"Sec. 1   RCW 11.88.020 and 1997 c 312 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (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 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.
     (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 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 by a date no later than ninety days after the appointment.

Sec. 2   RCW 11.88.030 and 2009 c 521 s 36 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Any person or entity may petition for the appointment of a qualified person, ((trust company, national bank, or nonprofit corporation)) certified professional guardian, or financial institution authorized in RCW 11.88.020 as the guardian or limited guardian of an incapacitated person. No liability for filing a petition for guardianship or limited guardianship shall attach to a petitioner acting in good faith and upon reasonable basis. A petition for guardianship or limited guardianship shall state:
     (a) The name, age, residence, and post office address of the alleged incapacitated person;
     (b) The nature of the alleged incapacity in accordance with RCW 11.88.010;
     (c) The approximate value and description of property, including any compensation, pension, insurance, or allowance, to which the alleged incapacitated person may be entitled;
     (d) Whether there is, in any state, a guardian or limited guardian, or pending guardianship action for the person or estate of the alleged incapacitated person;
     (e) The residence and post office address of the person whom petitioner asks to be appointed guardian or limited guardian;
     (f) The names and addresses, and nature of the relationship, so far as known or can be reasonably ascertained, of the persons most closely related by blood, marriage, or state registered domestic partnership to the alleged incapacitated person;
     (g) The name and address of the person or facility having the care and custody of the alleged incapacitated person;
     (h) The reason why the appointment of a guardian or limited guardian is sought and the interest of the petitioner in the appointment, and whether the appointment is sought as guardian or limited guardian of the person, the estate, or both;
     (i) A description of any alternate arrangements previously made by the alleged incapacitated person, such as trusts or powers of attorney, including identifying any guardianship nominations contained in a power of attorney, and why a guardianship is nevertheless necessary;
     (j) The nature and degree of the alleged incapacity and the specific areas of protection and assistance requested and the limitation of rights requested to be included in the court's order of appointment;
     (k) The requested term of the limited guardianship to be included in the court's order of appointment; and
     (l) Whether the petitioner is proposing a specific individual to act as guardian ad litem and, if so, the individual's knowledge of or relationship to any of the parties, and why the individual is proposed. The petition shall include evidence of successful completion of any training required under RCW 11.88.020 by the proposed guardian or limited guardian unless the petitioner requests expedited appointment due to emergent circumstances.
     (2)(a) The attorney general may petition for the appointment of a guardian or limited guardian in any case in which there is cause to believe that a guardianship is necessary and no private party is able and willing to petition.
     (b) Prepayment of a filing fee shall not be required in any guardianship or limited guardianship brought by the attorney general. Payment of the filing fee shall be ordered from the estate of the incapacitated person at the hearing on the merits of the petition, unless in the judgment of the court, such payment would impose a hardship upon the incapacitated person, in which case the filing shall be waived.
     (3) No filing fee shall be charged by the court for filing either a petition for guardianship or a petition for limited guardianship if the petition alleges that the alleged incapacitated person has total assets of a value of less than three thousand dollars.
     (4)(a) Notice that a guardianship proceeding has been commenced shall be personally served upon the alleged incapacitated person and the guardian ad litem along with a copy of the petition for appointment of a guardian. Such notice shall be served not more than five court days after the petition has been filed.
     (b) Notice under this subsection shall include a clear and easily readable statement of the legal rights of the alleged incapacitated person that could be restricted or transferred to a guardian by a guardianship order as well as the right to counsel of choice and to a jury trial on the issue of incapacity. Such notice shall be in substantially the following form and shall be in capital letters, double-spaced, and in a type size not smaller than ten-point type:

