Is a Washington parenting plan optional?

No. Washington law (RCW 26.09.181) requires a court-approved parenting plan in every divorce, legal separation, or paternity case involving minor children. There's no path through one of these cases that skips a parenting plan; it's the mandatory mechanism for establishing the residential schedule and decision-making authority.

Is the parenting plan the same thing as the custody order?

In Washington, essentially yes, the parenting plan functions as the custody determination itself, rather than being a separate document attached to a broader custody order. It's the single integrated order covering the residential schedule and decision-making authority. See Washington child custody for how this differs from states that issue a separate custody order.

What's the difference between a temporary and a permanent parenting plan?

A temporary parenting plan (RCW 26.09.194 and .197) governs the residential schedule and decision-making while a case is pending, filed by motion, often on an expedited basis. The permanent parenting plan (RCW 26.09.181 and .184) is the final order entered at the end of the case and generally stays in place unless later modified on a showing of substantially changed circumstances.

What form do Washington courts use for a parenting plan?

Form FL All Family 140, Parenting Plan, is the mandatory statewide form, citing RCW 26.09.016, .181, .187, and .194, used for proposed, temporary, and final parenting plans alike. A related form, FL All Family 139, Information for Temporary Parenting Plan, supports a temporary plan request under RCW 26.09.194(1).

Do both parents have to agree on the parenting plan?

It isn't required, but an agreed plan is generally faster and less expensive. If parents agree, the plan is submitted for the judge to approve. If they don't, the court decides the specifics itself, applying the best-interest factors in RCW 26.09.187, after any required mediation or other dispute resolution process and, if necessary, a contested hearing.

Does the parenting plan have to cover holidays specifically?

Yes. RCW 26.09.184 requires the residential schedule to address holidays, birthdays of family members, vacations, and other special occasions, not just the regular weekly rotation. See holiday custody scheduling for how families commonly structure this piece.

Washington, United States

Washington Parenting Plans: What Parents Need to Know

What a Washington parenting plan needs to cover, why it's legally required in every case with minor children, and the official mandatory court form used to file one.

Legal sources reviewed: August 11, 2026

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In short: A Washington parenting plan is the mandatory, court-approved document required in every divorce, legal separation, or paternity case involving minor children. Filed on the state's mandatory form, FL All Family 140, it functions as Washington's custody order itself, covering the residential schedule (including holidays and vacations), decision-making authority, and a process for resolving future disputes. It isn't a discretionary add-on; Washington law requires one in every qualifying case, whether parents agree on the terms or a judge decides them.

This is an educational overview written for parents, not lawyers. It isn't legal advice. For anything specific to your case, talk to a licensed Washington family law attorney or use the Washington Law Help parenting plan guide.

What a Washington parenting plan needs to cover

Under RCW 26.09.184, a permanent parenting plan must contain:

A residential schedule: which parent's home the child resides in on given days of the year, including regular weekly time, school breaks, and vacations. This is the underlying question a custody schedule pattern like 2-2-3 or week on/week off answers.
Holidays and special occasions: the statute specifically requires provisions for holidays, birthdays of family members, and other special occasions, not just the regular rotation. See how to build a holiday custody schedule for how this is typically structured.
Allocation of decision-making authority: which parent (or both, jointly) decides education, health care, and religious upbringing, and the process if they disagree.
A dispute resolution process: how future disagreements about the plan will be handled. RCW 26.09.184(4) provides exceptions where an out-of-court process is precluded or limited under RCW 26.09.187 or .191. The process may include counseling, mediation, arbitration, or court action. Follow the process and safety restrictions in the actual order rather than assuming mediation is always required.
Any restrictions: limitations on a parent's residential time or decision-making authority under RCW 26.09.191, where a specific statutory basis applies, such as abuse, neglect, or substance abuse.

The legal requirement and official forms

RCW 26.09.181 requires a parenting plan in every Washington case with minor children, and sets the procedure for proposing and finalizing one: a party files a proposed plan, the other party can file a competing proposal, and the court either approves an agreed plan or decides the contested terms itself under the RCW 26.09.187 best-interest factors.

Washington courts use one form throughout this process: FL All Family 140, Parenting Plan, a mandatory statewide form (citing RCW 26.09.016, .181, .187, and .194) used to file a proposed plan, a temporary plan, or the final permanent plan. A related mandatory form, FL All Family 139, Information for Temporary Parenting Plan, supports a request for a temporary plan while the case is pending under RCW 26.09.194(1).

Temporary and permanent plans serve different points in the timeline. A temporary parenting plan (RCW 26.09.194 and .197) governs the residential schedule and decision-making while the case is open, often requested early by motion to avoid a gap before the case resolves. The permanent parenting plan (RCW 26.09.181 and .184) is the final order entered at the end of the case, and generally remains in place afterward unless later modified on a showing of substantially changed circumstances.

How a parenting plan relates to the underlying case

Unlike states that issue a separate custody order with a parenting plan as an attachment, Washington's parenting plan is the custody determination. There's no separate "custody order" alongside it; the parenting plan itself is the operative court order governing where the child lives and who decides what. See Washington child custody for the broader legal framework this plan operates within, including the seven best-interest factors and how relocation is handled once a plan is in place.

Reaching an agreed plan

If parents can agree on the terms, the proposed plan is submitted to the court for the judge to approve, generally a faster and less expensive path than a contested case. If parents can't agree, many Washington counties require or strongly encourage mediation or another dispute resolution process before a contested hearing, and the court ultimately decides the specifics itself, applying the RCW 26.09.187 best-interest factors.

Building the actual schedule

Once the required categories are settled, an OnePage parenting plan generator or custody schedule generator can help draft the specific written residential schedule to bring into mediation or enter on Form FL All Family 140, and a general parenting plan guide covers what goes into a strong plan regardless of jurisdiction.

Official Washington resources

FAQ

Questions, answered

This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Family law varies by individual circumstances and may change over time. Consult a qualified attorney or appropriate official resource for advice about your situation.