Washington Form FL Parentage 301 is the Petition to Decide Parentage, the official Superior Court pleading a person files to ask a Washington judge to legally establish, confirm, or disestablish a parent-child relationship under Chapter 26.26A RCW. Mothers, presumed parents, alleged genetic fathers, intended parents in surrogacy, children, and the Division of Child Support all use this single form to open a parentage case.
Getting this petition wrong does not just delay your case — it can let the wrong person stay on a birth certificate, lock in child support owed to the wrong parent, or trigger an outright dismissal under the strict standing rules in RCW 26.26A.400. According to the Washington State Center for Court Research, Superior Courts process more than 14,000 parentage filings statewide each year, and clerks routinely reject petitions for missing signatures, wrong county venue, or skipped Section 6 allegations.
- 📝 How to fill out every box on the current 07/2025 revision of FL Parentage 301
- ⚖️ Which statute under RCW 26.26A controls each section and what happens if you ignore it
- 👨👩👧 Three real-world filled examples covering unmarried parents, surrogacy, and disputed parentage
- 💵 Current filing fees, fee waiver options under GR 34, and the full list of companion forms
- ❌ The 10 most common mistakes pro se filers make and how each one delays or kills the case
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
FL Parentage 301 is the opening pleading in any Washington Superior Court case brought to decide who a child’s legal parents are. The form invokes the court’s authority under the Washington Uniform Parentage Act, which the Legislature adopted in 2019 to replace the old chapter 26.26 RCW. Filing this petition starts the clock on service, response deadlines, and any temporary orders you need while the case is pending.
The petition can be filed by a child’s mother, a man who believes he is or is not the genetic father, a presumed parent, an intended parent in a surrogacy arrangement, the child’s representative, or the Division of Child Support when public assistance is involved. Standing rules in RCW 26.26A.435 limit who can challenge an existing presumed parent and impose tight time bars — usually four years after the child’s birth — so filing late can permanently bar the case. The court that hears the case is the Superior Court of the county where the child lives, and venue is governed by RCW 26.26A.450.
You must file FL Parentage 301 if you want a court order naming or removing a legal parent, if you need a child support order in a non-marital case, or if you are challenging a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage more than 60 days after it was signed. The 07/2025 revision date is printed in the bottom-right corner of the official PDF, and using an older revision is a common reason clerks reject filings at intake.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Open the form only after you have gathered every supporting fact and document below. Missing information forces you to leave boxes blank, which weakens your petition and can trigger a clerk rejection or a dismissal motion from the other side.
- The child’s full legal name, date of birth, and birth certificate, because Section 1 demands an exact match with Washington vital records.
- Government photo ID for the petitioner, since the Confidential Information Form FL All Family 001 cross-checks identity.
- Each parent’s residential address for the past five years, because RCW 26.27.281 requires UCCJEA jurisdictional allegations.
- The name and last known address of every presumed, alleged, or acknowledged parent, because failing to name one voids the final judgment as to that person.
- A copy of any Acknowledgment of Parentage or denial filed with the State Registrar, since these create a presumption you must address head-on.
- Marriage and divorce records for the mother covering 300 days before the child’s birth, because RCW 26.26A.115 creates a marital presumption you must rebut.
- Genetic test results, if any, even though the court may order new testing under RCW 26.26A.310.
- Proof of public assistance history, because RCW 74.20.040 requires DCS notice when the child has ever received TANF or Medicaid.
- Surrogacy contracts and pre-birth orders, if applicable, since RCW 26.26A.700–785 requires specific allegations.
- The Superior Court filing fee of roughly $260 in cash, money order, or e-filing payment, or a completed GR 34 fee waiver motion.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The current 07/2025 revision lives on the Washington Courts forms page, which posts the master statewide pattern form in fillable PDF and Word formats. Always download directly from this page, because mirror copies on private sites often lag a revision behind and may be rejected by the clerk.
You can also obtain a printed copy at the Superior Court clerk’s office in your county, though many counties charge a per-page fee — for example, the Cowlitz County Clerk sells parentage packets at 25 cents per page. Free fillable versions are also available through Washington Law Help, which adds plain-language guides written by Northwest Justice Project attorneys. If you are a Tribal member or live on reservation land, check with your Tribal court first, because some tribes accept the state form and others use their own pleadings.
