There are a variety of legal issues that many relatives raising children face. To help provide information, the following resources are available:
Free legal advice
Contact the Coordinated Legal Education, Advice, and Referral - CLEAR. CL EAR is Northwest Justice Project's toll-free telephone service for eligible low-income people to obtain free legal assistance with civil legal problems.
Call toll-free at 1-888-201-1014 - if you are under 60 and low-income. King County residents should call 206-464-1519 for information and referral.
If you are over 60 at any income level call CLEAR toll-free at 1-888-387-7111.
Kinship Care Solutions is a program for King County residents or persons who have a case in King County only. Volunteer attorneys assist low-income caregivers who want to file nonparental custody actions. Contact the King County Bar Association Lawyer Referral at 206-267-7010 or email cls@kcba.org.
Additional ways to find a lawyer
The Washington State Bar Association website. These are not low-cost or reduced fee attorneys.
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys website has a listing of lawyers who specialize in elder law. These are not low-cost or reduced fee attorneys.
Advocacy for Youth
TeamChild provides free holistic civil legal representation to youth who are experiencing significant barriers to accessing community based services, school programs and the treatment they need to be successful in their lives and stay out of trouble. TeamChild has five offices in Washington State in King, Pierce, Snohomish, Yakima and Spokane Counties. For more information about TeamChild and educational advocacy resources please visit https://teamchild.org/
Child Support Resources
The DSHS Division of Child Support - DCS offers two programs to help ensure a child in your care receives child support.
Establishing Paternity
Establishing paternity creates a legal relationship between a father and a child, which can help provide a family medical history and eligibility for Social Security or other dependent benefits for the child. This can also help the child's parent because dependent benefits paid on behalf of a parent are credited as child support payments.
Child support enforcement
DCS will enforce an existing child support order, such as a divorce decree or will establish a support order if one is needed. DCS sets support obligations based on a parent's ability to pay. DCS will also attempt to have the parents cover the child on their own medical insurance, if available.
For information on all DCS services, visit the DCS website or call 1-800-442-KIDS.
You can apply for DCS services even if you don't receive any public assistance. Receiving TANF or medical assistance automatically results in a DCS case. If you are afraid that cooperating with DCS may be dangerous for you or the child, contact your local Community Services Office to discuss "good cause" not to cooperate.
Helpful Resource Guide
A Guide to Child Support Services for Relative Caregivers (PDF) (DSHS 22-1143) This brochure describes what services the DSHS Division of Child Support - DCS can provide to you if you are taking care of a relative’s child. DCS can establish paternity, as well as establish, enforce or modify child support orders. Learn what services you receive if you receive public assistance or Medicaid for the child in your household. Learn also about what you must do to help DCS, and what to do if you believe that child support services might result in harm to you or the child in your household.
To view one or more of these publications, you'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don't have it on your computer, download it here. It is free software. After you download Acrobat Reader, run the installer.
If you have trouble downloading or installing, read Adobe's Technical Troubleshooting Guide. It links to several helpful troubleshooting documents.
FAQs
Status of Background Check
Additional questions, please email bccuinquiry@dshs.wa.gov OR call (360) 902-0299. BCCU will respond to your email within two working days.
How do I report changes to food stamps in Washington state? ›
For cash, food, or child care assistance: If you receive cash or food, you must report changes listed in WAC 388-418-0005 by the 10th of the next month after the change. For example, if you have a change today, report it by the 10th of next month.
How do I ask a lawyer for free in Washington state? ›
Free legal advice
Call toll-free at 1-888-201-1014 - if you are under 60 and low-income. King County residents should call 206-464-1519 for information and referral.
How do I make an appointment with DSHS Washington? ›
Please call us at 1-877-501-2233 for an interview or to see if your local office is open for in-person interviews. You may also visit https://www.dshs.wa.gov/ and follow the link “Find a local service office” for updates on in-person services.
What is the 7 year felony rule in Washington state? ›
Washington State
Washington's law restricting CRAs from reporting criminal convictions older than seven years is found at RCW 19.182. 040. However, like several of the other states with seven-year rules, Washington's rule only applies to jobs paying salaries of less than $20,000.
What typically shows up on a background check? ›
A background check can yield basic information about a person (such as their full name, aliases and age), but can also show an individual's education history, past employment, criminal history and credit reports.
Who is eligible for EBT in Washington state? ›
To receive Basic Food you must: • Live in Washington State • Have income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level • Meet citizenship or alien status requirements You must not be: • A fugitive felon • An undocumented alien There may be other requirements based on your family's situation. How do I apply for Basic Food?
How to apply for welfare in Washington state? ›
You may complete an online application by using the WashingtonConnection.org website, applying by phone at 877-501-2233 or going to your local Community Services Office. On WashingtonConnection.org you can: Start a new application. Report a change, such as address, income or family situation.
How do I report a change to the Washington Connection? ›
Reporting a Change
- You can report changes using this web site by clicking on Report a change,
- You can download a printable version of Report a change form and take it a DSHS office. ...
- You can call the Customer Service Contact Center at 1-877-501-2233.
The term pro bono is used primarily in the legal profession. Lawyers who serve the public interest by providing free legal services to those in need do so on a pro bono basis. The provider is thought to be imparting a benefit for the greater good, instead of working for profit.
Average Lawyer Hourly Rate by State
| State | Average Hourly Rate 2022 | Average Hourly Rate 2021 |
|---|
| Washington | $296 | $286 |
| West Virginia | $168 | $163 |
| Wisconsin | $251 | $248 |
| Wyoming | $266 | $257 |
44 more rowsApr 24, 2023
Legal support
Advocate helps individuals find free legal assistance from volunteer barristers. The Citizens Advice Bureau can advise you on some issues and help you access local legal support.
What does Washington DSHS do? ›
Washington State Department of Social & Health Services. Offers services to address health, safety, protection and quality of life for Washington State residents, particularly those dealing with mental health issues.
What is emergency cash assistance in Washington state? ›
Emergency Cash Assistance:
If your family has an emergency and you need a one-time cash payment to get or keep safe housing or utilities, you may be eligible for the Additional Requirements for Emergent Needs (AREN) or the Diversion Program.
What is the best time to call DSHS? ›
The best time to call is before 11 a.m. The busiest time to call is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. We can determine your eligibility for all of our programs in one interview. How often can I get this help?
How do I check background process status? ›
To check background processes on a computer, you can use the following methods: Using the Task Manager: Open the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and go to the “Processes” tab. This view will show all the processes currently running on your computer, including those in the background.
How long does a background check take in WA? ›
Certain types of reports may be available immediately, such as certain types of Washington State Patrol background checks requested online using WATCH. Other Washington State records may need to be requested by mail or in person directly from the appropriate Washington court, which may take several days or more.
How do I check my criminal record in Washington state? ›
If you require a police clearance or background check, please go to the Washington State Patrol website at: www.wsp.wa.gov. Under “I want to…” select Request Your Criminal History Record” and follow the prompts to pay for and obtain a Washington State Criminal History record.
What does it mean when your background check is pending? ›
A pending background check occurs during the assessment process, typically due to missing, inaccurate, or conflicting information. A background check can also be pending, thanks to court system delays, third-party delayed responses, international checks, or a bottleneck of background checks due to the time of year.
