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Legal Information: Washington

Custody

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Laws current as of August 8, 2025

Who can be part of the parenting plan?

Both parents are responsible for protecting and taking care of the health and well-being of their child. However, if one parent does something that endangers the child’s health and well-being or acts in a way that unreasonably risks harming the child, a judge can, or in some cases must, put limits or restrictions on that parent’s parenting time or decision-making power.1

In addition, a non-parent who is interested in the welfare of the child might be able to ask for guardianship.2 For more information, see Can a non-parent file for custody of a child?

1 R.C.W. §§ 26.09.191; 26.09.0001
2 R.C.W. § 11.130.190(1)

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