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Spokane Child Custody Attorney

Parenting plan cases in Spokane are emotionally and legally complex. Hodgson Law Office's experienced Spokane family law attorneys understand what judges prioritize and skillfully argue to protect your rights and your child's best interests. Our attorneys work with Guardians ad Litem, mediators, and other professionals to ensure parenting plans meet the best-interests standard under RCW 26.09.002.
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Our Experienced and Passionate Child Custody Lawyers in Spokane

Hodgson Law Office focuses its practice in family law across Spokane and surrounding counties. Our experienced attorneys handle parenting plan cases, addressing:
  • - Your child's residential schedule, including where they live and when.
  • - Who holds decision-making authority over your child's education, health care, and welfare.
  • - How much time your child spends with each parent.
We protect your child's relationships with both parents while prioritizing their safety and well-being in all parenting arrangements.

Estimate Your Child Support Easily

Understanding child support obligations is crucial during custody battles. Use our Washington Child Support Calculator to get a quick estimate and ensure you're prepared as you navigate this process.
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Common Parenting Plan Issues We Can Help You With

Parenting plan issues do not just involve the granting of residential time in a divorce. A parenting plan case can pertain to many other situations, including:
  • - Establishing or modifying a parenting plan
  • - Residential schedule and visitation arrangements
  • - Enforcement of prior parenting plan orders
  • - Modifying an existing parenting plan
  • - Relocations and move-away orders
  • - Emergency or temporary parenting arrangements
  • - Parenting plan disputes in paternity cases
  • - Domestic violence and child abuse cases
  • - Grandparent visitation and custody
  • - Minor guardianship
  • - Termination of parental rights
In these cases, a judge must assess the child's living situation and what will best serve the child's interests under RCW 26.09.002. Whether you want a judge to resolve a dispute between you and your ex-spouse or you need to rescue your grandchildren from a dangerous home environment, a family law attorney can help you.

Contact an Experienced Spokane Child Custody Attorney Today!

Child custody disputes and family law cases require an attorney with experience fighting for families. Contact Hodgson Law Office to discuss how our Spokane family lawyers can help with your custody dispute or other family law matters.
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Types of Parenting Arrangements in Washington

Parenting plan disputes in Washington state cover several aspects of your child's life, including where they spend their time and who decides the direction of their life. When a judge addresses parenting plan matters, the court order can include the following types of arrangements:

Decision-Making Authority

Decision-making authority in a parenting plan determines who has the authority to make major life decisions for the child, including:
  • - Education
  • - Sports and extracurricular activities
  • - Filing lawsuits
  • - Health care
  • - Religion
In short, decision-making authority covers all the important decisions related to the child, from signing permission slips to giving instructions to doctors.

Residential Schedule

The residential schedule relates to the child's living arrangements. A residential schedule in a parenting plan describes:
  • - Where the child lives.
  • - How much time the child spends with each parent.
  • - Who can visit the child.
  • - Where the child spends holidays.
A residential schedule also determines who transports the child between locations.

Sole Decision-Making / Primary Residential Arrangement

A parenting plan can award decision-making authority to a single parent. When a court awards sole decision-making authority, that parent makes major decisions without consulting the other parent. More importantly, the other parent has no right to have a judge order the primary residential parent to listen to their input on those decisions.

Shared Parenting Arrangement

When the parents share residential time and/or decision-making authority, they have a shared parenting arrangement. Under this parenting plan, both parents participate in raising the child. Washington law tends to favor shared parenting arrangements unless there is some reason doing so would harm the child's interests.

Hybrid Parenting Arrangement

Hybrid parenting arrangements cover everything else. Some examples happen when:
  • - A step-parent has limited visitation rights to a step-child.
  • - An incarcerated, sick, or deployed parent cedes rights to the other parent.
Hybrid parenting arrangements are rare, but they can help address unique situations.

Third-Party Custody

Third-party custody occurs when someone other than the biological parents seeks custody rights. This might include grandparents, close relatives, or other individuals with a significant relationship to the child.
In Washington state, third-party custody petitioners must prove either that the parents are unfit or that placing the child with a parent would result in actual detriment to the child's growth and development. These cases often arise in situations involving child abandonment, substance abuse, or severe neglect. The courts set a high standard for granting third-party custody, as parents have a fundamental constitutional right to make decisions regarding their children.

