Paternity/Parentage

Legal Information

In this section of Washington LawHelp you will find general information and self-help packets about parentage cases in Washington state.

• Parentage and Parenting Plans for Unmarried Parents in Washington PDF

  3601EN - The legal information in this publication is designed to help you learn about the laws that apply when you have a child and you are not married to that child's other parent. It includes information on: 1) How to determine if paternity has been legally established and, if appropriate, how to file to establish the paternity of your child (called a parentage action); 2) How to get a custody order (which is called a parenting plan or residential schedule). This publication may also help you if you want to legally establish that you are not the child's parent (called "disestablishment of parentage"). Content Detail

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• Video - Establishing Paternity in Washington State - Acknowledgement Form

  Establishing parentage means determining who is the legal parent of a child. This 10 minute video explaning basic questions and answers about paternity. Read More

  By:

  Division of Child Support

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Options for Unmarried Parents

  3600EN - General Information for parents who have never been married and who want to get court-ordered support, visitation or custody. [link to PDF file] Content Detail

  By:

  Legal Voice

• Tips on Getting Your Paperwork Ready So You Can Get Help with Your Family Law Case

  3130EN - 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. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• What You Need to Know! Changes in Paternity Legislation 7/22/11 PDF

  Overview of how changes in Washington's 2011 paternity legislation affect you and your clients. Content Detail

  By:

  Washington State Division of Child Support

• How do I Request a Copy of My Paternity Affidavit?

  3612EN - A Paternity Affidavit (also known as a Paternity Acknowledgment or Acknowledgment of Paternity) is a special form typically used by unmarried parents to state who the father of the child is. This publication gives you instructions on how to get a copy. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• Filing a Petition for Establishment of Parentage (Paternity) PDF

  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. Content Detail

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• Parenting Plans (court orders about child custody)

  3230EN - This publication provides general information about what a parenting plan is and how to get one. It also explains how to enforce or change a permanent parenting plan. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Which Court Has the Right to Enter a Custody Order? Questions and Answers about Jurisdiction PDF

  3102EN - These questions and answers describe when a Washington court may decide custody if a child has lived in more than one state, should enforce (follow) custody/visitation orders from other states, or may modify (change) custody/visitation orders from other states. Content Detail

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• Filing a Motion for Emergency Orders for Parentage Cases and Modifications of Parentage Cases PDF

  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. Content Detail

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• Filing a Motion for Waiver of Your Filing Fee PDF

  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. Content Detail

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• Filing an Agreed Petition for Parenting Plan (Custody) When Parentage Has Been Established PDF

  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. Content Detail

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• Filing a Petition for Parenting Plan (Custody) or Child Support When Parentage Has Already Been Established PDF

  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; if you established parentage in the last twenty-four months, and you are looking to change who the child resides with. Content Detail

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• How to Write a Declaration in a Family Law Case PDF

  3917EN - This packet tells you what a declaration is, what should be included and tips on how to write one. There is a family law declaration and other forms attached that you can fill out. Content Detail

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Responding to a Petition for Establishment of Parentage (Paternity) PDF

  3621EN - This packet is intended to help you fill out and file the forms and papers that you need to respond to a Petition for Establishment of Parentage on form number WPF PS 01.0100 (to find out the form number, look at the first page of the Petition in the bottom left-hand corner). Content Detail

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project