Connecting Nests

Washington · 4-3

4-3 in Washington

The child is with one parent four nights a week and the other three, on the same days every 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 57/43 — about 209 and 156 nights a year.
WeekMonTueWedThuFriSatSun
1 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

The most predictable schedule on this list — every week is identical, so there is no odd/even week to track and no calendar needed after the first month. It's also the natural on-ramp to 50/50: shifting a single night makes it 3-4-4-3.

Other schedules in Washington