Source: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=26.12&full=true
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 02:39:34
Document Index: 421149157

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 6', '§ 537', '§ 11', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 997', '§ 2', '§ 997', '§ 3', '§ 997', '§ 692', '§ 4', '§ 997', '§ 1', '§ 17', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 5', '§ 997', '§ 3', '§ 7', '§ 3', '§ 12', '§ 4', '§ 6', '§ 997', '§ 7', '§ 997', '§ 22', '§ 8', '§ 997', '§ 16', '§ 997', '§ 241', '§ 3', '§ 13', '§ 5', '§ 2', '§ 17', '§ 997', '§ 1046', '§ 5', '§ 6', '§ 3', '§ 6', '§ 15', '§ 4', '§ 17', '§ 8', '§ 15', '§ 41', '§ 9', '§ 4', '§ 12', '§ 5', '§ 1025', '§ 14', '§ 7', '§ 19', '§ 997', '§ 16', '§ 18', '§ 15', '§ 2', '§ 8', '§ 1', '§ 32', '§ 3']

Chapter 26.12 RCW: FAMILY COURT
RCWs > Title 26 > Chapter 26.12
26.12.010 Jurisdiction conferred on superior court—Family court proceeding defined.
26.12.020 Designation of judge—Number of sessions.
26.12.030 Transfer of cases to presiding judge.
26.12.040 Substitute judge of family court.
26.12.050 Family courts—Appointment of assistants.
26.12.060 Court commissioners—Duties.
26.12.070 Probation officers—Powers and duties.
26.12.080 Protection of privacy of parties.
26.12.160 When and where court may be convened.
26.12.170 Authority of family court judges and court commissioners to order or recommend services—Report by court of child abuse or neglect.
26.12.172 Parenting seminars—Rules.
26.12.175 Appointment of guardian ad litem—Independent investigation—Court-appointed special advocate program—Background information—Review of appointment.
26.12.177 Guardians ad litem—Training—Registry—Subregistry—Selection—Substitution—Exceptions.
26.12.180 Guardian ad litem, special advocate, or investigator—Information discoverable—Confidentiality.
26.12.183 Guardian ad litem or investigator—Fees.
26.12.185 Guardian ad litem, special advocate, or investigator—Release of information.
26.12.187 Guardian ad litem, special advocate, or investigator—Ex parte communications—Removal.
26.12.188 Appointment of investigators—Training requirements.
26.12.190 Family court jurisdiction as to pending actions—Use of family court services.
26.12.205 Priority for proceedings involving children.
26.12.215 Revision by the superior court.
26.12.220 Funding family court or family court services—Increase in marriage license fee authorized—Family court services program—Fees.
26.12.230 Joint family court services.
26.12.240 Courthouse facilitator program—Fee or surcharge.
26.12.260 Program to provide services to parties involved in dissolutions and legal separations—Fees.
26.12.270 Address confidentiality program.
26.12.800 Family court pilot program—Legislative recognition.
26.12.802 Family court pilot program—Created.
26.12.804 Family court pilot program—Rules.
Dissolution of marriage, legal separation, declarations concerning validity of marriage: Chapter 26.09 RCW.
26.12.010
Jurisdiction conferred on superior court—Family court proceeding defined.
Each superior court shall exercise the jurisdiction conferred by this chapter and while sitting in the exercise of such jurisdiction shall be known and referred to as the "family court." A family court proceeding under this chapter is: (1) Any proceeding under this title or any proceeding in which the family court is requested to adjudicate or enforce the rights of the parties or their children regarding the determination or modification of parenting plans, child custody, visitation, or support, or the distribution of property or obligations, or (2) concurrent with the juvenile court, any proceeding under Title 13 or chapter 28A.225 RCW.
[ 1999 c 397 § 6; 1994 sp.s. c 7 § 537; 1991 c 367 § 11; 1983 c 219 § 1; 1949 c 50 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 997-30.]
26.12.020
Designation of judge—Number of sessions.
In counties having more than one judge of the superior court the judges of such court shall annually, in the month of January, designate one or more of their number to hear all cases under this chapter. The judge or judges so designated shall hold as many sessions of the family court in each week as are necessary for the prompt disposition of matters before the court.
