Washington — RCW 26.09.004

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1)"Military duties potentially impacting parenting functions" means those obligations imposed, voluntarily or involuntarily, on a parent serving in the armed forces that may interfere with that parent's abilities to perform his or her parenting functions under a temporary or permanent parenting plan. Military duties potentially impacting parenting functions include, but are not limited to:

(a)"Deployment," which means the temporary transfer of a service member serving in an active-duty status to another location in support of a military operation, to include any tour of duty classified by the member's branch of the armed forces as "remote" or "unaccompanied";

(b)"Activation" or "mobilization," which means the call-up of a national guard or reserve service member to extended active-duty status. For purposes of this definition, "mobilization" does not include national guard or reserve annual training, inactive duty days, or drill weekends; or

(c)"Temporary duty," which means the transfer of a service member from one military base or the service member's home to a different location, usually another base, for a limited period of time to accomplish training or to assist in the performance of a noncombat mission.

(2)"Parenting functions" means those aspects of the parent-child relationship in which the parent makes decisions and performs functions necessary for the care and growth of the child. Parenting functions include:

(a)Maintaining a loving, stable, consistent, and nurturing relationship with the child;

(b)Attending to the daily needs of the child, such as feeding, clothing, physical care and grooming, supervision, health care, and day care, and engaging in other activities which are appropriate to the developmental level of the child and that are within the social and economic circumstances of the particular family;

(c)Attending to adequate education for the child, including remedial or other education essential to the best interests of the child;

(d)Assisting the child in developing and maintaining appropriate interpersonal relationships;

(e)Exercising appropriate judgment regarding the child's welfare, consistent with the child's developmental level and the family's social and economic circumstances; and

(f)Providing for the financial support of the child.

(3)"Permanent parenting plan" means a plan for parenting the child, including allocation of parenting functions, which plan is incorporated in any final decree or decree of modification in an action for dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership, declaration of invalidity, or legal separation.

(4)"Temporary parenting plan" means a plan for parenting of the child pending final resolution of any action for dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership, declaration of invalidity, or legal separation which is incorporated in a temporary order.

[ 2009 c 502 s 1 ; 2008 c 6 s 1003 ; 1987 c 460 s 3 .]

Notes:

Reviser's note: The definitions in this section have been alphabetized pursuant to RCW 1.08.015 (2)(k).

Part headings not law — Severability — 2008 c 6: See RCW 26.60.900 and 26.60.901 .

RCW 26.09.004

Definitions. (Effective April 1, 2027.)

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1)"Department" means the department of social and health services.

(2)"Incapacitation" or "incapacitated" means the inability to pay child support due to participation in court-ordered treatment for a behavioral health disorder issued under chapter 71.05 RCW.

(3)"Military duties potentially impacting parenting functions" means those obligations imposed, voluntarily or involuntarily, on a parent serving in the armed forces that may interfere with that parent's abilities to perform his or her parenting functions under a temporary or permanent parenting plan. Military duties potentially impacting parenting functions include, but are not limited to:

(a)"Deployment," which means the temporary transfer of a service member serving in an active-duty status to another location in support of a military operation, to include any tour of duty classified by the member's branch of the armed forces as "remote" or "unaccompanied";

(b)"Activation" or "mobilization," which means the call-up of a national guard or reserve service member to extended active-duty status. For purposes of this definition, "mobilization" does not include national guard or reserve annual training, inactive duty days, or drill weekends; or

(c)"Temporary duty," which means the transfer of a service member from one military base or the service member's home to a different location, usually another base, for a limited period of time to accomplish training or to assist in the performance of a noncombat mission.

(4)"Parenting functions" means those aspects of the parent-child relationship in which the parent makes decisions and performs functions necessary for the care and growth of the child. Parenting functions include:

(a)Maintaining a loving, stable, consistent, and nurturing relationship with the child;

(b)Attending to the daily needs of the child, such as feeding, clothing, physical care and grooming, supervision, health care, and day care, and engaging in other activities which are appropriate to the developmental level of the child and that are within the social and economic circumstances of the particular family;

(c)Attending to adequate education for the child, including remedial or other education essential to the best interests of the child;

(d)Assisting the child in developing and maintaining appropriate interpersonal relationships;

(e)Exercising appropriate judgment regarding the child's welfare, consistent with the child's developmental level and the family's social and economic circumstances; and

(f)Providing for the financial support of the child.

(5)"Permanent parenting plan" means a plan for parenting the child, including allocation of parenting functions, which plan is incorporated in any final decree or decree of modification in an action for dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership, declaration of invalidity, or legal separation.

(6)"Temporary parenting plan" means a plan for parenting of the child pending final resolution of any action for dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership, declaration of invalidity, or legal separation which is incorporated in a temporary order.

[ 2025 c 272 s 4 . Prior: 2009 c 502 s 1 ; 2008 c 6 s 1003 ; 1987 c 460 s 3 .]

Notes:

Effective date — 2025 c 272 ss 4-12: See note following RCW 26.09.345 .

Rule-making authority — 2025 c 272: See note following RCW 26.09.345 .

Part headings not law — Severability — 2008 c 6: See RCW 26.60.900 and 26.60.901 .