Does Washington have any laws that provide for grandparents visitation?
Yes. Under Washington law, specifically RCW (Revised Code of Washington) Section 26.09.240, a person other than a parent may petition the court for visitation with a child at any time or may intervene in a pending dissolution, legal separation, or modification of a parenting plan proceeding. However, a person other than a parent may not petition for visitation unless the childen’s parent or parents have already commenced an action in the family courts. (i.e. gone through a dissolution and a parenting plan was established by the court). In other words, a petition for visitation may not be brought if the parents of the child are still together and no court action has been taken.
