Alaska Statutes
Alaska Stat. § 13.26.286 (2026)
Removal or resignation of guardian; change in or termination of guardianship
✓ current as of July 2026
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Sec. 13.26.286. Removal or resignation of guardian; change in or termination of guardianship.
(a) On petition of the ward, the guardian, or any person interested in the ward's welfare, or on the court's own motion, the court may (1) review and amend a decision of a guardian; or (2) if alternatives that are less restrictive than guardianship or less restrictive than the existing guardianship plan would assist the ward in meeting essential requirements for physical health and safety, modify the provisions of its order to (A) amend the guardianship plan or the responsibilities of the guardian; (B) remove a guardian and appoint a successor; or (C) terminate the guardianship. On petition of the guardian, the court may accept a resignation and make any other order that may be appropriate.
(b) The ward, the guardian, or any person interested in the ward's welfare may petition for an order that the ward is no longer incapacitated or no longer incapacitated to the same extent as the ward was when the original guardianship order was made or when the court last amended the guardianship order, and for removal or resignation of the guardian, termination of the guardianship, or a change in the responsibilities of the guardian. A request for this order may be made by informal letter to the court or judge and any person who knowingly interferes with transmission of this kind of request to the court or judge may be held in contempt of court.
(c) Before removing a guardian, changing the guardian's responsibilities, accepting the resignation of a guardian, or ordering that a ward's guardianship be changed or terminated, the court, following the same procedures to safeguard the rights of the ward as apply to a petition for appointment of a guardian and applying the least restrictive alternative necessary to meet the needs of the ward after consideration of alternatives to guardianship services, may send a visitor to the residence of the present guardian and to the place where the ward resides or is detained, to observe conditions and report in writing to the court.
(d) If at any time the ward requests or indicates to the guardian or to the agency responsible for the ward's care or its employee that the ward desires a change in guardianship, the guardian or the agency providing care shall inform the court of the request or indication.
(e) If the guardian dies, or if on the basis of a petition filed under this section or a report or other information, there is probable cause to believe a guardian is not performing the guardian's responsibilities effectively and there is an imminent danger that the physical health or safety of the ward will be seriously impaired, the court shall take whatever action is necessary to protect the ward, including the dismissal of the guardian and appointment of a temporary guardian without a hearing.
(a) On petition of the ward, the guardian, or any person interested in the ward's welfare, or on the court's own motion, the court may (1) review and amend a decision of a guardian; or (2) if alternatives that are less restrictive than guardianship or less restrictive than the existing guardianship plan would assist the ward in meeting essential requirements for physical health and safety, modify the provisions of its order to (A) amend the guardianship plan or the responsibilities of the guardian; (B) remove a guardian and appoint a successor; or (C) terminate the guardianship. On petition of the guardian, the court may accept a resignation and make any other order that may be appropriate.
(b) The ward, the guardian, or any person interested in the ward's welfare may petition for an order that the ward is no longer incapacitated or no longer incapacitated to the same extent as the ward was when the original guardianship order was made or when the court last amended the guardianship order, and for removal or resignation of the guardian, termination of the guardianship, or a change in the responsibilities of the guardian. A request for this order may be made by informal letter to the court or judge and any person who knowingly interferes with transmission of this kind of request to the court or judge may be held in contempt of court.
(c) Before removing a guardian, changing the guardian's responsibilities, accepting the resignation of a guardian, or ordering that a ward's guardianship be changed or terminated, the court, following the same procedures to safeguard the rights of the ward as apply to a petition for appointment of a guardian and applying the least restrictive alternative necessary to meet the needs of the ward after consideration of alternatives to guardianship services, may send a visitor to the residence of the present guardian and to the place where the ward resides or is detained, to observe conditions and report in writing to the court.
(d) If at any time the ward requests or indicates to the guardian or to the agency responsible for the ward's care or its employee that the ward desires a change in guardianship, the guardian or the agency providing care shall inform the court of the request or indication.
