Revised Code of Washington - RCW Title 26 Domestic Relations - Chapter 26.26 Uniform Parentage Act

26.26.011 Definitions
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Acknowledged father" means a man who has established a ...

26.26.021 Scope of act -- Choice of law -- Surrogate parentage contracts
(1) This chapter governs every determination of parentage in this state. (2) The court shall apply the law of this state to adjudicate the parent-child ...

26.26.031 Courts of this state -- Authority
The superior courts of this state are authorized to adjudicate parentage under this chapter.[2002 c 302 § 104.] ...

26.26.041 Protection of participants
Proceedings under this chapter are subject to other law of this state governing the health, safety, privacy, and liberty of a child or other individuals ...

26.26.051 Determination of maternity
The provisions relating to determination of paternity may be applied to a determination of maternity.[2002 c 302 § 106.] ...

26.26.065 Mandatory use of approved forms
(1) Effective January 1, 1992, a party shall not file any pleading with the clerk of the court in an action commenced under this chapter ...

26.26.101 Establishment of parent-child relationship
(1) The mother-child relationship is established between a child and a woman by: (a) The woman's having given birth to the child, except as otherwise ...

26.26.106 No discrimination based on marital status
A child born to parents who are not married to each other has the same rights under the law as a child born to parents ...

26.26.111 Consequences of establishment of parentage
Unless parental rights are terminated, the parent-child relationship established under this chapter applies for all purposes, except as otherwise provided by other law of this ...

26.26.116 Presumption of paternity in context of marriage
(1) A man is presumed to be the father of a child if: (a) He and the mother of the child are married to each ...

26.26.130 Judgment or order determining parent and child relationship -- Support judgment and orders -- Residential provisions -- Custody -- Restraining orders -- Notice of modification or termination of restraining order
(1) The judgment and order of the court determining the existence or nonexistence of the parent and child relationship shall be determinative for all purposes. ...

26.26.132 Support orders -- Compliance with RCW 26.23.050
Every court order or decree establishing a child support obligation shall be entered in compliance with RCW 26.23.050.[1987 c 435 § 27; 1986 c 138 ...

26.26.134 Support orders -- Time limit, exception
A court may not order payment for support provided or expenses incurred more than five years prior to the commencement of the action. Any period ...

26.26.138 Restraining order -- Knowing violation -- Penalty -- Law enforcement immunity
(1) Whenever a restraining order is issued under this chapter, and the person to be restrained knows of the order, a violation of the provisions ...

26.26.140 Costs
The court may order reasonable fees of experts and the child's guardian ad litem, and other costs of the action, including blood or genetic test ...

26.26.145 Proof of certain support and paternity establishment costs
In all actions brought under this chapter, bills for pregnancy, childbirth, and genetic testing shall: (1) Be admissible as evidence without requiring third-party foundation testimony; ...

26.26.150 Enforcement of judgments or orders
(1) If existence of the father and child relationship is declared, or paternity or a duty of support has been acknowledged or adjudicated under this ...

26.26.160 Modification of judgment or order -- Continuing jurisdiction
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section the court has continuing jurisdiction to prospectively modify a judgment and order for future education ...

26.26.165 Health insurance coverage
(1) In entering or modifying a support order under this chapter, the court shall require either or both parents to maintain or provide health insurance ...

26.26.190 Relinquishment of child for adoption -- Notice to other parent
If a parent relinquishes or proposes to relinquish for adoption a child, the other parent shall be given notice of the adoption proceeding and have ...

26.26.210 Surrogate parenting -- Definitions
As used in RCW 26.26.210 through 26.26.260: (1) "Compensation" means a payment of money, objects, services, or anything else having monetary value except payment of ...

26.26.220 Surrogate parenting -- Persons excluded from contracting
A person shall not enter into, induce, arrange, procure, or otherwise assist in the formation of a surrogate parentage contract under which an unemancipated minor ...

26.26.230 Surrogate parenting -- Compensation prohibited
No person, organization, or agency shall enter into, induce, arrange, procure, or otherwise assist in the formation of a surrogate parentage contract, written or unwritten, ...

