Wash. Rev. Code » Title 26 · Chapter 26.33
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 26.33.020 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Adoptee" means a person who is to be adopted or who has been adopted.
(2) "Adoptive parent" means the person or persons who seek to adopt or have adopted an adoptee.
(3) "Agency" means any public or private association, corporation, or individual licensed or certified by the department as a child-placing agency under chapter 74.15 RCW or as an adoption agency.
(4) "Alleged genetic parent" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 26.26A.010.
(5) "Birth parent" means the woman who gave birth to the child or alleged genetic parent of the child, including a presumed parent under chapter 26.26A RCW, whether or not any such person's parent-child relationship has been terminated by a court of competent jurisdiction. "Birth parent" does not include a woman who gave birth to the child or alleged genetic parent of the child, including a presumed parent under chapter 26.26A RCW, if the parent-child relationship was terminated because of an act for which the person was found guilty under chapter 9A.42 or 9A.44 RCW.
(6) "Child" means a person under eighteen years of age.
(7) "Court" means the superior court.
(8) "Department" means the department of children, youth, and families.
(9) "Guardian ad litem" means a person, not related to a party to the action, appointed by the court to represent the best interests of a party who is under a legal disability.
(10) "Individual approved by the court" or "qualified salaried court employee" means a person who has a master's degree in social work or a related field and one year of experience in social work, or a bachelor's degree and two years of experience in social work, and includes a person not having such qualifications only if the court makes specific findings of fact that are entered of record establishing that the person has reasonably equivalent experience.
(11) "Legal guardian" means the department, an agency, or a person, other than a parent or stepparent, appointed by the court to promote the child's general welfare, with the authority and duty to make decisions affecting the child's development.
(12) "Nonidentifying information" includes, but is not limited to, the following information about the birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptee:
(a) Age in years at the time of adoption;
(b) Heritage, including nationality, ethnic background, and race;
(c) Education, including number of years of school completed at the time of adoption, but not name or location of school;
(d) General physical appearance, including height, weight, color of hair, eyes, and skin, or other information of a similar nature;
(e) Religion;
(f) Occupation, but not specific titles or places of employment;
(g) Talents, hobbies, and special interests;
(h) Circumstances leading to the adoption;
(i) Medical and genetic history of birth parents;
(j) First names;
(k) Other children of birth parents by age, sex, and medical history;
(l) Extended family of birth parents by age, sex, and medical history;
(m) The fact of the death, and age and cause, if known;
(n) Photographs;
(o) Name of agency or individual that facilitated the adoption.
(13) "Parent" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 26.26A.010.
(14) "Relinquish or relinquishment" means the voluntary surrender of custody of a child to the department, an agency, or prospective adoptive parents.
[ 2019 c 46 s 5034. Prior: 2017 3rd sp.s. c 6 s 319; 1993 c 81 s 1; 1990 c 146 s 1; 1984 c 155 s 2.]

Notes:

Effective date—2017 3rd sp.s. c 6 ss 102, 104-115, 201-227, 301-337, 401-419, 501-513, 801-803, and 805-822: See note following RCW 43.216.025.
Conflict with federal requirements—2017 3rd sp.s. c 6: See RCW 43.216.908.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 20 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1992–2023 · leading case: Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, 133 S. Ct. 2552 (2013).
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Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, 133 S. Ct. 2552 (2013). · cites it 2× “In Washington, an “alleged father[’s]” consent to adoption is required absent the termination of his parental rights, Wash. Rev. Code §§26.33.020 (1), 26.33.160(1)(b) (2012); and those rights may be terminated only “upon a showing by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence” not…”
In Re Custody of SHB, 74 P.3d 674 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 3× “26.011(12) ("`parent' means an individual who has established a parent-child relationship under RCW 26.”
Luby v. Dasilva, 118 Wash. App. 71 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 3× “RCW 26.33.020 provides in part: “Parent” means the natural or adoptive mother or father of a child, including a presumed father under chapter 26.”
McKinney v. State, 134 Wash. 2d 388 (Wash. 1998). · cites it 3× “Inexplicably, the Legislature has relied on the definition of “prospective adoptive parent, as defined in RCW 26.33.020” in other contexts, but no such definition appears therein.”
McKinney v. State, 950 P.2d 461 (Wash. 1998). · cites it 3× “[10] Inexplicably, the Legislature has relied on the definition of "prospective adoptive parent, as defined in RCW 26.33.020" in other contexts, but no such definition appears therein.”
In Re Marriage of Furrow, 63 P.3d 821 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). “" RCW 26.33.020(11) (emphasis ours). A parent's petition for relinquishment to the department or to an adoption agency " shall " be accompanied by a "written consent to adoption.”
