Title 26 — Title 26 DOMESTIC RELATIONS
26 chapters · 696 sections in this title.
RCW 26.51.010 Findings—Intent.
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The legislature recognizes that individuals who abuse their intimate partners often misuse court proceedings in order to control, harass, intimidate, coerce, and/or impoverish the abused partner. Court proceedings can provide a means for an abuser to exert and reestablish power a…
RCW 26.51.020 Definitions.
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The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Abusive litigation" means litigation where the following apply:(a)(i) The opposing parties have a current or former intimate partner relationship;(ii) The party who is…
RCW 26.51.030 Order restricting abusive litigation—Who may request, when—Instructions, brochures, and forms—Fees.
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(1) A party to a case may request from the court an order restricting abusive litigation if the parties are current or former intimate partners and one party has been found by the court to have committed domestic violence against the other party:(a) In any answer or response to t…
RCW 26.51.040 Hearing—Procedure.
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(1) If a party asserts that they are being subjected to abusive litigation, the court shall attempt to verify that the parties have or previously had an intimate partner relationship and that the party raising the claim of abusive litigation has been found to be a victim of domes…
RCW 26.51.050 Evidence creating a rebuttable presumption that the litigation is primarily for the purpose of harassing, intimidating, or maintaining contact with the other party.
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At the hearing conducted pursuant to RCW 26.51.040, evidence of any of the following creates a rebuttable presumption that litigation is being initiated, advanced, or continued primarily for the purpose of harassing, intimidating, or maintaining contact with the other party:(1) T…
RCW 26.51.060 Burden of proof—Dismissal or denial of pending abusive litigation—Entry of order restricting abusive litigation.
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(1) If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that a party is engaging in abusive litigation, and that any or all of the motions or actions pending before the court are abusive litigation, the litigation shall be dismissed, denied, stricken, or resolved by other dispo…
RCW 26.51.070 Filing of new case or motion by person subject to an order restricting abusive litigation—Requirements—Procedures.
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(1) Except as provided in this section, a person who is subject to an order restricting abusive litigation is prohibited from filing, initiating, advancing, or continuing the litigation against the protected party for the period of time the filing restrictions are in effect.(2) N…
RCW 26.51.900 Construction—2020 c 311.
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This act shall be construed liberally so as to effectuate the goal of protecting survivors of domestic violence from abusive litigation.[ 2020 c 311 s 11.]
RCW 26.51.901 Effective date—2020 c 311.
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This act takes effect January 1, 2021.[ 2020 c 311 s 13.]