Washington Form FL Modify 601 is the Petition to Change a Parenting Plan, Residential Schedule or Custody Order. It is the court form a parent or non-parent custodian files in Superior Court to ask a judge to change an existing parenting/custody order. The form tells the court who you are, what order you want changed, and the legal reasons that allow a change under RCW 26.09.260.
This form carries real weight because the judge first decides if you have “adequate cause” before any hearing happens. If your reasons are weak or you check the wrong box, the judge can dismiss your case without ever hearing the full story. Each year Washington Superior Courts handle tens of thousands of family law filings, and a large share of self-filed petitions get bounced for missing companion forms or vague reasons, so getting this right the first time saves months.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 What FL Modify 601 does and who must file it
- ✅ The exact documents and details to gather before you start
- 🖊️ A line-by-line walkthrough of every box, with sample entries
- 👨👩👧 Three full filled-out examples from real-style scenarios
- ❓ Answers to the questions filers ask most about this form
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Form FL Modify 601 is a Washington Pattern Form approved by the state for use in every county Superior Court. You can download the current version from the Washington Courts forms page, and a plain-language version is also hosted on WashingtonLawHelp. The most recent revision carries a 2025 effective date, so confirm the date printed in the bottom corner before you file, since clerks reject outdated versions. The form’s full name on the header reads Petition to Change a Parenting Plan, Residential Schedule or Custody Order (PTMD).
You must file this form if you already have a final parenting plan, residential schedule, or non-parent custody order and you want a judge to change it. A parent who wants more time, less time for the other parent, or a switch in where the child lives the majority of the time uses this form. A non-parent custodian, such as a grandparent who holds custody, also uses it.
The form is governed by RCW 26.09.260, the statute that controls modifications. In plain English, that law says a judge will not change a final order unless something important has changed since the last order, and the change helps the child. The consequence of ignoring it is dismissal, because a petition with no qualifying change fails at the adequate-cause stage. For example, a father who simply wants more time but cannot point to any real change since the last order will likely lose. A common misconception is that a judge will reweigh the old facts; the court only looks at new facts that arose after the last order or that were hidden from the court before.
The form goes to the Superior Court Clerk in the proper county, and the clerk routes it to a family law judge or commissioner. The agency that receives it is the county Superior Court, not a state office, so local rules matter.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything before you open the form. A missing item can stall your filing or force a second trip to the courthouse.
- A certified copy of your current parenting/custody order. You need this to describe the order in Section 4, and you must attach it if it came from a different county or state. Without it, the clerk may refuse the filing.
- The case number of your current order. The clerk uses this to link your new petition to the right file. A wrong number can split your case into two records.
- Full legal names of all parents and non-parent custodians. These go in Sections 1 and 2 and must match the existing order. A mismatch confuses service of process.
- Each child’s full name and age. Section 3 needs these, and an error here can delay the child support and jurisdiction analysis.
- The 5-year residence history of each child. Section 13 asks where the children lived, which proves the court has jurisdiction. Missing dates can stall the case.
- Dates and details of any other court cases involving the children. Section 15 needs these to avoid conflicting orders.
- A proposed Parenting Plan or Residential Schedule. You file form FL All Family 140 with this petition; without it the judge has nothing to approve.
- The filing fee or a fee waiver request. Most modifications cost a small fee, but a major modification that reopens the case can cost more, so confirm the amount with your clerk before you go.
If your case involves child support or parentage, also prepare a Confidential Information Form (FL All Family 001), since the court requires it to protect private data.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official source is the Washington Courts website, which offers FL Modify 601 as both a fill-in PDF and a Word document. Always pull the form from this state page rather than a random third-party site, because old or altered versions get rejected at the counter. The plain-language WashingtonLawHelp guide walks self-represented parents through the same form with extra help text.
You can fill the form out on a computer or print it and write by hand in black ink. Type if you can, because clerks and judges read typed forms faster and handwriting errors cause confusion. Save a digital copy before you file so you can refile quickly if a page is lost.
