Wash. Rev. Code » Title 26 · Chapter 26.18
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 26.18.050 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) If an obligor fails to comply with a support or maintenance order, a petition or motion may be filed without notice under RCW 26.18.040 to initiate a contempt action as provided in chapter 7.21 RCW. If the court finds there is reasonable cause to believe the obligor has failed to comply with a support or maintenance order, the court may issue an order to show cause requiring the obligor to appear at a certain time and place for a hearing, at which time the obligor may appear to show cause why the relief requested should not be granted. A copy of the petition or motion shall be served on the obligor along with the order to show cause.
(2) Service of the order to show cause shall be by personal service, or in the manner provided in the civil rules of superior court or applicable statute.
(3) If the order to show cause served upon the obligor included a warning that an arrest warrant could be issued for failure to appear, the court may issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the obligor if the obligor fails to appear on the return date provided in the order.
(4) If the obligor contends at the hearing that he or she lacked the means to comply with the support or maintenance order, the obligor shall establish that he or she exercised due diligence in seeking employment, in conserving assets, or otherwise in rendering himself or herself able to comply with the court's order.
(5) As provided in RCW 26.18.040, the court retains continuing jurisdiction under this chapter and may use a contempt action to enforce a support or maintenance order until the obligor satisfies all duties of support, including arrearages, that accrued pursuant to the support or maintenance order.
[ 2008 c 6 s 1030; 1993 c 426 s 5; 1989 c 373 s 22; 1984 c 260 s 5.]

Notes:

Part headings not law—Severability—2008 c 6: See RCW 26.60.900 and 26.60.901.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 34 cases (8 in the last 5 years), 1988–2026 · leading case: State v. Thompson, 92 P.3d 228 (Wash. 2004).
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State v. Thompson, 92 P.3d 228 (Wash. 2004). · cites it 2× “This warrant was issued under RCW 26.18.050, which provides that a civil bench warrant may be issued in such circumstances.”
State v. Thompson, 151 Wash. 2d 793 (Wash. 2004). · cites it 2× “This warrant was issued under RCW 26.18.050, which provides that a civil bench warrant may be issued in such circumstances.”
Rhinevault v. Rhinevault, 959 P.2d 687 (Wash. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 2× “See RCW 26.18.050. The court may use a contempt action to enforce a support or maintenance order until all of the obligor’s duties accruing under the order have been satisfied.”
State Ex Rel. Daly v. Snyder, 72 P.3d 780 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 4× “[21] Although the statute does not specifically mention incarceration, this power is included in the general contempt statute, [22] and nothing indicates that it does not apply to contempt proceedings under RCW 26.18.050. Snyder argues that the statute cannot be read to allow…”
State v. Thompson, 112 Wash. App. 787 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 2× “” Thompson’s arrest warrant apparently was issued under RCW 26.18.050, which provides: (1) If an obligor fails to comply with a support or spousal maintenance order, a petition or motion may be filed without notice under RCW 26.”
Aetna Life Ins. v. Bunt, 754 P.2d 993 (Wash. 1988). “See RCW 26.18.050 and RCW 26.18.070 et seq. We cannot assume that the State Legislature ever intended that the proceeds of a life insurance policy that was legally pledged to the minor children as security for future child support would be insulated from such child support…”
State v. Thompson, 51 P.3d 143 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 2× “" Thompson's arrest warrant apparently was issued under RCW 26.18.050, which provides: (1) If an obligor fails to comply with a support or spousal maintenance order, a petition or motion may be filed without notice under RCW 26.”
State ex rel. Wulfsberg v. MacDonald, 11 P.3d 333 (Wash. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 3× “As the court explained: The court has authority pursuant to RCW 26.18.050 to use a contempt action to enforce support orders until the obligor satisfied all duties of support, including arrearages that ac *210 crued pursuant to the support or maintenance orders.”
State ex rel. Daly v. Snyder, 117 Wash. App. 602 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 4× “[ 21 ] Although the statute does not specifically mention incarceration, this power is included in the general contempt statute, 22 and nothing indicates that it does not apply to contempt proceedings under RCW 26.18.050. Snyder argues that the statute cannot be read to allow…”
Graves v. Duerden, 754 P.2d 1027 (Wash. Ct. App. 1988). “2d 822 (1948); RCW 26.18.050. In Decker v. Decker, 52 Wn.”
