2020 Revised Code of Washington
Title 11 - Probate and Trust Law
Chapter 11.88 - Guardianship—Appointment, Qualification, Removal of Guardians.
11.88.140 Termination of guardianship or limited guardianship.

(1) TERMINATION WITHOUT COURT ORDER. A guardianship or limited guardianship is terminated:

(a) Upon the attainment of full and legal age, as defined in RCW 26.28.010 as now or hereafter amended, of any person defined as an incapacitated person pursuant to RCW 11.88.010 as now or hereafter amended solely by reason of youth, RCW 26.28.020 to the contrary notwithstanding, subject to subsection (2) of this section;

(b) By an adjudication of capacity or an adjudication of termination of incapacity;

(c) By the death of the incapacitated person;

(d) By expiration of the term of limited guardianship specified in the order appointing the limited guardian, unless prior to such expiration a petition has been filed and served, as provided in RCW 11.88.040 as now or hereafter amended, seeking an extension of such term.

(2) TERMINATION OF GUARDIANSHIP FOR A MINOR BY DECLARATION OF COMPLETION. A guardianship for the benefit of a minor may be terminated upon the minor's attainment of legal age, as defined in RCW 26.28.010 as now or hereafter amended, by the guardian filing a declaration that states:

(a) The date the minor attained legal age;

(b) That the guardian has paid all of the minor's funds in the guardian's possession to the minor, who has signed a receipt for the funds, and that the receipt has been filed with the court;

(c) That the guardian has completed the administration of the minor's estate and the guardianship is ready to be closed; and

(d) The amount of fees paid or to be paid to each of the following: (i) The guardian, (ii) lawyer or lawyers, (iii) accountant or accountants; and that the guardian believes the fees are reasonable and does not intend to obtain court approval of the amount of the fees or to submit a guardianship accounting to the court for approval. Subject to the requirement of notice as provided in this section, unless the minor petitions the court either for an order requiring the guardian to obtain court approval of the amount of fees paid or to be paid to the guardian, lawyers, or accountants, or for an order requiring an accounting, or both, within thirty days from the filing of the declaration of completion of guardianship, the guardian shall be automatically discharged without further order of the court. The guardian's powers will cease thirty days after filing the declaration of completion of guardianship. The declaration of completion of guardianship shall, at the time, be the equivalent of an entry of a decree terminating the guardianship, distributing the assets, and discharging the guardian for all legal intents and purposes.

Within five days of the date of filing the declaration of completion of guardianship, the guardian or the guardian's lawyer shall mail a copy of the declaration of completion to the minor together with a notice that shall be substantially as follows:

If the minor, after reaching legal age, waives in writing the notice required by this section, the guardian will be automatically discharged without further order of the court and the declaration of completion of guardianship will be effective as an order terminating the guardianship without an accounting upon filing the declaration. If the guardian has been required to furnish a bond, and a declaration of completion of guardianship is filed according to this section, any bond furnished by the guardian shall be automatically discharged upon the discharge of the guardian.

(3) TERMINATION ON COURT ORDER. A guardianship or limited guardianship may be terminated by court order after such notice as the court may require if the guardianship or limited guardianship is no longer necessary.

The guardian or limited guardian shall, within ninety days of the date of termination of the guardianship, unless the court orders a different deadline for good cause, prepare and file with the court a final verified account of administration. The final verified account of administration shall contain the same information as required for (a) an intermediate verified account of administration of the estate under RCW 11.92.040(2) and (b) an intermediate personal care status report under *RCW 11.92.043(2).

(4) EFFECT OF TERMINATION. When a guardianship or limited guardianship terminates other than by the death of the incapacitated person, the powers of the guardian or limited guardian cease, except that a guardian or limited guardian of the estate may make disbursements for claims that are or may be allowed by the court, for liabilities already properly incurred for the estate or for the incapacitated person, and for expenses of administration. When a guardianship or limited guardianship terminates by death of the incapacitated person, the guardian or limited guardian of the estate may proceed under RCW 11.88.150 as now or hereafter amended, but the rights of all creditors against the incapacitated person's estate shall be determined by the law of decedents' estates.

[ 2016 c 202 § 9; 2011 c 329 § 7; 1991 c 289 § 9; 1990 c 122 § 17; 1977 ex.s. c 309 § 11; 1975 1st ex.s. c 95 § 16; 1965 c 145 § 11.88.140.]

NOTES:

*Reviser's note: RCW 11.92.043 was amended by 2017 c 268 § 3, changing subsection (2) to subsection (1)(b).

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

Severability—1977 ex.s. c 309: See note following RCW 11.88.005.

Procedure on removal or death of guardian or limited guardian: RCW 11.88.120.

Settlement of estate upon termination: RCW 11.92.053.