Guardianships, Conservatorships, and Other Protective Arrangements
Guardianships, Conservatorships, and Other Protective Arrangements
New Guardianship/Conservatorship Law Effective January 1, 2022 - RCW 11.130
Helpful general information about the new adult guardianship and conservatorship law can be found at the Washington Courts website
Finalization of guardianships filed before January 1, 2022, must be resolved by December 31, 2021.
Unresolved guardianships as of December 31, 2021, will be required to file a Supplemental or Amended Petition to provide information to the Court in compliance with the new statute. Otherwise, the unresolved case may be dismissed at the scheduled mandatory court review hearing.
Cases with orders appointing guardians entered before January 1, 2022, do not need to take any action until the first review hearing.
At the review hearing the court may enter an Order on Guardianship/Conservatorship Review and issue new letters of office upon filing of an Acceptance of Appointment by the guardian/conservator.
If at the review hearing a plan and report has been properly filed under the new statute RCW 11.130, the court may approve the plan and set a new review hearing one, two, or three years from the review hearing date.
If at the review hearing a plan has not been properly filed under the new statute RCW 11.130, the court may do the following:
A new date will be set in 120 days to review the guardian's/conservator's plan.
The guardian/conservator must file the new plan within 90 days after the review hearing for the court to review the plan prior to the 120 day review hearing.
Motions to convert a guardianship are heard by the assigned judge, they are not heard by commissioners.
Guardianship/Conservatorship forms are available on the Washington State Courts Forms website. The most common forms that are needed for the court to properly review the case are as follows:
Motion to Approve Guardian/Conservator's Report (GDN R 205)
Notice of Hearing (GDN ALL 005)
Declaration of Service (GDN ALL 007)
Guardian/Conservator Plan (GDN R 102)
Guardian/Conservator's Report (GDN R 204)
Conservatorship Inventory (GDN R 201)
Order Approving Guardian/Conservator's Report (GDN R 206)
Acceptance of Appointment of Guardian/Conservator (GDN ALL 003)
Petitions filed after January 1, 2022, are heard by Commissioners on their regular dockets following RCW 11.130.