Do You Owe Child Support?
3810EN - This publication provides general information about how child support is set and your obligation to pay child support.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How Can I Collect Child Support?
3812EN - 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
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Read this in:
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Understanding the WA State Child Support Schedule and How Child Support is Set in Washington 3816EN - 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
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
Changing Your Child Support Court Order 3814EN - 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
3818EN - 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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Washington State Self-Support Reserve
(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
3107EN - 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
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What to Do About A License Suspension Notice From Child Support Enforcement
3809EN - 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
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Tips on How to Get Your Paperwork Ready So You Can Get Help with Your Family Law Case
Be ready for an appointment with someone who's going to help you with your family law case. That someone might be: an attorney; a family law facilitator; an advocate at your local Domestic Violence shelter; or a CLEAR advocate who is going over forms with you by phone.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Video: Child Support Hearing
(Separate Website)
Video demonstration of a Child Support hearing at the Office of Administrative Hearings.
By: Office of Administrative Hearings
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
How to Ask DCS to Review Your Child Support Order for Modification
If you have a child support order that DCS is enforcing, you have a few options for getting it modified. This packet explains how to ask DCS to review your order to see if modification is appropriate in your case.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Child Support Conference Boards
(Separate Website)
A Conference Board is a way to resolve disputes about how
the Division of Child Support (DCS) works your case.
A Conference Board Chair is the DCS attorney who makes
the decisions.A Conference Board is a way to resolve disputes about how
the Division of Child Support (DCS) works your case.
A Conference Board Chair is the DCS attorney who makes
the decisions.A Conference Board is a way to resolve disputes about how
the Division of Child Support (DCS) works your case.
A Conference Board Chair is the DCS attorney who makes the decisions.A Conference Board is a way to resolve disputes about how the Division of Child Support (DCS) works your case. A Conference Board Chair is the DCS attorney who makes the decisions.
By: Department of Social and Health Services
Filing a Motion for Adjustment of a Child Support Court Order 3221EN - 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 3223EN - 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 3224EN - 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 3228EN - 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 3229EN - 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
How to Serve Papers on the State 3218EN - 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
Filing a Motion for Waiver of Your Filing Fee 3204EN - This packet includes the instructions and forms needed to ask the court to waive (not ask for) the filing fee required to file court papers in a civil case because you can't afford to pay the fee.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Motion for Change of Venue in a Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce) or Modification... 3206EN - 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
Motion to Vacate Judgment/Order in a Family Law Case 3215EN - A Motion To Vacate is a request to the court to withdraw a previous order or judgment it entered.
By: Northwest Justice Project
How Do I "Do Discovery"? Help with Interrogatories and Requests for Production in Family Law Cases Use this publication if: you are a party in a contested family law case ("contested" means you and the other party disagree about issues) AND you want or need to get more information from the other party about his/her side of the issues.
By: Northwest Justice Project
How to Withdraw a Joinder in a Family Law Case Parties to a family law court case may sign a form called a Joinder to show the court that they're in agreement as to all the issues that a court must rule on in that case. If you signed this form but later decide that you are not in agreement, use this packet to file a withdrawal of the joinder.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Contempt of Court in a Family Law Case: The Basics
3107EN - 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
Filing a Motion for Contempt in a Dissolution Case 3108EN - This packet is intended to help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need if you already have a temporary or permanent parenting plan, child support order, or other family law order in a dissolution (divorce) case, and you want to ask the court in Washington for an order holding the other party in contempt for violating it.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Motion for Contempt in a Parentage Case 3109EN - This packet is intended to help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need if you already have a temporary or permanent parenting plan, residential schedule, child support order, or other family law order in a parentage (paternity) case, and you want to ask the court in Washington for an order holding the other party in contempt for violating it.
By: Northwest Justice Project
How Do I "Do Discovery"? Help with Interrogatories and Requests for Production in Family Law Cases Use this publication if: you are a party in a contested family law case ("contested" means you and the other party disagree about issues) AND you want or need to get more information from the other party about his/her side of the issues.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Responding to a Motion for Contempt in a Family Law Case 3110EN - This packet is intended to help you fill out and file court forms if you have been served with a Motion or Petition for Contempt for violating a temporary or permanent parenting plan/residential schedule, a child support order, or other family law order.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Tips on How to Get Your Paperwork Ready So You Can Get Help with Your Family Law Case
Be ready for an appointment with someone who's going to help you with your family law case. That someone might be: an attorney; a family law facilitator; an advocate at your local Domestic Violence shelter; or a CLEAR advocate who is going over forms with you by phone.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Declaration Form - Family Law
(Separate Website)
Family Law Decarlation court form that can be used in all family law cases.
