Grandparents And Visitation
RCW 26.11.020 — an ongoing and substantial relationship, and harm if visitation is denied
In Washington, a person who is not the child's parent may petition for visitation if all of these are true:
- The petitioner has an ongoing and substantial relationship with the child.
- The petitioner is a relative of the child or of a parent.
- The child is likely to suffer harm or a substantial risk of harm if visitation is denied.
What a substantial relationship takes. A relationship formed and sustained through interaction, companionship and mutual affection, without expectation of pay, with substantial continuity for at least two years, or for at least half the child's life if the child is under two years, and with a shared expectation of a continuing relationship.
The rest of the chapter sets the procedure and the presumption in a parent's favor once a petition is filed, and is not reproduced here. Whether a petition can succeed is a question for the court and for a licensed Washington attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- RCW 26.11.020 — Petition for visitation
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Washington attorney.