Washington statute
RCW 9A.64.020 — Incest
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Chapter 9A.64: Family Offenses, Revised Code of Washington.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of RCW 9A.64.020
Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the official text of the Revised Code of Washington from the Code Reviser's published files; it is not the official statutes of the State of Washington.
(1)(a) A person is guilty of incest in the first degree if he or she engages in sexual intercourse with a person whom he or she knows to be related to him or her, either legitimately or illegitimately, as an ancestor, descendant, brother, or sister of either the whole or the half blood.
(b) Incest in the first degree is a class B felony.
(2)(a) A person is guilty of incest in the second degree if he or she engages in sexual contact with a person whom he or she knows to be related to him or her, either legitimately or illegitimately, as an ancestor, descendant, brother, or sister of either the whole or the half blood.
(b) Incest in the second degree is a class C felony.
(3) As used in this section:
(a) "Descendant" includes stepchildren and adopted children under eighteen years of age;
(b) "Sexual contact" has the same meaning as in RCW 9A.44.010; and
(c) "Sexual intercourse" has the same meaning as in RCW 9A.44.010.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is incest a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?
It depends on the circumstances: incest ranges from a Class C Felony to a Class B Felony in Washington under RCW 9A.64.020.
Incest in the first degree: Class B Felony (RCW 9A.64.020(1)(b)) · Incest in the second degree: Class C Felony (RCW 9A.64.020(2)(b))
Which Washington statute covers incest?
Incest is governed by RCW 9A.64.020 (Incest).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.