(e) If the guardian dies, or if on the basis of a petition filed under this section or a report or other information, there is probable cause to believe a guardian is not performing the guardian's responsibilities effectively and there is an imminent danger that the physical health or safety of the ward will be seriously impaired, the court shall take whatever action is necessary to protect the ward, including the dismissal of the guardian and appointment of a temporary guardian without a hearing.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6
cases (5 in the last 5 years), 2020–2025 · leading case: In the Matter of the Prot. Proceedings of Tiffany O., 467 P.3d 1076 (Alaska 2020).
In the Matter of the Prot. Proceedings of Tiffany O., 467 P.3d 1076 (Alaska 2020). “311(d) dictates who has priority to serve as a guardian of an incapacitated person.”
In the Matter of the Prot. Proceedings of: Baron W., a Minor, 498 P.3d 1045 (Alaska 2021). “28 Both briefs cite cases concerning incapacitated persons’ guardians for the standards governing removal of minors’ guardians; they appear to accept as a given that the same standards will apply here.”
In the Matter of the Prot. Proceeding of Amy D., 502 P.3d 5 (Alaska 2022). “Notwithstanding the lack of formal petition to resign, this proceeding entails the resignation of a guardian and is therefore governed by AS 13.26.286. -8- 7577 safeguard the rights of the ward as apply to a petition for appointment of a guardian and applying the least…”
In the Matter of the Prot. Proceedings of G.J.F (Alaska 2025). “32 See AS 13.26.286. 33 AS 13.26.251(d). -16- 7746 2.”
ITMO Prot. Proceeding of S.J. (Alaska 2025). “45 See AS 13.26.286(b) (providing mechanism by which any “person interested in the ward’s welfare” may petition for order that “the ward is no longer incapacitated or no longer incapacitated to the same extent as .”
In the Matter of the Prot. Proceedings of: H.T. (Alaska 2023). “4 AS 13.26.286(a). -3- ORD 119 individual guardians when these potential guardians can raise any objections to appointment through the statutory process.”
— Alaska Stat. § 13.26.286(a) — 2 cases
In the Matter of the Prot. Proceeding of Amy D., 502 P.3d 5 (Alaska 2022). “Notwithstanding the lack of formal petition to resign, this proceeding entails the resignation of a guardian and is therefore governed by AS 13.26.286. -8- 7577 safeguard the rights of the ward as apply to a petition for appointment of a guardian and applying the least…”
In the Matter of the Prot. Proceedings of: H.T. (Alaska 2023). “4 AS 13.26.286(a). -3- ORD 119 individual guardians when these potential guardians can raise any objections to appointment through the statutory process.”
— Alaska Stat. § 13.26.286(a)(2)(B) — 1 case
In the Matter of the Prot. Proceedings of Tiffany O., 467 P.3d 1076 (Alaska 2020). “311(d) dictates who has priority to serve as a guardian of an incapacitated person.”
— Alaska Stat. § 13.26.286(b) — 1 case
ITMO Prot. Proceeding of S.J. (Alaska 2025). “45 See AS 13.26.286(b) (providing mechanism by which any “person interested in the ward’s welfare” may petition for order that “the ward is no longer incapacitated or no longer incapacitated to the same extent as .”
— Alaska Stat. § 13.26.286(c) — 1 case
In the Matter of the Prot. Proceeding of Amy D., 502 P.3d 5 (Alaska 2022). “Notwithstanding the lack of formal petition to resign, this proceeding entails the resignation of a guardian and is therefore governed by AS 13.26.286. -8- 7577 safeguard the rights of the ward as apply to a petition for appointment of a guardian and applying the least…”
— Alaska Stat. § 13.26.286(e) — 1 case
In the Matter of the Prot. Proceedings of Tiffany O., 467 P.3d 1076 (Alaska 2020). “311(d) dictates who has priority to serve as a guardian of an incapacitated person.”
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