Wash. Rev. Code » Title 11 · Chapter 11.130
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 11.130.185 (2026)

Basis for appointment of guardian for minor

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) A person becomes a guardian for a minor only on appointment by the court.
(2) The court may appoint a guardian for a minor who does not have a guardian if the court finds the appointment is in the minor's best interest and:
(a) Each parent of the minor, after being fully informed of the nature and consequences of guardianship, consents;
(b) All parental rights have been terminated; or
(c) There is clear and convincing evidence that no parent of the minor is willing or able to exercise parenting functions as defined in RCW 26.09.004.
[ 2020 c 312 s 101; 2019 c 437 s 201.]

Notes:

Effective dates—2020 c 312: See note following RCW 11.130.915.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases (8 in the last 5 years), 2022–2026 · leading case: In Re The Guardianship Of: J.J. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).
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In Re The Guardianship Of: J.J. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 7× “The guardianship order also gave JJ structured visitation rights that would gradually increase over time.”
Guardianship Of J.S. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 7× “The superior court also cited the standards it applied for the guardianship trial—specifically, RCW 11.130.185, RCW 26.09.004, and RCW 11.”
Guardianship Of C.g. (Wash. Ct. App. 2026). · cites it 4× “” Under RCW 11.130.185(2), a trial court may appoint a guardian for a minor who does not have a guardian if the court finds the appointment is in the minor’s best interest and: .”
In the Matter of the Guardianship of: R.D. (Wash. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 3× “As part of the Act, the legislature enacted RCW 11.130.185, which provides trial courts with authority to appoint a guardian for a minor and sets forth the requirements to make such an appointment: (1) A person becomes a guardian for a minor only on appointment by the court.”
In the Matter of the Custody of: K.P. & L.P. (Wash. Ct. App. 2023). · cites it 2× “185 for appointment of a guardian no longer exists, unless the court finds that: (i) Termination of the guardianship would be harmful to the minor; and (ii) The minor’s interest in the continuation of the guardianship outweighs the interest of any parent of the minor in…”
Guardianship Of F.S. (Wash. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 2× “215(1) provides that after a hearing, the superior court has the authority to appoint a guardian for a minor if appointment is proper under RCW 11.130.185. The rules for appointing a guardian include the following: “The court shall appoint a person nominated as guardian by a…”
In Re The Guardianship Of: D.f.r., Sarah Riley, V. Rebecca Riley (Wash. Ct. App. 2022). “WE CONCUR: 3 RCW 11.130.185 4 RCW 11.130.200 5 RCW 11.”
In Re Guardianship Of E.p., Jr. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “” RCW 11.130.185(2) (emphasis added). As the nonparent petitioner, Byson had the burden of showing by clear and convincing evidence that E.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 11.130.185(1) — 1 case
In Re The Guardianship Of: J.J. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “The guardianship order also gave JJ structured visitation rights that would gradually increase over time.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 11.130.185(2) — 4 cases
Guardianship Of F.S. (Wash. Ct. App. 2024). “215(1) provides that after a hearing, the superior court has the authority to appoint a guardian for a minor if appointment is proper under RCW 11.130.185. The rules for appointing a guardian include the following: “The court shall appoint a person nominated as guardian by a…”
Guardianship Of J.S. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “The superior court also cited the standards it applied for the guardianship trial—specifically, RCW 11.130.185, RCW 26.09.004, and RCW 11.”
In Re Guardianship Of E.p., Jr. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “” RCW 11.130.185(2) (emphasis added). As the nonparent petitioner, Byson had the burden of showing by clear and convincing evidence that E.”
Guardianship Of C.g. (Wash. Ct. App. 2026). “” Under RCW 11.130.185(2), a trial court may appoint a guardian for a minor who does not have a guardian if the court finds the appointment is in the minor’s best interest and: .”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 11.130.185(2)(a) — 2 cases
In the Matter of the Guardianship of: R.D. (Wash. Ct. App. 2024). “As part of the Act, the legislature enacted RCW 11.130.185, which provides trial courts with authority to appoint a guardian for a minor and sets forth the requirements to make such an appointment: (1) A person becomes a guardian for a minor only on appointment by the court.”
In Re The Guardianship Of: J.J. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “The guardianship order also gave JJ structured visitation rights that would gradually increase over time.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 11.130.185(2)(c) — 3 cases
Guardianship Of C.g. (Wash. Ct. App. 2026). “” Under RCW 11.130.185(2), a trial court may appoint a guardian for a minor who does not have a guardian if the court finds the appointment is in the minor’s best interest and: .”
In Re The Guardianship Of: J.J. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “The guardianship order also gave JJ structured visitation rights that would gradually increase over time.”
Guardianship Of J.S. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “The superior court also cited the standards it applied for the guardianship trial—specifically, RCW 11.130.185, RCW 26.09.004, and RCW 11.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 11.130.185(c) — 1 case
In the Matter of the Custody of: K.P. & L.P. (Wash. Ct. App. 2023). “185 for appointment of a guardian no longer exists, unless the court finds that: (i) Termination of the guardianship would be harmful to the minor; and (ii) The minor’s interest in the continuation of the guardianship outweighs the interest of any parent of the minor in…”
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