Custody & Visitation | Seattle Divorce Services

How to Modify Child Custody in Washington State

When divorcing or separating parents sit down to negotiate their parenting plan, they often do not know what the future may bring. One or both spouses may remarry, and there may be career changes or relocations. The children will grow, get involved in activities, and establish friendships and other...

What You Need to Know About Emergency Custody Orders

Child custody is one of the most difficult aspects of living apart from your co-parent. Differences of opinion over what is a healthy living environment for a child are common, but some of these differences can involve fundamental concerns over the child’s safety and well-being. In crisis situations...

Are There Legal Rules for Virtual Visitations with Parents?

Virtual Visitations are Becoming More Common. What Do You Need to Know? Some parents do not have the ability to have frequent in-person time with their children for reasons such as the long distance between residences, histories of problematic behaviors, or perhaps Covid-related restrictions. Other...

Moving Out-of-State and Custody

When getting divorced and negotiating custody, it’s impossible to foresee everything that the future will bring. You have to make custody arrangements based on your current situation and what’s best for your child. Months or years later, however, you or your ex-spouse may be considering moving out o...

Back-to-School Tips for Co-Parents

The summer is over, and our kids are back in school. Whether you are newly divorced, or your children are just starting school, the beginning of the school year can be a difficult transition for everyone. Divorcing and divorced parents face some additional challenges, but the good news is that with...

Breaking Down Supervised Visitation in Seattle

Visitation and custody issues are decided based on what is in the best interests of the child. In a contested case, the court will listen to the evidence presented and then enter a parenting plan that they believe will best meet the child’s needs, including their safety and general welfare. While su...

Breaking Down Custody & Visitation for Grandparents & Other Relatives

Under certain circumstances grandparents and other relatives can seek custody or visitation rights, but should tread carefully before doing so as there is also great potential for making things worse and ending up with even less contact with the children than before. The standards for custody and...

Unusual Visitation Arrangements Parents Face

When it comes to establishing a post-divorce parenting plan, there really is no “normal” or standard arrangement for custody and visitation. Parenting plans and visitation agreements should be drafted in the best interests of the child with the goal of reaching an arrangement where the child has a b...

Pet Custody in Washington

Pet custody was recently in the local news in a story by Seattle Times reporter Erik Lacitis: Kona and Mr. Bear. In that Clark County case, the divorce court had originally given the wife visitation rights to two dogs that were primarily living with the husband. The Court of Appeals ruled,...

Should We Consider Nesting as a Custody Solution?

One of the issues that many parents worry about when they separate is the effect on their children as they move between two homes. One solution that some parents have used is called "nesting" or "bird's nest custody." This post outlines this newer custody model, and offers some tips for parents cons...

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