11.92.010 Guardians or limited guardians under court control—Legal age.
11.92.040 Duties of guardian or limited guardian in general.
11.92.050 Intermediate accounts or reports—Hearing—Order.
11.92.053 Settlement of estate upon termination.
11.92.056 Citation of surety on bond.
11.92.060 Guardian to represent incapacitated person—Compromise of claims—Service of process.
11.92.090 Sale, exchange, lease, or mortgage of property.
11.92.096 Guardian access to certain held assets.
11.92.110 Sale of real estate.
11.92.115 Return and confirmation of sale.
11.92.125 Broker's fee and closing expenses—Sale, exchange, mortgage, or lease of real estate.
11.92.140 Court authorization for actions regarding guardianship funds.
11.92.150 Request for special notice of proceedings.
11.92.160 Citation for failure to file account or report.
11.92.170 Removal of property of nonresident incapacitated person.
11.92.180 Compensation and expenses of guardian or limited guardian—Attorney's fees—Department of social and health services clients paying part of costs—Rules.
11.92.185 Concealed or embezzled property.
11.92.190 Detention of person in residential placement facility against will prohibited—Effect of court order—Service of notice of residential placement.
11.92.195 Incapacitated persons—Right to associate with persons of their choosing.
Guardians or limited guardians under court control—Legal age.
Guardians or limited guardians herein provided for shall at all times be under the general direction and control of the court making the appointment. For the purposes of chapters 11.88 and 11.92 RCW, all persons shall be of full and legal age when they shall be eighteen years old.
Age of majority: RCW 26.28.010.
Married persons deemed to be of full age: RCW 26.28.020.
Termination of guardianship or limited guardianship upon attainment of legal age: RCW 11.88.140.
Transfer of jurisdiction and venue: RCW 11.88.130.
Duties of guardian or limited guardian in general.
(9) To provide evidence of the guardian or limited guardian's successful completion of any additional or updated training video or web cast offered by the administrative office of the courts and the superior court as is required at the discretion of the superior court unless the guardian or limited guardian is a certified professional guardian or financial institution authorized under RCW 11.88.020. The training video or web cast must be provided at no cost to the guardian or limited guardian.
Short title—Application—Purpose—Severability—1985 c 30:See RCW 11.02.900 through 11.02.903.
Compulsory school attendance law, duty to comply with: RCW 28A.225.010.
Disabled person, defined: RCW 11.88.010.
(a) To file within three months after appointment a personal care plan for the incapacitated person, which must include (i) an assessment of the incapacitated person's physical, mental, and emotional needs and of such person's ability to perform or assist in activities of daily living, and (ii) the guardian's specific plan for meeting the identified and emerging personal care needs of the incapacitated person.
(ix)(A) Evidence of the guardian or limited guardian's successful completion of any standardized training video or web cast for guardians or limited guardians made available by the administrative office of the courts and the superior court when the guardian or limited guardian: (I) Was appointed prior to July 22, 2011; (II) is not a certified professional guardian or financial institution authorized under RCW 11.88.020; and (III) has not previously completed the requirements of RCW 11.88.020(3). The training video or web cast must be provided at no cost to the guardian or limited guardian.
(x) Evidence of the guardian or limited guardian's successful completion of any additional or updated training video or web cast offered by the administrative office of the courts and the superior court as is required at the discretion of the superior court unless the guardian or limited guardian is a certified professional guardian or financial institution authorized under RCW 11.88.020. The training video or web cast must be provided at no cost to the guardian or limited guardian.
(c) To report to the court within thirty days any substantial change in the incapacitated person's condition, or any changes in residence of the incapacitated person.
(iv) Dies, in which case the notification must be made in person, by telephone, or by certified mail.
(e) Consistent with the powers granted by the court, to care for and maintain the incapacitated person in the setting least restrictive to the incapacitated person's freedom and appropriate to the incapacitated person's personal care needs, assert the incapacitated person's rights and best interests, and if the incapacitated person is a minor or where otherwise appropriate, to see that the incapacitated person receives appropriate training and education and that the incapacitated person has the opportunity to learn a trade, occupation, or profession.
