Legal Question in Family Law in Washington

What is the law reguarding the age that children can decide to what degree they will see their disfunctional biological parents? These children live full time with their mother and after being abandoned by their father in 2008 and watching him break a thousand promises to them since they are fed up with him. They want to have very limited contact with him at this time, but the parenting plan says he's to see them every other weekend but the father does not follow the plan he picks and choses what he wants to do and when. At this time he rarely call's or see's the kids but we want to go back to court and put into writing what the current situation is.


Asked on 11/17/09, 4:51 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Christopher Steuart IT Forensics, Inc.

How old must a child be to determine whether they will spend residential time or have visitation with a parent? The answer is 18 years old. A parent may file a motion to show cause re contempt or a parent can file a petition to modify the parenting plan, but will need substantial evidence to effect a modification, and the child not liking the other parent or calling them dysfunctional is not substantial evidence, failure to comply with the existing plan may be evidence to support a modification.

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Answered on 11/23/09, 6:02 pm


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