For King County filers, the form is filed through the King County eFiling portal, and Pierce County filers use the LINX system. Snohomish, Spokane, Clark, and most other counties use the statewide Odyssey eFile WA portal. Always confirm the local rules with your county clerk before uploading, because some counties require an additional cover sheet or a county-specific case schedule.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out FL Parentage 301 Line by Line
The form is divided into a caption, then numbered sections covering the child, the parents, the legal basis, the relief requested, and the signature block. Number each section in the order printed on the official PDF, and never paraphrase the printed field labels.
Caption: Court, County, and Case Number
The caption sits at the very top of page 1 and identifies the Superior Court that will hear your case. You write the county name, leave the case number blank for the clerk to assign, and list the petitioner and respondent in the boxes provided.
To answer it, type the county where the child lives in the Superior Court of Washington, County of ___ line, then list yourself as Petitioner and the other parent as Respondent. Use full legal names exactly as they appear on government ID, and never use nicknames or initials.
For example, Maria Lopez writes King on the county line, Maria Elena Lopez on the petitioner line, and David Andrew Chen on the respondent line. If the child has more than one possible father, list each one as a separate respondent on a continuation page.
A common nuance is the venue rule under RCW 26.26A.450: you must file in the county where the child lives, not where you live, unless the child has no Washington home. Filing in the wrong county forces a transfer motion and pushes your hearing back by months.
The most common mistake here is leaving the case number blank but adding the county clerk’s stamp number from a prior case — this triggers an automatic intake rejection. The misconception filers carry is that any Washington Superior Court will hear the case; in reality, GR 7 requires you to file where venue is proper.
Section 1: The Children
Section 1 lists each child whose parentage is at issue. You enter the child’s full legal name, age, date of birth, county and state of birth, and current residential county.
To answer it, type each child’s name in FIRST MIDDLE LAST format, the date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format, and the place of birth as it appears on the Washington birth certificate. If multiple children share the same parents, list them in the same Section 1; if they may have different parents, file a separate FL Parentage 301 for each child.
A specific example: Aisha Johnson enters her son as Jamal Robert Johnson, 07/14/2022, King County, Washington, currently residing in King County. She lists only Jamal because her older daughter has a different father.
A nuance is the not yet born option — if the petitioner is pregnant, she checks the box for unborn child and provides the estimated due date, which preserves standing under RCW 26.26A.400. The common mistake is entering the hospital city instead of the county of birth, which causes UCCJEA jurisdictional allegations in Section 6 to fail. The misconception is that you can list a child by initials to protect privacy; the public petition requires full names, and confidentiality is handled through the separate FL All Family 001.
Section 2: People Who May Be Parents
Section 2 is the most contested part of the form. You list every person who is, may be, or claims to be a parent of the child, and you label each one as mother, presumed parent, acknowledged parent, adjudicated parent, alleged genetic parent, or intended parent.
To answer it, check the correct box next to each named person and supply their full legal name and last known address. Read the definitions in RCW 26.26A.010 carefully before checking a box, because the labels carry legal consequences that determine the burden of proof.
For example, Marcus Williams lists himself as the alleged genetic parent, lists Sarah Brooks as the mother, and lists James Thompson as the presumed parent because James was married to Sarah when the child was born.
The nuance: a person can hold more than one status at once — an intended parent in surrogacy may also be a presumed parent under RCW 26.26A.115, and you check both boxes. The common mistake is omitting a presumed parent because the petitioner does not want to deal with him; under RCW 26.26A.435, the final order will be void as to any presumed parent who was not named and served. The misconception is that alleged genetic parent and biological father mean the same thing — they do not, and using the wrong term shifts the evidentiary burden.
Section 3: Notice to Other Parties
Section 3 confirms whether you have given notice to all required agencies and parties. The most important box is the Division of Child Support notice, required whenever the child has received or applied for public assistance.
To answer it, check yes or no for DCS notice, military notice under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, and any tribal notice required under the Indian Child Welfare Act. Attach the FL All Family 103 Notice Re Military Dependent if either parent is on active duty.
For example, Janet Reyes checks yes for DCS notice because her daughter has been on Apple Health since birth, and she mails a copy of the petition to the DCS office at 949 Court E, Tacoma, WA 98402.
A nuance is that DCS notice is required even if the public assistance was years ago and even if it has been repaid. The common mistake is checking no because the petitioner is not currently on benefits — DCS still has a statutory lien under RCW 74.20A.030 and can intervene later. The misconception is that DCS notice is just a courtesy; in fact, failure to give notice can result in the support order being unenforceable against the state’s claim.
