What is a parenting plan in Washington?

A parenting plan is a written document in which parents set out how they will make decisions for their children and share time with them. In Washington it can be used by parents who are divorcing, by parents who were never married, or by a parent asking the court to change an existing order. Washington does not use the words custody and visitation; the plan allocates decision-making authority and sets a residential schedule, and the parents ask the court to approve it under the best interest standard (RCW 26.09.187).

What is the difference between a parenting plan and a custody order in Washington?

In Washington the parenting plan is the custody order. The state replaced the words custody and visitation with a single court-approved parenting plan that allocates decision-making authority and sets the residential schedule (RCW 26.09.184). Each party proposes a permanent parenting plan, and once the court approves a plan under the best interest standard it becomes the binding order that governs decision-making and where the child lives on given days.

What standard do Washington courts use to set the residential schedule?

Washington courts set the residential schedule by the best interest of the child. When the limitations of RCW 26.09.191 are not dispositive, the court weighs statutory factors and gives the greatest weight to the relative strength, nature, and stability of the child's relationship with each parent (RCW 26.09.187(3)(a)). The court makes residential provisions that encourage each parent to maintain a loving, stable, and nurturing relationship with the child.

Does Washington require each parent to file a parenting plan?

Yes. In any proceeding except a modification, each party in Washington must file and serve a proposed permanent parenting plan (RCW 26.09.181(1)(a)). The statute sets the timing as the earlier of thirty days after filing and serving a notice for trial, or one hundred eighty days after the action commences. The court then approves a final plan, which may combine or adjust what the parents proposed.

How does a Washington parenting plan allocate decision-making?

A Washington parenting plan allocates decision-making authority to one or both parents regarding the child's education, health care, and religious upbringing (RCW 26.09.184(5)). Each parent typically makes day-to-day decisions during the child's residential time with that parent. The plan states whether major decisions are made jointly or by one parent, and it must include a process for resolving future disputes (RCW 26.09.184(2) and (4)).

Does Washington use the words custody and visitation?

No. Washington sets these arrangements through a single parenting plan rather than a custody or visitation order. The plan allocates decision-making authority and sets a residential schedule that designates in which parent's home the child lives on given days of the year (RCW 26.09.184). This is why a Washington parenting plan is both the schedule and the order the court enforces.

Do I have to attend a parenting seminar in Washington?

The statewide statute makes a parenting seminar discretionary: superior court judges and commissioners may order or recommend parenting seminars and related services (RCW 26.12.170). Many Washington counties require a parenting seminar by local rule, so check the rules of the county where your case is filed. The statewide statute does not make the seminar automatic in every case.

Washington Parenting Plan

A Washington parenting plan is the court-approved document that allocates decision-making authority and sets the residential schedule for a child, in place of the words custody and visitation, under the best interest standard. Attorney review available.

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Introduction

In Washington, where the parenting plan is itself the operative document the court approves and the state does not use the words custody and visitation, a parenting plan is the written document two parents use to allocate decision-making and set a residential schedule for their children, whether they are divorcing, were never married, or need to change an existing order. In Washington, the parenting plan is the operative document the court approves; the state does not use the words custody and visitation, and instead allocates decision-making authority and sets a residential schedule. Washington requires each party in a case, except a modification, to file and serve a proposed permanent parenting plan (RCW 26.09.181). The permanent parenting plan must contain provisions for resolution of future disputes between the parents, allocation of decision-making authority, and residential provisions for the child (RCW 26.09.184). Decision-making authority covers the child's education, health care, and religious upbringing, and the residential schedule designates in which parent's home the child lives on given days of the year, including holidays, birthdays of family members, vacations, and other special occasions. Washington courts set the residential schedule under the best interest standard, and the relative strength, nature, and stability of the child's relationship with each parent is given the greatest weight (RCW 26.09.187(3)(a)). A court may order or recommend a parenting seminar, but the statewide statute makes that discretionary rather than automatic (RCW 26.12.170). DocDraft builds your Washington parenting plan from your family's schedule, with attorney review available before you file it with the court.

Key Things to Know

1
In Washington, a parenting plan is the written document in which two parents set out decision-making authority and a residential schedule for their children, whether they are divorcing, were never married, or are changing an existing order.
2
Washington does not use the words custody and visitation; the parenting plan allocates decision-making authority and sets a residential schedule for the child (RCW 26.09.184).
3
In any Washington case except a modification, each party must file and serve a proposed permanent parenting plan (RCW 26.09.181).
4
A Washington permanent parenting plan must contain provisions for resolution of future disputes between the parents, allocation of decision-making authority, and residential provisions for the child (RCW 26.09.184(2)).
5
Decision-making authority in a Washington parenting plan covers the child's education, health care, and religious upbringing (RCW 26.09.184(5)).
6
The residential schedule designates in which parent's home the child lives on given days of the year, including holidays, birthdays of family members, vacations, and other special occasions (RCW 26.09.184(6)).
7
Washington courts set the residential schedule under the best interest standard, giving the relative strength, nature, and stability of the child's relationship with each parent the greatest weight (RCW 26.09.187(3)(a)); a parenting seminar is discretionary under RCW 26.12.170.

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Parenting Plan in Washington, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Parenting Plan guide walks through them.

