At what age can a child decide who they live with in Washington state?

In Washington custody decisions, the age of 12 is often when judges will give a child’s preference more weight. Older children are more likely to be able to assess their relationship with each parent, while younger children are more likely to be swayed by superficial factors.

How to contact a family law attorney in Washington State?

Try to meet with a family law attorney before filing anything in court. If you have a very low income and live outside King County, call CLEAR at 1-888-201-1014. Who should not read this? Do not use this if you are the parent of a child conceived through “assistive reproduction.” This includes: If this describes you, talk to a lawyer.

How to get free answers from a lawyer?

Ask a Lawyer. Ask a Lawyer allows you to get free answers from lawyers in your area for basic legal questions on a variety of topics, including family law, employment law, criminal law, and more. Question:

How to start a parentage case in Washington State?

Any settlement you and other parents agree to will need the State’s approval. To ask the State to start a parentage case, contact your local prosecutor’s office or Division of Child Support (DCS) office, or check the DCS website: www1.dshs.wa.gov/dcs. What does the judge look at when deciding parentage?

What are child custody laws in Washington State?

If you have one or more children and are getting a divorce in Washington State, custody laws are something you’ll want to understand. Divorce can be an emotional and uncertain time for you. You’ll want to know what to expect. Washington State child custody laws do not use the terms custody and visitation. Instead, they refer to a parenting plan.

Where can I find helpful information about Washington law?

Family & Safety | WashingtonLawHelp.org | Helpful information about the law in Washington. Choose a subtopic below to view resources about that issue.

How to fill out a family law form?

Completes forms WSCSS-Worksheets, FL All Family 130, and others as needed based on your answers. Do-it-yourself forms and instructions to ask for default. Use this if the other party to your family law case does not respond to your petition by the legal deadline.

Are there forms that are not part of Washington law?

We have more legal forms available to print or fill out online that are not part of Washington Forms Online. If playback doesn’t begin shortly, try restarting your device.

What to do in a family law case?

Use this if the other party to your family law case does not respond to your petition by the legal deadline. Completes forms FL All Family 161, 162, and others as needed based on your answers. Do-it-yourself forms and instructions to create a Parenting Plan proposal or order in a family law case.