KITSAP COUNTY LOCAL COURT RULES

Links to Approved Providers

• Kitsap Dispute Resolution Center of Kitsap County
• Lutheran Family Services

RULE 94.05 MANDATORY PARENTING SEMINAR

(a) Applicability. This rule applies to all cases filed under Ch. 26.09, or Ch. 26.26 of the RCW (except those cases brought on behalf of the State of Washington by the Prosecuting Attorney’s Child Support Office) filed after January 1, 2005, which require a parenting plan for minor children, including dissolutions, legal separations, and paternity actions. This rule does not apply to modifications. In the case of paternity actions involving the Prosecuting Attorney’s Child Support Office, the Seminar For Parenting Plans shall be required only in cases that the Court has made a finding that the Parenting Seminar would benefit the parents.

(b) Parenting Seminars. 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 other parties as the court may direct, shall participate in, and successfully complete, an approved parenting seminar within 90 days after service of a petition on the responding parent. Successful completion shall be evidenced by a certificate of attendance filed with the Court by the provider agency.

(c) Special Considerations/Waiver.

     (1) In no case shall parents be required to attend a seminar together.
     (2) Upon showing of domestic violence, abuse, safety concerns, or 26.09.191 allegations, or that a parent’s attendance at a seminar is not in the children’s best interest, the court shall either:
          waive the requirement of completion of the seminar; or
          provide an alternative Seminar For Parenting Plans.
     (3) The court may waive the seminar requirement for one or both parents in any case for good cause shown, including but not limited to default situations.

(d) Failure to Comply. Delay, refusal or default by one parent does not excuse timely compliance by the other parent. Unless attendance at the seminar is waived, a parent who delays beyond the 90 day deadline, or who otherwise fails or refuses to complete the parenting seminar, shall be precluded from presenting any final order affecting the parenting/residential plan or finalizing the parenting plan in this action, until the seminar has been successfully completed. The court may also refuse to allow the non complying parent to seek affirmative relief in this or subsequent proceedings until the seminar is successfully completed.

(e) Finalizing Parenting Plans. All parents are required to attach to their proposed Final Parenting Plan a true and accurate signed and dated copy of the certificate of completion of the Seminar For Parenting Plans. No final parenting plan shall be entered without said certificate, except in those cases that the Court has waived attendance.
(f) Fee. Each parent attending a seminar shall pay a fee charged by the provider and sanctioned by the court. The court may waive the fee for indigent parents.

(g) Provider Agencies. Approved Parenting Seminars shall be those offered by providers who comply with seminar content requirements as specified in this rule. Parents may use equivalent services offered by private agencies or religious organizations, upon approval of the judge/commissioner in the individual case. The Committee will maintain a list of providers who have filed a statement of compliance with the Committee. If the providers' qualifications are challenged, they shall be notified by the Committee of the process to resolve any questions regarding their future approval. The provider will then have an opportunity to respond to any challenges to their qualifications.

(h) Seminar Content. The seminar content will be approved by the Committee, and shall include, at a minimum:

     (1) the developmental stages of childhood;
     (2) stress indicators in children;
     (3) age appropriate expectations of children;
     (4) the impact of divorce on children;
     (5) the grief process;
     (6) reducing stress for children through an amicable divorce;
     (7) the long term impact of parental conflict on children;
     (8) importance of child’s relationships with both parents; fostering those relationships;
     (9) communication skills for divorced parents;
     (10) minimization of conflict;
     (11) practical skills for working together;
     (12) the impact on children when stepparents and blended families enter their lives;
     (13) parenting children with limited time;
     (14) involvement of extended family.

(i) Qualifications of Instructors. Parenting seminars shall be taught by a team of not less than two instructors, including one male and one female. Arrangements may be made for classes limited to one or two attendees, in which case two instructors are not required. Instructors should have the following minimum credentials and experience:

     (1) a Master's Degree in social work, psychology or other related behavioral science suggested, with a Bachelor’s Degree minimum with 2 years social work experience;
     (3) supervisory experience in treatment of emotionally disturbed children, adolescents and their families;
     (4) experience in providing a wide range of mental health services to children and families, with specific experience in the areas of separation/divorce, loss and grief, and blended families;
     (5) extensive knowledge of child development, age appropriate expectations for children, and positive parenting;
     (6) an ability to work with others (both groups and individuals) as part of a collaborative program; and,
     (6) strong oral communication skills.

(j) When parents choose to use providers or religious organizations which have not previously been accepted by the Committee as a provider of parenting seminars, the court may modify or waive the foregoing qualifications for the instructors upon a showing of functional equivalency.

(k) Referrals for Other Services. During the seminar, referral resources will be made available to the parents and their children, including individual and family counseling, drug/alcohol counseling, anger management counseling, parenting classes, etc. These services are optional, and the parents must seek their own funding resources.

(l) Parent Education Committee. The Parent Education Committee shall be a standing subcommittee of the Kitsap County Superior Court and shall consist of at least one judge, one court commissioner, one or more representatives of local dispute resolution agencies, one or more marriage and family therapists, one or more private attorneys, and others as appropriate.

RULE 98.16 MINOR SETTLEMENTS

(f) Hearings.

(1) Petitions for Settlement of the claims of minors shall be noted on the Probate Motion Calendar at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, except cases which are preassigned shall be noted on that judge's departmental calendar on Friday at 1:30 p.m. Bench copies of all pleadings and reports shall be submitted to the court no later than 12:00 noon the day before the hearing.

(2) Mandatory Attendance. The attorney personally in charge of the case of the minor, if any, the minor child, and at least one parent or legal custodian shall personally appear at any hearing at which application is made for approval of a settlement. Personal attendance for any proposed guardian may be required by the court. For good cause shown, the court may excuse the personal appearance of the minor child.

(h) Deposit in Court and Disbursements.

(1) Receipts. A receipt for funds deposited in a blocked account shall be filed with the courts no later than thirty (30) days from the date the bank receives the funds.