The laws concerning child custody matters are found in the Washington State Revised Code in Title 26. Here are some highlights from the Code that parents should consider.
A Washington parenting plan should maintain the child’s emotional growth, physical health, and mental health. The law states that a parenting plan that is in the best interest of the child will maintain the child’s emotional growth, physical health, and mental health. Parents must think of all these things as they create a plan. These are some factors that parents need to think about to help them determine if the plan is the best for the child: the relative strength, nature, and stability of the child’s relationship with each parent; the daily roles that the parents fulfilled before separating; each parents past and potential future performance of parenting functions; the emotional needs and developmental level of the child; the child’s relationship with siblings and other influential people in the child’s life; the wishes of the parents and the child; and the parents’ employment schedules. All of these influence how a Washington custody agreement should be made.
The court may order a shared parenting time schedule. The state gives the court authority to order a shared parenting time schedule. This has a big impact on a Washington custody schedule. A shared parenting schedule means that the child frequently alternates his or her residence between the houses of the parents. A mother and father can choose this type of schedule before going to court. Some of the factors that a judge will look at when deciding if this is type of Washington visitation schedule should be ordered are: if the parents have been able to cooperate previously, if the parents agree to the arrangement, if the parents live close to each other, if either parent has abandoned the child in the past, if it is in the best interest of the child, etc.
The standard of the best interest of the child. Washington law specifically states that the court uses the standard of what is in the best interest of the child to make custody decisions and allocate parental authority. Parents must focus on this standard as they make their parenting plan and decide anything about custody arrangements.