Legal Question in Family Law in Washington

Re: custody

There are at least three approaches to this situation, and each has a different set of documents and legal significance. There is not sufficient space to describe all them in detail. I will summarize: third party custody (also called non-parental custody), guardianship and adoption. The first two are legally considered temporary, but may be effectively permanent. The third is permanent and may be overturned only with great difficulty and with some legal basis. Third party custody would often have some form of parenting plan in it, guardianship would not necessarily have a parenting plan built in and adoption typically would not have a parenting plan built into it. I notice that you have not mentioned the father of the child; his situation and willingness will have a major effect on what can be done.