Many counties also offer a Family Law Facilitator who reviews your forms for a small fee. In Pierce County, for example, court facilitators take appointments for a modest charge. Using this service before filing catches blank boxes and missing attachments that would otherwise get your petition kicked back.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out FL Modify 601 Line by Line
Fill out each section in order. Use the exact box numbers and labels printed on the form, and italicized text below shows sample entries that would appear on the page.
Caption: Court, County, and Party Names
What it asks in plain English: The top of the form asks which county’s Superior Court you are filing in and the names of the Petitioner and Respondent.
How to answer it: Write the county after “Superior Court of Washington, County of,” then list the Petitioner and Respondent exactly as they appear on your current order. Leave the case number (“No.”) blank if you are opening in a new county; the clerk assigns it.
Example entry: Superior Court of Washington, County of King; Petitioner: Maria Lopez; Respondent: David Lopez.
Nuance: If you file under the same case number as your current order, the original Petitioner stays the Petitioner even if that person is not the one asking for the change now. If you file in a different county, the person asking for the change may become the Petitioner.
Common mistake and consequence: Swapping the Petitioner and Respondent roles when refiling under the same case number causes the clerk to misroute service, which delays your hearing.
Misconception: Many filers think the person who starts the modification is always the Petitioner; that is only true in a new case or county.
Section 1: Who Is Asking to Change the Order?
What it asks in plain English: This box identifies you, the person requesting the change, and your relationship to the children.
How to answer it: Write your full legal name, the county and state where you live, and check either Parent or Non-Parent Custodian.
Example entry: Maria Lopez, lives in King County, Washington, Parent.
Nuance: A grandparent or relative who holds a non-parent custody order checks the Non-Parent Custodian box, not Parent.
Common mistake and consequence: Listing a nickname instead of your legal name creates a mismatch with the current order, which can stall service and force you to amend the petition.
Misconception: Some filers believe a stepparent automatically counts as a parent here; only a legal parent or a court-named custodian checks these boxes.
Section 2: Other Parents or Custodians Involved
What it asks in plain English: This box lists the other parent or custodian on the existing order.
How to answer it: Write each other party’s full name, county and state, and check Parent or Non-Parent Custodian.
Example entry: David Lopez, lives in Pierce County, Washington, Parent.
Nuance: If two other custodians exist, the form gives two rows; use both and add a page if you run out of space.
Common mistake and consequence: Leaving out a custodian who has rights under the order means that person is not served, and the judge can void any resulting order.
Misconception: Filers often think only the parent they are fighting with goes here; every party on the current order belongs in this box.
Section 3: The Children Involved
What it asks in plain English: This box names each child and lists each child’s age.
How to answer it: Enter each child’s full legal name and current age in the numbered rows.
Example entry: 1. Sofia Lopez, age 9; 2. Mateo Lopez, age 6.
Nuance: Use the child’s age, not birthdate, in these boxes; the form asks for age. Add a page if you have more than six children.
Common mistake and consequence: Listing a child who is already 18 wastes the court’s time, because the court no longer has authority over an adult.
Misconception: Some filers think they must include children from other relationships; only children covered by the order you are changing belong here.
Section 4: Describe the Order You Have Now
What it asks in plain English: This box describes your current order and when and where a court signed it.
How to answer it: Check the type of order — Parenting Plan, Residential Schedule, Non-Parent Custody Order, or Other — then write the date it was signed and the county and state.
Example entry: Parenting Plan, signed on 04/12/2022, in King County, Washington.
Nuance: If your order came from a different county or state, you must attach a certified copy, as the form warns in bold.
Common mistake and consequence: Forgetting to attach an out-of-county certified copy leads the clerk to reject the petition because the court cannot confirm the order exists.
Misconception: Filers assume the court already has their old order on hand; courts in other counties do not, so the attachment is required.