Section 4: Indian Child Welfare Act
Section 4 asks whether the child is or may be an Indian child under the federal ICWA and Washington’s WICWA. You answer based on the child’s tribal heritage or eligibility for membership in any federally recognized tribe.
To answer it, check yes, no, or unknown, and list any tribe the child or parents may be affiliated with. Even if you check unknown, the court must inquire further and may require notice to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
A specific example is Robert Begay, who lists Navajo Nation as the possible tribal affiliation because his maternal grandmother was an enrolled member, even though Robert himself is not enrolled.
The nuance is that “may be” sets a low threshold — any reason to believe Indian heritage exists triggers ICWA inquiry duties under 25 U.S.C. § 1912. The common mistake is checking no without asking the family, which can void the final order years later when ICWA is raised on appeal. The misconception is that ICWA only applies to dependency cases; it applies to any case that could result in termination or transfer of parental rights.
Section 5: Other Court Cases
Section 5 lists every other court case involving the child or the parents — including custody, dependency, restraining orders, criminal no-contact orders, and prior parentage actions. The court uses this to coordinate jurisdiction under the UCCJEA.
To answer it, list the case number, court, type of case, and current status of each prior case. Pull case numbers from Washington Courts case search before filing, because misremembered numbers force the court to delay your hearing while it verifies records.
For example, Carlos Mendoza lists King County Superior Court 22-3-12345-1, Domestic Violence Protection Order, Active, because Sarah holds a current DVPO against him.
The nuance is that you must disclose sealed and confidential cases too — you list the case number and case type but can request that details remain confidential under GR 22. The common mistake is omitting a closed case from years ago, which the other side later uses to argue you concealed material facts. The misconception is that out-of-state cases do not need to be listed; the UCCJEA requires every state-court case anywhere in the country to be disclosed.
Section 6: Jurisdiction Allegations
Section 6 establishes that the Washington court has personal and subject-matter jurisdiction. You allege the child’s home state under the UCCJEA and personal jurisdiction over each respondent.
To answer it, check the boxes that apply: the child has lived in Washington for at least six months, Washington is the child’s home state, the child was conceived in Washington, or the respondent has minimum contacts with Washington under RCW 4.28.185. Add a written explanation if no preset box fits your facts.
A specific example: Linda Park checks Washington has been the child’s home state for the past six months because her daughter was born in Bellevue and has lived there since birth.
The nuance is that home state requires six consecutive months of residence immediately before filing, not at any earlier point. The common mistake is alleging the petitioner lives in Washington — petitioner residence does not establish jurisdiction over the child. The misconception is that Washington courts can decide parentage of any child whose parents pass through the state; jurisdiction requires the statutory bases listed in RCW 26.27.201.
Section 7: Parentage Allegations
Section 7 is the heart of the petition. You state the legal theory under which each parent should be adjudicated, denied, or removed — for example, I am the genetic parent, I should be adjudicated the only legal parent, or the presumed parent’s status should be disestablished.
To answer it, check the box that matches your theory and write a short factual statement supporting it. Reference the controlling statute by section — for example, RCW 26.26A.115 for marital presumption or RCW 26.26A.700 for surrogacy.
For example, Michael Brown writes I am the genetic parent of Emma Brown. I lived with the mother during conception, I have held Emma out as my child since birth, and genetic testing confirms a 99.99% probability of paternity.
The nuance is that you can plead in the alternative — claim presumed parent status and genetic parent status — and the court will rule on each theory. The common mistake is over-pleading by claiming every basis without facts, which invites a CR 12 motion to dismiss. The misconception is that genetic testing alone wins the case; under RCW 26.26A.435, a court can deny a genetic father’s petition if disestablishing the presumed parent is not in the child’s best interest.
Section 8: Requested Relief
Section 8 lists every order you want the court to enter — adjudication of parentage, residential schedule, child support, name change, restraining orders, and recovery of birth costs. You check each box that applies and write specifics.
To answer it, check every type of relief you need now and in the future, because relief not requested is generally not granted. Attach a Proposed Parenting Plan FL All Family 140 and Child Support Worksheets if you ask for residential or support orders.
For example, Tasha Green checks adjudicate parentage, enter parenting plan, enter child support order, change child’s last name to Green-Williams, and order father to pay birth costs of $4,200.
