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WELCOME TO PIERCE COUNTY FAMILY COURT ****************************************************************

Pierce County Family Court consists of two judicial departments, three commissioners and a case coordinator. It is a team dedicated to implementing the plan for Family Court while putting into practice learned lessons to reduce conflict and timely resolve disputes involving the custody of children.

The main goals of Family Court include:

  • Identify, segregate and prioritize cases involving the custody of children;
  • Provide early judicial intervention;
  • Provide consistent and timely judicial decision-making with intensive case management, settlement conferences and education to litigants using Impact on Children seminars to speed case resolution and reduce conflict.

The types of cases that are in Family Court:

  • Relocations
  • Non Parental Custody
  • Modification of Custody
  • When a GAL is authorized in a matter involving Parenting Plans (Dissolutions, Legal Separations, Petition for Residential Schedule) and there is at least 90 days until the original trial date.


IMPORTANT INFORMATION RE LINKS TO OTHER SITES: Below are various links with information that may be helpful, including Pierce County Superior Court websites & documents and websites not created by Pierce County. Some will allow you to return to the Family Court web page by using the 'back' button, while others will not. Take a moment to bookmark this page to help you easily navigate your return to this page.

Information specific to Pierce County

Parenting Seminars - Details regarding the approved Impact on Children Seminar required for Dissolutions, Modifications of Custody, Non Parental Custody and Establishment of Residential schedules filed in Pierce County.

NonCompliance Order & Hearings - How to respond to a non-compliance order and links to documents and other sites to answer your questions.

Uncontested dissolutions- How you can finalize your dissolution without a Trial.

What you will need for a Family Law Trial - Trial Information for Family Law Cases

Neighborhood Legal and Family Law Clinics - Local listing of available clinics. Provided by Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association Volunteer Legal Services

Guardians ad Litem (GAL)

What is a Guardian ad litem/Parenting Investigator in a Family Law Case? - The Who, What and How of Pierce County's Guardian ad Litem program.

GAL 26.09 Registry - Listing of the approved Pierce County Gaurdians ad Litem, with links to their resumes.

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Navigate Family Court

Adequate Cause: Required to continue a Petition for Non Parental Custody or Modification of Custody- An overview of the requirements for adequate cause.

Relocation: What you need to know when you you are considering objecting to a relocation - An overview of the requirements for relocation notice and how to object to a relocation.

Modification of Child Support - An overview of how to request a modification of child support.

Documents required to Finalize your Case - A list of the documents required to finalize the cases that are in Family Court.

Other Interesting Documents

Uncontested dissolutions- How you can finalize your dissolution without a Trial.

What you will need for a Family Law Trial - Trial Information for Family Law Cases

Trial Overview - Going to Trial without an Attorney.

Top Ten Ways to Protect Your Kids during your Break Up by Dr. Joan Kelly

Activity Book for children going to court.

Renuniting Your Family: You Can Make It Happen - Video by Pierce County Juvenile Court.

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Find Family Law Forms and Instructions

Washington State Courts - Forms - State website with all the forms required for beginning and finishing a Family Law Matter. Detailed instructions are given to help you complete the forms. Some resources available in other languages. Provided by Administrative Office of the Courts.

Family Law Help - Over 15 different slide shows walk you through the filing of different documents in Family Law Matters. Provided by Tacoma-Pierce County Coordinated Family Law Project.

Neighborhood Legal and Family Law Clinics - Local listing of available clinics. Provided by Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association Volunteer Legal Services

Washington Law Help - Self Help info & Legal Aid Providers. Provided by NW Justice Project.

General Pierce County Superior Court Links

Alternative Dispute Resolution - What are the different types of ADR and who is an available provider.

Commissioner Calendar Schedules

Pierce County Local Rules




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Copyright ©1996-2012 Pierce County Washington. All rights reserved. Last Modified Mar 9 2012 2:24PM.