A Washington Order to Show Cause (also known as an Order to Show Cause Hearing) is a legal document typically issued by the court in Washington State. It is a directive that orders a party to appear before the court and explain why a certain action should or should not take place. This document is most commonly used in family law proceedings (e.g. child custody, divorce, modification of parenting plans, etc.) to require one or both parties to come to court and explain why specific relief should or should not be granted. The Washington Order to Show Cause is used for two main types of hearings: temporary and permanent. A temporary hearing is typically requested when an action is needed immediately, such as changing the terms of an existing parenting plan or setting a parenting schedule. A permanent hearing is used when a party is asking for permanent relief, such as changing custody or modifying parenting plans. The Order to Show Cause requires the party to appear in court and explain why the requested action should or should not take place. The court will then decide whether the requested action should be granted. This document is a powerful tool that can help protect the rights of parties involved in family law proceedings.