The theme of this month’s issue centers on children’s issues, from guardianship and child support to parental rights and children’s rights. I am going to highlight some excellent web sites that address these issues and include reliable information. Reliable information isn’t always easy to find on the Internet, but Washington State is among the leaders in creating some of the best web sites for both court-based and agency-based information.

The first web site we are going to look at is Washington LawHelp. Maintained by the Northwest Justice Project with a grant from Law Services Corporation, and based on a design by Pro Bono Net, this site includes some of the best pamphlets and guides to dealing with the courts and agencies in many subject areas. The purpose of the site is to help low-income and seniors in Washington State. There are three subject areas on this site that have pamphlets of particular interest for dealing with family and child issues.

First, check out the Family Law link. It includes guides on child support, parenting plans, child relocation, paternity, adoption, nonparental custody, guardianship and more. Also, don’t forget to look at the Youth Law & Education link, as it includes guides on emancipation, school discipline, juvenile offenders, foster care and more. The third link that is of particular use is the Government Benefits link. This one includes pamphlets on public assistance, including cash assistance for housing, DSHS guides, and much more. All in all, the first place to check is the Washington LawHelp web site.

Guardianship issues for children are addressed at a number of web sites. If you simply need the Guardianship Forms to file at superior court, the King County Superior Court web site includes them. If you have questions about guardianships for minors or incapacitated persons, you might want to visit Washington LawHelp's Guardianships & Powers of Attorney page. This resource contains some helpful FAQs. An excellent place to find information on educational requirements for guardians and information on becoming certified is located at the Washington Courts web site. Here, you can find information on the Certified Professional Guardian Board (CPGB), the Guardian ad Litem program, and the Certified Professional Guardian Program, which includes GAL requirements and training information.

Don’t forget to check out the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) web site. It has links to information on adoption, child support, and much more. If you link to the Child Support page, you will find publications in multiple languages addressing the modification of child support, hearing rights, establishing parentage, and questions on dealing with child support when unemployed or on public assistance.

If you have an issue that centers on a child, start with these web sites. Don’t forget that you can always send us a questiion or call us at 206-296-0940. We are always willing to help you find the resource you need.

(Revised 10/19/2009)