Wash. Rev. Code » Title 26 · Chapter 26.12
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 26.12.010 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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Each superior court shall exercise the jurisdiction conferred by this chapter and while sitting in the exercise of such jurisdiction shall be known and referred to as the "family court." A family court proceeding under this chapter is: (1) Any proceeding under this title or any proceeding in which the family court is requested to adjudicate or enforce the rights of the parties or their children regarding the determination or modification of parenting plans, child custody, visitation, or support, or the distribution of property or obligations, or (2) concurrent with the juvenile court, any proceeding under Title 13 or chapter 28A.225 RCW.
[ 1999 c 397 s 6; 1994 sp.s. c 7 s 537; 1991 c 367 s 11; 1983 c 219 s 1; 1949 c 50 s 1; Rem. Supp. 1949 s 997-30.]

Notes:

Finding—Intent—Severability—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following RCW 43.70.540.
Severability—Effective date—Captions not law—1991 c 367: See notes following RCW 26.09.015.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 28 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1986–2023 · leading case: In Re the Marriage of Naval
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In Re the Marriage of Naval (1986) Wash. Ct. App. · cites it 6× “RCW 26.12.010 [2] provides that a superior court will be known and referred to as the "family court" when exercising jurisdiction conferred by that chapter.”
In re the Marriage of Langham (2005) Wash. “RCW 26.12.010. It further has the authority to use “any suitable process or mode of proceeding” to settle disputes over which it has jurisdiction, provided no specific procedure is set forth by statute and the chosen procedure best conforms to the spirit of the law.”
In Re Marriage of Langham (2005) Wash. “RCW 26.12.010. It further has the authority to use "any suitable process or mode of proceeding" to settle disputes over which it has jurisdiction, provided no specific procedure is set forth by statute and the chosen procedure best conforms to the spirit of the law.”
Gourley v. Gourley (2006) Wash. “*1193 See RCW 26.12.010, .175. The commissioner had Gourley's declaration that was consistent with, though less inculpatory than, the admissions he made to law enforcement about inappropriately touching N.”
Gourley v. Gourley (2006) Wash. “See RCW 26.12.010, .175. The commissioner had Gourley’s declaration that was consistent with, though less inculpatory than, the admissions he made to law enforcement about inappropriately touching N.”
In Re Marriage of Furrow (2003) Wash. Ct. App. “010 provides: Each superior court shall exercise the jurisdiction conferred by this chapter and while sitting in the exercise of such jurisdiction shall be known and referred to as the "family court." A family court proceeding under this chapter is: (1) Any proceeding under [RCW…”
In re the Marriage of Furrow (2003) Wash. Ct. App. “Moreover, RCW 26.12.010 provides: Each superior court shall exercise the jurisdiction conferred by this chapter and while sitting in the exercise of such jurisdiction shall be known and referred to as the “family court.”
In re the Dependency of E.H. (2010) Wash. Ct. App. · cites it 3× “RCW 26.12.010. Importantly, however, juvenile court and family court are not separate courts but, rather, are divisions of the superior court.”
Angelo v. Angelo (2008) Wash. Ct. App. “RCW 26.12.010. It further has the authority to use “any suitable process or mode of proceeding” to settle disputes over which it has jurisdiction, provided no specific procedure is set forth by statute and the chosen procedure best conforms to the spirit of the law.”
In Re the Marriage of Thurston (1998) Wash. Ct. App. “’ A family law proceeding under this chapter is any proceeding under this title or any proceeding in which the family court is requested to adjudicate or enforce the rights of the parties or their children regarding the determination or modification of parenting plans, child…”
In Re the Marriage of Major & Major (1993) Wash. Ct. App. “" RCW 26.12.010. In light of this broad constitutional and statutory grant of subject matter jurisdiction to superior courts, courts may only find a lack of jurisdiction under compelling circumstances, such as when it is explicitly limited by the Legislature or Congress.”
In Re JN (2004) Wash. Ct. App. “225 RCW as provided in RCW 26.12.010, and to enter judgment and make orders with the same power, force, and effect as any judge of the juvenile court, subject to motion or demand by any party within ten days from the entry of the order or judgment by the court commissioner as…”
Show all 28 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 26.12.010(1) — 4 cases
In Re the Marriage of Thurston (1998) Wash. Ct. App. “’ A family law proceeding under this chapter is any proceeding under this title or any proceeding in which the family court is requested to adjudicate or enforce the rights of the parties or their children regarding the determination or modification of parenting plans, child…”
Tatum Acevedo v. Anthony J. Jordan (2019) Wash. Ct. App.
In Re The Custody Of: B.M. (2021) Wash. Ct. App.
Mitchell King v. Michelle Marie Kaelin Platt (2014) Wash. Ct. App.
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