Free Guides & Tools

Everything you need to handle WA family court - without paying $400/hr

Calculators, deep-dive guides, and plain-English explanations of how Washington State family court actually works. Written by a parent who went through it pro se and won.

Deep-dive guides

Long-form, comprehensive articles. Each comes with a free interactive tool.

Pillar guide
WA Family Court Appeal Deadlines: The Complete Guide
Plain-English guide to RAP 5.2's 30-day deadline, what counts as the start date, what happens if you miss it, and the four ways the deadline can be extended.
Read the full guide ->
Pillar guide
How to Prepare for a WA Family Court Trial Pro Se
A working parent's guide to trial prep. What documents you need, how to organize exhibits, what judges actually look for, and a 12-week timeline.
Read the full guide ->
Pillar guide
How WA Courts Decide Custody: 16 Factors Explained
Every factor in RCW 26.09.187, what evidence supports each one, and how to honestly evaluate your case before fighting for an outcome you can't get.
Read the full guide ->

Free interactive tools

Built specifically for Washington pro se parents. No credit card. Each emails you results with tailored next-step recommendations.

Free - 2 minutes
Appeal Deadline Calculator
Enter your order date. Instant countdown to your 30-day filing window plus emailed tracker.
Check my deadline ->
Free - 2 minutes
Appeal Strength Quiz
8 questions. Instant STRONG / POSSIBLE / WEAK rating for your appeal case.
Take the quiz ->
Free - 3 minutes
Child Support Estimator
WA formula ballpark. Income, parenting time, kids - get the range judges typically order.
Estimate support ->
Free - 5 minutes
Custody Self-Assessment
10 questions classify your case into 1 of 6 phases plus tailored service recommendations.
Classify my case ->
Free - 3 minutes
Trial Readiness Score
12 questions. Score across 6 domains judges weigh. Where you're strong, where the gaps are.
Score my readiness ->
Free - Instant
Parenting Plan Calculator
Enter your residential schedule. Each parent's time percentage for WA courts, emailed.
Open calculator ->

Topic guides & articles

Plain-English answers to the questions WA pro se parents actually ask.

Custody
Washington Custody Guide for Pro Se Parents
The full lay of the land: how custody is decided, what the 16 factors mean in practice, and where most pro se parents go wrong.
Custody
The 16 Factors Judges Use in WA Parenting Plans
Each factor in RCW 26.09.187 explained with examples of strong vs weak evidence on each one.
Documents
How to Write a Declaration That Judges Take Seriously
Structure, tone, and the specific patterns that make declarations credible (and the ones that get them ignored).
Procedure
How to Respond to a Petition in WA Family Court
If the other parent filed something against you, here's the response timeline, what to write, and what NOT to write.
Procedure
What Actually Happens at a Family Court Hearing
The hearing scripts most pro se parents have never seen. What the commissioner asks, in what order, and how to answer.
Modifications
Modifying a WA Parenting Plan: When You Can, When You Can't
The "substantial change in circumstances" standard, the major modification vs minor adjustment distinction, and what evidence courts actually credit.
Appeals
WA Family Court Appeals: A Plain-English Primer
How appeals actually work, why most family court appeals fail, and the narrow window of cases that can win on appeal.
If you just lost
I Just Lost in Family Court - What Now?
Triage guide for the 30-day window after a bad ruling. What you can still do, what's already too late, and how to think clearly.
King County
King County Family Court: Local Rules That Matter
Filing fees, e-filing requirements, KCLR-specific quirks, and the unwritten norms that affect how your case is read.

Books & complete guides

Deep-dive PDF books for parents who want everything in one place. From $19.

Book - $19
File Like a Pro
120+ pages on filing requirements, court formatting, declarations, motions, and what makes commissioners take a pro se filer seriously.
Book - $19
What Judges Look For
The 16-factor RCW 26.09.187 test broken down with examples of strong vs weak evidence on each factor.
Book - $22
Trial Playbook
A pro se trial-day field manual: opening statements, witness examination, exhibit handling, and closing.
Book - $19
Parenting Plan Mastery
Residential schedules, decision-making, dispute resolution, and how courts actually read parenting plans.
Book - $39
WA Appeals Guide
The full procedural handbook for appealing a family court ruling, from Notice of Appeal through Reply Brief.
Book - $45
Appeals Brief Writing Guide
RAP 10.3 structure, standard of review, citation format, and the patterns that make appellate panels take an argument seriously.
Family court bundle - all 4 for $55 (save $24) -> Appeals bundle - both for $74 (save $10) ->

Need actual document help?

The free guides will take you a long way. When you need someone to actually draft the court filings, that's what we do.

See all services & pricing ->