[ 1949 c 50 § 2; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 997-31.]
26.12.030
Transfer of cases to presiding judge.
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.
[ 1949 c 50 § 3; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 997-32.]
26.12.040
Substitute judge of family court.
In counties having more than one judge of the superior court the presiding judge may appoint a judge other than the judge of the family court to act as judge of the family court during any period when the judge of the family court is on vacation, absent, or for any reason unable to perform his or her duties. Any judge so appointed shall have all the powers and authority of a judge of the family court in cases under this chapter.
[ 2011 c 336 § 692; 1949 c 50 § 4; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 997-33.]
26.12.050
Family courts—Appointment of assistants.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, in each county the superior court may appoint the following persons to assist the family court in disposing of its business:
(a) One or more attorneys to act as family court commissioners, and
(2) The county legislative authority must approve the creation of family court commissioner positions.
(3) The appointments provided for in this section shall be made by majority vote of the judges of the superior court of the county and may be made in addition to all other appointments of commissioners and other judicial attaches otherwise authorized by law. Family court commissioners and investigators shall serve at the pleasure of the judges appointing them and shall receive such compensation as the county legislative authority shall determine. The appointments may be full or part-time positions. A person appointed as a family court commissioner may also be appointed to any other commissioner position authorized by law.
[ 1993 c 15 § 1; 1991 c 363 § 17; 1989 c 199 § 1; 1965 ex.s. c 83 § 1; 1949 c 50 § 5; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 997-34.]
Effective date—1993 c 15: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately [April 12, 1993]." [ 1993 c 15 § 3.]
clerks, reporters, and bailiffs: Chapter 2.32 RCW.
commissioners and referees: Chapter 2.24 RCW.
26.12.060
Court commissioners—Duties.
The court commissioners shall: (1) Make appropriate referrals to county family court services program if the county has a family court services program or appoint a guardian ad litem pursuant to RCW 26.12.175; (2) order investigation and reporting of the facts upon which to base warrants, subpoenas, orders or directions in actions or proceedings under this chapter; (3) exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of court commissioners; (4) make written reports of all proceedings had which shall become a part of the record of the family court; (5) provide supervision over the exercise of its jurisdiction as the judge of the family court may order; (6) cause the orders and findings of the family court to be entered in the same manner as orders and findings are entered in cases in the superior court; (7) cause other reports to be made and records kept as will indicate the value and extent of reconciliation, mediation, investigation, and treatment services; and (8) conduct hearings under Title 13 and chapter 28A.225 RCW, as provided in RCW 13.04.021.
[ 1999 c 397 § 7; 1993 c 289 § 3; 1991 c 367 § 12; 1988 c 232 § 4; 1949 c 50 § 6; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 997-35.]
26.12.070
Probation officers—Powers and duties.
The probation officer in every county shall give such assistance to the family court as may be requested to carry out the purposes of this chapter and to that end the probation officer shall, upon request, make investigations and reports as requested, and in cases pursuant to this chapter shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties granted or imposed by the laws of this state relating to probation or to probation officers.
[ 1949 c 50 § 7; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 997-36.]
Indeterminate sentences: Chapter 9.95 RCW.
Probation officers—Appointment—Powers—Compensation: RCW 13.04.040.
26.12.080
Protection of privacy of parties.
Whenever the court before whom any matter arising under this chapter is pending, deems publication of any matter before the court contrary to public policy or injurious to the interests of children or to the public morals, the court may by order close the files or any part thereof in the matter and make such other orders to protect the privacy of the parties as is necessary.
[ 1989 c 375 § 22; 1949 c 50 § 8; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 997-37.]
When and where court may be convened.
For the purpose of conducting hearings pursuant to this chapter the family court may be convened at any time and place within the county and the hearing may be had in chambers or otherwise.
[ 1949 c 50 § 16; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 997-45.]
26.12.170
Authority of family court judges and court commissioners to order or recommend services—Report by court of child abuse or neglect.
