PDFWAC 110-50-0320
What constitutes good cause for not pursuing the collection or establishment of child support or paternity?
Good cause for not pursuing the collection of child support or establishing paternity exists when:
(1) It is not in the child's or youth's best interest; and
(2) The parent or guardian, or the parent's or guardian's child or youth, spouse, or spouse's child or youth was the victim of the offense for which the child or youth was committed to the custody of the juvenile rehabilitation division (JRD) and the child or youth is being placed directly into foster care from a JRD facility until this placement episode closes;
(3) Adoption proceedings for the child or youth are pending in court or the custodial parent or guardian is being helped by a private or public agency to decide if the child or youth will be placed for adoption;
(4) The child or youth was conceived as a result of incest or rape;
(5) The juvenile or tribal court in dependency proceedings or the department finds that the parents or guardians will be unable to comply with an agreed reunification plan with the child or youth due to financial hardship caused by paying child support;
(6) The custodial parent or guardian or the child or youth may be placed in danger as a result of the presence of or potential for domestic abuse perpetrated by the individual that DCS would be pursuing for collection action;
(7) The child support obligation would result in a financial hardship for parents or guardians because the child's or youth's household was low income at the time of removal; or
(8) The parent of a newborn child abandons the child by transferring the child to a qualified individual at an appropriate location, per RCW 26.20.030.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.20.040. WSR 23-04-082 and 23-06-045, § 110-50-0300, filed 1/31/23 and 2/24/23, effective 3/3/23. WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-50-0320, filed 6/29/18, effective 7/1/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 2004 c 183, 74.20.040, and 74.13.020. WSR 05-06-091, § 388-25-0227, filed 3/1/05, effective 4/1/05.]