A parenting plan isn't a schedule. It's the blueprint for how two households raise the same children. Our job is to make sure yours works in practice, not just on paper.
Washington courts focus on the best interests of the child. That’s the standard. What it means in practice is that every parenting plan has to account for the child’s stability, each parent’s involvement, school logistics, work schedules, and the real geography of two households that are no longer one.
Residential schedules, decision-making authority, holidays, transportation, and how disputes get resolved are all baked into the plan. Get the plan right, and the next decade of your family’s life is easier. Get it wrong, and you’ll be back in court modifying it within two years.
Child support in Washington follows a guideline formula based on both parents’ incomes, the number of children, and the residential schedule. But the formula is the starting point, not the ending point. Deviations, variable or imputed income, self-employment, extraordinary expenses — all of these change the math.
We build plans that reflect the life your children actually live — not a template pulled off a court form. We ask about school schedules, extracurriculars, the commute between households, each parent’s work demands, and the child’s relationship with siblings and extended family. We build all of it into the plan.
Where co-parents can work together, we help them design something durable. Where safety or high conflict is present, we advocate firmly for protections that keep the child and the primary parent on stable ground.
“I don't want your win to be that you demolish the opposing party in court. I want your win to be that you are better off, your kids, if you have them, are better off, your next chapter is starting off in a better place.”
— Riley Moos, PartnerWe don't draft parenting plans that look fair on paper and fall apart on a Tuesday. We design schedules that account for work, school, commutes, and the child's actual week.
A plan for a three-year-old looks different than a plan for a fourteen-year-old. We draft for the life ahead, not just the life today — and we build in review points so the plan can evolve with the child.
Our job is to zealously advocate for you, but the court's job is to protect the child. We align the two by grounding our strategy in what actually serves the child's stability.
A Washington parenting plan is comprehensive on purpose. Every section matters:
Weekday, weekend, summer, holiday, and school-break schedules. The schedule has to work every week of the year, not just the easy ones.
Education, healthcare, religion, and extracurriculars — whether decisions are made jointly or by one parent, and how disagreements are resolved.
Applying Washington's schedule to both parents' incomes, handling variable or self-employed income, and calculating appropriate deviations.
What happens when co-parents disagree about a school choice, a medical decision, or a schedule change. Built into the plan so you don't end up back in court.
Who drives, where handoffs happen, and what happens when a parent runs late or misses a visit.
When domestic violence, substance abuse, or mental health concerns are present, the plan has to address them directly.
Before we tell you what we think, we hear what you're facing.
→You should understand the legal landscape before you make decisions in it.
→A real plan with real contingencies — not a template.
→Inside the courtroom, at the negotiation table, and everywhere in between.
→You'll never wonder what's happening in your case.
→The case ends. Your life continues. We plan for both.
→If the parents agree, the court typically adopts their agreement. If they can't agree, the court decides based on the child's best interests — considering stability, each parent's involvement, the child's relationship with each parent, and practical factors like work schedules and geography.
Washington uses a schedule based on both parents' incomes, the number of children, and the residential schedule. The court may deviate from the schedule when there are extraordinary expenses, shared residential time, or other factors that justify adjustment.
No, not entirely. Child support is owed to the child, not the parent, and Washington courts won't approve a plan that waives it without justification. The formula can be deviated from, but it can't be eliminated without the court's sign-off.
Parenting plans are court orders. If the other parent is violating the plan, your options include enforcement through motion or contempt proceedings. Document everything, then talk to an attorney before you take action — the wrong first move can damage your case.
Yes, but modifications require a legal standard to be met — typically a substantial change in circumstances. Minor adjustments for schedule preferences usually don't qualify. Major changes in a child's needs, a parent's situation, or safety concerns often do.
Not automatically. Washington recognizes shared residential time in the calculation, but the threshold for a residential credit and the way it applies aren't as simple as "more overnights means less support." Every case is fact-specific.
What Clients Say
Strata Family Law represents parenting plan and child support clients across Thurston County (Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, Rainier, Tenino), Pierce County (Tacoma, Puyallup, University Place, Lakewood, Gig Harbor, DuPont, Bonney Lake), and Lewis County (Chehalis, Centralia, Napavine, Morton). Whether your case is in Olympia, Tacoma, or anywhere across the greater South Sound, you get the same team, the same standard, and the same commitment.
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A consultation isn't a commitment. It's a chance to understand your situation, ask the questions that keep you up at night, and find out what your options are.
Call (360) 295-9577We'll get back to you within one business day.
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Two offices. One standard. Whether you're in Olympia or Tacoma, you get the same thoughtful counsel and the same team in your corner.
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