Guardianship and Conservatorship in Washington in WA — Estate Planning Legal Guide | CGMIMM

## Guardianship and conservatorship in Washington **Guardianship** (and in some states **conservatorship**) is a legal arrangement where a court appoints someone to make decisions for a person who can't make them for themselves — a minor, an incapacitated adult, or someone with a serious disability. ### Washington guardianship court Superior Court (uses "guardian" for minors; "guardian / conservator" for adults under updated UGA). ## Two main types **1. Guardianship of a minor.** When a child's parents have died, are unfit, or have given up parental rights. Common in: - Death of parents - Parental incarceration - Parental drug addiction or mental-health crisis - Parental abandonment - Voluntary surrender by parents to grandparents / relatives **2. Guardianship of an incapacitated adult.** When an adult cannot manage their own affairs due to: - Dementia / Alzheimer's - Severe mental illness - Intellectual / developmental disability - Brain injury (TBI) - Coma or persistent vegetative state - Severe substance abuse ## Guardianship vs conservatorship Terminology varies wildly by state. General pattern: - **Guardian** — makes personal / medical / lifestyle decisions - **Conservator** — manages financial affairs, property, money - Same person can serve as both - California uses "conservatorship" for adults; many others use "guardianship" for both - Massachusetts uses both terms with parallel meanings ## Less restrictive alternatives Courts strongly prefer alternatives BEFORE imposing full guardianship: - **Power of Attorney** (financial) - **Healthcare Proxy / Healthcare POA** - **Living trust** with successor trustee - **Representative payee** for Social Security - **Joint accounts** with trusted relative - **Limited guardianship** — only specific decisions - **Supported decision-making** — alternative model gaining traction Full guardianship strips significant rights — courts increasingly require petitioners to show why less-restrictive options aren't sufficient. ## What rights guardianship affects Depending on the order: - **Right to vote** (some states; recent reforms restoring) - **Right to marry** - **Right to enter contracts** - **Right to drive** - **Right to make medical decisions** - **Right to choose where to live** - **Right to manage money / property** - **Right to consent to or refuse treatment** - **Right to associate with others** **Limited guardianship** preserves rights not specifically affected. ## The petition process 1. **Petition filed** in proper court — by family member, friend, agency, hospital, or self (less common) 2. **Notice to the proposed ward** — must be served personally with right to attend 3. **Notice to interested parties** — close relatives 4. **Court visitor / investigator appointed** — to interview parties and report 5. **Medical / psychological evaluation** — required in most cases 6. **Counsel appointed for proposed ward** — many states require 7. **Hearing** — testimony, evidence, opportunity to oppose 8. **Order** — if granted, defines scope of guardian's authority 9. **Letters of guardianship** — official document for guardian to use 10. **Ongoing reporting** — annual or periodic accountings, medical reports ## Duties of a guardian **Personal guardian:** - Make medical decisions - Choose / approve residence - Coordinate care - Visit regularly - File annual care plan / status report **Conservator (financial):** - Inventory and protect assets - Manage income and expenses prudently - File annual accountings - Get court approval for major decisions (sale of real estate, settlement of claims) - Bond often required Both have **fiduciary duties** — must act in ward's best interest, avoid self-dealing, keep accurate records. ## Common disputes - **Family fights** over who should serve - **Allegations of self-dealing** by guardian - **Disputes over medical care** — particularly end-of-life decisions - **Allegations of isolation** — guardian preventing family contact - **Financial mismanagement** - **Petitions to remove guardian** — typically by relatives - **Petitions to terminate guardianship** — when ward recovers capacity ## Reform movement Recent guardianship-reform pushes: - **Britney Spears case** drew national attention to conservatorship abuse - **"Free Britney" movement** led to several state reforms 2021-2024 - **Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act (UGCOPAA, 2017)** — adopted in many states with safeguards - **Right to counsel** during proceedings - **Periodic review** of continued need - **Restoration of rights** when capacity returns ## What you should do If you're considering guardianship of a loved one in Washington: try less-restrictive alternatives first (POA, trust, healthcare proxy). If you must petition, hire a Washington elder-law or guardianship attorney. If you're the proposed ward — or someone challenging a guardianship — get your own attorney, NOT the petitioner's. Many Washington courts have appointed-counsel programs for indigent wards. Most attorneys offer paid initial consultations. --- *This guide is general information about Washington law as of early 2026 and is not legal advice. Guardianship law has been heavily reformed in many states; terminology and procedures vary significantly. Talk to a licensed Washington attorney about your specific situation.*