(iii) Other psychiatric or mental health procedures that restrict physical freedom of movement, or the rights set forth in RCW 71.05.217.
(2) A guardian, limited guardian, or standby guardian who believes these procedures are necessary for the proper care and maintenance of the incapacitated person shall petition the court for an order unless the court has previously approved the procedure within the past thirty days. The court may order the procedure only after an attorney is appointed in accordance with RCW 11.88.045 if no attorney has previously appeared, notice is given, and a hearing is held in accordance with RCW 11.88.040.
(1) Upon the filing of any intermediate guardianship or limited guardianship account or report required by statute, or of any intermediate account or report required by court rule or order, the court shall enter an order settling the guardianship account or report with regard to any receipts, expenditures, and investments made and acts done by the guardian or limited guardian to the date of the interim report.
(2) Upon such account or report being filed, the court may, in its discretion, set a date for the hearing and require the service of the guardian's report or account and a notice of the hearing as provided in RCW 11.88.040 as now or hereafter amended or as specified by the court; and, in the event a hearing is ordered, the court may also appoint a guardian ad litem, whose duty it shall be to investigate the account or report of the guardian or limited guardian of the estate and to advise the court thereon at the hearing, in writing.
(3) At the hearing on or upon the court's review of the account or report of the guardian or limited guardian, if the court is satisfied that the actions of the guardian or limited guardian have been proper, and that the guardian or limited guardian has in all respects discharged his or her trust with relation to the receipts, expenditures, investments, and acts, then, in such event, the court shall enter an order approving such account or report.
(e) Providing other and further relief the court deems just and equitable.
(5) If the court has appointed a guardian ad litem, the order shall be final and binding upon the incapacitated person, subject only to the right of appeal as upon a final order; provided that at the time of final account of said guardian or limited guardian or within one year after the incapacitated person attains his or her majority any such interim account may be challenged by the incapacitated person on the ground of fraud.
(6) The procedure established in this section for financial accounts by guardians or limited guardians of the estate shall apply to personal care reports filed by guardians or limited guardians of the person under RCW 11.92.043.
At the hearing on the petition of the guardian or limited guardian, if the court is satisfied that the actions of the guardian or limited guardian have been proper, and that the guardian has in all respects discharged his or her trust with relation to the receipts, expenditures, investments, and acts, then, in such event, the court shall enter an order approving the account, and the order shall be final and binding upon the incapacitated person, subject only to the right of appeal as upon a final order. However, within one year after the incompetent attains his or her majority any such account may be challenged by the incapacitated person on the ground of fraud.
Administration of deceased incompetent's estate: RCW 11.88.150.
Procedure on removal or death of guardian—Delivery of estate to successor: RCW 11.88.120.
Termination of guardianship: RCW 11.88.140.
Citation of surety on bond.
If, at any hearing upon a petition to settle the account of any guardian or limited guardian, it shall appear to the court that said guardian or limited guardian has not fully accounted or that said account should not be settled, the court may continue said hearing to a day certain and may cite the surety or sureties upon the bond of said guardian or limited guardian to appear upon the date fixed in said citation and show cause why the account should not be disapproved and judgment entered for any deficiency against said guardian or limited guardian and the surety or sureties upon his or her bond. Said citation shall be personally served upon said surety or sureties in the manner provided by law for the service of summons in civil actions and shall be served not less than twenty days previous to said hearing. At said hearing any interested party, including the surety so cited, shall have the right to introduce any evidence which shall be material to the matter before the court. If, at said hearing, the final account of said guardian or limited guardian shall not be approved and the court shall find that said guardian or limited guardian is indebted to the incapacitated person in any amount, said court may thereupon enter final judgment against said guardian or limited guardian and the surety or sureties upon his or her bond, which judgment shall be enforceable in the same manner and to the same extent as judgments in ordinary civil actions.
Guardian to represent incapacitated person—Compromise of claims—Service of process.
