Petition — Dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership, legal separation, or for a declaration concerning validity of marriage or domestic partnership — Contents — Parties — Certificate.
RCW 26.09.020
in effect(1) A petition in a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership, legal separation, or for a declaration concerning the validity of a marriage or domestic partnership shall allege: (a) The last known state of residence of each party, and if a party's last known state of residence is Washington, the last known county of residence; (b) The date and place of the marriage or, for domestic partnerships, the date of registration, and place of residence when the domestic partnership was registered; (c) If the parties are separated the date on which the separation occurred; (d) The names and ages of any child dependent upon either or both spouses or either or both domestic partners and whether the wife or domestic partner is pregnant; (e) Any arrangements as to the residential schedule of, decision making for, dispute resolution for, and support of the children and the maintenance of a spouse or domestic partner; (f) A statement specifying whether there is community or separate property owned by the parties to be disposed of; (g) If the county has established a program under RCW 26.12.260 , a statement affirming that the moving party met and conferred with the program prior to filing the petition; (h) The relief sought. (2) Either or both parties to the marriage or to the domestic partnership may initiate the proceeding. (3) The petitioner shall complete and file with the petition a certificate under RCW 43.70.150 on the form provided by the department of health and the confidential information form under RCW 26.23.050 . (4) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or prohibit the ability of parties to obtain appropriate emergency orders.
(1) A petition in a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership, legal separation, or for a declaration concerning the validity of a marriage or domestic partnership shall allege:
(a) The last known state of residence of each party, and if a party's last known state of residence is Washington, the last known county of residence;
(b) The date and place of the marriage or, for domestic partnerships, the date of registration, and place of residence when the domestic partnership was registered;
(c) If the parties are separated the date on which the separation occurred;
(d) The names and ages of any child dependent upon either or both spouses or either or both domestic partners and whether the wife or domestic partner is pregnant;
(e) Any arrangements as to the residential schedule of, decision making for, dispute resolution for, and support of the children and the maintenance of a spouse or domestic partner;
(f) A statement specifying whether there is community or separate property owned by the parties to be disposed of;
(g) If the county has established a program under RCW 26.12.260 , a statement affirming that the moving party met and conferred with the program prior to filing the petition;
(h) The relief sought.
(2) Either or both parties to the marriage or to the domestic partnership may initiate the proceeding.
(3) The petitioner shall complete and file with the petition a certificate under RCW 43.70.150 on the form provided by the department of health and the confidential information form under RCW 26.23.050 .
(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or prohibit the ability of parties to obtain appropriate emergency orders.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.09&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026