SUPERIOR COURT RULES ABOUT PARENTING SEMINARS

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Snohomish Superior Court Local Rules

PART V. SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS  RULES (SCLSPR) 

94.04 FAMILY LAW PROCEEDINGS

 EFFECTIVE: September 1, 2017

(4) Parenting Seminars. 

(A) Definition of Applicable Cases. 

This rule applies to all cases filed under Ch. 26.09, 26.10 or Ch. 26.26 of the RCW filed after September 1, 1994, including dissolutions, legal separations, major modifications and paternity actions (in which paternity has been established) where the parties are parents of children under the age of 18, and where a parenting plan or residential plan is required which involves more than purely financial issues.  

(B) Mandatory Attendance. 

In all cases referred to in Section (A) above, and in those additional cases arising under Title 26 RCW where a court makes a discretionary finding that a parenting seminar would be in the best interest of the children, both parents, and such non-parent parties as the court may direct, shall participate in, and successfully complete, an approved parenting seminar within 60 days after service of a petition, or an initiating motion, on the responding party. Standards for an approved parenting seminar shall be established by Administrative Order of this court. Successful completion shall be evidenced by the parties filing a certificate of attendance/completion with the court. This document shall be filed separately and not as an attachment to other documents. 

(C) Special Considerations/Waiver. 

(1) In no case shall opposing parties be required to attend a seminar together.

(2) Upon a showing of domestic violence or abuse which would not require mutual decision-making pursuant to RCW 26.09.191, or that a parent's attendance at a seminar is not in the children's best interest, the court shall either: [a] waive the requirement of completion of the seminar; or [b] provide an alternative voluntary parenting seminar for battered spouses. 

(3) The court may waive the seminar requirement for one or both parents in any case for good cause shown. 

(D) Failure to Comply. 

Delay, refusal, or default by one parent does not excuse timely compliance by the other parent. However, a parent who fails to complete the parenting seminar shall be precluded from confirming the case for trial or presenting any final order affecting the parenting/residential plan and may be precluded from seeking affirmative relief in this or subsequent proceedings in this file, until the parenting seminar has been successfully completed. Refusal or delay by either parent may constitute contempt of court and result in sanctions imposed by the court, or may result in the imposition of monetary terms, default, and/or striking of pleadings.  

Source: SNOHOMISH SUPERIOR COURT LOCAL RULE CHANGE

PART V. SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS RULES (SCLSPR) EFFECTIVE: September 1, 2017

Skagit Superior Court Local Rules
(SCLSPR 94.04.1 Parenting Seminars)
effective September 1, 2001; amended September 1, 2009

94.04.1 PARENTING SEMINARS

(a) APPLICABLE CASES. 

This rule shall apply to all cases filed after September 1, 2001 under Chapter 26.09, Ch. 26.10, or Ch. 26.26 RCW which require a parenting plan for minor children; including dissolutions, legal separations, major modifications, paternity actions in which paternity has been established, and non-parental custody actions

(b) MANDATORY ATTENDANCE. 

In all cases governed by this rule, all parties shall complete an approved parenting seminar. Standards for parenting seminars shall be established by the Court and providers shall be approved by the Court. An approved list of providers will be available through Court Administration. [Amended September 1, 2011]

(c) TIMING. 

Parties required by this rule to participate in a parenting seminar shall complete an approved parenting seminar within 90 days after service of the petition or motion initiating the action which is subject to this rule. In the case of paternity actions initiated by the prosecuting attorney’s office, the parenting seminar shall be required only when paternity is established or
acknowledged and a parenting plan is requested.

(d) FEES. 

Each party attending a seminar shall pay a fee charged by the approved provider and sanctioned by the court. The court may waive the fee for indigent parties.

(e) SPECIAL CONSIDERATION/WAIVER.
(1) In no case shall opposing parties be required to attend a seminar together.
(2) Upon a showing of domestic violence or abuse which would not require mutual decision-making, pursuant to RCW 26.09.191, or that a parent’s attendance at a seminar is not in the children’s best interest, pursuant to Ch. 26.12 RCW, the Court shall either:
(A) waive the requirement of completion of the seminar; or
(B) allow participation in an alternative voluntary parenting seminar for battered spouses.
(3) The Court may waive the seminar requirement for good cause shown.

(f) FAILURE TO COMPLY. 

Willful refusal to participate in a parenting seminar or willful delay in completion of a parenting seminar by any party may constitute contempt of court and result in sanctions, including, but not limited to, imposition of monetary terms, striking of pleadings, or denial of affirmative relief to a party not in compliance with this rule.

Source:  Skagit County Local Special Proceedings Rules, Part V. 94.04.1

Island Superior Court Local Rules. 

Part II SPR  effective January 3rd 2018

94.04 Family Law Rules

(e) Parenting Seminars.
This rule shall apply to all cases in which the court is being asked to enter a parenting plan for minor children.

1. Mandatory attendance.
   Unless waived as provided herein, within  30 days of filing an appearance, answer or other responsive pleadings in an action involving a parenting plan for minor children, both parties should register for court-approved parent education seminar on the effects of family transitions on children, unless the parties have previously attended search occurs within the last 3 years. Each party shall attend the seminar within 60 days of registering.
   
2. Certificate of Completion.
   Upon completion of the seminar, each party shall file with the court the seminar completion certificate provided by the sponsoring agency or provider.  Additionally, a copy of the certificate of completion shall be provided to the judge at the presentation of final documents.
   
3. Fees.  
   Each party attending a seminar she'll pay a fee charged by the approved provider on authorized by the court.
   
4. Seminar providers.
   The court shall establish standards for parenting seminars and shall approve seminar providers. A list of approved parenting centers shall be available from the court administrator, juvenile court administrator, or county clerk. If a parenting seminar is not included on the list, then the court, upon proper motion, may allow other providers to fulfill this requirement on a case-by-case basis.

Source: Island County Superior Local Rules of Court,