Family Court

Welcome to Pierce County Family Court


Pierce County Family Court consists of two judicial departments, commissioners and Family Court Services (supervisor, legal assistant, case coordinator and two staff GALs). It is a team dedicated to implementing the plan for Family Court while putting into practice learned lessons to reduce conflict and timely resolve disputes involving the custody of children. 


Main Goals


The main goals of Family Court include:

  • Identify, segregate and prioritize cases involving the custody of children.
  • Provide consistent and timely judicial decision-making with intensive case management, settlement conferences and education to litigants using Impact on Children seminars to speed case resolution and reduce conflict.
  • Provide early judicial intervention.

Main Types of Cases


The types of cases that are in Family Court:

  • Modification of Custody
  • Minor Guardianships (including Termination or Modification of a Non-parental custody decree.)
  • Petition for Parenting Plan/Residential Schedule
  • Relocations
  • When a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) is authorized in a matter involving parenting plans (dissolutions, legal separations, petition for residential schedule) and there is at least 90 days until the original trial date
  • De Facto Parentage Petitions
  • Relative Visitation Petitions
  • UCCJEA hearings and Out of State Custody Registrations

Helpful Resources


Use the links below to help your understanding of Family Court procedures and processes.


Specific to Pierce County