RCW 11.130.385
Appointment and role of attorney.
(1)(a) The respondent shall have the right to be represented by a willing attorney of their choosing at any stage in conservatorship proceedings. Any attorney purporting to represent a respondent or person subject to conservatorship shall petition the court to be appointed to represent the respondent or person subject to conservatorship.
(b) Unless the respondent in a proceeding for appointment of a conservator is represented by an attorney, the court is not required, but may appoint an attorney to represent the respondent, regardless of the respondent's ability to pay, except as provided otherwise in (c) of this subsection.
(c)(i) The court must appoint an attorney to represent the respondent at public expense when either:
(A) The respondent is unable to afford an attorney;
(B) The expense of an attorney would result in substantial hardship to the respondent; or
(C) The respondent does not have practical access to funds with which to pay an attorney. If the respondent can afford an attorney but lacks practical access to funds, the court must provide an attorney and may impose a reimbursement requirement as part of a final order.
(ii) When, in the opinion of the court, the rights and interests of the respondent cannot otherwise be adequately protected and represented, the court on its own motion must appoint an attorney at any time to represent the respondent.
(iii) An attorney must be provided under this subsection (1)(c) as soon as practicable after a petition is filed and long enough before any final hearing to allow adequate time for consultation and preparation. Absent a convincing showing in the record to the contrary, a period of less than three weeks is presumed by a reviewing court to be inadequate time for consultation and preparation.
(2) An attorney representing the respondent in a proceeding for appointment of a conservator shall:
(a) Make reasonable efforts to ascertain the respondent's wishes;
(b) Advocate for the respondent's wishes to the extent reasonably ascertainable; and
(c) If the respondent's wishes are not reasonably ascertainable, advocate for the result that is the least restrictive in type, duration, and scope, consistent with the respondent's interests.
(3) The court is not required, but may appoint an attorney to represent a parent of a minor who is the subject of a proceeding under RCW 11.130.365 if:
(a) The parent objects to appointment of a conservator;
(b) The court determines that counsel is needed to ensure that consent to appointment of a conservator is informed; or
(c) The court otherwise determines the parent needs representation.
[ 2020 c 312 § 211; 2019 c 437 § 406.]
NOTES:
Effective dates—2020 c 312: See note following RCW 11.130.915.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 11 - Probate and Trust Law
Chapter 11.130 - Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act.
11.130.015 - Supplemental principles of law and equity applicable.
11.130.020 - Subject matter jurisdiction.
11.130.025 - Transfer of proceeding.
11.130.035 - Practice in court.
11.130.037 - Presumption of legal capacity.
11.130.040 - Letters of office.
11.130.045 - Effect of acceptance of appointment.
11.130.050 - Co-guardian—Co-conservator.
11.130.055 - Judicial appointment of successor guardian or successor conservator.
11.130.060 - Effect of death, removal, or resignation of guardian or conservator.
11.130.065 - Notice of hearing generally.
11.130.070 - Waiver of notice.
11.130.075 - Guardian ad litem.
11.130.080 - Request for notice.
11.130.085 - Disclosure of bankruptcy or criminal history.
11.130.095 - Multiple nominations.
11.130.100 - Compensation and expenses—In general.
11.130.105 - Compensation of guardian or conservator.
11.130.115 - Petition after appointment for instruction or ratification.
11.130.120 - Third-party acceptance of authority of guardian or conservator.
11.130.125 - Use of agent by guardian or conservator.
11.130.130 - Temporary substitute guardian or conservator.
11.130.135 - Registration of order—Effect.
11.130.140 - Grievance or complaint against guardian or conservator.
11.130.145 - Delegation by parent.
11.130.150 - Ex parte communications—Removal.
11.130.155 - Registry for guardians ad litem and visitors.
11.130.160 - Guardianship/conservatorship summary.
11.130.165 - Guardianship/conservatorship courthouse facilitator program.
11.130.175 - Guardianships involving veterans.
11.130.180 - Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.
11.130.185 - Basis for appointment of guardian for minor.
11.130.190 - Petition for appointment of guardian for minor.
11.130.195 - Notice of hearing for appointment of guardian for minor.
11.130.200 - Attorney for minor or parent.
11.130.205 - Attendance and participation at hearing for appointment of guardian for minor.
11.130.210 - Custody orders—Background information to be consulted.
11.130.215 - Order of appointment—Priority of nominee—Limited guardianship for minor.
11.130.220 - Standby guardian for minor.
11.130.225 - Emergency guardian for minor.
11.130.230 - Duties of guardian for minor.