Sec. 3   RCW 11.92.043 and 1991 c 289 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     It shall be the duty of the guardian or limited guardian of the person:
     (1) To file within three months after appointment a personal care plan for the incapacitated person which shall include (a) an assessment of the incapacitated person's physical, mental, and emotional needs and of such person's ability to perform or assist in activities of daily living, and (b) the guardian's specific plan for meeting the identified and emerging personal care needs of the incapacitated person.
     (2) To file annually or, where a guardian of the estate has been appointed, at the time an account is required to be filed under RCW 11.92.040, a report on the status of the incapacitated person, which shall include:
     (a) The address and name of the incapacitated person and all residential changes during the period;
     (b) The services or programs which the incapacitated person receives;
     (c) The medical status of the incapacitated person;
     (d) The mental status of the incapacitated person;
     (e) Changes in the functional abilities of the incapacitated person;
     (f) Activities of the guardian for the period;
     (g) Any recommended changes in the scope of the authority of the guardian;
     (h) The identity of any professionals who have assisted the incapacitated person during the period;
     (i)(i) Evidence of the guardian or limited guardian's successful completion of any standardized training for guardians or limited guardians made available by the administrative office of the courts and the superior court when the guardian or limited guardian: (A) Was appointed prior to the effective date of this section; (B) is not a certified professional guardian or financial institution authorized under RCW 11.88.020; and (C) has not previously completed the requirements of RCW 11.88.020(3).
     (ii) The superior court may: (A) Waive this requirement for good cause. When determining whether there is good cause to waive the training requirement, the court shall consider, among other facts about the guardianship, whether the guardian is a family member caring for a developmentally disabled child or other family member whose estate is worth two thousand dollars or less; the length of time the guardian has been serving the incapacitated person; whether the guardian has timely filed all required reports with the court; whether the guardian is monitored by other state or local agencies; and whether there have been any allegations of abuse, neglect, or a breach of fiduciary duty against the guardian; or (B) extend the time period for completion of the training requirement for ninety days, upon: (I) Petition by the guardian or limited guardian; or (II) any other method as provided by local court rule; and
     (j) Evidence of the guardian or limited guardian's successful completion of any additional or updated training offered by the administrative office of the courts and the superior court as is required at the discretion of the superior court unless the guardian or limited guardian is a certified professional guardian or financial institution authorized under RCW 11.88.020.
     (3) To report to the court within thirty days any substantial change in the incapacitated person's condition, or any changes in residence of the incapacitated person.
     (4) Consistent with the powers granted by the court, to care for and maintain the incapacitated person in the setting least restrictive to the incapacitated person's freedom and appropriate to the incapacitated person's personal care needs, assert the incapacitated person's rights and best interests, and if the incapacitated person is a minor or where otherwise appropriate, to see that the incapacitated person receives appropriate training and education and that the incapacitated person has the opportunity to learn a trade, occupation, or profession.
     (5) Consistent with RCW 7.70.065, to provide timely, informed consent for health care of the incapacitated person, except in the case of a limited guardian where such power is not expressly provided for in the order of appointment or subsequent modifying order as provided in RCW 11.88.125 as now or hereafter amended, the standby guardian or standby limited guardian may provide timely, informed consent to necessary medical procedures if the guardian or limited guardian cannot be located within four hours after the need for such consent arises. No guardian, limited guardian, or standby guardian may involuntarily commit for mental health treatment, observation, or evaluation an alleged incapacitated person who is unable or unwilling to give informed consent to such commitment unless the procedures for involuntary commitment set forth in chapter 71.05 or 72.23 RCW are followed. Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow a guardian, limited guardian, or standby guardian to consent to:
     (a) Therapy or other procedure which induces convulsion;
     (b) Surgery solely for the purpose of psychosurgery;
     (c) Other psychiatric or mental health procedures that restrict physical freedom of movement, or the rights set forth in RCW ((71.05.370)) 71.05.217.
     A guardian, limited guardian, or standby guardian who believes these procedures are necessary for the proper care and maintenance of the incapacitated person shall petition the court for an order unless the court has previously approved the procedure within the past thirty days. The court may order the procedure only after an attorney is appointed in accordance with RCW 11.88.045 if no attorney has previously appeared, notice is given, and a hearing is held in accordance with RCW 11.88.040.

Sec. 4   RCW 11.88.095 and 1995 c 297 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) In determining the disposition of a petition for guardianship, the court's order shall be based upon findings as to the capacities, condition, and needs of the alleged incapacitated person, and shall not be based solely upon agreements made by the parties.
     (2) Every order appointing a full or limited guardian of the person or estate shall include:
     (a) Findings as to the capacities, condition, and needs of the alleged incapacitated person;
     (b) The amount of the bond, if any, or a bond review period;
     (c) ((When the next report of the guardian is due;
     (d))) The date the account or report shall be filed. The date of filing an account or report shall be within ninety days after the anniversary date of the appointment;
     (d) A directive to the clerk of court to issue letters of guardianship;
     (e) Whether the guardian ad litem shall continue acting as guardian ad litem;
     (((e))) (f) Whether a review hearing shall be required upon the filing of the inventory;
     (((f))) (g) Whether a review hearing is required upon filing the initial personal care plan;
     (h) The authority of the guardian, if any, for investment and expenditure of the ward's estate; ((and
     (g))) (i) Names and addresses of those persons described in RCW 11.88.090(5)(d), if any, whom the court believes should receive copies of further pleadings filed by the guardian with respect to the guardianship. The guardian, within ninety days from the date of the appointment, shall, in writing, notify the persons identified by the court of their right to request special notice of proceedings as described in RCW 11.92.150; and
     (j) A guardianship summary placed directly below the case caption or on a separate cover page in the following form, or a substantially similar form, containing the following information:

Sec. 5   RCW 11.88.125 and 2008 c 6 s 805 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The person appointed by the court as either guardian or limited guardian of the person and/or estate of an incapacitated person((,)) shall file in writing with the court, within ninety days from the date of appointment, a notice designating a standby limited guardian or guardian to serve as limited guardian or guardian at the death or legal incapacity of the court-appointed guardian or limited guardian. The notice shall state the name, address, zip code, and telephone number of the designated standby or limited guardian. Notice of the guardian's designation of the standby guardian shall be given to the standby guardian, the incapacitated person and his or her spouse or domestic partner and adult children, any facility in which the incapacitated person resides, and any person entitled to special notice under RCW 11.92.150 or any person entitled to receive pleadings pursuant to RCW 11.88.095(2)(((g))) (i). Such standby guardian or limited guardian shall have all the powers, duties, and obligations of the regularly appointed guardian or limited guardian and in addition shall, within a period of thirty days from the death or adjudication of incapacity of the regularly appointed guardian or limited guardian, file with the superior court in the county in which the guardianship or limited guardianship is then being administered, a petition for appointment of a substitute guardian or limited guardian. Upon the court's appointment of a new, substitute guardian or limited guardian, the standby guardian or limited guardian shall make an accounting and report to be approved by the court, and upon approval of the court, the standby guardian or limited guardian shall be released from all duties and obligations arising from or out of the guardianship or limited guardianship.
     (2) Letters of guardianship shall be issued to the standby guardian or limited guardian upon filing an oath and posting a bond as required by RCW 11.88.100 as now or hereafter amended. The oath may be filed prior to the appointed guardian or limited guardian's death. Notice of such appointment shall be provided to the standby guardian, the incapacitated person, and any facility in which the incapacitated person resides. The provisions of RCW 11.88.100 through 11.88.110 as now or hereafter amended shall apply to standby guardians and limited guardians.
     (3) In addition to the powers of a standby limited guardian or guardian as noted in subsection (1) of this section, the standby limited guardian or guardian shall have the authority to provide timely, informed consent to necessary medical procedures, as authorized in RCW 11.92.040 as now or hereafter amended, if the guardian or limited guardian cannot be located within four hours after the need for such consent arises.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   A new section is added to chapter 11.88 RCW to read as follows:
     A guardian or limited guardian may not act on behalf of the incapacitated person without valid letters of guardianship. Upon appointment and fulfilling all legal requirements to serve, as set forth in the court's order, the clerk shall issue letters of guardianship to a guardian or limited guardian appointed by the court in the following form, or a substantially similar form:

Sec. 7   RCW 11.88.140 and 1991 c 289 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
     (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:

Sec. 8   RCW 11.92.053 and 1995 c 297 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     Within ninety days, unless the court orders a different deadline for good cause, after the termination of a guardianship for any reason, the guardian or limited guardian of the estate shall petition the court for an order settling his or her account as filed in accordance with RCW 11.92.040(2) with regard to any receipts, expenditures, and investments made and acts done by the guardian to the date of the termination. Upon the filing of the petition, the court shall set a date for the hearing of the petition after notice has been given in accordance with RCW 11.88.040. Any person interested may file objections to the petition or may appear at the time and place fixed for the hearing thereof and present his or her objections thereto. The court may take such testimony as it deems proper or necessary to determine whether an order settling the account should be issued and the transactions of the guardian be approved, and the court may appoint a guardian ad litem to review the report.
     At the hearing on the petition of the guardian or limited guardian, if the court is satisfied that the actions of the guardian or limited guardian have been proper, and that the guardian has in all respects discharged his or her trust with relation to the receipts, expenditures, investments, and acts, then, in such event, the court shall enter an order approving the account, and the order shall be final and binding upon the incapacitated person, subject only to the right of appeal as upon a final order. However, within one year after the incompetent attains his or her majority any such account may be challenged by the incapacitated person on the ground of fraud.

