In initiating an action one person files and the legal term is "petitioner," the other person responds and they're called the "respondent" Some people think that there is some sort if you're the one who actually filed the papers, but Washington is a no fault state so there is no advantage to being the one to file. Sometimes people either want to do it or don't want to do it because it is emotional but there's no legal ramifications.
Divorce and Child Custody Attorney Serving Bellevue and Seattle Washington