2005 Washington Revised Code RCW 13.34.231: Guardianship for dependent child — Hearing — Rights of parties — Rules of evidence — Guardianship established, when.

At the hearing on a dependency guardianship petition, all parties have the right to present evidence and cross examine witnesses. The rules of evidence apply to the conduct of the hearing. A guardianship shall be established if the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that:

     (1) The child has been found to be a dependent child under RCW 13.34.030;

     (2) A dispositional order has been entered pursuant to RCW 13.34.130;

     (3) The child has been removed or will, at the time of the hearing, have been removed from the custody of the parent for a period of at least six months pursuant to a finding of dependency under RCW 13.34.030;

     (4) The services ordered under RCW 13.34.130 and 13.34.136 have been offered or provided and all necessary services, reasonably available, capable of correcting the parental deficiencies within the foreseeable future have been offered or provided;

     (5) There is little likelihood that conditions will be remedied so that the child can be returned to the parent in the near future; and

     (6) A guardianship, rather than termination of the parent-child relationship or continuation of efforts to return the child to the custody of the parent, would be in the best interest of the child.

[2000 c 122 § 29; 1994 c 288 § 6; 1981 c 195 § 2.]