Due to an impending law change, the current rules regarding Non-Parental Custody will no longer be in effect at the end of this year. Essentially, this means that any incomplete cases currently filed or filed through the end of the year will have to be restarted from scratch if it is not finalized by the court before December 31st, 2020.
Trying to finish by the end of the year? Here’s what you should keep in mind:
· The court must sign your final paperwork by December 31st, 2020, or you will have to start over under the new law.
· There are a large number of forms, background checks to complete, and processes to complete in order to finalize Non-Parental Custody.
· Refer to the Spokane County instructions and communicate with the courthouse to see if you can finalize before the end of the year and what you have to do to make it possible.
· The system is working to finalize as many cases as possible before the end of the year, but cannot change existing law to shorten the timeline. By responding to communication from the court quickly and attending any hearings schedule, you will increase your chance to finalize your case.
· If you complete your case by the end of the year, whatever you finalize will be legally binding in 2021, even after the law changes.
What if I can’t complete in time?
· If you can’t finish before the end of the year, you will have to completely start over in January 2021.
· If a judge tells you that you will not be able to complete your case before the end of the year, they are probably correct.
The information related in this post is informational only, and not intended as legal advice. If you are seeking custody of a minor child, contact an attorney. The application for the VLP’s advice sessions can be accessed here.
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