No one can predict the future needs of a family. The needs of the children will change as will the capacity of the parents to parent.
There is no option to adjust the terms of a parenting plan every 24 months like there is for child support but there is an option to do an “adjustment” of parenting where the change in overnights is 25 days or less and the primary parent is not changed.
There are dozens of reasons to modify parenting plans from changing needs of children, to military deployment to failure to exercise residential time. Our law is child-centric. It presumes that parents should stay the course unless the change would truly benefit the child and the circumstances of the child and non modifying parent have significantly changed.
The statute addressing parenting plan modification is RCW 26.09.260 and can be found at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=26.09.260.
The mandatory forms can be found at http://www.courts.wa.gov/forms/?fa=forms.contribute&formID=32.
An overview of the law can be found at http://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/issues/family-law/parenting-plans-residential-time?channel=legal-information&category=parenting-plan-modifications.
LINKS TO INFORMATION ON WASHINGTON DIVORCE
- The Divorce Timeline
- Divorce Petition / Separation Petition
- The Temporary Hearing Process
- Divorce & Domestic Violence
- Divorce Discovery Process
- Property and Debt in WA Divorce
- Child Support and Post Majority Support
- Parenting Plan Creation
- Support Adjustment and Modification
- Modification of Parenting
- Appeal of Trial
If you have any questions about your own particular situation relating to WA divorce laws or getting a divorce in Washington, please don’t hesitate to reach out for your own free consultation.
Kydd Family Law – “Family Focus”
Our firm focuses upon the life cycle of family needs such as:
* Divorce / * Mediation / * Collaboration /
* Litigation & Arbitration / * Psychological & Financial Planning
For a Free Consultation
Call: 206-624-2329