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WASHINGTON PARENTING PLAN

This parenting plan is made between [PARENT 1 FULL NAME] and [PARENT 2 FULL NAME], the parents of the child or children named below. The parents may be married and divorcing, or unmarried, and this plan may also be used to change an existing order. Washington does not use the words custody and visitation; this plan allocates decision-making authority and sets the residential schedule the parents ask a Washington court to approve.

Children covered: [CHILD FULL NAME, DATE OF BIRTH] [ADD EACH CHILD].

Decision-making authority. The parents will share [joint / sole to PARENT] decision-making authority for major decisions about the children's education, health care, and religious upbringing. Each parent may make routine day-to-day decisions while the children are in that parent's residential care and may authorize emergency medical treatment when needed.
Residential schedule. The children will live with [PARENT] and spend residential time with the other parent as follows. Weekdays: [describe the regular weekday schedule]. Weekends: [describe the alternating or fixed weekend schedule, with pick-up and drop-off times].
Holidays and special days. The parents will divide holidays as follows: [Thanksgiving, winter holidays, and other holidays, alternating by year or as agreed]. Mother's Day is with [PARENT] and Father's Day with [PARENT]. Each child's birthday: [describe].
School breaks and summer. Winter and spring school breaks will be divided [describe]. Summer residential time will be [describe, for example alternating weeks or an extended block for each parent], with written notice of vacation dates by [DATE] each year.
Exchanges and transportation. Exchanges will take place at [LOCATION] at [TIME]. [Each parent / PARENT] will provide transportation for [pick-up / drop-off]. If a parent will be more than [NUMBER] minutes late, that parent will notify the other parent as soon as possible.
Communication. The children may contact either parent by phone or video call during reasonable hours. The parents will share information about the children's health, school, and activities, and will keep each other informed of their current address and phone number.
Relocation. A parent who intends to move the children's residence will give the other parent written notice as required by Washington's relocation statute, so the parents can discuss the change or ask the court to review the residential schedule.
Dispute resolution. If a disagreement arises about this plan, the parents will first try to resolve it between themselves, then use the dispute resolution process stated here, such as mediation, before returning to court, and will keep a written record of any agreement they reach.

This parenting plan is subject to court approval and is decided under the best interest of the child standard, giving the greatest weight to the strength, nature, and stability of the child's relationship with each parent (Revised Code of Washington Sections 26.09.184 and 26.09.187). For the general template and other states, see the Parenting Plan hub.

Signed: _____________________ [PARENT 1] Date: __________ _____________________ [PARENT 2] Date: __________

Washington Requirements for Parenting Plan

Parenting Plan Replaces Custody and Visitation
Washington does not use the words custody and visitation. The court-approved parenting plan is the operative document, and it allocates decision-making authority and sets a residential schedule for the child (Revised Code of Washington Section 26.09.184).
Best Interest Standard for the Residential Schedule
Washington courts set the residential schedule by the best interest of the child. Where the limitations of RCW 26.09.191 are not dispositive, the court weighs statutory factors and gives the greatest weight to the relative strength, nature, and stability of the child's relationship with each parent (RCW 26.09.187(3)(a)).
Each Party Files a Proposed Permanent Parenting Plan
In any Washington proceeding except a modification, each party must file and serve a proposed permanent parenting plan (RCW 26.09.181(1)(a)). The statute sets the timing as the earlier of thirty days after filing and serving a notice for trial, or one hundred eighty days after the action commences.
Required Contents of the Parenting Plan
A Washington permanent parenting plan must contain provisions for resolution of future disputes between the parents, allocation of decision-making authority, and residential provisions for the child (RCW 26.09.184(2)). The plan should address each of these three required parts.
Decision-Making Authority
Your Washington parenting plan should state whether decision-making authority is joint or held by one parent and how the parents will make major decisions about the children's education, health care, and religious upbringing (RCW 26.09.184(5)). Each parent generally makes routine daily decisions during that parent's residential time.
Residential Schedule
Your plan should set the residential schedule that designates in which parent's home the child lives on given days of the year, including holidays, birthdays of family members, vacations, and other special occasions (RCW 26.09.184(6)), along with the regular weekday and weekend routine, summer, exchanges, and transportation.
Dispute Resolution
A Washington parenting plan must include a process for resolving future disputes between the parents (RCW 26.09.184(2) and (4)). The plan should describe how the parents will resolve disagreements outside court, such as through counseling or mediation, and keep a written record of any agreement.
Parenting Seminar and Court Approval
A Washington parenting seminar is discretionary at the statewide level; superior court judges and commissioners may order or recommend parenting seminars and related services (RCW 26.12.170), and many counties require one by local rule. The parenting plan takes effect only when the court approves it under the best interest standard (RCW 26.09.184 and 26.09.187).

Find out where you stand in Washington

Introduction

Key Things to Know

Key decisions before you file

Customize your Parenting Plan Template with DocDraft

Washington Requirements for Parenting Plan

Parenting Plan Replaces Custody and Visitation

Best Interest Standard for the Residential Schedule

Each Party Files a Proposed Permanent Parenting Plan

Required Contents of the Parenting Plan

Decision-Making Authority

Residential Schedule

Dispute Resolution

Parenting Seminar and Court Approval

Frequently Asked Questions