Section 5: Why You Are Filing Here (Venue)
What it asks in plain English: This box explains why this particular county court can hear your case.
How to answer it: Check every box that applies — you live in the county, the children live there, the other party lives there, or the order came from there.
Example entry: Check: I live in this county; the children live in this county.
Nuance: You can check more than one box, and doing so strengthens your venue claim.
Common mistake and consequence: Checking no box leaves venue unproven, and the other parent can move to dismiss or transfer the case.
Misconception: Some filers think they must file where the original order was issued; you may file where you, the children, or the other parent now live.
Section 6: Request for Minor Change
What it asks in plain English: This box asks whether you want a small adjustment to the schedule without changing where the child mainly lives, under RCW 26.09.260(5), (7), and (9).
How to answer it: Check No request if this does not apply. Otherwise check the request box and then check the reason that fits, such as a parent’s move, an involuntary work-schedule change, a change under 25 days a year, or a change between 24 and 90 overnights. Answer the limitation and evaluation sub-questions if they apply.
Example entry: Check the minor-change request; reason: the change will affect the children’s schedule on fewer than 25 full days a year.
Nuance: A minor change cannot move the child’s main home. The 24-day and 90-overnight limits in the statute control which box fits, so count carefully.
Common mistake and consequence: Asking for a minor change that actually shifts the primary home gets denied, because the law treats that as a major change instead.
Misconception: Filers think any schedule tweak is “minor”; once it crosses the day limits or moves the main home, it becomes a major change with a higher bar.
Section 7: Request for Major Change
What it asks in plain English: This box asks for a big change, like switching the parent the child lives with most of the time, under RCW 26.09.260(1) and (2).
How to answer it: Check No request or check the major-change box, then check the reason: both parties agree, the child already lives with you with the other parent’s permission, the child’s current home harms their health, or the other parent has been held in contempt twice in three years or convicted of custodial interference. Explain in the space provided.
Example entry: Check the major-change request; reason: the children’s current living situation is harmful to their physical, mental or emotional health.
Nuance: The harm reason is the hardest to prove and requires the judge to find that the harm outweighs the disruption of a move, so attach a strong declaration with facts.
Common mistake and consequence: Writing vague feelings instead of concrete facts (“he is a bad influence”) fails the adequate-cause test and the judge dismisses the petition.
Misconception: Filers believe disliking the other parent’s home is enough; the law demands proof the current environment is actually detrimental to the child.
Section 8: Limitations or Adjustments to One Parent’s Time
What it asks in plain English: This box lets you ask the court to limit a parent’s time for safety, or adjust time when a parent has skipped visits for a year.
How to answer it: Check No request, or check Limit under RCW 26.09.191 if the children already live with you and need protection, or check Adjust under RCW 26.09.260(8) if the other parent has not used any time for at least one year.
Example entry: Check Adjust: the other parent has chosen not to spend parenting time with the children for at least one year.
Nuance: Military duty does not count against a parent for the one-year rule, so do not check Adjust based on a deployment.
Common mistake and consequence: Checking Limit without listing the safety reasons in your proposed plan leaves the judge unable to grant the limit, and the request fails.
Misconception: Some filers think a few missed visits trigger the Adjust box; the law requires a full year of voluntary non-exercise.
Section 9: Request for Other Changes
What it asks in plain English: This box covers non-residential changes like dispute resolution, decision-making, or transportation, under RCW 26.09.260(10).
How to answer it: Check No request, or check the box and then check which items you want changed and explain.
Example entry: Check: transportation arrangements; Explain: I now work nights and cannot drive at the current exchange time.
Nuance: These adjustments need a substantial change too, but the judge does not apply the strict subsection (2) factors used for residential moves.
Common mistake and consequence: Leaving the explanation blank gives the judge no basis to grant the change, so it gets denied.
Misconception: Filers think decision-making changes are automatic if the schedule changes; each requested change needs its own reason.
