Definitions of Domestic Violence - Washington

Defined in Domestic Violence Civil Laws
Citation: Rev. Code § 7.105.010

'Domestic violence' means either of the following:

• Physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, or assault; nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration; coercive control; unlawful harassment; or stalking of one intimate partner by another intimate partner 
• Physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, or assault; nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration; coercive control; unlawful harassment; or stalking of one family or household member by another family or household member 

Defined in Child Abuse Reporting and Child Protection Laws
Citation: Rev. Code § 26.44.020(20)

Poverty, homelessness, or exposure to domestic violence, as defined in § 26.50.010, that is perpetrated against someone other than the child does not constitute negligent treatment or maltreatment in and of itself.

Defined in Criminal Laws
Citation: Rev. Code § 10.99.020 

'Domestic violence' includes, but is not limited to, any of the following crimes when committed by either by (a) one family or household member against another family or household member, or (b) one intimate partner against another intimate partner:

• Assault
• Drive-by shooting
• Reckless endangerment
• Coercion
• Burglary
• Criminal trespass
• Malicious mischief
• Kidnapping
• Unlawful imprisonment
• Violation of the provisions of a restraining order, no-contact order, or protection order
• Rape
• Residential burglary
• Stalking
• Interference with the reporting of domestic violence

Persons Included in the Definitions
Citation: Rev. Code §§ 10.99.020; 26.50.010 

In civil and criminal law: 'Dating relationship' means a social relationship of a romantic nature. Factors that the court may consider in making this determination include the following:

• The length of time the relationship has existed
• The nature of the relationship
• The frequency of interaction between the parties 

In civil law: The term 'family or household members' includes any of the following: 

• Persons related by blood, marriage, domestic partnership, or adoption
• Persons who currently or formerly resided together 
• Persons who have a biological or legal parent-child relationship, including stepparents and stepchildren, grandparents and grandchildren, or a parent's intimate partner and children
• A person who is acting or has acted as a legal guardian

The term 'intimate partner' includes any of the following:

• Spouses, domestic partners, former spouses, or former domestic partners
• Persons who have a child in common, regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time, unless the child is conceived through sexual assault
• Adult persons presently or previously residing together who have or have had a dating relationship 
• Persons who have or have had a dating relationship where both persons are at least age 13 or older 

In criminal law: 'Family or household members' means any of the following:

• Adult persons related by blood or marriage
• Adult persons who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past
• Persons who have a biological or legal parent-child relationship, including stepparents and stepchildren, grandparents, and grandchildren

'Intimate partners' means any of the following:

• Spouses or domestic partners
• Former spouses or former domestic partners
• Persons who have a child in common, regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time
• Adult persons presently or previously residing together who have or have had a dating relationship
• Persons aged 16 or older who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past and who have or have had a dating relationship
• Persons aged 16 or older with whom a person aged 16 or older has or has had a dating relationship