Nonparental Custody (third party custody)

Custody of children by someone other than the parents is called Nonparental or Third Party Custody. Nonparental custody can be temporary or permanent. It allows the person taking care of the child to make legal and medical decisions on behalf of the child, and means the parents may not have custody of the child.

Laws

Laws for nonparental custody are found in RCW Title 26.

Forms

Forms from the Court's web site: Use this link if there are specific forms you would like to print.

General Information

If you would like an overview of Nonparental Custody, click on a link below.
Non-Parental Custody of a Child (NW Justice Project)

Books in the Library

Case Management Notebooks, Reference Desk.  Once you have filed a domestic relations action, you may receive schedule from the Court for future procedures. These notebooks explain what happens and when.

Family Law Deskbook, KF 505 Z99 W36 2000 REF. This 3 volume set contains detailed information about marriage, dissolution, and child custody matters. It is a good source for discussions of the law and of the policies that underlie the law. It also briefly addresses guardianships, parentage, non-marital couples, and domestic violence.

Community Property Deskbook, KF 526 .Z99 W36 1989 REF. This publication examines the ownership of property by married people in Washington. It details the basics of characterizing property as "his-hers-ours" and includes a discussion of creditor's rights and tax considerations.

Washington Practice, KFW 80 .W3 REF. Volumes 19 to 22 of this invaluable resource cover Family and Community Property Law. Here you will find detailed and technical discussions of all aspects of domestic relations law.

If You Need More Help

Family Law Facilitators: For divorce, parenting plans, and support only. The Family Law Facilitators, located in Room E215 in the King County Courthouse and Room 3D in the Maleng Regional Justice Center, can provide information on court rules and procedures, and review forms to make sure they are complete. They cannot give legal advice, provide or fill out forms, or assist in trial preparation. We encourage you to make an appointment to have all your paperwork reviewed prior to filing. There are limited walk-in hours in the mornings; we recommend you call for an appointment. 206-296-9092

How to Finish Your Divorce: Volunteer attorneys offer this seminar monthly at the library. It can help you figure out where to go and what to do next. See the list of dates and times posted on the bulletin board next to the Reference Desk in Seattle.

Attorney's Information Bureau: Located on the 4th floor of the Courthouse, the AIB sells packets of forms for a variety of legal actions, including domestic relations actions. 206-622-0734

Northwest Women's Law Center: This non-profit agency provides classes, publications, and referrals for women and men living in the Northwest. 206-621-7691

CLEAR (Coordinated Legal Education, Advice, and Referral): CLEAR is Northwest Justice Project's innovative statewide toll-free telephone service for low-income people to obtain free legal assistance with civil legal problems in Washington state. The hotline operates between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. weekdays and Tuesdays from 3:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. CLEAR Sr. is a similar project which serves people age 60 and over regardless of their financial situation.

CLEAR - 1-888-201-1014

CLEAR Sr. (60 and over) - 1-888-387-7111