Petition Parenting Plan Paralegal Services Seattle Washington

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Family Law Paralegal Services » Establish Parentage (Unmarried Parents) » Parenting Plans

A petition for a parenting plan in an unmarried parent case is generally used when parentage is already legally established and the request is to set a parenting plan and parenting time—not to change custody from one parent to the other. If the goal is to change the child’s primary residence or custody, a different process applies.

Unmarried parent cases can be confusing because the correct path depends on what orders already exist and what you are asking the court to enter. The key questions are: (1) has parentage been legally established, (2) is there already a parenting plan or residential schedule, and (3) are you requesting parenting time only, or a change in custody.

Common Paths to a Parenting Plan for Unmarried Parents

If parentage has not been legally established (for example, no signed acknowledgment of paternity and no court order), the parentage case is usually filed first, and a parenting plan may be requested within that case. See: Establish Parentage Document Preparation.

If parentage is already established and there is no existing parenting plan or residential schedule, a petition for a parenting plan may be the appropriate starting point to request a clear schedule and enforceable rights.

In other situations—such as when an order exists but does not include a full parenting plan, or when a party is seeking changes that go beyond parenting time—different forms and standards may apply. The correct approach depends on the specific order(s) already in place and the relief being requested.