Opinion ID: 2581040
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: washington's child relocation act

Text: The legislature enacted Washington's child relocation act, RCW 26.09.405-.560, in 2000 (hereinafter CRA). Laws of 2000, ch. 21, § 1. The CRA shifts the analysis away from only the best interests of the child to an analysis that focuses on both the child and the relocating person. RCW 26.09.520. The CRA creates a rebuttable presumption that relocation will be permitted. Id. To rebut this presumption, an objecting party must demonstrate that the detrimental effect of the relocation outweighs the benefit of the change to the child and the relocating person, based upon the following [child relocation] factors. Id. The factors are not weighted or listed in any particular order. Id. The factors consider: (1) The relative strength, nature, quality, extent of involvement, and stability of the child's relationship with each parent, siblings, and other significant persons in the child's life; (2) Prior agreements of the parties; (3) Whether disrupting the contact between the child and the person with whom the child resides a majority of the time would be more detrimental to the child than disrupting contact between the child and the person objecting to the relocation; (4) Whether either parent or a person entitled to residential time with the child is subject to limitations under RCW 26.09.191;[ [1] ] (5) The reasons of each person for seeking or opposing the relocation and the good faith of each of the parties in requesting or opposing the relocation; (6) The age, developmental stage, and needs of the child, and the likely impact the relocation or its prevention will have on the child's physical, educational, and emotional development, taking into consideration any special needs of the child; (7) The quality of life, resources, and opportunities available to the child and to the relocating party in the current and proposed geographic locations; (8) The availability of alternative arrangements to foster and continue the child's relationship with and access to the other parent; (9) The alternatives to relocation and whether it is feasible and desirable for the other party to relocate also; (10) The financial impact and logistics of the relocation or its prevention; and (11) For a temporary order, the amount of time before a final decision can be made at trial. Id. A person who resides a majority of the time with a child initiates the relocation process by serving notice to all persons entitled to residential time or visitation with the child. RCW 26.09.430. Unless good cause is shown, the relocation is permitted if a person entitled to object does not file an objection within 30 days of his receipt of the notice of the relocation. RCW 26.09.500(1).