Connecting Nests

Washington · 3-4-4-3

3-4-4-3 in Washington

One parent has three nights and the other four, then it flips the following week. In Washington this is written into a Parenting Plan, where time with a child is called residential time.

Build this plan for Washington — free

Template for educational use — not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state. Laws change; confirm current requirements with a licensed attorney in Washington.

The rotation

A = one parent, B = the other. Each cell is one overnight. This rotation divides regular school-year overnights 50/50 — about 182 and 182 nights a year.
WeekMonTueWedThuFriSatSun
1 AAABBBB
2 AAAABBB

What Washington expects

Washington mandates its own Parenting Plan form and it must be used. The form's § 2 'limitations/restrictions' analysis (RCW 26.09.191) is a required section unique to Washington. Our template is strictly the worksheet you negotiate from before filling out the state's form.

Governing law: RCW § 26.09.187; RCW § 26.09.184.

Washington requires its own form — Parenting Plan (WPF DRPSCU 01.0400) — mandatory form. Agree your terms first, then transcribe them onto it.

The honest trade-off

Exchanges land on the same two days every week, which makes it easy to remember, and no one waits more than four nights. The trade is that which parent has the weekend flips each week, so weekend plans need a two-week memory.

Other schedules in Washington