What is an alternative to guardianship?

In Washington, an alternative to guardianship is called limited guardianship. Limited guardianship is a legally recognized relationship between a person (the “limited guardian”) and an individual who has been determined to be incapacitated (the “ward”). It is intended to provide a less intrusive alternative to full guardianship. Under limited guardianship, the limited guardian has the responsibility to provide for the ward’s health, safety, and welfare. This includes making sure that the ward has appropriate and necessary medical and other care, protecting the ward’s assets, supporting the ward’s living arrangements and providing such other services as may be necessary and appropriate. In contrast to a full guardianship, limited guardianship does not take away the ward’s rights to make decisions. It means that decisions are made with the consultation of the limited guardian, and that the limited guardian must be informed of what the ward wants. Furthermore, the limited guardian is not necessarily given the power to make decisions on behalf of the ward. The procedures and requirements to establish limited guardianship in Washington state are different than full guardianship, and include a petition, a hearing, and an order of limited guardianship. Limited guardianships are subject to periodic review and may be revoked at any time by court order.

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What is an alternative to guardianship?

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