26.26.240 Surrogate parenting -- Contract for compensation void
A surrogate parentage contract entered into for compensation, whether executed in the state of Washington or in another jurisdiction, shall be void and unenforceable in ...

26.26.250 Surrogate parenting -- Provisions violated -- Penalty
Any person, organization, or agency who intentionally violates any provision of RCW 26.26.210 through 26.26.260 shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor.[1989 c 404 § ...

26.26.260 Surrogate parenting -- Custody of child
If a child is born to a surrogate mother pursuant to a surrogate parentage contract, and there is a dispute between the parties concerning custody ...

26.26.270 Parenting plan -- Designation of parent for other state and federal purposes
Solely for the purposes of all other state and federal statutes which require a designation or determination of custody, a parenting plan shall designate the ...

26.26.300 Acknowledgment of paternity
The mother of a child and a man claiming to be the father of the child conceived as the result of his sexual intercourse with ...

26.26.305 Execution of acknowledgment of paternity
(1) An acknowledgment of paternity must: (a) Be in a record; (b) Be signed under penalty of perjury by the mother and by the man ...

26.26.310 Denial of paternity
A presumed father of a child may sign a denial of his paternity. The denial is valid only if: (1) An acknowledgment of paternity signed ...

26.26.315 Rules for acknowledgment and denial of paternity
(1) An acknowledgment of paternity and a denial of paternity may be contained in a single document or may be signed in counterparts, and may ...

26.26.320 Effect of acknowledgment or denial of paternity
(1) Except as otherwise provided in RCW 26.26.330 and 26.26.335, a valid acknowledgment of paternity filed with the state registrar of vital statistics is equivalent ...

26.26.325 Filing fee for acknowledgment or denial of paternity
The state registrar of vital statistics may charge a fee for filing an acknowledgment or denial of paternity.[2002 c 302 § 306.] ...

26.26.330 Proceeding for rescission of acknowledgment or denial of paternity
A signatory may rescind an acknowledgment or denial of paternity by commencing a court proceeding to rescind before the earlier of: (1) Sixty days after ...

26.26.335 Challenge after expiration of time for rescission of acknowledgment or denial of paternity
(1) After the period for rescission under RCW 26.26.330 has elapsed, a signatory of an acknowledgment or denial of paternity may commence a proceeding to ...

26.26.340 Procedure for rescission or challenge of acknowledgment or denial of paternity
(1) Every signatory to an acknowledgment or denial of paternity must be made a party to a proceeding to rescind or challenge the acknowledgment or ...

26.26.345 Ratification barred of unchallenged acknowledgment of paternity
A court or administrative agency conducting a judicial or administrative proceeding is not required or permitted to ratify an unchallenged acknowledgment of paternity.[2002 c 302 ...

26.26.350 Full faith and credit
A court of this state shall give full faith and credit to an acknowledgment or denial of paternity effective in another state if the acknowledgment ...

26.26.355 Forms for acknowledgment and denial of paternity
(1) To facilitate compliance with RCW 26.26.300 through 26.26.350, the state registrar of vital statistics shall prescribe forms for the acknowledgment and the denial of ...

26.26.360 Release of information
The state registrar of vital statistics may release information relating to the acknowledgment or denial of paternity, not expressly sealed under a court order, to: ...

26.26.365 Adoption of rules
The state registrar of vital statistics may adopt rules to implement RCW 26.26.300 through 26.26.375.[2002 c 302 § 314.] ...

26.26.370 Acknowledgment of paternity -- Application of RCW 26.26.300 through 26.26.375--Adjudication
(1) RCW 26.26.300 through 26.26.375 apply to all acknowledgments of paternity executed on or after July 1, 1997. (2) A man who executed an acknowledgment ...

26.26.375 Judicial proceedings
(1) After the period for rescission of an acknowledgment of paternity provided in RCW 26.26.330 has passed, a parent executing an acknowledgment of paternity of ...

26.26.400 Genetic testing -- Application of RCW 26.26.405 through 26.26.450
RCW 26.26.405 through 26.26.450 govern genetic testing of an individual only to determine parentage, whether the individual: (1) Voluntarily submits to testing; or (2) Is ...

