Washington LawHelp

General Info (10)+

• Changing a Parenting Plan/Child Custody Order

  Read this if you want to change a final court order that sets out where your child lives and with whom s/he visits. This order might be a Custody Decree or Order, Residential Schedule, or Parenting Plan. #3104EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

  Russian / Pусский

  Chinese / 中文

• Getting 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. #3130EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

• How Do I Request a Copy of my Washington State Acknowledgment of Parentage?

  This tells you how to get a copy of a Paternity Affidavit, Paternity Acknowledgment, or Acknowledgment of Paternity (all the same thing). #3612EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

• How to Become a Legal Parent in Washington

  Washington law provides several ways for people raising children together to become legal parents. This publication covers: 1. Legal parentage; 2. Becoming a legal parent; 3. Other options for people who are not legal parents; 4. Parenting after divorce/separation; and 5. Resources Read More

  By:

  Legal Voice

• Immigration Status and Court Hearings in Washington State

  Questions and answers about when and how the court can ask about your immigration status. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• I Was Served with Parentage (or Petition for Parenting Plan or Child Support) Papers

  If you were served with parentage, petition for parenting plan or child support papers, you must respond promptly. If you do not respond on time, the other party may automatically win. You may have as few as four business days to file a response. This will help you figure out what to do. #3614EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• My Legal Rights: I was Raped and Got Pregnant

  A new Washington state law fixes a gap that forced some mothers to co-parent a child conceived from a rape. #3660EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

• Parentage and Parenting Plans

  This should help you learn the laws that apply when you have a child and you are not married to or in a registered domestic partnership with the child’s other parent. #3601EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

• Services for Family Court Cases in WA

  Some superior courts have family law facilitator programs to help you represent yourself in court and parenting seminars you might have to attend. If you do not get help from a lawyer, you may be able to from a facilitator. #3246EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

• 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

Guardians ad litem / evaluators (3)+

• Guardian ad Litems in Family Law Cases Cases

  3103EN - A judge may appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) in a court case about custody or visitation rights. Any party to the case may ask for appointment of a GAL, or the judge can decide on his her/own to appoint one. A GAL may be a lawyer, mental health professional, or volunteer. This packet has the necessary forms and instructions. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

• How to Work with GALs and Parenting Evaluators

  If you are involved in a divorce, paternity or non-parent 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. Publication #3106EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• When you Disagree with a Guardian Ad Litem Report

  In a family law case where the parties disagree about the parenting plan, the court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem (GAL), or an Evaluator. A GAL or Evaluator’s job is to investigate both households to recommend to the court a residential plan in the child’s best interest. Publication 3111EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

Serving Papers (1)+

• Service by Certified Mail or Publication

  Blank forms to print and fill out on your own, with how-to instructions for completing and filing. Use this when you have tried to serve the other party in person but cannot. Packet #3220EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

Videos (1)+

• 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