11.130.235 - Powers of guardian for minor.
11.130.240 - Removal of guardian for minor—Termination of guardianship—Appointment of successor.
11.130.245 - Prior court order validity.
11.130.250 - Application of the Indian child welfare act.
11.130.257 - Temporary support, restraining, and protective orders—Effect—Support debts to state.
11.130.259 - Order for relocation.
11.130.260 - Health insurance coverage—Conditions.
11.130.265 - Basis for appointment of guardian for adult.
11.130.270 - Petition for appointment of guardian for adult.
11.130.275 - Notice of hearing for appointment of guardian for adult.
11.130.280 - Appointment and role of court visitor.
11.130.285 - Appointment and role of attorney for adult.
11.130.290 - Professional evaluation.
11.130.295 - Attendance and rights at hearing.
11.130.300 - Confidentiality of records.
11.130.305 - Who may be guardian for adult—Order of priority.
11.130.310 - Order of appointment for guardian.
11.130.315 - Notice of order of appointment—Rights.
11.130.320 - Emergency guardian for adult.
11.130.325 - Duties of guardian for adult.
11.130.330 - Powers of guardian for adult.
11.130.335 - Special limitations on guardian's power.
11.130.345 - Guardian's report—Monitoring of guardianship.
11.130.350 - Removal of guardian for adult—Appointment of successor.
11.130.355 - Termination or modification of guardianship for adult.
11.130.360 - Basis for appointment of conservator.
11.130.365 - Petition for appointment of conservator.
11.130.370 - Notice and hearing for appointment of conservator.
11.130.375 - Order to preserve or apply property while proceeding pending.
11.130.380 - Appointment and role of court visitor.
11.130.385 - Appointment and role of attorney.
11.130.390 - Professional evaluation.
11.130.400 - Attendance and rights at hearing.
11.130.410 - Confidentiality of records.
11.130.415 - Who may be conservator—Order of priority.
11.130.420 - Order of appointment of conservator.
11.130.425 - Notice of order of appointment—Rights.
11.130.430 - Emergency conservator.
11.130.435 - Powers of conservator requiring court approval.
11.130.440 - Petition for order after appointment.
11.130.445 - Bond—Alternative verified receipt.
11.130.500 - Terms and requirements of bond.
11.130.505 - Duties of conservator.
11.130.510 - Conservator's plan.
11.130.515 - Inventory—Records.
11.130.520 - Administrative powers of conservator not requiring court approval.
11.130.525 - Distribution from conservatorship estate.
11.130.530 - Conservator's report and accounting—Monitoring.
11.130.535 - Attempted transfer of property by individual subject to conservatorship.
11.130.540 - Transaction involving conflict of interest.
11.130.545 - Protection of person dealing with conservator.
11.130.547 - Access of conservator to certain assets.
11.130.550 - Death of individual subject to conservatorship.
11.130.555 - Presentation and allowance of claim.
11.130.560 - Personal liability of conservator.
11.130.565 - Removal of conservator—Appointment of successor.
11.130.570 - Termination or modification of conservatorship.
11.130.575 - Transfer for benefit of minor without appointment of conservator.
11.130.580 - Authority for protective arrangement.
11.130.585 - Basis for protective arrangement instead of guardianship for adult.
11.130.590 - Basis for protective arrangement instead of conservatorship for adult or minor.
11.130.595 - Petition for protective arrangement.
11.130.600 - Notice and hearing.
11.130.605 - Appointment and role of court visitor.
11.130.610 - Appointment and role of attorney.
11.130.615 - Professional evaluation.
11.130.620 - Attendance and rights at hearing.
11.130.630 - Confidentiality of records.
11.130.635 - Appointment of special agent.
11.130.645 - Petition for guardianship for minor.
11.130.650 - Petition for guardianship, conservatorship, or protective arrangement.
11.130.655 - Notification of rights for adult subject to guardianship or conservatorship.
11.130.657 - Notification of petition for guardianship or conservatorship.
11.130.660 - Letters of office.
11.130.665 - Guardianship/conservatorship summary.
11.130.670 - Certified professional guardianship board—Grievances.
11.130.710 - Presumption of capacity.
11.130.720 - Authority of supporter.
11.130.730 - Disqualification of supporter.
11.130.735 - Access of supporter to personal information.
11.130.740 - Execution of agreement.
11.130.750 - Reliance on agreement—Limitation of liability.
11.130.755 - Reporting of suspected abuse, abandonment, neglect, exploitation.
11.130.900 - Uniformity of application and construction.
11.130.905 - Relation to electronic signatures in global and national commerce act.