Washington
How do I change a parenting plan in Washington?
Quick answer
To make a major change to a Washington parenting plan, the court must find, based on facts that arose after the plan or were unknown to the court, that a substantial change has occurred in the circumstances of the child or the nonmoving party, and that the change is in the child’s best interest and necessary to serve it (RCW 26.09.260(1)). The request is filed on the Petition to Change a Parenting Plan or Other Custody Order (FL Modify 601), with a supporting affidavit or declaration and a proposed parenting plan.
Researched by Dan Martin, Legal Researcher · Published by Onbello Legal · Last updated October 2026
Changing where the child lives
The court keeps the existing residential schedule unless the parents agree, the child has been integrated into the petitioner’s family with the other parent’s consent, the child’s present environment is detrimental and the harm of a change is outweighed by its advantage, or the other parent has been found in contempt at least twice within three years for violating residential time or convicted of custodial interference in the first or second degree (RCW 26.09.260(2)).
Minor changes
A minor change that does not change where the child lives most of the time can be made on a substantial change in either parent’s or the child’s circumstances without the grounds above, if it does not exceed 24 full days a year, is based on a move by the parent with whom the child does not live most of the time or on an involuntary change in a parent’s work schedule that makes the schedule impractical to follow, or meets the conditions for up to 90 overnights a year in RCW 26.09.260(5)(c).
Adequate cause
The court must deny the request unless the affidavits establish adequate cause for a hearing (RCW 26.09.270). The statewide forms for this step are FL Modify 603 and 604. If the court finds a modification was brought in bad faith, it must order the moving party to pay the other parent’s attorney’s fees and costs (RCW 26.09.260(13)).
Tools and resources
Where to check this
Forms, deadlines, and local rules change. Verify anything on this page against the official self-help resources for your state before you rely on it.
This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney–client relationship. Laws and local rules vary and change. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed family-law attorney in your state.