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Juvenile Court Department of the King County Superior Court
Juvenile Court Info Juvenile Offenders Truancy/ARY/CHINS Juvenile Dependency |
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Upon the filing of a CHINS petition, the child may be placed, if not already placed, by DSHS in a crisis residential center, foster family home, licensed group home facility, or any other suitable residence to be determined by DSHS. |
Contact your local Family Reconciliation Services (FRS) office at DSHS and request an appointment for intake and assessment. At the conclusion of this meeting, the intake caseworker will prepare a Family Assessment. Request a copy of the family assessment and attach it to the petition prior to filing. The Court must have a copy of the FRS assessment before proceeding with the hearing. Family Reconciliation Services (FRS) 1-800-609-8764 Days, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 1-800-562-5624 After hours, 4:30 p.m.-8 a.m.
Petitions must be filed in person in the Court Clerk’s Office at Juvenile Court (1211 E. Alder, Seattle) or at the Maleng Regional Justice Center (401 - 4th Ave. N, Kent). The Court must have a copy of the FRS assessment before proceeding with the hearing.
Motions for Continuance, Contempt Motions must first be approved by the court before being filed with the Clerk’s Office. Contact a case manager as listed below in the Contempt section.
After filing a petition, it must be properly served to the opposing party by someone other than the petitioner. This person MUST be someone other than the petitioner, who is age 18 or older. This person must have handed the party a copy of the documents that are coming before the court. After the server delivers the court papers to the opposing party, the server should complete the Declaration of Service form. That form requires the server to make a sworn statement to the court (under oath) that s/he served the party with the necessary court papers. The server should date and sign the Declaration of Service at the bottom and return it to the party requesting his/her services. That form constitutes "proof of service" and must be brought to the hearing.
If the child is on the run and personal service is not possible contact a case manager for further information.
If DSHS is involved in your case, one of the parties should ensure that a copy of the court order is delivered to the appropriate worker. Fax, mail, or other means of notification is acceptable.
If an interpreter is necessary, let the Clerk's office know at the time of filing. At a minimum, provide your name, the child's name, and the language requested.
If the interpreter is for the child, King County Superior Court will pay for all interpreter services. If the interpreter is for the parent, the court will arrange and pay for interpreter services at the first hearing; at subsequent hearings, the court will only pay for interpreter services if the court has made a finding of indigency.
The parent shall be financially responsible for costs related to the court-ordered plan (counseling, drug/alcohol evaluations/treatment, mental health evaluations, etc.).
Whenever the court approves an out-of-home placement, the court shall inquire into the ability of the parents to contribute to the child's support. If the court finds that the parents are able to contribute to the support of the child, the court shall order them to make support payments. However, a parent who has BOTH opposed the placement and continuously sought reconciliation with, and return of the child shall NOT be financially responsible for out-of-home placement costs.
The child is automatically assigned a court-appointed attorney for all hearings. Under a CHINS proceeding, a court-appointed attorney may be provided for the parent if s/he meets the financial requirements as determined by the Office of Public Defense (OPD). It is the responsibility of the parent to undergo financial screening with OPD. There is a $25.00 fee for this screening. Under the ARY petition, a parent is not entitled to a court-appointed attorney, regardless of financial need. A parent always has the right to obtain an attorney at his/her own expense.
For more information about how to file petitions, contact Mona Johnen, 206-205-9732.
At the time you file a petition with the Court Clerk's Office, you will receive a court date for a fact-finding hearing.
At the Fact Finding hearing, the court will grant the petition if the petitioner alleges the statutory requirements and those allegations are proven by a preponderance of the evidence. After the facts have been decided, the court may impose conditions of supervision on the child. The court may also order the parent to participate in services. This may be done at fact-finding or at a separate dispositional hearing.
No condition of supervision shall include |
At the conclusion of the disposition, the court will schedule the matter for a review hearing within 90 days. At this hearing, the court reviews the conditions of supervision previously imposed and makes any necessary additions or modifications.
When testifying before the Court:
Failure by any party to comply with a court order is contempt of court. Violations of the court order should be reported to the court through the filing of a contempt motion. A contempt motion may be filed by a parent, a child or a person/agency having custody of the child. If the court makes a finding of contempt at a contempt hearing, the court may impose coercive sanctions, such as research papers or community service hours, alternatives to secure detention, such as work crew or electronic home monitoring, confinement for up to seven days in juvenile detention or a fine of up to $100, or any combination of these sanctions. You do not need to wait for a scheduled review hearing to report violations of the court's orders.
An appointment with a case manager is necessary to file a contempt motion. You MUST call ahead and schedule an appointment to meet with a case manager for assistance, or drop in during open office hours (listen to phone messages for times).
Case Managers:
Maleng Regional Justice Center (Kent)
Amy Andree (amy.andree@kingcounty.gov), (206) 205-2578
(Auburn, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Highline, Kent, Renton, Tahoma, & Tukwila school districts)
Juvenile Courthouse (Seattle)
Adam Myers (adam.myers@kingcounty.gov), (206) 296-1135
(Bellevue, Issaquah, Lake Washington, Mercer Island, Northshore, Riverview, Seattle, Shoreline, Skykomish, Snoqualmie, & Vashon school districts)
How can a Case Manager help?
What can't a Case Manager do?
If you have a comment, complaint or concern about the services provided by a Superior Court Case Manager, please call 206-205-9335 to speak with the Program Manager.
King County Juvenile Court
1211 East Alder
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 205-9500 (general recorded information)
(206) 205-9590 (main receptionist 8:15 am- 4:30 pm Monday through Friday)
(206) 205-3865 (ARY/CHINS & Truancy recorded information)
Maleng Regional Justice Center
401 4th Ave. N
Kent, WA 98032
(206) 205-2501
Family Reconciliation Services (FRS)
1-800-609-8764 Days, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
1-800-562-5624 After hours, 4:30 p.m.-8 a.m.
Court Clerk’s Office – Juvenile Court
1211 East Alder, 3rd floor, Room 307
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 296-1139
Court Clerks' Office – Maleng Regional Justice Center
401-4th Ave. N, Room 2C
Kent, WA 98032
(206) 205-8448
Office of Public Defense
Financial Screener
(206) 296-7662
Public Defender Agencies
Society of Counsel Representing Accused Persons - Seattle Office
1401 East Jefferson, #200
Seattle, WA 98122
Phone: (206) 322-8400
Fax: (206) 726-3170
Society of Counsel Representing Accused Persons - Kent Office
400 W. Gowe St. #200
Kent, WA 98032
Phone: (253) 852-9460
Associated Counsel for the Accused - Seattle Office
110 Prefontaine Place S., Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: (206) 624-8105
Fax: (206) 624-9339
TDD: (206) 749-4054
Associated Counsel for the Accused - Kent Office
420 West Harrison, Suite 201
Kent, WA 98032
Phone: (253) 520-6509
Fax: (253) 520-6635
TDD: (253) 850-6960
The Defender Association
810 Third Avenue, 8th Floor
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: (206) 447-3900
Fax: (206) 447-4588