To facilitate and promote the purposes of this chapter, family court judges and court commissioners may order or recommend family court services, parenting seminars, drug and alcohol abuse evaluations and monitoring of the parties through public or private treatment services, other treatment services, the aid of physicians, psychiatrists, other specialists, or other services or may recommend the aid of the pastor or director of any religious denomination to which the parties may belong.
If the court has reasonable cause to believe that a child of the parties has suffered abuse or neglect it may file a report with the proper law enforcement agency or the department of social and health services as provided in RCW 26.44.040. Upon receipt of such a report the law enforcement agency or the department of social and health services will conduct an investigation into the cause and extent of the abuse or neglect. The findings of the investigation may be made available to the court if ordered by the court as provided in RCW 42.56.210(2). The findings shall be restricted to the issue of abuse and neglect and shall not be considered custody investigations.
[ 2005 c 274 § 241; 1994 c 267 § 3; 1991 c 367 § 13; 1983 c 219 § 5; 1971 ex.s. c 151 § 2; 1949 c 50 § 17; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 997-46.]
26.12.172
Parenting seminars—Rules.
(2) Upon a showing of domestic violence or abuse which would not require mutual decision making pursuant to RCW 26.09.191, or that a parent's attendance at the seminar is not in the children's best interests, the court shall either:
(b) Provide an alternative, voluntary parenting seminar for battered spouses or battered domestic partners; and
(3) The court may waive the seminar for good cause.
[ 2008 c 6 § 1046; 1994 c 267 § 5.]
26.12.175
Appointment of guardian ad litem—Independent investigation—Court-appointed special advocate program—Background information—Review of appointment.
(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.
(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:
(f) Number of appointments as a guardian ad litem and county or counties of 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.
[ 2011 c 292 § 6; 2009 c 480 § 3; 2000 c 124 § 6; 1996 c 249 § 15; 1993 c 289 § 4; 1991 c 367 § 17.]
26.12.177
26.12.180
Guardian ad litem, special advocate, or investigator—Information discoverable—Confidentiality.
All information, records, and reports obtained or created by a guardian ad litem, court-appointed special advocate, or investigator under this title shall be discoverable pursuant to statute and court rule. The guardian ad litem, court-appointed special advocate, or investigator shall not release private or confidential information to any nonparty except pursuant to a court order signed by a judge. The guardian ad litem, court-appointed special advocate, or investigator may share private or confidential information with experts or staff he or she has retained as necessary to perform the duties of guardian ad litem, court-appointed special advocate, or investigator. Any expert or staff retained are subject to the confidentiality rules governing the guardian ad litem, court-appointed special advocate, or investigator. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to authorize disclosure of guardian ad litem records in personal injury actions.
[ 2000 c 124 § 8.]
26.12.183
Guardian ad litem or investigator—Fees.
Except for guardians ad litem appointed by the court from the subregistry created under RCW 26.12.177(2)(d), the court shall specify the hourly rate the guardian ad litem or investigator under this title may charge for his or her services, and shall specify the maximum amount the guardian ad litem or investigator under this title may charge without additional court review and approval. The court shall specify rates and fees in the order of appointment or at the earliest date the court is able to determine the appropriate rates and fees and prior to the guardian ad litem billing for his or her services. This section shall apply except as provided by local court rule.
[ 2000 c 124 § 15.]
26.12.185
Guardian ad litem, special advocate, or investigator—Release of information.
A guardian ad litem, court-appointed special advocate, or investigator under this title appointed under this chapter may release confidential information, records, and reports to the office of the family and children's ombuds for the purposes of carrying out its duties under chapter 43.06A RCW.
[ 2013 c 23 § 41; 2000 c 124 § 9; 1999 c 390 § 4.]
26.12.187
Guardian ad litem, special advocate, or investigator—Ex parte communications—Removal.
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.
[ 2000 c 124 § 12.]
26.12.188
Appointment of investigators—Training requirements.
(1) The court may appoint an investigator in addition to a guardian ad litem or court-appointed special advocate under RCW 26.12.175 and 26.12.177 to assist the court and make recommendations.
(2) An investigator is a person appointed as an investigator under RCW 26.12.050(1)(b) or any other third-party professional ordered or appointed by the court to provide an opinion, assessment, or evaluation regarding the creation or modification of a parenting plan.
