Listing of self-help materials and informational publications.
There are 26 resources
General information
Do You Owe Child Support?
This publication provides general information about how child support is set and your obligation to pay child support.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
How Can I Collect Child Support?
This publication provides information on how the Division of Child Support (DCS), whose services are free, can help you set and collect child support. There is a locator service to help find parents who owe support. DCS can help you set child support even if the other parent of your children does not live in the state.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Understanding the WA State Child Support Schedule and How Child Support is Set in Washington
The legal information in this publication is designed to give you a basic understanding of the laws that govern the setting of child support in Washington State by reviewing key parts of the Washington State Child Support Schedule; relevant statutes (R.C.W's) and court cases are footnoted. This information is presented in the form of frequently asked questions, followed by answers to those questions.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Child Support Calculator for WA State
(Separate Website)
The calculator will help you create a set of Washington State Child Support Schedule Worksheets. Worksheets are required when you are involved in the entry of a child support order.
By: Department of Social and Health Services
Calculating Child Support When A Parent is Voluntarily Unemployed or Underemployment
(Separate Website)
If you have chosen not to work, have chosen to work for less income than you are able to earn, or your income is unknown, a Washington state court that is determining your child support obligation is required to assume the amount of income that you could earn by using a standardized table.
By: Northwest Women's Law Center - Legal Information and Referral Line
Changing Your Child Support Court Order This publication can give you a basic understanding of the laws that apply to changing a Washington State Child Support court order or responding to a proposed change. This information is presented as a list of frequently asked questions.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Changing Your Child Support Order to Obtain Post High School Educational Support
This publication contains information on how to change your child support order to include post secondary educational support making one or both parents responsible to pay for the child's educational expenses beyond high school.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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PDF File
Washington State Need Standard Chart
(Separate Website)
Basic subsistence limitation chart for determining amount necessary to provide for basic needs. The amounts are adjusted annually.
By: Washington State
Contempt of Court in a Family Law Case: The Basics
This publication gives general information about the law concerning contempt in family law cases. It covers only the type of contempt most commonly used in family law cases, here called "coercive civil contempt". The main goal is to have a person who is violating a court order obey that order in the future.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
What to Do About A License Suspension Notice From Child Support Enforcement
The Division of Child Support (DCS) may suspend licenses of parents who are behind in their child support payments. The law allows DCS to suspend any license issued by the State of Washington, including drivers' licenses, hunting licenses, fishing licenses, professional licenses and contractor or occupational licenses. This publication explains your rights and obligations under the law.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Court forms and procedures
Filing a Motion for Adjustment of a Child Support Court Order This packet is intended to help you fill out and file the forms and papers you need for a Motion for Adjustment of a Child Support Order. However, before you use this packet, and assuming you have concluded that filing a motion for adjustment is what you want to do, you should check with your county's Family Law Facilitator or Court Clerk to see if your county has its own Motion for Adjustment packet: a local packet may be easier for you to use because it will include the rules and forms for that county.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Responding to a Motion for Adjustment of Your Child Support Court Order You should use this packet if you have received papers that ask the court to adjust (change) your child support court order by motion in superior court. This packet will help you to file your own response to the motion for adjustment of support, to ask the court for what you want, and to prepare for your hearing.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Petition to Modify Your Child Support Court Order This packet is intended to help you fill out and file the forms and papers you need for a Petition for Modification of a Washington State Child Support Court Order. However, before you use this packet, and assuming you have concluded that filing a petition for modification of child support is what you want to do, you should check with your county's Family Law Facilitator or Court Clerk to see if your county has its own Petition for Modification of a Child Support order packet: a local packet may be easier for you to use because it will include the rules and forms for that county.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Responding to a Petition for Modification of Your Child Support Court Order This packet is intended to help you fill out and file the forms and papers you need to respond to a Petition for Modification of a child support court order in superior court. If you read the information carefully and follow the instructions, you may be able to respond to the support modification on your own. You should not use this packet if you are served with a petition to modify an administrative child support order.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Finishing a Modification of Your Child Support Court Order This packet is designed to help you finish a modification of your Washington State Child Support court order. You can use this packet only if you already have a child support modification case that has been filed in court. You may use this packet whether you filed a modification or responded to one.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Washington State Child Support Schedule
(Separate Website)
By: Administrative Office Of The Courts
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Washington State Child Support Worksheets
(Separate Website)
Fill-in PDF document. Large file 3.4MB
By: Administrative Office Of The Courts
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Serving Papers on the State When you set or change child support, you must notify the State if you, the other parent, or the children receive public assistance. This packet contains the forms and instructions for serving your court papers on the state.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Family Law Forms in Spanish
(Separate Website)
The King County Superior Court has the following forms and instructions available in Spanish at its website at www.metrokc.gov/kscc/famlaw/spanish.htm. The same forms are also available in English at www.metrokc.gov/kscc/forms and at www.courts.wa.gov/forms, the Washington Courts website. You can find additional forms and instructions available in Spanish and in English at this website: www.washingtonlawhelp.org.
By: King County Superior Court
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Filing a Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (Waiver of Filing Fee) This packet includes the instructions and forms needed to ask the court to waive (not ask for) the filing fee required to file for divorce. These forms are generic. Some counties require that you file forms that our specific to that county. Call your county clerk and ask before filling out the forms included in this packet.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Motion for Change of Venue in a Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce) or Modification... This packet contains the instructions and forms you will need to ask the court to move a marital dissolution or a modification of a parenting plan, child support order, or decree entered in a dissolution to a different county - this is called a Motion for Change of Venue.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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