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Below are all of the instructions that are available through the Family Law Facilitators Office. These instructions (and required forms) are also available by contacting the Family Law Facilitators Office directly. You also may find helpful materials by visiting this Northwest Justice Project website.

The instructions are not legal advice. If you need to consult with an attorney, you may wish to contact the King County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service to receive an attorney referral.

If you have questions about which forms you should use, or how to obtain forms, please contact the Family Law Facilitators Office, at 206-263-FLIC (3542).

Important! The instructions below DO NOT include information about how to file protection orders, which is different than a restraining order. For information on how to file a Protection Order please visit: Civil Protection Orders - King County

Ending the Marriage
How to end a relationship. 
1 How to ask for a divorce
2 How to ask for a divorce for parties that agree
3 How to ask for a legal separation
4 How to ask for a legal separation for parties that agree 
5 How to convert a legal separation to a divorce 
6  How to ask for your marriage to be invalidated (Annulled)
7  How to ask for your marriage to be invalidated (Annulled) for parties that agree
8  How to finish your invalidity by default
9  How to respond to a divorce, legal separation, or invalidity (annulment) petition 
Petition for a Parenting Plan 
How to create a custody schedule between unmarried parents.   
1  How to ask for a parenting plan (and child support if needed) 
2  How to ask for a parenting plan (and child support if needed) for parties that  agree 
3 How to respond to a petition for a parenting plan (and child support if needed) 
4 How to ask for child support
5  How to respond to a petition for child support 
Changing a Parenting Plan or Child Support 
How to change an existing Superior Court Parenting Plan or Child Support Order. 
1  How to change a final parenting plan when parties do not agree 
2 How to change a final parenting plan for parties that agree 
3 How to respond to a petition asking to modify a parenting plan / custody decree
4 How to schedule an Adequate Cause hearing when changing a parenting plan 
5 How to respond to a Notice of Hearing for Adequate Cause in a modification case
6 How to change child support 
7 How to change child support for parties that agree 
8 How to change child support by default 
9 How to respond to a Petition for Child Support Modification 
10  How to adjust child support 
11 How to respond to a Motion for Child Support Adjustment 
Notice of Intent to Relocate 
How to move with children, or object to a move, under the Relocation statute. 
1  How to notify the other parent you want to move with the children 
2 How to object to a Notice of Intent to Move with the Children 
3 How to Respond to the other parent's objection to your move with the children 
4 How to ask for a Temporary Order Preventing Move with Children (Relocation)  
5 How to ask for a Temporary Order Allowing Move with Children  
Service 
How to give the other party legal paperwork. 
1  How to serve documents to the other party in your court case 
2  How to serve by mail 
3  How to serve by publication 
Temporary Orders 
How to ask for temporary orders, like a Temporary Parenting Plan, while an open Family Law case is being resolved. 
1  How to ask for a Temporary Order for parties who are married 
2  How to ask for a Temporary Order for parties who are not married 
4  How to respond to a Request for Temporary Orders or Ex Parte Restraining Order 
5  How to reply to a response to your family law motion 
Restraining Orders 
How to restrain or limit the other party from someone, or doing something, while an open Family Law case is being resolved. 
1  How to ask for an Immediate Restraining Order for parties who are married 
2  How to ask for an Immediate Restraining Order for parties who are not married 
4  How to respond to a Request for Temporary Orders or Ex Parte Restraining Order 
5  How to ask to terminate (quash) a Temporary Restraining Order before the scheduled court date 
6  How to respond to a Motion to Quash a Temporary Restraining Order 
7  How to file a Motion to Terminate a Restraining Order 
8  How to respond to a Motion to Terminate a Restraining Order 
9  How to respond to a Petition for a Domestic Violence Protection Order 
Challenging an Order
How to dispute an order made by a Commissioner or Judge. 
1 How to ask for a Motion for Reconsideration of a commissioner's order 
2 How to ask a Judge to revise a Family Law Commissioner's court order when there is an assigned judge 
3 How to ask a Judge to revise a Family Law Commissioner's court order when there is not an assigned judge 
4 How to ask a Judge for a new trial or to reconsider an order 
5 How to ask a Judge to vacate (undo) a judgment or order 
6 How to vacate a judgment or order in an active case when the trial is still pending 
7 How to set aside a Dismissal and reinstate the case for parties that agree 
Enforcing an Order 
How to hold the other party accountable for violating a court order. 
1  How to ask for a Contempt Order if the other party does not obey a court order 
2  How to respond to a Contempt Motion 
3  How to enforce a court order 
4  How to register an out-of-state Child Custody Order in King County 
Other Motions 
Including how to file a general family law motion, a motion in front of a judge, Default, and how to dismiss a case. 
1  How to ask the court for an order - Family Law Motion
2 How to present a motion before the Commissioner when you have a pending child support modification case 
3 How to respond to a Family Law Motion 
4 How to schedule a motion without oral argument before your assigned Judge
5 How to schedule a motion with oral argument before your assigned Judge
6 How to ask to change your trial date 
7 How to respond to the other party's motion before your assigned Judge 
8 How to reply to the other party's response to your motion before your assigned Judge 
9 How to ask for an Order of Default if the other party has appeared at any hearings 
10 How to ask for an Order of Default if the other party has not appeared at any hearings 
11 How to dismiss a family law case when both parties have participated in the case and do not agree 
12  How to dismiss a family law case if the parties agree or the other party has not participated 
Minor Guardianship 
1  Contested Minor Guardianship
2 Responding to a Contested Minor Guardianship
3 Agreed Minor Guardianship- 12 and under
4 Agreed Minor Guardianship- 12 and over
5 Default Minor Guardianship
6 Waiving Notice in Regular Minor Guardianship Cases
7 Petition for Emergency Guardianship- 60-day
8 Responding to Emergency Guardianship Petition
9 Motion for Immediate Minor Guardianship Order
10 Responding to Motion for Immediate Minor Guardianship
11  How to Ask for an Attorney in a Minor Guardianship Case 
12  Asking for a Court Visitor 
13  Changing/Terminating a Minor Guardianship/Non-Parent Custody Order