any severable part of the order. An application or direct request may seek recognition and partial enforcement of a convention support order.
RCW 26.09.915 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 09 / Section 915
RCW 26.09.915: Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to marital relationships and married persons, and references to dissolution of marriage shall apply equally to state registered domestic partnerships that have been terminated, dissolved, or invalidated, to the extent that such interpretation does not conflict with federal law. Where necessary to implement chapter 521, Laws of 2009, gender-specific terms such as husband and wife used in any statute, rule, or other law shall be construed to be gender neutral, and applicable to individuals in state registered domestic partnerships.
RCW 26.21A.430 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 21A / Section 430
RCW 26.21A.430: Administrative enforcement of orders.
Status: in_force

(1) A party or support enforcement agency seeking to enforce a support order or an income-withholding order, or both, issued in another state or a foreign support order may send the documents required for registering the order to a support enforcement agency of this state. (2) Upon receipt of the documents, the support enforcement agency, without initially seeking to register the order, shall consider and, if appropriate, use any administrative procedure authorized by the law of this state to enforce a support order or an income-withholding order, or both. If the obligor does not contest administrative enforcement, the order need not be registered. If the obligor contests the validity or administrative enforcement of the order, the support enforcement agency shall register the order pursuant to this chapter.
RCW 26.26A.200 — Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 26A / Section 200
RCW 26.26A.200: Acknowledgment of parentage.
Status: in_force

A woman who gave birth to a child and an alleged genetic father of the child, intended parent under RCW 26.26A.600 through 26.26A.635 , or presumed parent may sign an acknowledgment of parentage to establish the parentage of the child.