What is a voluntary guardianship?

A voluntary guardianship is a legal arrangement in which a person (known as the guardian) is given the authority to make decisions on behalf of another person (known as the ward). This type of guardianship is typically used when the ward is a minor or when the ward is an adult who is unable to make decisions for themselves due to a mental disability. In Washington, voluntary guardianship is regulated by the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 11.88. In order for a guardian to be appointed, the proposed ward and guardian must complete an application and submit it to the court. The proposed guardian will also need to submit a certificate of guardianship training that demonstrates that they have taken courses to understand the basics of guardianship law in Washington. Once appointed, the court will grant the guardian the authority to make decisions for the ward in the areas of health care, education, finances and other matters. The guardian will also be responsible for making sure that the ward’s basic needs are met. An important aspect of voluntary guardianship in Washington is that the guardianship will end if the ward recovers their mental capacity or reaches the age of majority (18). Until then, however, the guardian will have the legal responsibility to make decisions and act on behalf of the ward.

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What is a voluntary guardianship?

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