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LFLR 10. Financial Provisions

Local Family Law Rule
    (a) When Financial Information is Required.
        (1) Each party shall complete, sign, file, and serve on all parties a financial declaration for any motion, trial, or settlement conference that concerns the following issues:
            (A) Payment of a child’s expenses, such as tuition, costs of extracurricular activities, medical expenses, or college;
            (B) Child support or spousal maintenance; or
            (C) Any other financial matter, including payment of debt, attorney and expert fees, or the costs of an investigation or evaluation.
        (2) A party may use a previously-prepared financial declaration if all information in that declaration remains accurate.
        (3) Financial declarations need not be provided when presenting an order by agreement or default.
    (b) Supporting Documents to be filed with the Financial Declaration. Parties who file a financial declaration shall also file the following supporting documents:
        (1) Pay stubs for the past six months. If a party does not receive pay stubs, other documents shall be provided that show all income received from whatever source, and the deductions from earned income for these periods;
        (2) Complete personal tax returns for the prior two years, including all Schedules and all W-2s;
        (3) If either party owns an interest of 5% or more in a corporation, partnership or other entity that generates its own tax return, the complete tax return for each such corporation, partnership or other entity for the prior two years;
        (4) All statements related to accounts in financial institutions in which the parties have or had an interest during the last six (6) months. “Financial institutions” includes banks, credit unions, mutual fund companies, and brokerages.
        (5) If a party receives or has received non-taxable income or benefits (for example, from a trust, barter, gift, etc.), documents shall be provided that show receipts, the source, and any deductions for the last two (2) years.
        (6) Check registers shall be supplied within fourteen (14) days if requested by the other party.
        (7) If a party asks the court to order or change child support or order payment of other expenses for a child, each party shall also file completed Washington State Child Support Worksheets.  
        (8) For additional requirements for a Settlement Conference, see LFLR 16.
    (c) Documents to be filed under Seal. Tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, and the statements of other financial institutions should not be attached to the Financial Declaration but should be submitted to the clerk under a cover sheet with the caption “Sealed Financial Source Documents”. If so designated, the Clerk will file these documents under seal so that only a party to the case or their attorney can access these documents from the court file without a separate court order.

[Adopted effective September 1, 2004]
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