(1) GUARDIAN MAY SUE AND BE SUED. When there is a guardian of the estate, all actions between the incapacitated person or the guardian and third persons in which it is sought to charge or benefit the estate of the incapacitated person shall be prosecuted by or against the guardian of the estate as such. The guardian shall represent the interests of the incapacitated person in the action and all process shall be served on him or her. A guardian or limited guardian of the estate shall report to the court any action commenced against the incapacitated person and shall secure court approval prior to initiating any legal action in the name of the incapacitated person.
(2) JOINDER, AMENDMENT AND SUBSTITUTION. When the guardian of the estate is under personal liability for his or her own contracts and acts made and performed on behalf of the estate the guardian may be sued both as guardian and in his or her personal capacity in the same action. Misnomer or the bringing of the action by or against the incapacitated person shall not be grounds for dismissal of the action and leave to amend or substitute shall be freely granted. If an action was commenced by or against the incapacitated person before the appointment of a guardian of his or her estate, such guardian when appointed may be substituted as a party for the incapacitated person. If the appointment of the guardian of the estate is terminated, his or her successor may be substituted; if the incapacitated person dies, his or her personal representative may be substituted; if the incapacitated person is no longer incapacitated the person may be substituted.
(3) GARNISHMENT, ATTACHMENT AND EXECUTION. When there is a guardian of the estate, the property and rights of action of the incapacitated person shall not be subject to garnishment or attachment, except for the foreclosure of a mortgage or other lien, and execution shall not issue to obtain satisfaction of any judgment against the incapacitated person or the guardian of the person's estate as such.
(4) COMPROMISE BY GUARDIAN. Whenever it is proposed to compromise or settle any claim by or against the incapacitated person or the guardian as such, whether arising as a result of personal injury or otherwise, and whether arising before or after appointment of a guardian, the court on petition of the guardian of the estate, if satisfied that such compromise or settlement will be for the best interests of the incapacitated person, may enter an order authorizing the settlement or compromise be made.
(5) LIMITED GUARDIAN. Limited guardians may serve and be served with process or actions on behalf of the incapacitated person, but only to the extent provided for in the court order appointing a limited guardian.
Rules of court: SPR 98.08W, 98.10W, 98.16W.
Action against guardian deemed claim: RCW 11.92.035.
Sale, exchange, lease, or mortgage of property.
Whenever it shall appear to the satisfaction of a court by the petition of any guardian or limited guardian, that it is necessary or proper to sell, exchange, lease, mortgage, or grant an easement, license or similar interest in any of the real or personal property of the estate of the incapacitated person for the purpose of paying debts or for the care, support and education of the incapacitated person, or to redeem any property of the incapacitated person's estate covered by mortgage or other lien, or for the purpose of making any investments, or for any other purpose which to the court may seem right and proper, the court may make an order directing such sale, exchange, lease, mortgage, or grant of easement, license or similar interest of such part or parts of the real or personal property as shall to the court seem proper.
Guardian access to certain held assets.
(b) An envelope, with postage prepaid, addressed to the clerk of the court issuing the letters of guardianship.
The affidavit shall be sent in the envelope by the institution to the clerk of the court together with a statement signed by an agent of the institution that the description of the asset set forth in the affidavit appears to be accurate, and confirming in the case of cash assets, the value of the asset.
(2) Any guardian provided with access to a safe deposit box pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall make an inventory of the contents of the box and attach this inventory to the affidavit before the affidavit is sent to the clerk of the court and before the contents of the box are released to the guardian. Any inventory shall be prepared in the presence of an employee of the institution and the statement of the institution required under subsection (1) of this section shall include a statement executed by the employee that the inventory appears to be accurate. The institution may require payment by the guardian of any fees or charges then due in connection with the asset or account and of a reasonable fee for witnessing preparation of the inventory and preparing the statement required by this subsection or subsection (1) of this section.