26.26.405 Order for genetic testing
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section and RCW 26.26.410 through 26.26.630, the court shall order the child and other designated individuals to submit ...

26.26.410 Requirements for genetic testing
(1) Genetic testing must be of a type reasonably relied upon by experts in the field of genetic testing and performed in a testing laboratory ...

26.26.415 Report of genetic testing
(1) The report of genetic testing must be in a record and signed under penalty of perjury by a designee of the testing laboratory. A ...

26.26.420 Genetic testing results -- Rebuttal
(1) Under this chapter, a man is rebuttably identified as the father of a child if the genetic testing complies with this section and RCW ...

26.26.425 Costs of genetic testing
(1) Subject to assessment of costs under RCW 26.26.500 through 26.26.630, the cost of initial genetic testing must be advanced: (a) By a support enforcement ...

26.26.430 Additional genetic testing
The court or the support enforcement agency shall order additional genetic testing upon the request of a party who contests the result of the original ...

26.26.435 Genetic testing when specimen not available
(1) If a genetic testing specimen is not available from a man who may be the father of a child, for good cause and under ...

26.26.440 Genetic testing -- Deceased individual
For good cause shown, the court may order genetic testing of a deceased individual.[2002 c 302 § 409.] ...

26.26.445 Genetic testing -- Identical brothers
(1) The court may order genetic testing of a brother of a man identified as the father of a child if the man is commonly ...

26.26.450 Confidentiality of genetic testing -- Penalty
(1) Release of the report of genetic testing for parentage is controlled by chapter 70.02 RCW. (2) An individual commits a gross misdemeanor punishable under ...

26.26.500 Proceeding to adjudicate parentage authorized
A civil proceeding may be maintained to adjudicate the parentage of a child. The proceeding is governed by the rules of civil procedure.[2002 c 302 ...

26.26.505 Standing to maintain proceeding to adjudicate parentage
Subject to RCW 26.26.300 through 26.26.375, 26.26.530, and 26.26.540, a proceeding to adjudicate parentage may be maintained by: (1) The child; (2) The mother of ...

26.26.510 Parties to proceeding to adjudicate parentage
The following individuals must be joined as parties in a proceeding to adjudicate parentage: (1) The mother of the child; (2) A man whose paternity ...

26.26.515 Proceeding to adjudicate parentage -- Personal jurisdiction
(1) An individual may not be adjudicated to be a parent unless the court has personal jurisdiction over the individual. (2) A court of this ...

26.26.520 Proceeding to adjudicate parentage -- Venue
Venue for a proceeding to adjudicate parentage is in the county of this state in which: (1) The child resides or is found; (2) The ...

26.26.525 Proceeding to adjudicate parentage--No time limitation: Child having no presumed, acknowledged, or adjudicated father
A proceeding to adjudicate the parentage of a child having no presumed, acknowledged, or adjudicated father may be commenced at any time during the life ...

26.26.530 Proceeding to adjudicate parentage -- Time limitation: Child having presumed father
(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, a proceeding brought by a presumed father, the mother, or another individual to adjudicate ...

26.26.535 Proceeding to adjudicate parentage -- Authority to deny genetic testing
(1) In a proceeding to adjudicate parentage under circumstances described in RCW 26.26.530, a court may deny genetic testing of the mother, the child, and ...

26.26.540 Proceeding to adjudicate parentage -- Time limitation: Child having acknowledged or adjudicated father
(1) If a child has an acknowledged father, a signatory to the acknowledgment or denial of paternity must commence any proceeding seeking to rescind or ...

26.26.545 Joinder of proceedings
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a proceeding to adjudicate parentage may be joined with a proceeding for: Adoption or termination ...

26.26.550 Proceeding to determine parentage -- Before birth
Although a proceeding to determine parentage may be commenced before the birth of the child, the proceeding may not be concluded until after the birth ...

26.26.555 Child as party -- Representation
(1) A minor child is a permissible party, but is not a necessary party to a proceeding under RCW 26.26.500 through 26.26.630. (2) If the ...

26.26.570 Proceeding to adjudicate parentage -- Admissibility of results of genetic testing -- Expenses
(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section, a record of a genetic testing expert is admissible as evidence of the truth ...

