(1) In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership, legal separation, declaration of invalidity, maintenance, or child support, after considering all relevant factors but without regard to misconduct, the court shall order either or both parents owing a duty of support to any child of the marriage or the domestic partnership dependent upon either or both spouses or domestic partners to pay an amount determined under chapter 26.19 RCW.

Ask a divorce law question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified divorce lawyers.
Specialties include: Family Law, Custody, Divorce, Child Support, Child Protection, Alimony, and more.
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Washington Code 26.09.100

  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • person: may be construed to include the United States, this state, or any state or territory, or any public or private corporation or limited liability company, as well as an individual. See Washington Code 1.16.080
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
(2) The court may require automatic periodic adjustments or modifications of child support. That portion of any decree that requires periodic adjustments or modifications of child support shall use the provisions in chapter 26.19 RCW as the basis for the adjustment or modification. Provisions in the decree for periodic adjustment or modification shall not conflict with RCW 26.09.170 except that the decree may require periodic adjustments or modifications of support more frequently than the time periods established pursuant to RCW 26.09.170.
(3) Upon motion of a party and without a substantial change of circumstances, the court shall modify the decree to comply with subsection (2) of this section as to installments accruing subsequent to entry of the court’s order on the motion for modification.
(4) The adjustment or modification provision may be modified by the court due to economic hardship consistent with the provisions of *RCW 26.09.170(6)(a).

NOTES:

*Reviser’s note: RCW 26.09.170 was amended by 2020 c 227 § 13, changing subsection (6)(a) to subsection (8)(a), effective February 1, 2021.
Part headings not lawSeverability2008 c 6: See RCW 26.60.900 and 26.60.901.
Severability1991 sp.s. c 28: “If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.” [ 1991 sp.s. c 28 § 9.]
Effective date1991 sp.s. c 28: “Sections 1 through 9 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect September 1, 1991.” [ 1991 sp.s. c 28 § 10.]
Captions not law1991 sp.s. c 28: “Captions as used in this act do not constitute any part of the law.” [ 1991 sp.s. c 28 § 11.]
Effective dates1990 1st ex.s. c 2: “(1) Sections 5 and 22 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately [March 26, 1990].
(2) The remainder of this act shall take effect July 1, 1990.” [ 1990 1st ex.s. c 2 § 30.]
Severability1990 1st ex.s. c 2: “If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.” [ 1990 1st ex.s. c 2 § 31.]
Effective datesSeverability1988 c 275: See notes following RCW 26.19.001.
Severability1987 c 430: See note following RCW 26.09.170.