(3) Any institution to which an affidavit complying with subsection (1) of this section is submitted may rely on the affidavit without inquiry and shall not be subject to any liability of any nature whatsoever to any person whatsoever, including but not limited to the institution's client or depositor or any other person with an ownership or other interest in or right to the asset, for the reliance or for providing the guardian access and control over the asset, including but not limited to delivery of the asset to the guardian.
*Reviser's note: RCW 30.22.040 was alphabetized pursuant to RCW 1.08.015(2)(k), changing subsection (12) to subsection (8). RCW 30.22.040 was recodified as RCW 30A.22.040 pursuant to 2014 c 37 § 4, effective January 5, 2015.
(1) The value and character of all personal estate belonging to the incapacitated person that has come to the knowledge or possession of such guardian or limited guardian.
(2) The disposition of such personal estate.
(3) The amount and condition of the incapacitated person's personal estate, if any, dependent upon the settlement of any estate, or the execution of any trust.
(4) The annual income of the real estate of the incapacitated person.
(5) The amount of rent received and the application thereof.
(6) The proposed manner of reinvesting the proceeds of the sale, if asked for that purpose.
(7) Each item of indebtedness, or the amount and character of the lien, if the sale is requested for the liquidation thereof.
(8) The age of the incapacitated person, where and with whom residing.
(9) All other facts connected with the estate and condition of the incapacitated person necessary to enable the court to fully understand the same. If there is no personal estate belonging to the incapacitated person in possession or expectancy, and none has come into the hands of such guardian or limited guardian, and no rents have been received, the fact shall be stated in the application.
The order directing the sale of any of the real property of the estate of the incapacitated person shall specify the particular property affected and the method, whether by public or private sale or by negotiation, and terms thereof, and with regard to the procedure and notices to be employed in conducting such sale, the provisions of RCW 11.56.060, 11.56.070, 11.56.080, and 11.56.110 shall be followed unless the court otherwise directs.
Return and confirmation of sale.
The guardian or limited guardian making any sale of real estate, either at public or private sale or sale by negotiation, shall within ten days after making such sale file with the clerk of the court his or her return of such sale, the same being duly verified. At any time after the expiration of ten days from the filing of such return, the court may, without notice, approve and confirm such sale and direct proper instruments of transfer to be executed and delivered. Upon the confirmation of any such sale, the court shall direct the guardian or limited guardian to make, execute and deliver instruments conveying the title to the person to whom such property may be sold and such instruments of conveyance shall be deemed to convey all the estate, rights and interest of the incapacitated person and of the person's estate. In the case of a sale by negotiation the guardians or limited guardians shall publish a notice in one issue of a legal newspaper published in the county in which the estate is being administered; the substance of such notice shall include the legal description of the property sold, the selling price and the date after which the sale may be confirmed: PROVIDED, That such confirmation date shall be at least ten days after such notice is published.
No sale by any guardian or limited guardian of real or personal property shall be void or be set aside or be attacked because of any irregularities whatsoever, and none of the steps leading up to such sale or the confirmation thereof shall be jurisdictional, and the confirmation by the court of any such sale shall be conclusive as to the regularity and legality of such sale or sales, and the passing of title after confirmation by the court shall vest an absolute title in the purchaser, and such instrument of transfer may not be attacked for any purpose or any reason, except for fraud.
Broker's fee and closing expenses—Sale, exchange, mortgage, or lease of real estate.
In connection with the sale, exchange, mortgage, lease, or grant of easement or license in any property, the court may authorize the guardian or limited guardian to pay, out of the proceeds realized therefrom or out of the estate, the customary and reasonable auctioneer's and broker's fees and any necessary expenses for abstracting title insurance, survey, revenue stamps, and other necessary costs and expenses in connection therewith.
If any person who is bound by contract in writing to perform shall become incapacitated before making the performance, the court having jurisdiction of the guardianship or limited guardianship of such property may, upon application of the guardian or limited guardian of the incapacitated person, or upon application of the person claiming to be entitled to the performance, make an order authorizing and directing the guardian or limited guardian to perform such contract. The application and the proceedings, shall, as nearly as may be, be the same as provided in chapter 11.60 RCW.