The nuance is that the court can recover up to two years of birth-related medical costs under RCW 26.26A.465, but only if you request it in the petition. The common mistake is forgetting to check the name-change box, which forces a separate name-change petition costing another fee. The misconception is that you can amend the petition later for free; amendments require court permission under CR 15 and often a new filing fee.
Section 9: Signature and Verification
Section 9 is the verification block where the petitioner signs under penalty of perjury. Washington uses GR 13 declaration language rather than a notary, so no notarization is required for the petitioner’s own signature.
To answer it, sign your full legal name, print your name underneath, write the city and state where you signed, and enter the date in MM/DD/YYYY format. The signature block ends with the magic words I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington that the foregoing is true and correct.
For example, Maria Lopez signs Maria Elena Lopez, prints Maria Elena Lopez, writes Seattle, WA, and dates it 03/14/2026.
The nuance is that an attorney signing on the client’s behalf must add their WSBA bar number and contact information. The common mistake is signing in blue or black ink but forgetting to print the name below the signature line, which clerks treat as an unsigned petition. The misconception is that electronic signatures are not allowed — the Washington E-Signature Act and GR 30 authorize e-signatures for e-filed documents.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Scenario 1: Maria, Unmarried Mother Establishing Father’s Parentage
Maria Lopez is a 27-year-old single mother in Seattle. She is filing FL Parentage 301 to legally establish David Chen as the father of their daughter, secure child support, and obtain a parenting plan after David moved out.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | Superior Court of Washington, County of King; Petitioner: Maria Elena Lopez; Respondent: David Andrew Chen |
| Section 1: Children | Sofia Lopez-Chen, age 2, DOB 04/12/2024, born in King County, WA, lives in King County |
| Section 2: Parents | Mother: Maria Elena Lopez; Alleged genetic parent: David Andrew Chen |
| Section 3: Notice | Yes to DCS notice (Sofia received Apple Health) |
| Section 4: ICWA | No, no Indian heritage known |
| Section 5: Other Cases | None |
| Section 6: Jurisdiction | Washington is the home state — Sofia has lived in King County since birth |
| Section 7: Allegations | David is Sofia’s genetic parent under RCW 26.26A.115; he lived with us during conception |
| Section 8: Relief Requested | Adjudicate parentage; parenting plan; child support; recover $3,800 in birth costs |
| Section 9: Signature | Maria Elena Lopez, Seattle, WA, 03/14/2026 |
Scenario 2: James and Robert, Intended Parents in a Gestational Surrogacy
James and Robert are a married couple in Spokane who entered a gestational surrogacy agreement with a surrogate, Hannah Reed. They file FL Parentage 301 jointly to obtain a pre-birth order naming both as the only legal parents.
| Form Section | What James and Robert Enter |
|---|---|
| Caption | Spokane County Superior Court; Petitioners: James Mark Davis and Robert Lee Davis; Respondent: Hannah Joy Reed |
| Section 1: Children | Unborn child, estimated DOB 09/15/2026, will be born in Spokane County |
| Section 2: Parents | Intended parents: James and Robert Davis; Surrogate: Hannah Joy Reed |
| Section 3: Notice | No DCS notice; surrogacy agreement attached |
| Section 4: ICWA | No |
| Section 5: Other Cases | None |
| Section 6: Jurisdiction | Conception and birth in Washington; all parties Washington residents |
| Section 7: Allegations | Validated gestational surrogacy agreement under RCW 26.26A.715; intended parents are sole legal parents |
| Section 8: Relief Requested | Pre-birth order naming intended parents; direct hospital and vital records to issue birth certificate accordingly |
| Section 9: Signature | James Mark Davis and Robert Lee Davis, Spokane, WA, 04/02/2026 |
Scenario 3: Marcus, Alleged Genetic Father Disputing a Presumed Parent
Marcus Williams believes he is the genetic father of a child born to Sarah Brooks while Sarah was married to James Thompson. He files FL Parentage 301 within the four-year window required by RCW 26.26A.435 to challenge James’s presumed-parent status.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | Pierce County Superior Court; Petitioner: Marcus Anthony Williams; Respondents: Sarah Anne Brooks and James Edward Thompson |
| Section 1: Children | Liam Brooks-Thompson, age 3, DOB 02/08/2023, born Pierce County, lives Pierce County |
| Section 2: Parents | Mother: Sarah Brooks; Presumed parent: James Thompson; Alleged genetic parent: Marcus Williams |
| Section 3: Notice | Yes DCS notice; No military notice |
| Section 4: ICWA | Unknown — investigating maternal grandmother’s possible Yakama Nation ancestry |
| Section 5: Other Cases | Pierce County 23-2-04567-1 DVPO between Sarah and James, expired |
| Section 6: Jurisdiction | Liam has lived in Washington since birth |
| Section 7: Allegations | I lived with Sarah at conception; held Liam out as my child; private DNA test shows 99.99% probability |
| Section 8: Relief Requested | Court-ordered genetic testing; disestablish James; adjudicate Marcus; parenting plan; child support |
| Section 9: Signature | Marcus Anthony Williams, Tacoma, WA, 03/30/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
Washington allows three filing channels, and the right one depends on your county. Most counties require e-filing for represented parties and accept paper from pro se filers; check your local rule before printing.
