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A parent seeking to modify custody in Washington must file legal forms with the court, including a "Petition for Modification of Adjustment of Child Custody Decree/Parenting Plan." The petition should specify what kinds of custody changes the parent is seeking.

To requesting a change in a Parenting Plan you must initiate a legal procedure by filing a Petition to Modify. Then you must send the Petition to the other parent and set a court date. The Petition to Modify may request several actions such as: a change in the residential placement (physical custody) of a child.

The filing fee varies from $30 to $205. Usually the cost is $56 to petition in the same county as the current parenting plan and $200 if the current parenting plan is from elsewhere.

There is no set age at which a child can refuse visitation in the state of Washington. The courts will never sanction a parent if they have an independent child who simply refuses to visit the other spouse. If a parent is preventing visits, the judge can enforce the visitation order or even hold the parent in contempt.

When a parent is awarded primary physical custody of a child (custodial parent), the other (noncustodial) parent will have regular visitation rights under Washington's child custody guidelines. At a minimum, the noncustodial parent must receive one weeknight visit and every other weekend.

Washington's child custody guidelines establish a minimum visitation schedule which requires that the noncustodial parent (parent without primary physical custody) receive one weeknight visit and visits every other weekend.