Washington Divorce Information
and FAQ
The no-fault ground for divorce in the State of Washington is that the
marriage is irretrievably broken. RCW 26.09.030
Waiting Period At least ninety days must elapse from the date the
petition was filed and served upon the respondent before the Court may
enter a judgment of dissolution of marriage. RCW 26.09.030
Residency Requirements Any party who (1) is a resident of Washington,
or (2) is a member of the armed forces and is stationed in Washington, or
(3) is married to a party who is a resident of Washington or who is a
member of the armed forces and is stationed in Washington may petition the
Court for a decree of dissolution of marriage. 26.09.030
Name of court and title of action/parties An action for dissolution of
marriage is filed in the Superior Court or Family Court. The dissolution
action is instituted by the filing of the Petition for Dissolution of
Marriage, while the document granting the dissolution is referred to as
the Decree of Dissolution of Marriage. The party instituting the action is
referred to as the Petitioner, and the opposing party is the Respondent.
RCW 26.09.010 Where to File - Venue The dissolution of marriage action may
be filed in any county where either party resides. RCW 26.09.030
Property Division In a divorce, the property (land, house, buildings,
and items of personal property) owned (and debts owed) by the couple is
divided between the parties. You and your spouse must agree to this
division in the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, in which you both
must join. You may agree to divide the property any way you like, as long
as you both agree. If you cannot agree on any item of this division, the
dissolution of marriage transforms into a contested divorce. In a
contested case, the court shall, without regard to marital misconduct,
make such disposition of the property and the liabilities of the parties,
either community or separate, as shall appear just and equitable after
considering all relevant factors including, but not limited to: (a) The
nature and extent of the community property; (b) The nature and extent of
the separate property; (c) The duration of the marriage; and (d) The
economic circumstances of each spouse at the time the division of property
is to become effective, including the desirability of awarding the family
home or the right to live therein for reasonable periods to a spouse with
whom the children reside the majority of the time. RCW 26.09.080
Alimony The court may grant a maintenance order for either spouse. The
maintenance order shall be in such amounts and for such periods of time as
the court deems just, without regard to marital misconduct, after
considering all relevant factors including but not limited to: (a) The
financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, including separate
or community property apportioned to him, and his ability to meet his
needs independently, including the extent to which a provision for support
of a child living with the party includes a sum for that party;
(b) The time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to
enable the party seeking maintenance to find employment appropriate to his
skill, interests, style of life, and other attendant circumstances;
(c) The standard of living established during the marriage;
(d) The duration of the marriage;
(e) The age, physical and emotional condition, and financial
obligations of the spouse seeking maintenance; and
(f) The ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is sought to meet
his needs and financial obligations while meeting those of the spouse
seeking maintenance. RCW 26.09.090
Child custody The State of Washington will award joint or sole custody
of minor children of the marriage based upon the best interests of the
child(ren). Every dissolution action requires that each party file and
serve a proposed permanent parenting plan on or before the earliest date
of: (a) Thirty days after filing and service by either party of a notice
for trial; or
(b) One hundred eighty days after commencement of the action which one
hundred eighty day period may be extended by stipulation of the parties.
The parent submitting a proposed parenting plan shall attach a verified
statement that the plan is proposed by that parent in good faith.
The parents may make an agreed permanent parenting plan. The objectives
of the permanent parenting plan are to:
(a) Provide for the child's physical care;
(b) Maintain the child's emotional stability;
(c) Provide for the child's changing needs as the child grows and
matures, in a way that minimizes the need for future modifications to the
permanent parenting plan;
(d) Set forth the authority and responsibilities of each parent with
respect to the child;
(e) Minimize the child's exposure to harmful parental conflict;
(f) Encourage the parents, where appropriate, to meet their
responsibilities to their minor children through agreements in the
permanent parenting plan, rather than by relying on judicial intervention;
and
(g) To otherwise protect the best interests of the child.
The permanent parenting plan shall contain provisions for resolution of
future disputes between the parents, allocation of decision-making
authority, and residential provisions for the child. The plan shall
allocate decision-making authority to one or both parties regarding the
children's education, health care, and religious upbringing. Regardless of
the allocation of decision-making in the parenting plan, either parent may
make emergency decisions affecting the health or safety of the child. Each
parent may make decisions regarding the day-to-day care and control of the
child while the child is residing with that parent. The plan shall include
a residential schedule which designates in which parent's home each minor
child shall reside on given days of the year, including provision for
holidays, birthdays of family members, vacations, and other special
occasions. RCW 26.09.184 » Return to top Child support The court shall
order either or both parents owing a duty of support to any child of the
marriage dependent upon either or both spouses to pay an amount determined
under the child support guidelines established by the State. In entering a
support order, the court shall require either or both parents to maintain
or provide health insurance coverage for any child named in the order if:
(a) Coverage that can be extended to cover the child is or becomes
available to that parent through employment or is union- related; and
(b) The cost of such coverage does not exceed twenty-five percent of
the obligated parent's basic child support obligation.