Section 10: Child Support
What it asks in plain English: This box asks whether your schedule change also affects child support, under RCW 26.09.170.
How to answer it: Check No request if support stays the same. If your change moves the primary home or greatly shifts time, check the second box and agree to file a Financial Declaration and proposed Child Support Worksheets.
Example entry: Check: My request to change the parenting schedule affects child support because I am asking to change the parent the children live with most of the time.
Nuance: If the court does not change the parenting plan, your support request can be denied; to change support alone, use form FL Modify 501 or 521.
Common mistake and consequence: Asking to change support here without filing the worksheets stalls the support ruling, because the judge cannot calculate support without them.
Misconception: Filers assume support adjusts automatically with time changes; you must request it and file the financial forms.
Section 11: Protection Order
What it asks in plain English: This box asks if you want an Order for Protection as part of the final orders.
How to answer it: Check No, or check Yes and file a separate Petition for Order for Protection (form DV-1.015 for domestic violence). Note any existing protection order in the space given.
Example entry: Check No.
Nuance: If you need protection now, ask the clerk about a Temporary Order for Protection rather than waiting for the final orders.
Common mistake and consequence: Checking Yes but never filing the separate DV petition leaves you with no protection, because the petition itself does not create the order.
Misconception: Filers think checking Yes grants protection; it only signals intent, and the separate petition does the work.
Section 12: Restraining Order
What it asks in plain English: This box asks if you want a restraining order, such as a do-not-disturb, stay-away, or weapons-surrender order.
How to answer it: Check No and skip to 13, or check Yes and check each type of restraint you want.
Example entry: Check No.
Nuance: If you check a weapons-surrender restraint, the court must consider firearm restrictions, and federal law may also apply.
Common mistake and consequence: Requesting a restraining order here but not filing the matching motion for a temporary order leaves you unprotected until final orders, which can be months away.
Misconception: Filers confuse a restraining order with a protection order; they use different forms and processes.
Section 13: Children’s Homes (5-Year History)
What it asks in plain English: This box asks where each child has lived for the past 5 years, which proves jurisdiction under the UCCJEA.
How to answer it: Check No if no child lived on a reservation, out of state, abroad, or with a non-party. Otherwise check Yes and fill the table with dates, children, who they lived with, and the place.
Example entry: Check No.
Nuance: Temporary absences, like a summer visit, still count as Washington residence, so do not over-report.
Common mistake and consequence: Hiding an out-of-state stretch can void jurisdiction later if the other parent raises it, undoing your whole case.
Misconception: Filers think this only matters for interstate cases; the court uses it in every case to confirm authority.
Section 14: Others With a Right to Time
What it asks in plain English: This box asks if anyone besides the parties claims a legal right to spend time with a child.
How to answer it: Check No, or check Yes and list the person and which children.
Example entry: Check No.
Nuance: A grandparent with a court-ordered visitation right belongs here even if they are not a party.
Common mistake and consequence: Leaving out a person with visitation rights means they are not notified, and their rights can disrupt your new order later.
Misconception: Filers think only legal parents have rights; some relatives hold court-ordered time too.
Section 15: Other Court Cases Involving a Child
What it asks in plain English: This box asks about any other case touching the children, such as criminal, protection order, or dependency cases.
How to answer it: Check Yes and fill the table with the case type, county and state, case number and year, and children, or check No.
Example entry: Yes: Protection Order, King County, WA, case 23-2-01234-1, all children.
Nuance: Include closed cases if they still affect the children, since the judge wants the full picture.
Common mistake and consequence: Omitting a related dependency case can produce conflicting orders, which forces the court to start over.
Misconception: Filers think only family cases count; criminal and protection cases involving the children belong here too.
Section 16: Jurisdiction Over Children
What it asks in plain English: This box explains why a Washington court has authority over the children under RCW 26.27.