In Re Est. of Fleming, 21 P.3d 281 (Wash. 2001). · cites it 2× “011 defines "parent" as "that parent or parents who have the right of legal custody of the child" and as "biological or adoptive parents of a child unless the legal rights of that person have been terminated by judicial proceedings.”
In re the Marriage of Furrow, 115 Wash. App. 661 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). “” RCW 26.33.020(11) (emphasis added). A parent’s petition for relinquishment to the department or to an adoption agency “shall” be accompanied by a “written consent to adoption.”
Avery v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 150 Wash. 2d 409 (Wash. 2003). “In other contexts, the legislature has relied on the definition of “prospective adoptive parent, as defined in RCW 26.33.020.” See former RCW 43.43.830(l)(c) (2002), amended by Laws or 2003, ch.”
In Re Adoption of BT, 78 P.3d 634 (Wash. 2003). “all rights, powers, privileges, immunities, duties, and obligations, including any rights to custody, control, visitation, or support existing between the child and parent shall be severed and terminated and the parent shall have no standing to appear at any further legal…”
In Re Jn, 95 P.3d 414 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). “" RCW 26.33.020(5). In addition, RCW 26.33.”
In re the Welfare of J.N., 123 Wash. App. 564 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). “” RCW 26.33.020(5). In addition, RCW 26.33.”
Show all 20 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 26.33.020(1) — 1 case
Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, 133 S. Ct. 2552 (2013). “In Washington, an “alleged father[’s]” consent to adoption is required absent the termination of his parental rights, Wash. Rev. Code §§26.33.020 (1), 26.33.160(1)(b) (2012); and those rights may be terminated only “upon a showing by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence” not…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 26.33.020(10) — 1 case
Harrington v. Pailthorp, 841 P.2d 1258 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 26.33.020(11) — 6 cases
In Re Marriage of Furrow, 63 P.3d 821 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). “" RCW 26.33.020(11) (emphasis ours). A parent's petition for relinquishment to the department or to an adoption agency " shall " be accompanied by a "written consent to adoption.”
In re the Marriage of Furrow, 115 Wash. App. 661 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). “” RCW 26.33.020(11) (emphasis added). A parent’s petition for relinquishment to the department or to an adoption agency “shall” be accompanied by a “written consent to adoption.”
In Re Dependency of MS, 236 P.3d 214 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010).
Sigurdson v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 156 Wash. App. 907 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010).
In the Matter of the Custody of G.A.-K.K. (Wash. Ct. App. 2019).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 26.33.020(13) — 1 case
M.M. v. Tacoma Sch. Dist. No 10 (W.D. Wash. 2023).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 26.33.020(3) — 1 case
In The Matter Of The Marriage Of: Marcus Ross, V. Shawna Hubbard (Wash. Ct. App. 2023).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 26.33.020(4) — 2 cases
McKinney v. State, 134 Wash. 2d 388 (Wash. 1998). “Inexplicably, the Legislature has relied on the definition of “prospective adoptive parent, as defined in RCW 26.33.020” in other contexts, but no such definition appears therein.”
McKinney v. State, 950 P.2d 461 (Wash. 1998). “[10] Inexplicably, the Legislature has relied on the definition of "prospective adoptive parent, as defined in RCW 26.33.020" in other contexts, but no such definition appears therein.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 26.33.020(5) — 2 cases
In Re Jn, 95 P.3d 414 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). “" RCW 26.33.020(5). In addition, RCW 26.33.”
In re the Welfare of J.N., 123 Wash. App. 564 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). “” RCW 26.33.020(5). In addition, RCW 26.33.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 26.33.020(7) — 2 cases
McKinney v. State, 134 Wash. 2d 388 (Wash. 1998). “Inexplicably, the Legislature has relied on the definition of “prospective adoptive parent, as defined in RCW 26.33.020” in other contexts, but no such definition appears therein.”
McKinney v. State, 950 P.2d 461 (Wash. 1998). “[10] Inexplicably, the Legislature has relied on the definition of "prospective adoptive parent, as defined in RCW 26.33.020" in other contexts, but no such definition appears therein.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 26.33.020(8) — 4 cases
Luby v. Dasilva, 118 Wash. App. 71 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). “RCW 26.33.020 provides in part: “Parent” means the natural or adoptive mother or father of a child, including a presumed father under chapter 26.”
In Re Est. of Fleming, 21 P.3d 281 (Wash. 2001). “011 defines "parent" as "that parent or parents who have the right of legal custody of the child" and as "biological or adoptive parents of a child unless the legal rights of that person have been terminated by judicial proceedings.”
In Re Custody of SHB, 74 P.3d 674 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). “26.011(12) ("`parent' means an individual who has established a parent-child relationship under RCW 26.”
Marzan v. Kovacs, 143 Wash. 2d 412 (Wash. 2001).
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