26.26.575 Proceeding to adjudicate parentage -- Consequences of declining genetic testing
(1) An order for genetic testing is enforceable by contempt. (2) If an individual whose paternity is being determined declines to submit to genetic testing ...

26.26.585 Proceeding to adjudicate parentage -- Admission of paternity authorized
(1) A respondent in a proceeding to adjudicate parentage may admit to the paternity of a child by filing a pleading to that effect or ...

26.26.590 Proceeding to adjudicate parentage -- Temporary order
This section applies to any proceeding under RCW 26.26.500 through 26.26.630. (1) The court shall issue a temporary order for support of a child if ...

26.26.600 Rules for adjudication of paternity
The court shall apply the following rules to adjudicate the paternity of a child: (1) The paternity of a child having a presumed, acknowledged, or ...

26.26.605 Proceeding to adjudicate parentage -- Jury prohibited
The court, without a jury, shall adjudicate parentage of a child.[2002 c 302 § 532.] ...

26.26.610 Proceeding to adjudicate parentage -- Hearings -- Inspection of records
(1) On request of a party and for good cause shown, the court may close a proceeding under this section and RCW 26.26.500 through 26.26.605 ...

26.26.615 Adjudication of paternity -- Order on default
The court shall issue an order adjudicating the paternity of a man who: (1) After service of process, is in default; and (2) Is found ...

26.26.620 Dismissal for want of prosecution
The court may issue an order dismissing a proceeding commenced under this chapter for want of prosecution only without prejudice. An order of dismissal for ...

26.26.625 Order adjudicating parentage
(1) The court shall issue an order adjudicating whether a man alleged or claiming to be the father is the parent of the child. (2) ...

26.26.630 Binding effect of determination of parentage
(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, a determination of parentage is binding on: (a) All signatories to an acknowledgment or ...

26.26.700 Application of RCW 26.26.705 through 26.26.740
RCW 26.26.705 through 26.26.740 do not apply to the birth of a child conceived by means of sexual intercourse.[2002 c 302 § 601.] ...

26.26.705 Child of assisted reproduction -- Parental status of donor
A donor is not a parent of a child conceived by means of assisted reproduction.[2002 c 302 § 602.] ...

26.26.710 Husband's paternity of child of assisted reproduction
If a husband provides sperm for, or consents to, assisted reproduction by his wife as provided in RCW 26.26.715, he is the father of a ...

26.26.715 Consent to assisted reproduction
(1) A consent to assisted reproduction by a married woman must be in a record signed by the woman and her husband. This requirement does ...

26.26.720 Child of assisted reproduction -- Limitation on husband's dispute of paternity
(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, the husband of a wife who gives birth to a child by means of ...

26.26.725 Child of assisted reproduction -- Effect of dissolution of marriage
(1) If a marriage is dissolved before placement of eggs, sperm, or an embryo, the former spouse is not a parent of the resulting child ...

26.26.730 Child of assisted reproduction -- Parental status of deceased spouse
If a spouse dies before placement of eggs, sperm, or an embryo, the deceased spouse is not a parent of the resulting child unless the ...

26.26.735 Child of assisted reproduction -- Effect of agreement between ovum donor and woman who gives birth
The donor of ovum provided to a licensed physician for use in the alternative reproductive medical technology process of attempting to achieve a pregnancy in ...

26.26.740 Child of assisted reproduction -- Issuance of birth certificate
The department of health shall, upon request, issue a birth certificate for any child born as a result of an alternative reproductive medical technology procedure ...

26.26.903 Uniformity of application and construction -- 2002 c 302
In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject ...

26.26.904 Transitional provision
A proceeding to adjudicate parentage which was commenced before June 13, 2002, is governed by the law in effect at the time the proceeding was ...

26.26.911 Short title -- 2002 c 302
This act may be known and cited as the uniform parentage act.[2002 c 302 § 101.] ...

26.26.912 Severability -- 2002 c 302
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 ...

26.26.913 Captions, article designations, and article headings not law
Captions, article designations, and article headings used in this chapter are not any part of the law.[2002 c 302 § 713.] ...