GUARDIANSHIP & ALTERNATIVES
GUARDIANSHIP
Many people think that guardianship is the best way to help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities make important decisions. The truth is that guardianship is often not necessary.
There are two types of guardians:
A Certified Professional Guardian (CPG) has taken training and is certified by the State of Washington to provide guardianship services for recompense. For information about the duties and responsibilities of a CPG, qualifications to become a CPG, rules and regulations, standards of practice, and filing a complaint about a CPG, click here.
A Lay/Family Guardian is a person who is appointed by the courts. The court prefers to appoint a family member as a guardian in most cases when there is a willing and able family member who has no clash with the person who needs the guardianship. To learn about the training required to become a lay/family guardian, click here.
When petitioning the court to become a guardian, the category and scope of guardianship must be identified. Categories include 1) guardian of the estate; 2)guardian of the person; and 3)guardian of the person and estate.
Limited Scope: Grants the authority to make specific decisions identified in a court order and may be time-limited. Guardianships are supposed to be no broader than necessary to meet the needs resulting from a person’s incapacity. Courts can appoint limited guardians for people who can care for themselves or arrange for their care in some ways but not in others.
Full Scope: Grants the authority to make all decisions provided under the law. Full guardianship denies a person significant rights, which may include the right to vote, marry, get a driver’s license, enter contracts, or decide who will provide care. It should be entered into only if alternatives to guardianship, or limited guardianship, are not sufficient.
To complete the guardianship application on your own, click here.
We are often asked if we have a list of guardians we can recommend. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide a list as a guardian that is a good fit for one person, may not be a good fit for another. However, you can view the directory of WA State Certified Professional Guardians in Washington State Courts’ guardian portal and individually reach out to the professionals you are interested in speaking with.
Website: www.courts.wa.gov/guardianportal/index.cfm?fa=guardianportal.search
If you have general questions, contact Ana Kemmerer at afortson@spokanecounty.org or call (509) 477-2622.
If you would like to speak to an attorney, please contact The Arc of Spokane at advocacy@arc-spokane.org or call (509) 789-8327 for a referral to a local attorney (guardianship consultation fee is waived for The Arc’s constituents).
GUARDIANSHIP MONITORING PROGRAM
The Guardianship Monitoring Program was implemented to improve the Superior Court’s ability to monitor guardians’ handling of the ongoing care and financial affairs of Spokane County’s incapacitated citizens under court-supervised guardianships.
Guardianship Monitoring Program
1116 W Broadway Ave
Room 200
Spokane, WA 99260
Website: www.spokanecounty.org/4988/About-GMP
Phone: (509) 477-2622