Washington State parenting plan modifications may be brought to modify an existing parenting plan when substantial changes in the circumstances of the child’s or parent’s life have occurred and the modification is necessary to serve the best interests of the child. Because our legislature has announced a policy of maintaining stability in a child’s life, the changed circumstances must be significant before a court will make major modifications to an existing parenting plan. However, the law does allow for Washington State parenting plan modifications to protect children and to see that their best interests are being met.

The court will keep an existing parenting plan in place unless one of several factors is met. For Washington State parenting plan modifications these factors include whether the parties agree to the modification; whether the child has been integrated into another household with the consent of the legal custodial parent; whether the harm the child will experience as a result of the modification is justified by avoiding the harm if no modification is ordered; whether the nonmoving parent has been found in contempt of the residential portion of the existing parenting plan twice in three years; or if the nonmoving parent has been convicted of custodial interference in the first or second degree. The burden of proving the relevant factor in Washington State parenting plan modifications is on the moving party.

Finally, keep in mind that although the parties may agree to the terms of a parenting plan modification, the court must approve all such changes in all Washington State parenting plan modifications.

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