Plain-language guides

Parenting plans · 6 min read

Parenting plan basics: the words you'll see and what they mean

Residential schedule, decision-making, dispute resolution. A plain guide to the parts of a Washington parenting plan before you sign one.

A parenting plan is the document that says where your child lives, when, and how big decisions get made. Most plans have the same core parts. Knowing them helps you spot gaps before a judge does.

The best plans are specific. 'Reasonable holidays' leads to arguments. 'Thanksgiving with Parent A in even years, from Wednesday at 5 p.m. to Sunday at 5 p.m.' does not.

• Residential schedule: the regular week, school breaks, summer and holidays.
• Decision-making: who decides on school, non-emergency health care and religion, or whether you decide together.
• Dispute resolution: what you do before going back to court, often mediation.
• Transportation and exchanges: who drives, where and when.
• Limitations: rules that apply only when there are safety concerns.

Child support · 5 min read

How child support is worked out in Washington, in plain words

Both incomes, the children's ages, and a statewide schedule. What goes into the number and what can change it.

Washington uses a statewide schedule. It starts with both parents' incomes and the number and ages of the children, then splits the result between parents by income.

Health insurance and childcare are usually shared on top of the basic amount. A court can go above or below the formula in some situations, but it has to explain why. Getting accurate numbers is most of the work.

• Both parents' gross income, then allowed deductions
• The number and ages of the children
• Health insurance premiums and uninsured costs
• Childcare tied to work or school
• Possible reasons to deviate from the formula

Grandparents · 4 min read

Do grandparents have rights? An honest answer

The short version: sometimes, in narrow situations. Here's what the law respects first, and what gentler steps can help.

Washington, like most states, starts from respect for a fit parent's decisions about who sees their child. That means grandparents can ask a court for visitation only in limited situations, usually where there is a strong existing relationship and the child would likely be harmed without contact.

If you are already raising a grandchild, the question is different. You may need legal authority for school and medical care, and other tools may fit. A written standing review is the kindest first step: it tells you where you stand before anyone files.

Paternity · 4 min read

Unmarried parents: why parentage comes first

Before a court can order a schedule or support, it needs to know who the legal parents are. Here's how that gets settled.

When parents are not married, legal parentage is not automatic. It can be set by a signed acknowledgment, by agreement in court, or after genetic testing when it is disputed.

Once parentage is set, a parenting plan and support order can follow, often in the same case. If you have doubts about a signed acknowledgment, the time limits matter. Ask early.

For your kids · 5 min read

Talking with your kids about the changes

What children usually need to hear, and what they don't. Written with input from the counselors we refer families to.

Children do best when they hear the same simple message from both parents: this is not your fault, you will always have two parents who love you, and the grown-ups are handling the hard parts.

They don't need court details, dates of hearings or opinions about the other parent. Keep papers out of sight and calls about the case out of earshot.

• Tell them together if you safely can.
• Share the plan for their week before the details of the case.
• Expect questions to come back later, often at bedtime or in the car.
• Ask a school counselor or family therapist for extra support if you see changes.

Getting started · 3 min read

What to bring to your first consultation

A short checklist so your 60 minutes go to strategy, not paperwork.

Send what you can before we meet. Don't worry if you are missing something. We would rather see you sooner with half the papers than later with all of them.

• Any court papers, orders or notices, with the date you got them
• Your last two tax returns and recent pay stubs
• The children's school calendar and your work schedule
• Key messages with the other parent, saved or printed
• A one-page timeline of what has happened so far