The court shall consider the best interests of the child and have
discretion to order health insurance coverage when entering or modifying a
support order under this chapter if the cost of such coverage exceeds
twenty-five percent of the obligated parent's basic support obligation.
The parents shall maintain such coverage required under this section
until:
(a) Further order of the court;
(b) The child is emancipated, if there is no express language to the
contrary in the order; or
(c) Health insurance is no longer available through the parents'
employer or union and no conversion privileges exist to continue coverage
following termination of employment.
A parent ordered to provide health insurance coverage shall provide
proof of such coverage or proof that such coverage is unavailable within
twenty days of the entry of the order to:
(a) The physical custodian; or (b) The department of social and health
services if the parent has been notified or ordered to make support
payments to the Washington state support registry. RCW 26.09.100
Name change In entering a decree of dissolution of marriage, the court
shall make provision for the change of name of any party. RCW 26.09.150
Aberdeen Aberdeen Gardens Acme Adco Addy
Adelaide Adelma Beach Adna Adrian Aeneas Agate Beach Agnew Ahtanum Airway
Heights Ajlune Albion Alder Alder Grove Alderton Alderwood Manor Alger
Algona Allen Allyn Almira Aloha Alpental Alpha Amanda Park Amber Amboy
American Lake Ames Lake Anacortes Anatone Anderson Island Annapolis
Appleton Appleyard Ardenvoir Argyle Ariel Arletta Arlington Artondale
Ashford Asotin Auburn Ault Field Avondale Azwell Bainbridge Island
Bakerview Ballard Bangor Bangor Submarine Base Baring Basin City Battle
Ground Battleground Bay Center Bay City Beacon Hill Beaux Arts Beaux Arts
Village Beaver Beckett Point Belfair Bellevue Bellingham Belmont Bench
Drive Benge Benton City Bethel Beverly Bickleton Bingen Birch Bay Bitter
Lake Black Diamond Blaine Blaine Air Force Station Blakely Island Blewett
Blyn Bodie Bogachiel Boistfort Bonney Lake Boston Harbor Bothell Bow Boyds
Brady Breidablick Brem Bremerton Brewster Bridgeport Brier Brinnon
Broadway Browns Point Brownstown Brownsville Brush Prairie Bryant Bryn
Mawr Buckley Bucoda Buena Bunker Burbank Burien Burley Burlington Burnett
Burton Camano City Camano Island Camas Camp Murray Camp Union Cape
Flattery Capitol Hill Carbonado Carlisle Carlsborg Carlson Carlton
Carnation Carriage Hill Carrolls Carson Cascade Cashmere Castle Rock
Cathlamet Cedar Falls Cedarview Cedarville Cedonia Center Centerville
Central Park Central Valley Centralia Ceres Chattaroy Chehalis Chelan
Chelan Falls Chelatchie Cheney Chenois Creek Chesaw Chewelah Chico
Chimacum Chinook Chuckanut Chumstick Cinebar Clallam Bay Claquato
Clarkston Clayton Cle Elum Clearbrook Clearlake Clearview Clearwater
Cliffdell Clinton Clyde Hill Coal Creek Cohasset Beach Colbert Colby
Colchester Colfax College Place Colton Columbia Colville Conconully
Concrete Connell Conway Copalis Beach Copalis Crossing Cosmopolis Cottage
Lake Cougar Coulee City Coulee Dam Coupeville Covington Cowiche Crane
Crescent Beach Crescent Valley Creston Crocker Cromwell Crosby Crown Hill
Crystal Mountain Cumberland Cunningham Curlew Curtis Cushman Dam Cusick
Custer Dabob Dallesport Danville Darrington Davenport Dayton Deckerville
Deer Harbor Deer Lake Deer Park Deming Denny Creek Des Moines Desert Aire
Diablo Diamond Diamond Point Dieringer Disautel Discovery Bay Dixie
Dockton Doebay Donald Doris Doty Douglas Dryad Dryden Dungeness Dupont
Duvall Duwamish Earlmount East Bremerton East Farms East Olympia East Port
Orchard East Quilcene East Selah East Union East Wenatchee Eastgate
