Legal Question in Family Law in Washington
visitation rights
what are the visitation rights for a father
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: visitation rights
There is no distinction made under the law about father's or mother's residential time.
Re: visitation rights
Visitation rights are spelled out in a parenting plan. Parenting plans can be agreed or litigated. One parent is going to be designated the primary residential parent, the other is not.
So long as a plan is on the pattern form and in the child's best interest, a WA court will allow parents to determine what is best for their child, so long as the parents agree.
The minute the agreement ends, then a court can (and will) enter orders.
Half time with the non residential parent is generally every other weekend every other holiday and half the summner and depending on proximity, a mid week dinner or overnight or possibly two.
It is possible to make a residential plan spell out a great more detail than is given in the forms.
I routinely add another 14-17 clauses in an effort to eliminate conflict.
Custom-drafting plans eliminates the errors that happen when people try to do it themselves.
Hope this helps. Elizabeth Powell