How long is a guardianship in effect?

In Washington, a guardianship is effective for the duration of the child’s minority, usually until the child turns 18 years old. Guardians must demonstrate that they are able to provide a safe and stable environment for the child. The court will review the guardianship agreement every two years to ensure the child’s well-being is being taken care of. In some cases, a court may also extend the guardianship after the child has turned 18. This is if the child is not able to make necessary decisions or take care of themselves. The court may extend the guardianship until the child is 21. Guardians must go through the court to seek approval for the extension and have to provide evidence that the guardianship is still necessary at the age of 18. A guardianship may also end before the child turns 18, if the court decides that the guardianship is no longer necessary. This could be due to the child’s maturity or other changes in circumstances that make the guardianship no longer necessary. In this case, the court will end the guardianship and the child will be able to make decisions on their own, although they will be monitored by the court. Overall, a guardianship in Washington is usually effective until the child turns 18. However, there are some situations where the court may extend the guardianship or end it before the child’s 18th birthday.

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