Eastmont Easton Eastsound Eatonville Edgewood Edison Edmonds Edwall Eglon
Elbe Eldon Electric City Electron Elger Bay Elgin Elk Elk Plain Ellensburg
Ellisford Elma Elmer City Eltopia Endicott Enetai Entiat Enumclaw Ephrata
Erlands Point Espanola Ethel Evaline Evans Everett Everson Ewan Fairchild
Air Force Base Fairfield Fairhaven Fairholm Fairview Fairwood Fairwood
Center Fall City Farmer Farmington Federal Way Ferndale Fernwood Fife
Finley Fircrest Firdale Firwood Five Corners Fobes Hill Ford Fords Prairie
Forest Forest City Forest Park Forks Fort Flagler Fort Lawton Fort Lewis
Fort Worden Four Corners Four Lakes Fox Island Fragaria Frances Freeland
Freeman Friday Harbor Fruitland Fruitvale Gales Addition Galvin Garden
City Gardiner Garfield Gate George Gibson Creek Gifford Gig Harbor
Gilberton Glacier Gleed Glen Cove Glencove Glenoma Glenwood Gold Bar
Goldendale Goose Prairie Gorst Graham Grand Coulee Grand Mound Grandview
Granger Granite Falls Grant Road Addition Grapeview Gray Gables Grayland
Grays Harbor City Grays River Green Bluff Greenacres Greenbank Greenwater
Greenwood Grisdale Grotto Guemes Guemes Island Guerrier Hadlock Hamilton
Hanford Works Hansville Harbor Heights Harmony Harper Harrah Harrington
Harstine Hartford Hartline Harwood Hatton Havillah Hay Hazel Dell
Hazelwood Heather Heisson Herron Island Highlands Hillgrove Hobart Hoko
Holcomb Holden Village Holly Home Hoodsport Hooper Hoquiam Horseshoe Lake
Houghton Humptulips Hunters Hunts Point Husum Hyak Ilwaco Inchelium Index
Indian Island Indianola Inglewood Interbay International Ione Irondale
Island Lake Issaquah Jovita Joyce Juanita Junction City Kahlotus Kalalock
Kalama Kalber Kamilche Kanaskat Kapowsin Keller Kellys Korner Kelso
Kendall Kenmore Kenn Kennard Corner Kennewick Kennydale Kenroy Kent Ketron
Island Kettle Falls Kewa Key Center Keyport Kingsgate Kingston Kiona
Kirkland Kitsap Lake Kittitas Klaber Klickitat Knab Kosmos Krain La Center
La Conner La Crosse La Grande La Push Lacamas Lacey Lacrosse Lake Alice
Lake City Lake Crescent Lake Forest Park Lake Holiday Lake Joy Lake Ozette
Lake Sawyer Lake Stevens Lake Tapps Lakebay Lakeside Lakeview Park
Lakewood Lamona Lamont Langley Larimers Corner Latah Laurier Leavenworth
Lebam Leland Lemolo Liberty Liberty Lake Liberty Park Lilliwaup Lincoln
Lind Lindberg Littell Little Boston Littlerock Lofall Long Beach Long Lake
Longbranch Longmire Longview Loomis Loon Lake Lopez Island Loveland Lowden
Lowell Lucerne Lummi Island Lyle Lyman Lynden Lynnwood Mabton Machias
Madigan Hospital Madison Park Mae Magnolia Makah Air Force Base Malaga
Malden Malo Malone Malott Maltby Manchester Manito Manitou Beach Mansfield
Manson Maple Beach Maple Falls Maple Grove Maple Valley Maplewood
Marblemount Marcus Marietta Marine Drive Markham Marlin Marrowstone Island
Marshall Maryhill Marys Corner Marysville Mason City Matlock Mats Mats
Mattawa Maxwelton Maytown Mazama Mc Chord Air Force Base Mc Cleary Mc
Kenna McChord Air Force Base McCleary McKenna McMicken Heights McNeil
Island Mead Meadowdale Medical Lake Medina Meeker Melbourne Menlo Mercer
Island Merritt Mesa Metaline Metaline Falls Methow Miami Beach Mica Midway
Milan Mill Creek Millwood Milton Mineral Mission Square Moclips Mohler
Molson Monitor Monroe Monse Montesano Morganville Morton Moses Lake
Mossyrock Mount Pleasant Mount Vernon Mount Walker Mountlake Terrace Moxee
Moxee City Mukilteo Naches Nahcotta Napavine Naselle National Navy Yard
City Neah Bay Neilton Nemah Nespelem New London Newaukum Newcastle
Newhalem Newman Lake Newport Newport Hills Newton Nighthawk Nile Nine Mile
Falls Nisqually Nisson Nooksack Nooksack Indian Reservation Nordland
Normandy Park North Bend North Bonneville North City North Cove North