Minor Guardianship

Minor guardianship is a type of parenting arrangement where someone other than a parent becomes legally responsible for a child's care. While technically separate from traditional parenting plan cases, these matters often intersect with parenting plan issues, especially when parents face temporary inability to care for their children due to military service, medical treatment, or other significant life events.

Parenting Plan Laws in Spokane, WA

Washington state laws provide a framework for parenting plan decisions in Spokane. Here's a concise overview of key laws:
Judges in Spokane have broad discretion to interpret these laws and make decisions based on the unique circumstances of each case. They may order parents to develop a parenting plan, hold hearings to review proposed plans, and even interview children privately to determine the best parenting arrangement.

Call Family Lawyers for Child Custody Battle in Spokane

Securing child custody can help you and your child maintain a relationship. Contact us for a free consultation to learn about your rights in a custody dispute.
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Testimonials

Testimonials

stars
I hired Mark Hodgson for a divorce in Spokane. He was open, friendly, and gave me great advice and counsel. Mark was honest with me about my case and worked hard to resolve all of my issues quickly. He responded to my phone calls and questions every time. He was WONDERFUL in my hearing and got me alimony, child support, and the parenting plan that my children needed. I had two other lawyers before Mark and he is far superior to my previous counsel. He fought hard for me and he knew the law. I would and will recommend him to everyone that i know.
Susan
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These situations are never easy. Deciding to get a lawyer then choosing one was a very hard decision. I spoke to a few people that have been thru divorce and Mark’s name came up more than once. I went and met with him, his business partners and Casey his assistant. They were all friendly, professional and most importantly for me nonjudgmental. He is very educated on divorce with children and keeps in mind what is best for the kids! He answered my questions and didn’t make me feel belittled as other lawyers did. Thank you Mark Hodgson and team you are all very appreciated!
Tricia
stars
Called Mark Wednesday the day before Thanksgiving. He got us in that Friday the day after Thanksgiving. We decided to hire him and he made the time to start the process of paperwork that Sunday. It was great he did this so my wife and I didn’t have to miss work and our case was a time sensitive issue. The few times I’ve had to emailed him he seem to get right back to us with answers.
John
our team

Our Team

Our child custody attorneys and legal assistants have over 20 years of experience practicing family law. Working together, they have successfully resolved many child custody cases. Our team knows the laws governing the custody of minor children and provides comprehensive representation to protect your custody rights.
Attorney

Mark D. Hodgson

I am committed to helping my clients through one of the most difficult times in their lives....
Mark D. Hodgson
our team
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Our Spokane Child Custody Lawyers Will Fight for You

An experienced attorney often determines the outcome of your case. An attorney who understands the law and how to advocate on behalf of a client can resolve your case quickly and amicably or battle the other party in court. Contact us to find out how we can help you.

* Communication through our website does not establish an attorney-client relationship between you and Hodgson Law Offices
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FAQ

  • Do you need a lawyer for your child custody case in Spokane?

    You can represent yourself, but if the other parent has an attorney, you're at a real disadvantage. An attorney helps you prepare evidence, respond to the other side's arguments, and make a case that holds up under a judge's scrutiny.

  • Do unmarried parents have parental rights?

    Yes, a judge cannot discriminate against a parent because of their marital status (RCW 26.16.105). This means a parent can still get custody if the parents were unmarried. It also means a parent can seek custody if they are married to someone besides the child's other parent.

  • What are the main factors determining child custody?

    In Spokane, WA, courts use the "best interests of the child" standard when determining custody. Key factors include:

    • The child's relationship with each parent
    • Each parent's ability to meet the child's needs
    • The child's emotional needs and developmental level
    • Maintaining the child's important relationships (siblings, relatives)
    • The child's stability (school, community)
    • Each parent's work schedule
    • The child's wishes (if mature enough)
    • Any history of domestic violence or substance abuse

    Judges balance these factors to reach a fair outcome that prioritizes the child's well-being.

  • How can parents create a parenting plan?

    Parents can propose a plan together, or each submit their own, but the submitted plan must cover residential scheduling, decision-making authority, holidays, and a dispute-resolution process. The court reviews and approves the final version, so terms that don't serve the child's interests won't be accepted even if both parents agree.

  • Does Washington family law favor mothers or fathers?

    Washington state law mandates that both parents, regardless of gender, be treated equally in custody disputes (RCW 26.16.125). Courts can consider which parent can provide a more stable and consistent environment, and some judges assume that person is the mother. As a result, fathers often have an uphill battle.