Sec. 9   RCW 11.92.040 and 1991 c 289 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     It shall be the duty of the guardian or limited guardian of an estate:
     (1) To file within three months after the guardian's appointment a verified inventory of all the property of the incapacitated person which comes into the guardian's possession or knowledge, including a statement of all encumbrances, liens, and other secured charges on any item;
     (2) To file annually, within ninety days after the anniversary date of the guardian's or limited guardian's appointment, and also within ((thirty)) ninety days after termination of the appointment, unless the court for good cause orders a different deadline to file following termination, a written verified account of the administration, which account shall contain at least the following information:
     (a) Identification of property of the guardianship estate as of the date of the last account or, in the case of the initial account, as of the date of inventory;
     (b) Identification of all additional property received into the guardianship, including income by source;
     (c) Identification of all expenditures made during the account period by major categories;
     (d) Any adjustments to the guardianship estate required to establish its present fair market value, including gains or losses on sale or other disposition and any mortgages, deeds of trust or other encumbrances against the guardianship estate; and
     (e) Identification of all property held in the guardianship estate as of the date of account, the assessed value of any real property and the guardian's estimate of the present fair market values of other property (including the basis on which such estimate is made), and the total net fair market value of the guardianship estate. In addition, immediately following such statement of present fair market value, the account shall set forth a statement of current amount of the guardian's bond and any other court-ordered protection for the security of the guardianship assets;
     (3) The court in its discretion may allow reports at intervals of up to thirty-six months for estates with assets (exclusive of real property) having a value of not more than twice the homestead exemption. Notwithstanding contrary provisions of this section, the guardian or limited guardian of an estate need not file an annual report with the court if the funds of the guardianship are held for the benefit of a minor in a blocked account unless the guardian requests a withdrawal from such account, in which case the guardian shall provide a written verified account of the administration of the guardianship estate along with the guardian's petition for the withdrawal. The guardian or limited guardian shall report any substantial change in income or assets of the guardianship estate within thirty days of the occurrence of the change. A hearing shall be scheduled for court review and determination of provision for increased bond or other provision in accordance with RCW 11.88.100;
     (4) If the court reviews an account or report filed by a guardian or limited guardian, a court order approving the account or report must contain a guardianship summary placed directly below the case caption or on a separate cover page in the following form, or a substantially similar form, containing the following information:

Sec. 10   RCW 11.92.050 and 1995 c 297 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Upon the filing of any intermediate guardianship or limited guardianship account or report required by statute, or of any intermediate account or report required by court rule or order, the guardian or limited guardian may petition the court for an order settling ((his or her)) the guardianship account or report with regard to any receipts, expenditures, and investments made and acts done by the guardian or limited guardian to the date of the interim report.
     (2) Upon such ((petition)) account or report being filed, the court may in its discretion, where the size or condition of the estate warrants it, set a date for the hearing of the petition and require the service of the petition and a notice of the hearing as provided in RCW 11.88.040 as now or hereafter amended or as specified by the court; and, in the event a hearing is ordered, the court may also appoint a guardian ad litem, whose duty it shall be to investigate the account or report of the guardian or limited guardian of the estate and to advise the court thereon at the hearing, in writing.
     (3) At the hearing on or upon the court's review of the account or report of the guardian or limited guardian, if the court is satisfied that the actions of the guardian or limited guardian have been proper, and that the guardian or limited guardian has in all respects discharged his or her trust with relation to the receipts, expenditures, investments, and acts, then, in such event, the court shall enter an order approving such account or report.
     (4) If a guardian or limited guardian fails to file the account or report or fails to appear at a hearing, the court may enter an order to show cause and require the guardian or limited guardian to appear at a show cause hearing. At the show cause hearing the court may enter an order for one or more of the following actions:
     (a) Directing the guardian or limited guardian to appear before the court subject to contempt sanctions;
     (b) Appointing a guardian ad litem;
     (c) Removing the guardian or limited guardian and appointing a successor;
     (d) Requiring the completion of any approved guardianship training made available to the guardian by the court; or
     (e) Providing other and further relief the court deems just and equitable.
     (5) If the court has appointed a guardian ad litem, the order shall be final and binding upon the incapacitated person, subject only to the right of appeal as upon a final order; provided that at the time of final account of said guardian or limited guardian or within one year after the incapacitated person attains his or her majority any such interim account may be challenged by the incapacitated person on the ground of fraud.
     (((2))) (6) The procedure established in ((subsection (1) of)) this section for financial accounts by guardians or limited guardians of the estate shall apply to personal care reports filed by guardians or limited guardians of the person under RCW 11.92.043."