Lakewood North Prosser Northgate Northport Novelty Oak Bay Oak Harbor
Oakbrook Oakesdale Oakville Ocean City Ocean Park Ocean Shores Oceanside
Ocosta Odessa Offutt Lake Ohop Okanogan Olalla Olalla Valley Old Willapa
Olga Olympia Olympic View Omak Onalaska Orcas Orchard Heights Orchards
Orient Orondo Oroville Orting Osceola Oso Othello Otis Orchards Outlook
Overlook Oyhat Oysterville Ozette Pacific Pacific Beach Packwood Palisades
Palmer Palouse Paradise Inn Parker Parkland Parkwood Pasco Pateros
Paterson Pe Ell Pearcot Pearson Peell Peshastin Physt Picnic Point Pine
Lake Pinehurst Plain Plaza Pleasant Valley Plymouth Poineer Square Point
Fosdick Point Roberts Pomeroy Pomona Ponderosa Estates Port Angeles Port
Gamble Port Hadlock Port Ludlow Port Orchard Port Stanley Port Townsend
Possession Poulsbo Prairie Ridge Preachers Slough Prescott Preston Prosser
Protection Island Prt Angeles Puget Island Pullman Purdy Puyallup Queen
Anne Queensborough Queensgate Queets Quilcene Quinault Quincy Raft Island
Rainier Randle Raugust Ravensdale Raymond Reardan Redmond Redondo Redondo
Beach Renton Republic Retsil Rhododendron Park Rice Richland Richmond
Beach Richmond Highlands Ridgefield Rimrock Ritzville Riverside Riverton
Roche Harbor Rochester Rock Island Rockford Rocklyn Rockport Rocky Butte
Rocky Point Rollingbay Ronald Roosevelt Rosalia Rosauers Rosburg Rosedale
Roslyn Roy Royal City Royal Slope Ruff Ruston Ryderwood Saginaw Saint John
Saint Urbans Salkum Samish Island Sammamish San Juan Island Sandy Hook
Park Sappho Satsop Sawyer Saxon Scandia Scenic Schneiders Prairie Seabeck
Seahurst Seatac Seattle Seattle Heights Seaview Sedro Woolley Sekiu Selah
Sequim Seven Bays Shadle Garland Shaw Island Shelton Sheridan Park Shine
Shore Acres Shoreline Shorewood Shorewood Beach Silvana Silver Beach
Silver Creek Silver Lake Silverdale Silverlake Similk Beach Skamania
Skamokawa Skokomish Skykomish Skyway Smokey Point Snohomish Snoqualmie
Snoqualmie Pass Snug Harbor Soap Lake Sol Duc Hot Springs South Aberdeen
South Bay South Bend South Broadway South Cle Elum South Colby South Elma
South Hill South Montesano South Park Village South Prairie South Sound
Southworth Spanaway Spangle Spokane Sprague Spring Glen Springdale
Stanwood Starbuck Startup Stehekin Steilacoom Steptoe Stevenson Strandell
Stratford Sultan Sumach Sumas Summit Sumner Sunny Bay Sunnyside Sunnyslope
Sunrise Beach Sunset Hill Suquamish Sylvan Synarep Tacoma Taholah Tahuya
Tampico Tatoosh Island Teanaway Tekoa Telma Tenino The Highlands Thompson
Place Thornton Thorp Thrali Thrashers Corner Thrift Tieton Tillicum Times
Square Tokeland Toledo Tonasket Toppenish Totem Lake Touchet Toutle
Townsend Tracyton Trinidad Trout Lake Troutlake Tukwila Tulalip Tum Tum
Tumtum Tumwater Twisp Tyler Underwood Union Union Gap Union Mills
Uniontown University University Place Upper Hoh Upper Skagit Indian
Reservat Usk Vader Vail Valley Valleyford Van Buren Vancouver Vantage
Vashon Vashon Island Vaughn Veradale Victor View Park Villa Beach Virginia
Wabash Wahkiacus Waitsburg Waldron Walla Walla Wallingford Wallula Wapato
Warden Warren Washougal Washtucna Waterman Waterville Wauconda Wauna Wauna
Shores Waunch Prairie Wautauga Beach Waverly Wedgwood Weikel Welcome
Wellpinit Wenatchee Wenatchee Heights West Hills West Park West Richland
West Seattle West Side West Wenatchee Westport Westwood Westwood Village
Wheeler Whidbey Island Naval Air Sta White Center White Pass White Salmon
White Swan Whites Wilbur Wildcat Lake Wilderness Village Wildwood Wilkeson
Willapa Wilson Creek Winchester Winlock Winthrop Winton Wishkah Wishram
Withrow Wollochet Woodinville Woodland Woodlawn Woodmont Beach Woodway Wye
Lake Yacolt Yakima Yale Yarrow Point Yelm Yoman Ferry Zillah
|