For e-filing statewide, use Odyssey eFile WA, which charges the standard county filing fee — currently $260 in Pierce County and similar amounts elsewhere — payable by credit card or e-check, with processing time of one to three business days, and your file-stamped copy returned via the portal. King County filers use the King County eFiling system at the same fee level, and Pierce County filers use LINX. Save the e-filing confirmation email and the file-stamped PDF as your proof of filing.
For paper filing in person, take the original plus two copies to the Superior Court clerk in the county where the child lives — for example, King County Superior Court Clerk at 516 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104. Pay the $260 fee in cash, money order, or cashier’s check; the clerk stamps the original Filed and returns your conformed copies the same day. For mail filing, send the original, two copies, and a check made payable to the county clerk along with a stamped self-addressed envelope; processing time runs five to ten business days, and you should keep the certified mail receipt as proof of filing. If you cannot afford the fee, file the Motion and Declaration for Waiver of Civil Fees and Surcharges under GR 34 before you file the petition.
What Happens After You File
Once the clerk stamps your petition, you have 90 days to personally serve every named respondent with the file-stamped petition and the Summons FL Parentage 300 under CR 4. Service must be done by a third party over 18 who is not a party to the case, and the server then signs a Proof of Personal Service FL All Family 101 that you file with the court.
Each respondent has 20 days to file a Response FL Parentage 302 if served in Washington, or 60 days if served outside the state. If no response is filed, you can move for a default order; if a response is filed, the court typically schedules a case schedule order, mandatory parenting seminar, and genetic testing if requested. Expect a final hearing four to nine months after filing in uncontested cases and twelve to eighteen months in contested cases.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Filing in the wrong county — venue must be where the child lives under RCW 26.26A.450, and a wrong-county filing forces a transfer that delays your case by months.
- Omitting a presumed parent from Section 2, which makes the final judgment void as to that person and forces you to relitigate later.
- Using an outdated form revision instead of the current 07/2025 version, which causes the clerk to reject the petition at intake.
- Missing the DCS notice in Section 3 when the child has ever received public assistance, which can make any support order unenforceable against state arrears.
- Skipping the ICWA inquiry in Section 4, which exposes the final order to reversal on appeal under 25 U.S.C. § 1914.
- Failing to allege home-state jurisdiction in Section 6, which gives the court no basis to enter parenting orders under the UCCJEA.
- Pleading conclusions instead of facts in Section 7, which invites a CR 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim.
- Forgetting to check the name-change box in Section 8, which forces a separate name-change action and another filing fee.
- Signing without dating the verification block, which clerks treat as an unsigned filing and reject.
- Filing the petition without the companion forms — Summons, Confidential Information Form, and Sealed Financial Source Documents — which delays issuance of the case schedule and your first hearing.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Do download the form fresh each time from the Washington Courts forms page, because revisions happen mid-year and using an old version triggers rejection.
- Do verify the child’s birthplace from the actual birth certificate before completing Section 1, since vital-records mismatches stall service and DCS coordination.
- Do list every possible parent in Section 2, even those you would prefer not to name, to preserve finality of judgment under RCW 26.26A.435.
- Do check ICWA unknown if you are not 100% sure, because the inquiry duty under WICWA is broader than most filers realize.
- Do attach the proposed parenting plan and child support worksheets at filing, because the court needs them to set the case schedule.
- Do save the file-stamped PDF and proof-of-service in a dedicated case folder, because you will need them for every later motion.
