Petition

A petition is a formal legal document filed with the court to request a specific action or ruling. In family law, petitions are commonly used to start a case, such as filing for divorce, child custody, child support, or a modification of an existing court order.

In Washington State, the person who files the petition is called the petitioner, and the other party is the respondent. The petition outlines the legal issue, the desired outcome, and any supporting information. Once filed, the respondent has a set amount of time to respond, and the case proceeds through negotiation, mediation, or court hearings as needed.

Filing a petition is the first step in many legal processes, and accuracy is important to ensure the court understands the request. Because petitions have legal consequences, the Hemmat Law Group can help you to ensure they are properly drafted and filed.