RCW 11.88.020 Qualifications. (Effective until January 1, 2021.)

(1) Any suitable person over the age of eighteen years, or any parent under the age of eighteen years or, if the petition is for appointment of a professional guardian, any individual or guardianship service that meets any certification requirements established by the administrator for the courts, may, if not otherwise disqualified, be appointed guardian or limited guardian of the person and/or the estate of an incapacitated person. A financial institution subject to the jurisdiction of the department of financial institutions and authorized to exercise trust powers, and a federally chartered financial institution when authorized to do so, may act as a guardian of the estate of an incapacitated person without having to meet the certification requirements established by the administrator for the courts. No person is qualified to serve as a guardian who is

(a) under eighteen years of age except as otherwise provided herein;

(b) of unsound mind;

(c) convicted of a felony or of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;

(d) a nonresident of this state who has not appointed a resident agent to accept service of process in all actions or proceedings with respect to the estate and caused such appointment to be filed with the court;

(e) a corporation not authorized to act as a fiduciary, guardian, or limited guardian in the state;

(f) a person whom the court finds unsuitable.

(2) The professional guardian certification requirements required under this section shall not apply to a testamentary guardian appointed under RCW 11.88.080.

(3) If a guardian or limited guardian is not a certified professional guardian or financial institution authorized under this section, the guardian or limited guardian shall complete any standardized training video or web cast for lay guardians made available by the administrative office of the courts and the superior court where the petition is filed unless granted a waiver by the court under RCW 11.92.043 or 11.92.040. The training video or web cast must be provided at no cost to the guardian or limited guardian.

(a) If a petitioner requests the appointment of a specific individual to act as a guardian or limited guardian, the petition for guardianship or limited guardianship shall include evidence of the successful completion of the required training video or web cast by the proposed guardian or limited guardian. The superior court may defer the completion of the training requirement to a date no later than ninety days after appointment if the petitioner requests expedited appointment due to emergent circumstances.

(b) If no person is identified to be appointed guardian or limited guardian at the time the petition is filed, then the court shall require the completion of the required training video or web cast by a date no later than ninety days after the appointment.

[ 2011 c 329 § 1; 1997 c 312 § 1; 1990 c 122 § 3; 1975 1st ex.s. c 95 § 3; 1971 c 28 § 4; 1965 c 145 § 11.88.020. Prior: 1917 c 156 § 196; RRS § 1566.]

NOTES:

Effective date—1997 c 312: "Sections 1 and 2 of this act take effect January 1, 1999." [ 1997 c 312 § 4.]

Effective date—1990 c 122: See note following RCW 11.88.005.

Banks and trust companies may act as guardian: RCW 11.36.010.