- Don’t paraphrase field names or section headings, because the clerks and judges scan for the exact printed text.
- Don’t write in initials or nicknames, because Section 1 requires legal names that match Washington vital records.
- Don’t skip the surrogacy attachments in Section 7 if any party is a surrogate, because RCW 26.26A.715 requires a validated agreement.
- Don’t pay the filing fee twice by also filing a GR 34 fee waiver — choose one route.
- Don’t serve the respondent yourself, because CR 4 bars service by any party to the case.
- Don’t wait until the last day of the four-year challenge window, because clerk backlogs and service problems can push you past the RCW 26.26A.435 deadline.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
- Pro of pro se filing: no attorney fees, which average $3,500–$8,000 for a contested parentage case in Washington.
- Pro of pro se filing: free help from county court facilitators and from Washington Law Help plain-language guides.
- Pro of pro se filing: full control over strategy and timing without coordinating with a lawyer’s calendar.
- Pro of pro se filing: many uncontested parentage cases are simple enough to finish without legal advice.
- Pro of pro se filing: you build a complete understanding of your own case, which helps if it becomes contested.
- Con of pro se filing: you bear the full risk of missed deadlines under RCW 26.26A.435, which can permanently bar your claim.
- Con of pro se filing: you may misplead the legal theory in Section 7 and invite a CR 12 motion to dismiss.
- Con of pro se filing: you must navigate ICWA, UCCJEA, and DCS notice rules without professional guidance.
- Con of pro se filing: contested cases involving genetic testing, surrogacy, or disestablishment usually demand an attorney’s experience.
- Con of pro se filing: if the other side has counsel, you face an opponent trained to exploit pleading errors and procedural missteps.
FAQs
Is FL Parentage 301 the only form I need to start a parentage case?
No. You also file the Summons FL Parentage 300, Confidential Information Form FL All Family 001, case cover sheet, and any requested temporary-orders motions.
Do I write the child’s full legal name or initials in Section 1?
No. Initials are not allowed; Section 1 requires the child’s full legal first, middle, and last name as printed on the Washington birth certificate.
Can I file FL Parentage 301 before my baby is born?
Yes. The form has a not yet born option in Section 1, and pre-birth filings are common in surrogacy cases under RCW 26.26A.
Do I need to list a presumed parent in Section 2 if I don’t want him in the case?
Yes. RCW 26.26A.435 makes the final order void as to anyone with parent status who is not named and served.
Do I check the alleged genetic parent box or the biological father box in Section 2?
No. Biological father is not a labeled box; check alleged genetic parent until the court enters an adjudication establishing parentage.
Is a notary required for the signature in Section 9?
No. Washington uses GR 13 declaration language under penalty of perjury, so no notarization is needed for the petitioner’s own signature.
Can I file electronically in every Washington county?
Yes. The Odyssey eFile WA portal is statewide, but King and Pierce counties use their own systems and may require additional cover sheets.
Do I need to give DCS notice if my child has never been on welfare?
No. DCS notice is only required when the child has received, applied for, or is currently receiving public assistance under RCW 74.20.040.
Can I get the filing fee waived?
Yes. File a GR 34 fee waiver motion showing income at or below 125% of the federal poverty level, and the court usually grants it.
Do I check unknown in Section 4 if I’m not sure about Indian ancestry?
Yes. Checking unknown triggers ICWA inquiry duties under WICWA and protects the final order from later reversal.
Can I add child support and a parenting plan to the same petition?
Yes. Section 8 lets you request adjudication of parentage, child support, parenting plan, name change, and recovery of birth costs all in one filing.
Is there a deadline to challenge a presumed parent’s status?
Yes. RCW 26.26A.435 generally requires the challenge within four years of the child’s birth, with narrow exceptions for fraud or lack of cohabitation.
Do I serve the petition by certified mail?
No. CR 4 requires personal service by a third party over 18, not by the petitioner and not by mail in most cases.
Can both intended parents in surrogacy sign the petition together?
Yes. Joint petitioners sign together in Section 9, and the validated surrogacy agreement is attached as an exhibit to support Section 7 allegations.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Washington Form FL All Family 001 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington Form FL Parentage 332 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington FL Modify 601 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington FL Modify 631 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington Adoption Paperwork 101 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington Adoption 401 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form FL-120 (w/Examples) + FAQs