Court authorization for actions regarding guardianship funds.
The court, upon the petition of a guardian of the estate of an incapacitated person other than the guardian of a minor, and after such notice as the court directs and other notice to all persons interested as required by chapter 11.96A RCW, may authorize the guardian to take any action, or to apply funds not required for the incapacitated person's own maintenance and support, in any fashion the court approves as being in keeping with the incapacitated person's wishes so far as they can be ascertained and as designed to minimize insofar as possible current or prospective state or federal income and estate taxes, permit entitlement under otherwise available federal or state medical or other assistance programs, and to provide for gifts to such charities, relatives, and friends as would be likely recipients of donations from the incapacitated person.
The action or application of funds may include but shall not be limited to the making of gifts, to the conveyance or release of the incapacitated person's contingent and expectant interests in property including marital or domestic partnership property rights and any right of survivorship incident to joint tenancy or tenancy by the entirety, to the exercise or release of the incapacitated person's powers as donee of a power of appointment, the making of contracts, the creation of revocable or irrevocable trusts of property of the incapacitated person's estate which may extend beyond the incapacitated person's disability or life, the establishment of custodianships for the benefit of a minor under chapter 11.114 RCW, the Washington uniform transfers to minors act, the exercise of options of the incapacitated person to purchase securities or other property, the exercise of the incapacitated person's right to elect options and to change beneficiaries under insurance and annuity policies and the surrendering of policies for their cash value, the exercise of the incapacitated person's right to any elective share in the estate of the incapacitated person's deceased spouse or deceased domestic partner, and the renunciation or disclaimer of any interest acquired by testate or intestate succession or by inter vivos transfer.
The guardian in the petition shall briefly outline the action or application of funds for which approval is sought, the results expected to be accomplished thereby and the savings expected to accrue. The proposed action or application of funds may include gifts of the incapacitated person's personal or real property. Gifts may be for the benefit of prospective legatees, devisees, or heirs apparent of the incapacitated person, or may be made to individuals or charities in which the incapacitated person is believed to have an interest. Gifts may or may not, in the discretion of the court, be treated as advancements to donees who would otherwise inherit property from the incapacitated person under the incapacitated person's will or under the laws of descent and distribution. The guardian shall also indicate in the petition that any planned disposition is consistent with the intentions of the incapacitated person insofar as the intentions can be ascertained, and if the incapacitated person's intentions cannot be ascertained, the incapacitated person will be presumed to favor reduction in the incidence of the various forms of taxation and the partial distribution of the incapacitated person's estate as provided in this section. The guardian shall not, however, be required to include as a beneficiary any person whom there is reason to believe would be excluded by the incapacitated person. No guardian may be required to file a petition as provided in this section, and a failure or refusal to so petition the court does not constitute a breach of the guardian's fiduciary duties.
Effective date—1991 c 193: See RCW 11.114.903.
Request for special notice of proceedings.
At any time after the issuance of letters of guardianship in the estate of any person and/or incapacitated person, any person interested in the estate, or in the incapacitated person, or any relative of the incapacitated person, or any authorized representative of any agency, bureau, or department of the United States government from or through which any compensation, insurance, pension or other benefit is being paid, or is payable, may serve upon the guardian or limited guardian, or upon the attorney for the guardian or limited guardian, and file with the clerk of the court where the guardianship or limited guardianship of the person and/or estate is pending, a written request stating the specific actions of which the applicant requests advance notice. Where the notice does not specify matters for which notice is requested, the guardian or limited guardian shall provide copies of all documents filed with the court and advance notice of his or her application for court approval of any action in the guardianship.
The request for special written notice shall designate the name, address and post office address of the person upon whom the notice is to be served and no service shall be required under this section and RCW 11.92.160 as now or hereafter amended other than in accordance with the designation unless and until a new designation has been made.
When any account, report, petition, or proceeding is filed in the estate of which special written notice is requested, the court shall fix a time for hearing which shall allow at least ten days for service of the notice before the hearing; and notice of the hearing shall be served upon the person designated in the written request at least ten days before the date fixed for the hearing. The service may be made by leaving a copy with the person designated, or that person's authorized representative, or by mailing through the United States mail, with postage prepaid to the person and place designated.