State v. Bloomer, 973 P.2d 1062 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 3× “He received the proper notice required by RCW 26.18.050. 2 . Mr. Bloomer also claims the number and frequency of the review hearings held pursuant to the order to show cause regarding contempt sentenced him to a “lifetime of probation” in violation of his due process rights.”
State Ex Rel. Shafer v. Bloomer, 973 P.2d 1062 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 3× “He received the proper notice required by RCW 26.18.050. [2] Mr. Bloomer also claims the number and frequency of the review hearings held pursuant to the order to show cause regarding contempt sentenced him to a "lifetime of probation" in violation of his due process rights.”
Show all 34 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 26.18.050(1) — 14 cases
In Re The Marriage Of: Shilo Strickland F/k/a Leyerzapf v. Bjorn Leyerzapf (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
Yohannes v. Olympic Collection Inc (OCI) (W.D. Wash. 2022).
In the Matter of the Marriage of: Devin Christopher Kienow & Teresa A. Dittentholer Kienow (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).
In re the Marriage of Peter A. Johnson & Robin E. Johnson (Wash. Ct. App. 2014).
Royal Fish, Sr., Appellant/cross-respondent v. Lisa Fish, Respondent/cross-appellant (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 26.18.050(2) — 3 cases
In Re The Marriage Of: Shilo Strickland F/k/a Leyerzapf v. Bjorn Leyerzapf (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
In the Matter of the Marriage of: Devin Christopher Kienow & Teresa A. Dittentholer Kienow (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).
In Re The Marriage Of: Valerie Ndje Nlend, V. Rodrigue Alain Ndje Nlend (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 26.18.050(3) — 2 cases
State v. Thompson, 92 P.3d 228 (Wash. 2004). “This warrant was issued under RCW 26.18.050, which provides that a civil bench warrant may be issued in such circumstances.”
State v. Thompson, 151 Wash. 2d 793 (Wash. 2004). “This warrant was issued under RCW 26.18.050, which provides that a civil bench warrant may be issued in such circumstances.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 26.18.050(4) — 10 cases
In Re The Marriage Of: Shilo Strickland F/k/a Leyerzapf v. Bjorn Leyerzapf (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
Christine Crabtree v. Donald Clinton Crabtree (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).
In the Matter of the Marriage of: Devin Christopher Kienow & Teresa A. Dittentholer Kienow (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).
Thomas Baicy v. Danelle Shay (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
Vikas Luthra v. Aradhna Luthra (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 26.18.050(5) — 9 cases
State Ex Rel. Daly v. Snyder, 72 P.3d 780 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). “[21] Although the statute does not specifically mention incarceration, this power is included in the general contempt statute, [22] and nothing indicates that it does not apply to contempt proceedings under RCW 26.18.050. Snyder argues that the statute cannot be read to allow…”
Rhinevault v. Rhinevault, 959 P.2d 687 (Wash. Ct. App. 1998). “See RCW 26.18.050. The court may use a contempt action to enforce a support or maintenance order until all of the obligor’s duties accruing under the order have been satisfied.”
State ex rel. Daly v. Snyder, 117 Wash. App. 602 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). “[ 21 ] Although the statute does not specifically mention incarceration, this power is included in the general contempt statute, 22 and nothing indicates that it does not apply to contempt proceedings under RCW 26.18.050. Snyder argues that the statute cannot be read to allow…”
State ex rel. Wulfsberg v. MacDonald, 11 P.3d 333 (Wash. Ct. App. 2000). “As the court explained: The court has authority pursuant to RCW 26.18.050 to use a contempt action to enforce support orders until the obligor satisfied all duties of support, including arrearages that ac *210 crued pursuant to the support or maintenance orders.”
State v. Bloomer, 973 P.2d 1062 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “He received the proper notice required by RCW 26.18.050. 2 . Mr. Bloomer also claims the number and frequency of the review hearings held pursuant to the order to show cause regarding contempt sentenced him to a “lifetime of probation” in violation of his due process rights.”
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