Timeline
Waiting period and finality
Decree may not be entered until 90 days have elapsed after the petition was filed and summons served or first publication made.
Wash. Rev. Code Sec. 26.09.030.
Verified Jul 3, 2026 · Next review by Jul 3, 2027
Washington · Divorce and family law
Washington Divorce Waiting Period, Residency, and Child Support Rules
Decree may not be entered until 90 days have elapsed after the petition was filed and summons served or first publication made.
4 rules checked against governing sourcesSources checked through Jul 3, 2026Inspect the coverage gate
Answer first, sources attached
Four state rules to check first
The filing timeline and support method can change by state and by the facts. Start with the governing reference points, then confirm the current court procedure.
Filing jurisdiction
Residency requirement
Washington requires one party to be a resident, a member of the armed forces stationed in Washington, or married to a Washington resident/member; no durational minimum is captured.
Wash. Rev. Code Sec. 26.09.030.
Verified Jul 3, 2026 · Next review by Jul 3, 2027
Published framework
Child support guideline
Washington child support uses the economic table in chapter 26.19 RCW.
Wash. Rev. Code Sec. 26.19.020.
Verified Jul 3, 2026 · Next review by Jul 3, 2027
Adjustments and inputs
Child support methodology
Income shares method using combined monthly net income, economic table, residential schedule credits, health/childcare add-ons, self-support reserve, and deviations.
Wash. Rev. Code ch. 26.19.
Verified Jul 3, 2026 · Next review by Jul 3, 2027
What changes the answer
The statewide rule is the starting point
- Service and filing postureA waiting period may run from filing, service, appearance, or another event.
- County and venueState residency and the correct county are separate questions.
- Parenting time and incomeSupport calculations can turn on custody time, income definitions, credits, and deviations.
- Current forms and local rulesCourt forms, scheduling, and required disclosures can change the practical workflow.
For family law attorneys
Carry the rule into intake, disclosures, and support work
DocketBuddy keeps the governing reference beside the facts, deadlines, financial records, and attorney-reviewable calculations that depend on it.
This page reports source-linked state rules and review dates. It does not calculate a deadline, determine eligibility, select a procedure, value a claim, or apply law to an individual situation. Verify the cited authority, local procedure, and current law before relying on a rule.