Child support agreements can be made outside of court. However, before a child support agreement becomes legally binding and enforceable, it will have to be approved by a judge and turned into a court order.
This step is essential because if a child support agreement is not court-approved, a parent can stop paying, and the pact will not be enforced. Talk with a Seattle child support lawyer if you want help with a child support agreement. Your family attorney is your legal advocate and representative.
In these roles, they will address any questions you have about whether child support agreements can be made out of court. Plus, they will prioritize your rights and those of your kids throughout your litigation.
Can You Get a Child Support Agreement Without Court in Washington State?
In your case, you and your co-parent can negotiate a child support agreement without court involvement. But for this agreement to become official in accordance with Washington State law, a judge will have to approve it. Otherwise, the agreement will not be considered legal and enforceable.
Mediation is sometimes a viable option for parents to come to terms on a child support agreement outside of court. In mediation, a neutral third-party will facilitate communication between you and your co-parent regarding child support and other topics relating to your case. From here, if you reach a child support agreement, you can go to family court for approval.
It is generally a good idea to have a Seattle family lawyer at your disposal during child support agreement negotiations. Your attorney can help you negotiate a child support agreement that is fair and equitable for both parents and their kids.
Plus, they will give you peace of mind in the knowledge that you can continue with your life as they handle your legal matters.
Key Factors to Consider with Child Support Agreements Made Outside of Court
Together, you and your co-parent could prepare a child support agreement outside of the courtroom. Regardless, this agreement could cause problems for you and your children down the line.
Because of this, child support lawyers will encourage you to account for various factors relative to any agreements made outside of court, such as:
- Enforceability: Just because you and your co-parent are cordial toward one another now does not guarantee that things will stay that way forever. If you do not have a court-approved child support agreement, the parent making payments based on it can stop doing so at any time, and they will not be held legally responsible for their actions.
- Judge’s review: You and your co-parent can agree to a child support pact outside of court. Even if this is the case, if a family law judge does not see the agreement as lining up with the best interests of both parents and their children, they will not approve it, and the agreement will not be legally binding and enforceable.
- Washington State’s child support laws: The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Chapter 26.19 establishes child support guidelines. You and your co-parent can use these guidelines as you negotiate a child support agreement outside of court, which can boost your chances of having a family law judge approve the pact.
Err on the side of caution if you are unsure about whether you will be getting enough child support or have concerns about other aspects of a child support agreement that you and your co-parent are negotiating.
Partner with family attorneys, and they will guide you through child support negotiations and address any challenges that you face along the way.
What Will Happen if You and Your Co-Parent Agree to Child Support Payments Outside of Court?
In the short term, agreeing to child support outside of court may seem ideal for you and your children. One parent will make child support payments to the other. Meanwhile, neither parent will have to deal with the stress and costs of litigation to finalize the terms of a child support agreement.
Keep in mind that things can change quickly in the aftermath of a child support pact. If the parent who is making support payments is suddenly unhappy with doing so, they are allowed to stop at any time. This means the parent receiving these support payments could be put in a bind financially, with no legal recourse available to them.
Ultimately, it is understandable for a parent to worry about how much child support they will pay if they have no income and other topics that could come up in a child support case.
But remember, legal help is available. Work with a family attorney, and they can help you and your co-parent negotiate a child support pact that works well for both of you and your kids.
Learn More About Child Support Agreements in Washington State
Making a child support agreement outside of court does not formalize the pact. If you want a child support agreement that is considered legal and can be enforced properly, it is beneficial to get family attorneys on your side as you negotiate its terms.
The team at Dellino Family Law has more than 180 years of combined experience. We know how emotionally taxing it can be to negotiate a child support agreement in court or outside of it. Trust our family lawyers to assist you with your child support negotiations. Contact us for more information.