Citation for failure to file account or report.
Whenever any request for special written notice is served as provided in this section and RCW 11.92.150 as now or hereafter amended, the person making such request may, upon failure of any guardian or limited guardian for any incapacitated person, to file any account or report required by law, petition the court administering such estate for a citation requiring such guardian or limited guardian to file such report or account, or to show cause for failure to do so, and thereupon the court shall issue such citation and hold a hearing thereon and enter such order as is required by the law and the facts.
Attorney's fee to contestant of erroneous account or report: RCW 11.76.070.
Compensation and expenses of guardian or limited guardian—Attorney's fees—Department of social and health services clients paying part of costs—Rules.
A guardian or limited guardian shall be allowed such compensation for his or her services as guardian or limited guardian as the court shall deem just and reasonable. Guardians and limited guardians shall not be compensated at county or state expense. Additional compensation may be allowed for other administrative costs, including services of an attorney and for other services not provided by the guardian or limited guardian. Where a guardian or limited guardian is an attorney, the guardian or limited guardian shall separately account for time for which compensation is requested for services as a guardian or limited guardian as contrasted to time for which compensation for legal services provided to the guardianship is requested. In all cases, compensation of the guardian or limited guardian and his or her expenses including attorney's fees shall be fixed by the court and may be allowed at any annual or final accounting; but at any time during the administration of the estate, the guardian or limited guardian or his or her attorney may apply to the court for an allowance upon the compensation or necessary expenses of the guardian or limited guardian and for attorney's fees for services already performed. If the court finds that the guardian or limited guardian has failed to discharge his or her duties as such in any respect, it may deny the guardian any compensation whatsoever or may reduce the compensation which would otherwise be allowed. Where the incapacitated person is a department of social and health services client residing in a nursing facility or in a residential or home setting and is required by the department of social and health services to contribute a portion of their income towards the cost of residential or supportive services then the department shall be entitled to notice of proceedings as described in RCW 11.92.150. The amount of guardianship fees and additional compensation for administrative costs shall not exceed the amount allowed by the department of social and health services by rule.
Rules of court: SPR 98.12W.
The court shall have authority to bring before it, in the manner prescribed by RCW 11.48.070, any person or persons suspected of having in his or her possession or having concealed, embezzled, conveyed or disposed of any of the property of the estate of incapacitated persons subject to administration under this title.
Detention of person in residential placement facility against will prohibited—Effect of court order—Service of notice of residential placement.
No residential treatment facility which provides nursing or other care may detain a person within such facility against their will. Any court order, other than an order issued in accordance with the involuntary treatment provisions of chapters 10.77, 71.05, and 72.23 RCW, which purports to authorize such involuntary detention or purports to authorize a guardian or limited guardian to consent to such involuntary detention on behalf of an incapacitated person shall be void and of no force or effect. This section does not apply to the detention of a minor as provided in chapter 71.34 RCW.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a court order authorizing placement of an incapacitated person in a residential treatment facility if such order is not otherwise required by law: PROVIDED, That notice of any residential placement of an incapacitated person shall be served, either before or after placement, by the guardian or limited guardian on such person, the guardian ad litem of record, and any attorney of record.
Incapacitated persons—Right to associate with persons of their choosing.
(c) Give substantial weight to the incapacitated person's preferences, both expressed and historical.
(ii) Within fourteen calendar days of imposing the restriction under (c)(i) of this subsection, the guardian or limited guardian files a petition for a protection order under chapter 74.34 RCW. The immediate need restriction may remain in place until the court has heard and issued an order or decision on the petition.
(c) May not deny communication, visitation, interaction, or other association between the incapacitated person and another person unless the court finds that placing reasonable time, place, or manner restrictions is unlikely to sufficiently protect the incapacitated person from abuse, neglect, abandonment, or financial exploitation as those terms are defined in RCW 74.34.020.