Child Support & Custody
Custody and child support are the parts of a family case that don't end at the decree. Kids grow, jobs change, one parent wants to move, and the plan that worked at 5 doesn't fit at 12. We help parents across the Pacific Northwest set up, change, and enforce parenting plans and child support, during a divorce and long after.
Talk to an attorneyFounded
1965
Attorneys
11
AV-rated
Martindale-Hubbell
Office
Bellevue, WA
Founded
1965
Attorneys
2
AV-rated
Martindale-Hubbell
Office
Bellevue, WA
Child custody and support attorneys for Bellevue and Seattle families
Washington doesn't actually use the word "custody." What most people mean by it is the parenting plan, the court order that sets where the children live, who makes the major decisions, and how the two households share time. Child support runs alongside it on a statewide formula. We handle both, whether they're part of a divorce, a parentage case, or a standalone fight years later, and we handle the modifications and enforcement that almost always follow. The through-line is the children: a plan that fits their actual lives and holds up as those lives change.
Custody and support work covers the order, the number, and everything that happens after. We build the parenting plan and residential schedule; we calculate child support on the state schedule; we modify plans and support when life changes; we handle relocation when a parent wants to move; and we enforce orders the other parent ignores.
Parenting plans and the residential schedule
In Washington, "custody" is really the parenting plan. It sets the residential schedule, divides decision-making over things like school and health care, and lays out how disputes get resolved. The court weighs the factors in RCW 26.09.187, with the most weight on the parent who has done the day-to-day caregiving, always measured by the children's best interests. Where there's been abuse or neglect, RCW 26.09.191 limits a parent's time and authority. We build a plan that fits how your family actually works.
Child support: the Washington schedule
Unlike maintenance, child support runs on a formula. Washington's child support schedule, RCW 26.19, starts from both parents' combined income and an economic table, then adds the real costs of raising kids, like daycare, health insurance, and extraordinary medical or educational expenses. Courts can deviate from the standard number for good reason, such as a large income disparity or a near-even residential split. We make sure the inputs are right, because the formula is only as accurate as the numbers fed into it.
Modifying a parenting plan or support order
Orders are built for a moment, and moments pass. Child support can be adjusted under RCW 26.09.170, often every couple of years or when incomes change meaningfully. Changing the residential schedule is harder: RCW 26.09.260 requires a substantial change in circumstances, and a major change to where the children live faces a high bar by design, to keep their lives stable. We tell you honestly whether a modification is realistic before you file.
Relocation: moving with the children
Moving with the kids has its own rulebook. Under Washington's Child Relocation Act, RCW 26.09.405 through .560, a parent who wants to relocate children generally has to give formal notice, and the other parent can object. If they do, the court weighs a specific set of relocation factors, starting from a presumption that a primary parent's move will be allowed, which the other parent can rebut. These cases move on tight deadlines, so call early whether you're the one moving or the one objecting.
Enforcement when the other parent won't comply
An order only helps if it's followed. When a parent withholds the children or ignores the schedule, RCW 26.09.160 lets the court hold them in contempt and order make-up time. When child support goes unpaid, the Division of Child Support can enforce it through wage withholding under RCW 26.23, and the court's contempt power backs that up. We use the tools that get compliance instead of just complaints.
Sixty years representing Pacific Northwest families, often the same families whose businesses, trusts, and estates the firm already handles. When a family-law matter touches a company or a trust, you're not starting over with a stranger.
Continuity, not a hand-off.
Many family-law clients are already firm clients. The attorney handling your case may be the one who set up the business or the trust now in question, which means less time spent explaining and fewer surprises.
Settlement-minded, trial-ready.
We resolve most family-law matters without a trial, because it's better for the family and the budget. But when a case has to be tried, the firm's litigators are ready, and the other side knows it.
Straight about what's ahead.
These matters are hard enough without a lawyer overselling. We give you a clear map of the next several months, tell you what a case is realistically worth fighting over, and what isn't.
The attorneys behindthe work.
Our business and corporate attorneys handle this work alongside our litigation team, so you have coverage whether your matter stays transactional or becomes something more.
What clientsask us first.
Does Washington use the word "custody"?
Not officially. Washington replaced "custody" with the parenting plan, which sets the residential schedule (where the kids live and when) and decision-making authority (who decides on school, health care, and religion). People still say "custody" in conversation, and we know what you mean, but the legal document is the parenting plan, and that's what the court actually orders.
How is child support calculated in Washington?
By formula, unlike maintenance. The Washington child support schedule, RCW 26.19, combines both parents' incomes, applies an economic table, and adds shared costs like daycare and health insurance. The result is a presumptive number a court can adjust for good cause. Because it's driven by income figures, getting those right, including a self-employed parent's true income, is where the real work is.
Can I change my parenting plan or child support later?
Yes, though the bar differs. Child support is modifiable under RCW 26.09.170 when incomes or circumstances change. Changing the parenting plan is harder: RCW 26.09.260 requires a substantial change in circumstances, and a major change in where the children live faces a deliberately high standard meant to protect their stability. We'll tell you which side of that line your situation falls on.
Can my ex move away with the kids?
Not without following the rules. Washington's Child Relocation Act, RCW 26.09.405 through .560, requires a relocating parent to give formal notice, and the other parent can object and force a hearing. The court then weighs a set of relocation factors. There's a presumption favoring a primary parent's move, but it can be rebutted, so these cases are very fact-specific and time-sensitive.
My ex won't follow the parenting plan or pay support. What can I do?
You have enforcement options. For a parent who violates the parenting plan, RCW 26.09.160 lets the court find them in contempt and award make-up time and fees. For unpaid support, the Division of Child Support can garnish wages under RCW 26.23, and contempt is available on top of that. Document what's happening and bring it to us early.
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Tell us about your children and what you need to set up, change, or enforce. A family law attorney will follow up within one business day, and the first conversation is confidential.
Oseran Hahn P.S. · 11225 SE 6th St, Suite 100 · Bellevue, WA 98004
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