(3) Investigators who are not supervised by a guardian ad litem or by a court-appointed special advocate program must comply with the training requirements applicable to guardians ad litem or court-appointed special advocates as provided under this chapter and court rule.
[ 2011 c 292 § 5.]
26.12.190
Family court jurisdiction as to pending actions—Use of family court services.
(1) The family court shall have jurisdiction and full power in all pending cases to make, alter, modify, and enforce all temporary and permanent orders regarding the following: Parenting plans, child support, custody of children, visitation, possession of property, maintenance, contempt, custodial interference, and orders for attorneys' fees, suit money or costs as may appear just and equitable. Court commissioners or judges shall not have authority to require the parties to mediate disputes concerning child support.
(2) Family court investigation, evaluation, mediation, treatment, and reconciliation services, and any other services may be used to assist the court to develop an order as the court deems necessary to preserve the marriage or the domestic partnership, implement an amicable settlement, and resolve the issues in controversy.
[ 2008 c 6 § 1025; 1991 c 367 § 14; 1983 c 219 § 7; 1949 c 50 § 19; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 997-48.]
26.12.205
Priority for proceedings involving children.
The family court shall give proceedings involving children priority over cases without children.
[ 1991 c 367 § 16.]
26.12.215
Revision by the superior court.
All acts and proceedings of the court commissioners shall be subject to revision by the superior court as provided in RCW 2.24.050.
[ 1991 c 367 § 18.]
26.12.220
26.12.230
Courthouse facilitator program—Fee or surcharge.
A county may create a courthouse facilitator program to provide basic services to pro se litigants in family law cases. The legislative authority of any county may impose user fees or may impose a surcharge of up to twenty dollars on only those superior court cases filed under Title 26 RCW, or both, to pay for the expenses of the courthouse facilitator program. 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.
[ 2005 c 457 § 15; 1993 c 435 § 2.]
26.12.260
26.12.270
The court shall act in accordance with the requirements of the address confidentiality program pursuant to chapter 40.24 RCW in the course of all proceedings under this title. A court order for information protected by the address confidentiality program may only be issued upon completing the requirements of RCW 40.24.075.
[ 2012 c 223 § 8.]
26.12.800
Family court pilot program—Legislative recognition.
The legislature recognizes the increasing incidence of concurrent involvement of family members in multiple areas of the justice system. Analysis shows significant case overlap in the case types of juvenile offender, juvenile dependency, at-risk youth, child in need of services, truancy, domestic violence, and domestic relations. Also recognized is the increased complexity of the problems facing family members and the increased complexity of the laws affecting families. It is believed that in such situations, an efficient and effective response is through the creation of a unified court system centered around the family that: Provides a dedicated, trained, and informed judiciary; incorporates case management practices based on a family's judicial system needs; enables multiple case type resolution by one judicial officer or judicial team; provides coordinated legal and social services; and considers and evaluates the needs of the family as a whole.
[ 1999 c 397 § 1.]
26.12.802
(a) All case types under Title 13 RCW, chapters 26.09, 26.10, 26.12, 26.18, 26.19, 26.20, *26.26, 26.50, 26.27, and 28A.225 RCW;
26.12.804
Family court pilot program—Rules.
The judges of the superior court judicial districts with unified family court pilot programs shall adopt local court rules directing the program. The local court rules shall comply with the criteria established by the administrative office of the courts and shall include:
(1) A requirement that all judicial officers hearing cases in unified family court:
(a) Complete an initial training program including the topic areas of childhood development, domestic violence, cultural awareness, child abuse and neglect, chemical dependency, and mental illness; and
(b) Subsequent to the training in (a) of this subsection, annually attend a minimum of eight hours of continuing education of pertinence to the unified family court;
(2) Case management that is based on the practice of one judge or judicial team handling all matters relating to a family;
(3) An emphasis on coordinating or consolidating, to the extent possible, all cases before the unified family court relating to a family; and
(4) Programs that provide for record confidentiality to protect the confidentiality of court records in accordance with the law. However law enforcement agencies shall have access to the records to the extent permissible under the law.
[ 2005 c 282 § 32; 1999 c 397 § 3.]