How to answer it: Check the box that fits — a Washington order with continuing jurisdiction, another state’s order with home-state jurisdiction here, or temporary emergency jurisdiction. List children’s names where asked.
Example entry: Check: Washington order/exclusive, continuing jurisdiction — the order was made by a Washington court that still has authority over the children.
Nuance: If your order is from Washington and a parent still lives here, the first box almost always applies; out-of-state orders need the harder home-state analysis.
Common mistake and consequence: Checking the wrong jurisdiction box can let the other parent move the case to another state, costing you time and money.
Misconception: Filers think living in Washington alone gives jurisdiction; the law also looks at where the order came from and where the child has lived.
Section 17: Summary of Requests
What it asks in plain English: This box pulls together everything you want the judge to approve and asks the court to find adequate cause.
How to answer it: Check each order you want, such as your proposed Parenting Plan, a Child Support Order, termination of non-parent custody, or a protection/restraining order.
Example entry: Check: my proposed Parenting Plan; my proposed Child Support Order.
Nuance: Whatever you check here must match the requests you made earlier in Sections 6 through 12, or the judge sees a conflict.
Common mistake and consequence: Checking a request you never explained earlier confuses the court and can get that piece denied.
Misconception: Filers think this box adds new requests; it only summarizes the ones already made above.
Signature and Declaration
What it asks in plain English: This block is your sworn statement that everything in the form is true, signed under penalty of perjury.
How to answer it: Write the city and state where you sign, the date, sign, and print your name. Note how many extra pages you attached.
Example entry: Signed at Seattle, Washington; Date: 05/29/2026; signature; Maria Lopez.
Nuance: If a lawyer represents you, the lawyer signs the second block with a WSBA number; pro se filers leave that blank.
Common mistake and consequence: Filing without signing makes the petition invalid, and the clerk rejects it on the spot.
Misconception: Filers think the declaration is a formality; signing falsely is perjury, a crime, so every fact must be true.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three named filers show how the form changes with each goal. Each table covers the most important sections.
Scenario 1: Maria Asks for a Minor Schedule Change
Maria’s ex moved across town, making the old midweek exchange impossible. She wants a small adjustment without changing the children’s main home.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | County of King; Petitioner: Maria Lopez; Respondent: David Lopez |
| Section 1 | Maria Lopez, King County, WA, Parent |
| Section 2 | David Lopez, Pierce County, WA, Parent |
| Section 3 | Sofia Lopez, age 9; Mateo Lopez, age 6 |
| Section 4 | Parenting Plan, signed 04/12/2022, King County, WA |
| Section 5 | Checks: I live here; children live here |
| Section 6 | Checks minor change; reason: the other parent moved |
| Section 10 | No request |
| Section 17 | Checks: my proposed Parenting Plan |
| Signature | Signed at Seattle, WA, 05/29/2026, Maria Lopez |
Scenario 2: Marcus Asks for a Major Change
Marcus learned his children’s home with their mother has become unsafe. He wants the children to live with him most of the time.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | County of Spokane; Petitioner: Marcus Reed; Respondent: Tina Reed |
| Section 1 | Marcus Reed, Spokane County, WA, Parent |
| Section 2 | Tina Reed, Spokane County, WA, Parent |
| Section 3 | Jaylen Reed, age 11 |
| Section 4 | Parenting Plan, signed 09/03/2021, Spokane County, WA |
| Section 7 | Checks major change; reason: current living situation is harmful; explains facts |
| Section 10 | Checks: change affects child support |
| Section 13 | Checks No |
| Section 16 | Checks Washington continuing jurisdiction |
| Section 17 | Checks: proposed Parenting Plan and Child Support Order |
Scenario 3: Janet Asks to Adjust a No-Show Parent’s Time
Janet’s children live with her, and their father has not used any of his parenting time for over a year. She wants the plan adjusted to reflect reality.
