Legal Question in Family Law in Washington

Parenting Plans

I am a 25 year old single dad of a 14 month old daughter. At the time of our daughter's birth, her mother and I were living together. 4 months ago, she asked me to move out. (She has a new boyfriend.) I want to get a Parenting Plan started so that we can establish ''who gets our daughter when''. The mom says she doesn't want to be bothered with a Parenting Plan because she doesn't ''have time'' to sit down and talk with me about it. I tried going through a mediation service but she doesn't want to do that either. Is there anything I can do to get this thing moving forward? It's not like she doesn't let me see my daughter. Sometimes I have her for 4 or 5 days at a time. When mom comes to pick her up, within the hour she drops her off at her girlfriends homes so she can rest, do laundry, so shopping, have her nails done, etc.! I really would like to get full time custody with mom only seeing her every other weekend. I'm not working and living with my parents right now. Is there a low or no cost program that I can use to help me with a Parenting Plan?


Asked on 4/16/08, 5:50 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Christopher Steuart IT Forensics, Inc.

Re: Parenting Plans

Your first step is to see if she would agree to an action to establish parentage. If that is the case, you can prepare the petition, summons, have her sign to join in the petition and do an agreed motion for summary judgment and order. After that you can then petition (under the same cause number) to have a residential schedule and support order entered. Now as to low cost, you could check with the County Prosecutor's Office to see if they would file the action for you, they will be especially happy to cooperate with you if it looks like the mother may seek atate sponsored benefits for the child. If the county won't file, then you can do it, but it may be complicated enough that you will want to retain an attorney.

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Answered on 4/23/08, 8:37 pm


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