Wash. Rev. Code » Title 74 · Chapter 74.20
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 74.20.010 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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It is the responsibility of the state of Washington through the state department of social and health services to conserve the expenditure of public assistance funds, whenever possible, in order that such funds shall not be expended if there are private funds available or which can be made available by judicial process or otherwise to partially or completely meet the financial needs of the children of this state. The failure of parents to provide adequate financial support and care for their children is a major cause of financial dependency and a contributing cause of social delinquency.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide the state of Washington, through the department of social and health services, a more effective and efficient way to effect the support of dependent children by the person or persons who, under the law, are primarily responsible for such support and to lighten the heavy burden of the taxpayer, who in many instances is paying toward the support of dependent children while those persons primarily responsible are avoiding their obligations. It is the intention of the legislature that the powers delegated to the said department in this chapter be liberally construed to the end that persons legally responsible for the care and support of children within the state be required to assume their legal obligations in order to reduce the financial cost to the state of Washington in providing public assistance funds for the care of children. It is the intention of the legislature that the department provide sufficient staff to carry out the purposes of this chapter, chapter 74.20A RCW, the abandonment and nonsupport statutes, and any applicable federal support enforcement statute administered by the department. It is also the intent of the legislature that the staff responsible for support enforcement be encouraged to conduct their support enforcement duties with fairness, courtesy, and the highest professional standards.
[ 1979 ex.s. c 171 s 24; 1979 c 141 s 364; 1963 c 206 s 1; 1959 c 322 s 2.]

Notes:

Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1979–2021 · leading case: In Re the Marriage of Johnson, 634 P.2d 877 (Wash. 1981).
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In Re the Marriage of Johnson, 634 P.2d 877 (Wash. 1981). · cites it 5× “2d 673 (1955); (2) keep children and their custodians off welfare and thus reduce the taxpayers' burden, RCW 74.20.010; S. Rep. No. 96-336, 96th Cong.”
State v. Sullivan, 19 P.3d 1012 (Wash. 2001). “060(3); RCW 74.20.010. [50] See RCW 4.24.350(1) referring to "misuse of judicial process by filing an action known to be false and unfounded.”
State v. Sullivan, 143 Wash. 2d 162 (Wash. 2001). “060(3); RCW 74.20.010. See RCW 4.24.350(1) referring to “misuse of judicial process by filing an action known to be false and unfounded.”
Burley v. Johnson, 658 P.2d 8 (Wash. Ct. App. 1983). “These proceedings are initiated by the State pursuant to its mandate under RCW 74.20.010 2 et seq. to recover the expenditure of public assistance funds for the care of children.”
Guardianship Est. of Keffeler v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 32 P.3d 267 (Wash. 2001). “RCW 74.20.010. The state aggressively pursues this recovery policy, not only seeking money for current maintenance but also sweeping lump sum payments into the treasury to prevent a child’s account from exceeding the $2,000 resource limit imposed by the Social Security…”
Rains v. State, Dept. of Shs, Dcs, 989 P.2d 558 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “RCW 74.20.010. It would be a waste of time and resources to require litigants to go to court to enforce support obligations protected by the full faith and credit clause.”
Rains v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 98 Wash. App. 127 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “RCW 74.20.010. It would be a waste of time and resources to require litigants to go to court to enforce support obligations protected by the full faith and credit clause.”
State v. Duffey, 981 P.2d 1 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “060(3) (surrender of property “other than through judicial process”); RCW 74.20.010 (funds made available by judicial process).”
Ulberg v. Seattle Bonded, Inc., 626 P.2d 522 (Wash. Ct. App. 1981). “" RCW 74.20.010. See also RCW 74.20A.010. The enforcement of child support obligations is a matter of public interest, and collection agencies can be held liable under the Consumer Protection Act for deceptive acts and practices relating to the collection of past-due child…”
Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs. v. Handy, 813 P.2d 610 (Wash. Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 2× “" RCW 74.20.010, in part. WAC 388-11-011(7); Barson v.”
Guardianship Est. of Keffeler v. DSHS, 32 P.3d 267 (Wash. 2001). “RCW 74.20.010. The state aggressively pursues this recovery policy, not only seeking money for current maintenance but also sweeping lump sum payments into the treasury to prevent a child's account from exceeding the $2,000 resource limit imposed by the SSA.”
State Ex Rel. Helms v. Rasch, 698 P.2d 559 (Wash. Ct. App. 1985). “20A is stated in RCW 74.20.010: "It is the responsibility of the state of Washington .”
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