Child custody disputes are personal and stressful. They affect your child’s routine, school, health care, and time at home. Feeling overwhelmed is normal. A Kent child custody lawyer can explain each step, set a plan you can follow, and keep you updated from the first filing through any temporary orders.
Every family is different. At Lutz & Associates, P.S., we treat custody matters with care and steady communication because family law is what we do. Whether you want to create a new plan, change an existing order, or resolve a dispute through mediation or a hearing, a family law attorney can organize records, draft proposals, and track deadlines. We keep the focus on your child’s best interests, workable schedules, and accurate documentation at every stage.
How Does Custody Work in Washington?
Washington uses parenting plans rather than legal and physical custody labels. The plan determines who makes major decisions for the child and how residential time is divided during school weeks, holidays, and vacations. A child custody attorney in Kent can create a plan with exchange procedures and school notes that reflect your real-life routines to minimize friction.
There is no automatic 50/50 rule for decision-making authority or residential schedules, and terms will be based on the evidence in your record. Courts apply the best-interests standard and give the greatest weight to the strength, nature, and stability of your child’s relationship with each parent. According to the Revised Code of Washington § 26.09.187, the following are considerations that help the court determine parenting time:
- Stability and safety in each home
- The child’s developmental needs
- Their ties to their school and community
- The child’s ties to siblings and significant adults
- Work schedules and reliable child-care arrangements
- Transportation, exchange locations, and commute times
- Caregiving history (school forms, activity calendars, medical summaries)
Courts review these points together with the records you provide to help make orders that are best for your child. We help you collect and organize the documents so that any parenting plan reflects your child’s routine and works in daily life. An experienced Kent custody attorney can tie each request to documents the judge can verify.
Authority Over Decisions and Safety Boundaries
Decision-making may be mutual or assigned to one parent for specific topics such as education or non-emergency health care. If safety is a concern, the court may limit residential time or decision-making and require structured exchanges or supervised contact. Our law firm documents concerns with records rather than general statements and proposes narrow terms that address the specific risk.
What to Know About Temporary Orders, Mediation, and Evidence
Starting a case with temporary orders can really help ease stress and provide your child with a stable routine. These orders help create a workable schedule, set up necessary logistics, and outline how you will communicate. Most courts prefer mediation before a contested hearing, so bringing a clear proposal and labeled exhibits can really boost your chances of reaching an agreement.
A custody lawyer in Kent could put together a simple, organized packet for you with a proposed plan, a schedule calendar, and a list connecting important facts to specific pages in your case file. We could also walk you through what to expect at each stage and stay in touch before and after key dates, so you never feel rushed or overwhelmed.
Can a Parenting Plan Be Modified?
Orders can change when facts change. A significant shift—such as a move, new work hours, or a pattern that affects the child’s welfare—may justify modification. Minor adjustments are possible when supported by the record and the child’s needs. An attorney can gather updated school, medical, and scheduling documents and draft a request that aligns with the evidence of your changing life.
How We Handle Contentious and High-Conflict Custody Disputes
Some custody disputes become more intense when communication breaks down, trust declines, or one parent uses conflict to gain an advantage. This tension can affect exchanges, school communications, and daily routines. It may also pressure you into agreeing to terms that do not work in real life. In contentious cases, orders tend to be more detailed because a basic schedule alone is not enough to prevent repeated conflict.
Courts might impose stricter boundaries on exchanges, set structured communication rules, and spell out decision-making to reduce future disputes. Orders may also address recurring issues, including:
- Late pickups
- Missed handoffs
- Last-minute changes
- Interference with contact
- Withholding basic information about school and health care
When noncooperation becomes a pattern, the parenting plan often needs stronger, more specific terms, and our dedicated and caring team could help you work through it all.
A child custody lawyer in Kent can help you ask for provisions that reduce conflict and protect your child’s routine. At Lutz & Associates, P.S., we help you identify the points that keep triggering disputes, organize the records that support what you are requesting, and propose practical terms that are easier to follow and easier to enforce.
Contact a Compassionate Custody Lawyer in Kent Today
At Lutz & Associates, P.S., we always prioritize your children and your goals. Our Kent child custody lawyers listen to what matters most to you, clearly explain how the court evaluates parenting plans, and work with you to create a plan that fits smoothly into your family’s routine. Since 1997, we have been offering friendly communication, honest guidance, and simple next steps to keep families like yours moving forward. Feel free to call us at (206) 518-9699 or reach out online today to start taking positive steps together to move your parenting plan and family forward.
