Listing of self-help materials and informational publications.
There are 22 resources
General information
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.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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PDF File
Which Court Has the Right to Enter a Custody Order? Questions and Answers about Jurisdiction 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.
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
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Mediation: Should I Use It?
(Separate Website)
3226EN - Mediation is an informal way to resolve disputes without going to court. The parties attempt to negotiate a mutually agreeable settlement with the help of a neutral mediator. Mediation can be used in many types of disputes.
By: Legal Voice
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Self-Help Guide to Following Washington's Relocation Law 3132EN - If you have legal custody of your child, and you wish to move (relocate) and take the child with you, Washington State law may require you to do certain things first. This packet has forms and instructions to help you do those things.
By: Northwest Justice Project
How to Write a Declaration in a Family Law Case 3917EN - This publication tell you what a declaration is, what should be included and tips on how to write one. There is a family law declaration and forms attached that you can fill out.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
New Court Rule: Filing Fee Waiver On December 28, 2010, Washington's state courts adopted General Rule 34 (GR 34). This rule establishes who is eligible for a waiver of the filing fee to begin your civil case and other, mandatory charges.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
Parenting Plans and Child Support for Dissolution (Divorce) Cases and Modifications of Dissolution 3209EN - This packet is intended to help you fill out the forms and papers for parenting plans and child support. You should not use this packet by itself. You should use this packet only if you are the petitioner (the one who is starting the court case) or the respondent (the one who is responding to the court case) in a dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership (divorce), if you are the petitioner or respondent in an action to modify a custody decree or parenting plan in a dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Parenting Plans, Residential Schedules and Child Support for Parentage Cases and Modifications of 3604EN - This packet is intended to help you fill out the forms and papers for parenting plans, residential schedules, and child support in parentage (paternity) cases, which are family law cases for parents of a child who are not married. You should not use this packet by itself. You should use this packet only if you are the petitioner (the one who is starting the court case) or the respondent (the one who is responding to the court case) in a Petition for a Residential Schedule/Parenting Plan or Child Support, a Petition to Establish Parentage, or another type of parentage (Paternity) case, or if you are the petitioner or respondent in an action to modify a custody decree or parenting plan in a Parentage case.
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
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
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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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