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | County of Snohomish; Petitioner: Janet Cole; Respondent: Eric Cole |
| Section 1 | Janet Cole, Snohomish County, WA, Parent |
| Section 2 | Eric Cole, Snohomish County, WA, Parent |
| Section 3 | Lily Cole, age 7; Owen Cole, age 5 |
| Section 4 | Residential Schedule, signed 06/15/2023, Snohomish County, WA |
| Section 5 | Checks: I live here; children live here; order is from here |
| Section 8 | Checks Adjust: other parent skipped time for over a year |
| Section 13 | Checks No |
| Section 16 | Checks Washington continuing jurisdiction |
| Section 17 | Checks: my proposed Residential Schedule |
Beyond these three, picture Aisha, a grandmother with a non-parent custody order who checks Non-Parent Custodian in Section 1, and David, a father who agrees to a change his ex requested and signs the join-petition block at the end. Each named filer shows that the boxes you check depend entirely on your goal.
How to File the Completed Form
You file FL Modify 601 with the Superior Court Clerk in the county that has jurisdiction. Bring the signed petition, your proposed parenting plan, any certified copy of the current order, and your fee. Below are the channels most counties offer.
- In person: Take your forms to the County Superior Court Clerk’s counter. Bring an extra copy for the clerk to stamp as your proof of filing, and keep it. Payment is usually by cash, card, or check.
- By mail: Send the signed originals and a check for the fee to the county clerk’s mailing address, listed on each county’s court site. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can mail back your conformed copy as proof.
- Electronic filing: Many counties use the Washington Courts e-filing portals or county systems like King County’s eFiling. You pay the fee online by card, and the system emails a confirmation receipt to keep.
Filing fees rose statewide after House Bill 1207 added a $50 surcharge to most Superior Court filings effective July 27, 2025. A modification that reopens an existing case often carries a lower reopening fee, while a petition that starts a new case can run several hundred dollars, so call your clerk to confirm the exact amount before you go. If you cannot afford the fee, file a Motion to Waive Civil Fees (FL All Family 207) under RCW 36.18.022, which lets low-income filers proceed for free.
After filing, you must serve the other parent with the petition, a summons, and your proposed plan, then file proof of that service. Keep your date-stamped copies, because they prove you met deadlines if a dispute arises.
What Happens After You File
Once you file, the judge or commissioner first decides whether you have shown adequate cause under RCW 26.09.270. This is a paper review based on your petition and supporting declaration, not a full trial. If your facts do not show a real, qualifying change, the judge dismisses the case at this gate, which is why your declaration must be specific and factual.
If the judge finds adequate cause, the court sets a hearing or trial where both sides present evidence. The other parent has a chance to file a Response and tell their side, so expect the process to take several months. During this time the existing order stays in force unless you get a temporary order.
The judge then rules on whether to change the order and approve your proposed plan. Be careful here: under RCW 26.09.260(13), if the court finds you filed in bad faith, it must order you to pay the other parent’s attorney fees and court costs. So file only when you have genuine, provable reasons.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Using an outdated form version. The clerk rejects old versions, so download the current FL Modify 601 from the state site.
- Skipping the proposed Parenting Plan attachment. Without it the judge has nothing to approve, and your petition stalls.
- Writing vague reasons in Sections 6 or 7. Vague reasons fail the adequate-cause test and lead to dismissal.
- Confusing minor and major change. Checking minor change when you actually want to move the child’s main home gets the request denied.
- Leaving venue boxes blank in Section 5. Unproven venue invites a motion to dismiss or transfer.
- Forgetting to attach an out-of-county certified order in Section 4. The clerk cannot verify the order and rejects the filing.
- Mismatching party names with the current order. A name mismatch disrupts service and forces an amendment.
- Ignoring the 5-year history in Section 13. Missing residence facts can void jurisdiction later.
- Checking a request in Section 17 you never explained above. The conflict confuses the court and gets that piece denied.
- Filing without signing the declaration. An unsigned petition is invalid and bounces at the counter.
