Bill > SB5706

This bill establishes comprehensive guidelines for child custody cases involving domestic violence or child abuse, prioritizing child safety as the paramount concern. The legislation requires professionals involved in custody decisions to have specialized training in domestic violence dynamics, child abuse, and associated safety risks. The bill prohibits courts from using outdated or unscientific practices and mandates that experts have substantial expertise in recognizing domestic violence patterns. In cases where domestic violence is proven by a preponderance of evidence, the safer parent must receive sole custody, with the abusive parent initially granted only supervised visitation. The abusive parent must complete a six-month accountability program and demonstrate understanding of the harm caused before potentially obtaining unsupervised visitation. The bill protects parents making good-faith abuse complaints and discourages "high conflict" approaches in cases with domestic violence allegations. For child sexual abuse cases, the bill requires professionals to have specialized training and emphasizes the complexity of investigating such claims. Additionally, the legislation mandates specialized training for judges and guardians ad litem, encourages the use of current scientific research, and seeks to rectify historical practices that have inadequately protected children in custody proceedings.

Justice

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5706&Year=2025&Initiative=false