---
tags: [atlas, personal-context, legal, playbook]
type: playbook
created: 2026-05-15
sensitive: true
status: active
related_case: 23-3-04859-1 SEA
---

# Monday Legal Help Playbook - Arrearage Order

Purpose: make it easier to ask for legal help about the May 14, 2026 arrearage/judgment order without having to reread or emotionally process the whole document.

This is not legal advice. This is an action script and triage checklist.

## Current situation

- Court: King County Superior Court
- Case: 23-3-04859-1 SEA
- Main order: Order to Establish Arrearage and reduce past owed expenses to a Judgment and other relief
- Order signed: 2026-05-14
- Served by email/e-service: 2026-05-14 at 3:31 p.m.
- Order says respondent: DID NOT APPEAR
- Extracted total listed amount: $116,106.88
- Interest listed: 12% yearly
- Will is not able to pay the full ordered amount

Detailed triage note: [[Legal Order - Arrearage 2026-05-14 Triage]]

## Monday goal

Get one of these outcomes:

1. Confirm whether there is any deadline to respond, appeal, request reconsideration, request modification, request relief, or address inability to pay.
2. Find a legal professional, legal-aid resource, or court facilitator who can explain options.
3. Understand immediate practical risk: DCS enforcement, income withholding, garnishment, payment plan, or other collection actions.
4. Identify the next concrete step and date.

## Minimum viable win

If energy is low, do only this:

- Send the short email/message below to one legal-help contact.
- Attach or offer the PDF order.
- Set one follow-up reminder.

That counts as progress.

## What to gather first

Do not let this block action. If something is missing, send anyway.

- [ ] PDF order
- [ ] Proof/certificate of service PDFs
- [ ] Case number: 23-3-04859-1 SEA
- [ ] Date signed: 2026-05-14
- [ ] Date served: 2026-05-14
- [ ] Any hearing notice or prior contempt paperwork
- [ ] Any income/expense info showing inability to pay
- [ ] Current medical/FMLA situation summary, if relevant

## Short message to lawyer / legal aid / court facilitator

Subject: Need urgent guidance on King County arrearage/contempt order - case 23-3-04859-1 SEA

Hi,

I received an Order to Establish Arrearage and reduce past owed expenses to a Judgment in King County Superior Court case 23-3-04859-1 SEA, signed May 14, 2026 and served by email/e-service the same day.

The order says respondent “DID NOT APPEAR.” The listed judgment appears to total about $116,106.88 plus 12% interest. I am not able to pay the full amount.

I need help understanding:

- whether there is any deadline to respond, appeal, request reconsideration, request modification, request relief, or explain inability to pay;
- what DCS enforcement/income withholding may mean;
- whether a payment plan, modification, or other relief is possible;
- what my next step should be.

Can someone review the order and tell me what options or deadlines I need to know about?

Thank you,
Will

## Phone script

Hi, my name is Will. I’m calling because I received a King County Superior Court order in a family-law/support case and I need help understanding deadlines and options.

The case number is 23-3-04859-1 SEA. The order was signed May 14, 2026. It establishes arrearage and reduces past owed expenses to a judgment. The total appears to be about $116,106.88 plus interest, and I cannot pay the full amount.

I need to know if there is any deadline to respond, appeal, ask for reconsideration, request modification, request a payment plan, or explain inability to pay. I also need to understand what DCS enforcement or income withholding could mean.

Can you help me, or point me to the right resource?

## If they ask what you need help with

Say:

I need document review and next-step guidance. I’m not asking anyone to solve the whole case today. I need to identify deadlines, risk, and options because I cannot pay the full ordered amount.

## If they say they cannot help

Ask:

- Do you know who can help with King County family-law support/judgment orders?
- Is there a court facilitator or family law help desk?
- Is there a legal aid organization that handles child support/contempt/arrearage issues?
- Is there a way to request reconsideration, modification, payment plan, or relief due to inability to pay?
- Who can tell me whether a deadline is running?

## Places/categories to contact

Fill in exact contacts as found.

- [ ] Current or prior attorney, if any
- [ ] King County family law facilitator / courthouse help desk
- [ ] Washington legal aid / family law self-help resource
- [ ] DCS / Washington State Support Registry for enforcement/payment-process questions
- [ ] Court clerk for procedural questions only, not legal advice
- [ ] Trusted support person to sit with Will while making calls/messages

## Questions to ask

- Is there a deadline to respond, appeal, reconsider, modify, or request relief?
- What does “DID NOT APPEAR” mean for my options now?
- What happens next after this order is entered and served?
- What does DCS enforcement mean in practice?
- Can I request a payment plan?
- Can I request modification or relief based on inability to pay?
- Can current medical/FMLA/mental-health situation matter for enforcement or payment ability?
- What documents should I gather?
- What should I avoid doing or missing this week?

## Call/message tracker

| Date | Contact | Method | Result | Next step |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monday |  |  |  |  |
| Tuesday |  |  |  |  |

## Anxiety-safe rules

- Only one call/message at a time.
- You do not have to reread the whole order.
- Use the script verbatim if needed.
- Stop after 15 minutes if panic rises.
- The goal is to find the next door, not solve the entire legal problem.

## Related notes

- [[Legal]]
- [[Legal Order - Arrearage 2026-05-14 Triage]]
- [[Legal Order Triage Playbook]]
