S-1484.1          _______________________________________________

                            SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5028

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Nelson and Talmadge).

Read first time February 18, 1991.Authorizing summary proceedings in trials relating to domestic relations.

     AN ACT Relating to domestic relations; and amending RCW 26.09.010.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

     Sec. 1.  RCW 26.09.010 and 1989 c 375 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the practice in civil action shall govern all proceedings under this chapter, except that trial by jury is dispensed with and trial may, with the consent of the parties, consist of written statements and documentation, and oral argument, or other summary procedures established by state or local court rule.

     (2) A proceeding for dissolution of marriage, legal separation or a declaration concerning the validity of a marriage shall be entitled "In re the marriage of .......... and ..........."  Such proceeding may be filed in the superior court of the county where the petitioner resides.

     (3) In cases where there has been no prior proceeding in this state involving the marital status of the parties or support obligations for a minor child, a separate parenting and support proceeding between the parents shall be entitled "In re the parenting and support of ..........."

     (4) The initial pleading in all proceedings under this chapter shall be denominated a petition.  A responsive pleading shall be denominated a response.  Other pleadings, and all pleadings in other matters under this chapter shall be denominated as provided in the civil rules for superior court.

     (5) In this chapter, "decree" includes "judgment".

     (6) A decree of dissolution, of legal separation, or a declaration concerning the validity of a marriage shall not be awarded to one of the parties, but shall provide that it affects the status previously existing between the parties in the manner decreed.