- Filing in bad faith. A bad-faith filing can cost you the other parent’s attorney fees under the statute.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do read the whole form before writing. Knowing later sections helps you answer earlier ones correctly.
- Do attach a strong, factual declaration. Specific facts win the adequate-cause review.
- Do file your proposed plan with the petition. The judge needs it to grant your request.
- Do keep date-stamped copies. They prove you filed and served on time.
- Do confirm the fee with your clerk. Fees changed in 2025 and vary by case type.
- Do use a court facilitator if unsure. A quick review catches blank boxes before filing.
Don’t:
- Don’t paraphrase the box labels. Use the exact section requests so the judge follows your intent.
- Don’t hide a related case in Section 15. Omissions cause conflicting orders.
- Don’t request changes you cannot prove. Weak requests get dismissed and may look like bad faith.
- Don’t skip service on every party. Unserved parties can void your order.
- Don’t file an outdated form. Old versions get rejected.
- Don’t sign facts you are unsure of. The declaration is under penalty of perjury.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
| Filing Pro Se (On Your Own) | Filing With a Lawyer or Facilitator |
|---|---|
| Pro: Saves money since you avoid attorney fees | Pro: A lawyer frames adequate cause persuasively, improving your odds |
| Pro: You control the pace and filing schedule | Pro: Professionals catch missing forms before rejection |
| Pro: Free self-help guides exist on WashingtonLawHelp | Pro: A lawyer handles service and hearing rules for you |
| Con: Easy to miss the adequate-cause standard and get dismissed | Con: Attorney fees can run into thousands of dollars |
| Con: No one checks your forms for fatal errors | Con: You give up some day-to-day control of strategy |
| Con: Court rules and deadlines are easy to miss | Con: Scheduling around a lawyer can slow simple changes |
FAQs
Do I have to prove a substantial change in circumstances?
Yes. Except for a few narrow situations, RCW 26.09.260 requires a substantial change since the last order that makes the modification serve the child’s best interest.
Is there a deadline to file FL Modify 601?
No. There is no fixed deadline, but you should file once a qualifying change occurs, because delay can weaken the link between the change and your request.
Do I file in the county that issued my original order?
No. You may file where you, the children, or the other parent now live; you check the matching box in Section 5 to set venue.
Do I write my legal name or a nickname in Section 1?
Yes. Write your full legal name exactly as it appears on the current order, because a mismatch disrupts service and may force an amendment.
Do I list the child’s age or birthdate in Section 3?
Yes. Section 3 asks for each child’s age, so enter the age, not the birthdate, in those boxes.
Do I check both minor and major change if I am not sure?
No. Check only the one that fits; a move of the child’s main home is a major change, while small schedule tweaks under the day limits are minor.
Do I need to attach my proposed parenting plan?
Yes. You must file your proposed Parenting Plan or Residential Schedule with the petition, or the judge has nothing to approve.
Do I have to attach my current order in Section 4?
Yes. You must attach a certified copy if the order came from a different county or state, since that court cannot confirm it otherwise.
Do I pay a filing fee for a modification?
Yes. Most filings carry a fee, increased by a $50 surcharge in 2025, though reopening an existing case often costs less than starting a new one.
Do I qualify for a fee waiver if I cannot pay?
Yes. Low-income filers can file a fee waiver motion under RCW 36.18.022 and proceed without paying.
Do I check Adjust in Section 8 if the other parent missed a few visits?
No. The Adjust option applies only when the other parent has voluntarily skipped all parenting time for one year or longer.
Do I risk paying the other parent’s fees?
Yes. Under RCW 26.09.260(13), if the court finds you filed in bad faith, it must order you to pay the other side’s attorney fees and costs.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Washington Form FL All Family 001 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington Form FL All Family 132 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington Form FL Parentage 301 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington FL Modify 504 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington FL Modify 521 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington FL Modify 631 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form FL-120 (w/Examples) + FAQs