By: Administrative Office Of The Courts
Dismissing a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce) or Domestic Partnership 3219EN - This packet will help you dismiss a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage or Domestic Partnership that you filed. You may use this packet if you change your mind and no longer want to get divorced. An Order of Dismissal will cancel your dissolution and you will stay married or as a registered domestic partnership.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Motion for a Parenting Plan (Custody) and Child Support When Parentage Has Been Established in the Past 2 Years 3610EN - This packet will help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need if: the parentage (paternity) of your child has already been established by court order in the past two years; you want to ask a Washington court for a residential schedule, parenting plan or child support court order; and your proposed parenting plan/residential schedule does not change who the child lives with most of the time.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Motion for Adjustment of a Child Support Court Order 3221EN - 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
Filing a Motion for Change of Venue in a Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce) or Modification... 3206EN - 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
Filing a Motion for Contempt in a Dissolution Case 3108EN - This packet is intended to help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need if you already have a temporary or permanent parenting plan, child support order, or other family law order in a dissolution (divorce) case, and you want to ask the court in Washington for an order holding the other party in contempt for violating it.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Motion for Contempt in a Parentage Case 3109EN - This packet is intended to help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need if you already have a temporary or permanent parenting plan, residential schedule, child support order, or other family law order in a parentage (paternity) case, and you want to ask the court in Washington for an order holding the other party in contempt for violating it.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Motion for Emergency Orders for Dissolution Cases and Modifications of Custody/PP in Diss 3214EN - This packet was written to help you get emergency orders while your case is pending in court. This type of motion is a way for you or another party to ask the court to enter an immediate court order that gives you certain rights and/or protections in your family law case between the time your case is filed and the date it is finished.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Motion for Emergency Orders for Parentage Cases and Modifications of Parentage Cases 3608EN - A Motion for an Emergency Order is officially called a Motion for an Ex Parte Restraining Order/Order to Show Cause. This type of motion is a way for you or another party to ask the court to enter a court order that gives you certain rights and/or protections in your family law case between the time your case is filed and the date it is finished. The main difference between this type of motion and a Motion for Temporary Orders is that you use it in an emergency -- you will be asking the court for a court order that takes effect immediately, without prior notice to the other party. Because the court usually does not want to enter an order before the other party has a chance to tell her/his side of the story, you usually should only file a Motion for Emergency Orders if there is an emergency or urgent reason why you need an order entered before you can have a temporary orders hearing.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Motion for Emergency Orders in a Nonparental Custody Case 3124EN - A Motion for an Emergency Order is officially called a Motion for an Ex Parte Restraining Order/Order to Show Cause. It is a way for you or another party to ask the court to enter a court order that gives you certain rights and/or protections in your case between the time your case is filed and the date it is finished. The main difference between this type of motion and a Motion for Temporary Orders is that you use it in an emergency.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Motion for Temporary Orders for Dissolution Cases and for Custody/Parenting Plan Modifica 3217EN - This packet was written to help you get temporary orders while your case is pending in court. Temporary Orders can order who gets to use what property, who shall pay which bills, appoint a guardian ad litem, and establish temporary child support payments and a parenting plan to be followed until final orders have been entered. This packet can be used for any type of family law action, including dissolution or modification of an existing parenting plan or custody decree.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Motion for Temporary Orders for Parentage Cases and Modifications of Parentage Cases 3607EN - A Motion for Temporary Orders is one way for you to ask the court to enter a court order that gives you certain rights and/or protections after your family law case has been filed, but before it is finished. You may ask the court to enter temporary (short-term) orders for restraining orders, a parenting plan or residential schedule, child support, a guardian ad litem (GAL), genetic testing, attorney·s fees and costs or other relief.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Motion for Temporary Orders in a Nonparental Custody Case 3123EN -A Motion for Temporary Orders is one way to ask the court to enter an order that gives you certain rights and/or protections after your case has been filed, but before it?s finished. Either the petitioner or respondent may file a motion. Motions for Temporary Orders can cover issues such as temporary child support, temporary custody, temporary visitation, safety restraints, or custody investigations while the case is pending.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Motion for Waiver of Your Filing Fee 3204EN - This packet includes the instructions and forms needed to ask the court to waive (not ask for) the filing fee required to file court papers in a civil case because you can't afford to pay the fee.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Nonparental Custody Case 3112EN - You may use this packet to file a case in superior court to ask for custody of a child when you are not the child's parent.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Petition for Establishment of Parentage (Paternity) 3620EN - This packet is intended to help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need if you are not married to the other parent of your child, you want to start a court case to ask the court to establish the parentage (paternity) of your child, and you meet the following criteria: (1) There is no Paternity Affidavit which establishes parentage of your child OR Your child has a Washington State Paternity Affidavit that was signed before July 1, 1997; AND (2) There is no court order in any state that establishes parentage of your child.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Petition for Parenting Plan (Custody) or Child Support When Parentage was Established more than Two Years Ago 3602EN - This packet is intended to help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need if you are not married to the other parent of your child, the parentage (paternity) of your child was established more than two years ago, and you want to ask the court in Washington for a residential schedule, parenting plan or child support court order.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing a Petition to Modify Your Child Support Court Order 3224EN - 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
Filing a Petition to Modify/Adjust a Parenting Plan, Res. Schedule or Custody Decree in a Parentage 3622EN - This packet contains forms and instructions for filing a petition to modify/adjust a parenting plan, residential schedule, or custody decree. Use this packet only if paternity of the child has already been established, and you and the other parent already have a parenting plan, residential schedule or custody decree for the child from a Washington State court.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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