Download the most recent Case Law & Legislative Updates Guide
New Legislation
The legislative cycle in Washington State is two years long. Within that two-year cycle, there are two kinds of legislative sessions: Regular sessions and extraordinary, or special, sessions. Regular sessions are mandated by the State Constitution and begin the second Monday in January each year. More information on the WA State Legislature can be found here: Legislature Home (wa.gov). Below are new and upcoming pieces of state legislation that impact the dependency court system. Click the title of each bill to learn more.
- SB 6006: Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking and Sexual Abuse
2024 Regular Session
Description: Modifies the definition of a “dependent child” to include victims of sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking.
- SB 6068: Relational Permanence and Child Well-being Data
2024 Regular Session
Description: Changes reporting on dependency outcomes to include the cross-system collection of data on measures related to relational permanency and child well-being.
- SB 6109: High-Potency Synthetic Opioids
2024 Regular Session
Description: Clarifies the child removal process in circumstances involving high-potency synthetic opioids and provides funding for prevention services and support.
- HB 1227: Keeping Families Together
Effective Date: July 1, 2023
Description: HB 1227 made significant changes the legal standards, procedural requirements, and judicial inquiries around removal of a child from the home and placement into out-of-home care.
- HB 1194: Strengthening Family Time
Effective Date: July 25, 2021
Description: HB 1194 makes significant changes to the court’s role in ordering visitation with the goal of providing the maximum parent, child, and sibling contact possible, while keeping the child safe.
Recent WA Supreme Court & Court of Appeals Case Decisions
As the highest court in the State of Washington, the mission of the Washington Supreme Court is to uphold the constitution and when called upon through cases, interpret laws passed by the legislature and enforced by the executive branches of government. Below are the recent decisions that pertain to dependency cases. Washington Supreme Court and Court of Appeals decisions can be found here: Washington State Courts – Opinions – Home Page
- In re the Dependency of E.M., J.M., and I.M
Filed October 17, 2024
Supreme Court: Clarifies that dependency fact-finding hearings and disposition hearings are separate proceedings that serve different purposes and are subject to different rules.
- In the Parental Rights to A.G.L., A.S.L., and L.E.L.
Filed October 14, 2024
Court of Appeals, Div I: Concerning the entrance of a default order terminating parental rights.
- In re Dependency of Baby Boy B.
Filed August 29, 2024
Supreme Court: Requires superior courts to hold review hearings every 30 days as long as a child is in shelter care.
- In re the Matter of the Dependency of A.H., L.L., and S.O.-W.
Filed August 29, 2024
Supreme Court: Addresses the requirements for seeking appellate review in cases arising under Title 13 RCW.
- In the Matter of the Dependency of Z.A., S.M.A., and S.A.A.
Filed: August 22, 2024
Supreme Court: Regarding the legal standard for out-of-home placement following a finding of dependency, court determinations of dependency and court-ordered services, and cultural and racial bias in dependency proceedings.
- In Matter of the Welfare of C.J.J.I.
Filed August 22, 2024
Court of Appeals, Div III: Regarding the burden of the State to demonstrate Active Efforts at all hearings where the State is seeking removal or continued out-of-home placement of a child qualifying under ICWA/WICWA.
- In the Matter of the Parental Rights of A.R.
Filed July 29, 2024
Court of Appeals, Div I: Address issues of notice by publication for termination proceedings.
- In the Matter of the Parental Rights to A.R.L.
Filed July 15, 2024
Court of Appeals, Div I: Regarding the statutory burden and right to adequate notice in termination trials
- In the Matter of the Dependency of N.M.L.H. and M.I.S.
Filed June 24, 2024
Court of Appeals, Div I: Addresses the right to procedural due process on a motion for continuance of a termination trial.
- In the Matter of the Dependency of K.V.M
Filed June 10, 2024
Court of Appeals, Div I: Regarding the legal standard for the trial court entering a disposition on an order of dependency.
- In the Matter of the Dependency of N.B.G. and A.R.G.
Filed May 20, 2024
Court of Appeals, Div III: Regarding basis for findings of substantial evidence in support of dependency and out-of-home placement.
- In the Matter of the Guardianship of R.D.
Filed May 14, 2024
Court of Appeals, Div III: Regarding standard of evidence required to terminate a minor guardianship (Chapter 11).
- In the Matter of the Dependency of L.S.
Filed May 14, 2024
Court of Appeals, Div III: Regarding basis for findings of substantial evidence supporting dependency and out-of-home placement.
- In the Matter of the Parental Rights to K.G.O.
Filed May 6, 2024
Court of Appeals, Div I: Addresses standard of evidence for termination of parental rights.
- In the Matter of the Parental Rights to L.G.V.
Filed April 29, 2024
Court of Appeals, Div I: Addresses considerations of service provision to parents in the context of termination proceedings.
- In the Matter of the Dependency of E.M., J.M., and I.M.
Filed April 29, 2024
Court of Appeals, Div I: Regarding the burden of proof and evidence required at disposition for making legally sufficient findings.
- In the Matter of the Dependency of H.G.N-C.
Filed March 18, 2024
Court of Appeals, Div I: Regarding termination of parental rights and determinations that a parent is “unfit”.
- In the Matter of the Dependency of C.E.C.L.
Filed March 18, 2024
Court of Appeals, Div I: Regarding funding for child’s counsel under RCW 13.34.212 in situations where previously terminated parental rights are restored.
- In the Matter of the Dependency of A.R.W.-M.
Filed February 28, 2024
Court of Appeals, Div III: Regarding court’s finding that termination was in the best interest of the child.
- In re Dependency of A.T.
Filed January 25, 2024
Court of Appeals, Div III: Regarding State’s obligation to provide active efforts to parents in order to prevent the breakup of the Indian family.
- In the Matter of the Dependency of Z.A., S.M.A., and S.A.A.
Filed October 23, 2023
Court of Appeals, Div I: Regarding the legal standard for out-of-home placement following a finding of dependency, court determinations of dependency and court-ordered services, and cultural and racial bias in dependency proceedings.
- In the Matter of the Dependency of M.L.W. and I.A.W.
Filed September 18, 2023
Court of Appeals, Div I: Regarding legal standards and evidence at termination of parental rights trials, including the right of a minor child to file a motion to intervene in a case involving a younger sibling.
- In the Matter of the Dependency of G.C.B. and M.J.B.-L.
Filed September 11, 2023
Court of Appeals, Div I: Addresses issues of evidence and waiver of right to counsel in termination trials.
- In the Matter of the Welfare of C.W.M.
Filed August 15, 2023
Court of Appeals, Div II: Addresses whether the Department is required to show reasonable efforts prior to entering a dependency order.
- In the Matter of the Dependency of R.D.
Filed July 11, 2023
Court of Appeals, Div III: Regarding standard of “active efforts” to prevent the breakup of an Indian family.
