Listing of self-help materials and informational publications.
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Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce)
Filing for Dissolution: Court forms, Instructions and Procedures (PDF files are for printing only. You cannot fill the forms out on your computer.)
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
Dissolution of Marriage Video - Spokane County
(Separate Website)
Although this video was made for Spokane County, it may be helpful as a general guide for those filing for divorce in other Washington counties. Rules and procedures do vary by county however.
By: Spokane County Superior Court
Modification/Adjustment of Parenting Plans and Custody Decrees: Court Forms and Instructions
Filing a Petition to Modify/Adjust a Parenting Plan/Custody Decree in a Dissolution Case 3260EN - This packet contains forms and instructions for filing a petition to modify/adjust a parenting plan or custody decree. Use this packet only if you and the other parent have been divorced and already have a parenting plan/custody decree from a Washington State court.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Finishing Your Modification/Adjustment of a Parenting Plan or Custody Decree in a Dissolution Case 3262EN - This packet will help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need to finish a petition for modification/adjustment of a parenting plan/custody decree in a dissolution case. It will help you prepare the final orders in your case and present them to the judge.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Responding to a Petition to Modify/Adjust a Parenting Plan or Custody Decree in a Dissolution Case 3261EN - This packet is intended to help you respond to a Petition to Modify/Adjust an existing parenting plan or custody decree. Use it only if:
*you and the other parent have been divorced and *you already have a parenting plan/custody decree and *you have been served with a Petition for Modification/Adjustment of Custody Decree/Parenting Plan.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Guardian Ad Litems in Family Law Cases A judge may appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) when a court case involves custody or visitation rights.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Working With GALs and Parenting Evaluators: Tips for Parents in Family Law Cases 3106EN - If you are involved in a divorce, paternity or nonparental custody case where the other parent does not agree with you, the court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) or Parenting Evaluator. This publication contains tips to help you work successfully with the GAL.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Divorcing Someone in the Military: Basic Questions and Answers
Service members who are divorcing have additional protections under the law. This publication briefly describes those protections. This publication is for both the service member and the non-service member.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Military Service and Parenting Plan Modifications: New Rights in Washington State 3233EN - Parents serving in the armed forces who are involved in parenting plan modification cases should be aware of laws passed for your protection effective July 26, 2009.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Do-it-Yourself Family Law Packets (PDF Print-Only Packets)
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
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
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) or Residential Schedule 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 Has Already Been Established 3602EN - This packet will 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 has already been established by court order that is more than two years old; and you want to ask a Washington court for a residential schedule, parenting plan or child support court order. You can also use this packet to ask the court for a parenting plan if you have already established parentage with a paternity affidavit or if you established parentage in the last twenty-four months, and you are looking to change who the child resides with.
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
Filing a Petition to Modify/Adjust a Parenting Plan/Custody Decree in a Dissolution Case 3260EN - This packet contains forms and instructions for filing a petition to modify/adjust a parenting plan or custody decree. Use this packet only if you and the other parent have been divorced and already have a parenting plan/custody decree from a Washington State court.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing an Agreed Petition for Parenting Plan (Custody) When Parentage Has Been Established 3603EN - 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 paternity of your child has already been established, and you and the other parent want to ask the court to enter an agreed residential schedule, parenting plan and/or child support court order. You should use this packet only if you and the other parent agree 100% about your parenting plan or child support and you just want to ask the court to enter final court orders that follow your agreement.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing for Dissolution of a Domestic Partnership 3925EN - This packet is to help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need to start a dissolution of your registered domestic partnership in Washington.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Filing for Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce) 3202EN - This packet was written to help you get a divorce. It provides general information about the law and some of the forms you will need to fill out. If you read the information carefully and follow the instructions, you should be able to do your own divorce.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
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
Finishing Your Dissolution of Domestic Partnership by Default 3930EN - This packet will help you fill out and file the forms and papers needed to complete a dissolution of domestic partnership case when your partner hasn't filed a Response to the dissolution papers. It explains how to make a motion for default. To use this packet, you must've already filed and served your partner with the papers that start your dissolution.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Finishing Your Dissolution of Domestic Partnership with Children by Agreement 3928EN - This packet will help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need to complete a dissolution of domestic partnership case when you and your partner have children and you?ve reached an agreement (or settlement) about all the issues in your dissolution.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Finishing Your Dissolution of Domestic Partnership without Children by Agreement 3929EN - This packet will help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need to complete a dissolution (divorce) case when you and your partner have an agreement (or settlement).
By: Northwest Justice Project
Finishing Your Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce) with Children by Agreement 3251EN - This packet will help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need to complete a dissolution (divorce) action when you and your spouse have an agreement (or settlement) and children are involved.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Finishing Your Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce) without Children by Agreement 3250EN - This packet will help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need to complete a dissolution (divorce) action when you and your spouse have an agreement (or settlement) and no children.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Finishing Your Dissolution of Marriage by Default 3205EN - This packet was written to help you complete a dissolution (divorce) action that has been filed, but has no final orders signed by the Judge. It provides information about the law and some of the forms you will need to fill out. You may use this packet if your spouse agrees with what you are asking for or fails to respond in time. This packet will help you get final orders signed by the judge dissolving your marriage, dividing property and debts, changing your name (if desired), awarding maintenance (alimony) to one spouse, and entering a restraining order (if desired).
By: Northwest Justice Project
Finishing Your Modification/Adj. of a Parenting Plan, Res. Schedule or Custody Decree in Parentage 3624EN - To use this packet, you must have already filed and served the other parties with the papers that start your modification/adjustment action, or you must already have filed and served a Response to the petition.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Finishing Your Modification/Adjustment of a Parenting Plan or Custody Decree in a Dissolution Case 3262EN - This packet will help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need to finish a petition for modification/adjustment of a parenting plan/custody decree in a dissolution case. It will help you prepare the final orders in your case and present them to the judge.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Finishing Your Nonparental Custody Case 3114EN - This packet contains information and forms to finish a nonparental custody case. Most of the instructions are written from the petitioner’s point of view because the petitioner typically prepares the final court papers if s/he is receiving custody of the child/ren, or if s/he chooses to drop the case. However, the general information about how to finish a case can be useful to both parties. In addition, a respondent might use some of the forms in this packet if s/he wins at trial or if the case is dismissed before trial.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Finishing Your Petition for Parenting Plan (Custody) or Child Support When Parentage Has Been Establ 3606EN - This packet will help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need to finish a petition for residential/parenting plan and child support case. It will help you prepare the final orders in your case and present them to the judge. To use this packet, you must have already filed and served the other parties with the papers that start your petition for a parenting plan or child support, or you must already have responded to the petition.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Finishing Your Petition to Establish Parentage 3625EN - This packet will help you fill out and file the forms and papers you will need to finish a parentage petition. Use this packet only if the petition in your case was filed on form number WPF PS 01.0100
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Washington LawHelp is provided as a public service by the Northwest Justice Project in collaboration with other legal aid providers in the Alliance for Equal Justice and Washington courts.
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