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

Wash. Rev. Code § 11.130.215 (2026)

Order of appointment—Priority of nominee—Limited guardianship for minor

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) After a hearing under RCW 11.130.195, the court may appoint a guardian for a minor, if appointment is proper under RCW 11.130.185, dismiss the proceeding, or take other appropriate action consistent with this chapter or law of this state other than this chapter.
(2) In appointing a guardian under subsection (1) of this section, the following rules apply:
(a) The court shall appoint a person nominated as guardian by a parent of the minor in a probated will or other record unless the court finds the appointment is contrary to the best interest of the minor. Any "other record" must be a declaration or other sworn document and may include a power of attorney or other sworn statement as to the care, custody, or control of the minor child.
(b) If multiple parents have nominated different persons to serve as guardian, the court shall appoint the nominee whose appointment is in the best interest of the minor, unless the court finds that appointment of none of the nominees is in the best interest of the minor.
(c) If a guardian is not appointed under (a) or (b) of this subsection, the court shall appoint the person nominated by the minor if the minor is twelve years of age or older unless the court finds that appointment is contrary to the best interest of the minor. In that case, the court shall appoint as guardian a person whose appointment is in the best interest of the minor.
(3) In the interest of maintaining or encouraging involvement by a minor's parent in the minor's life, developing self-reliance of the minor, or for other good cause, the court, at the time of appointment of a guardian for the minor or later, on its own or on motion of the minor or other interested person, may create a limited guardianship by limiting the powers otherwise granted by this article to the guardian. Following the same procedure, the court may grant additional powers or withdraw powers previously granted.
(4) The court, as part of an order appointing a guardian for a minor, shall state rights retained by any parent of the minor, which shall preserve the parent-child relationship through an order for parent-child visitation and other contact, unless the court finds the relationship should be limited or restricted under RCW 26.09.191 or 26.09.192; and which may include decision making regarding the minor's health care, education, or other matter, or access to a record regarding the minor.
(5) An order granting a guardianship for a minor must state that each parent of the minor is entitled to notice that:
(a) The guardian has delegated custody of the minor subject to guardianship;
(b) The court has modified or limited the powers of the guardian; or
(c) The court has removed the guardian.
(6) An order granting a guardianship for a minor must identify any person in addition to a parent of the minor which is entitled to notice of the events listed in subsection (5) of this section.
(7) An order granting guardianship for a minor must direct the clerk of the court to issue letters of office to the guardian containing an expiration date which should be the minor's eighteenth birthday.
[ 2025 c 166 s 3; 2022 c 243 s 8; 2020 c 312 s 106; 2019 c 437 s 207.]

Notes:

Effective dates—2020 c 312: See note following RCW 11.130.915.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 2023–2026 · leading case: Guardianship Of F.S. (Wash. Ct. App. 2024).
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Guardianship Of F.S. (Wash. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 12× “RCW 11.130.215(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.”
In The Guardianship Of L.c. (Wash. Ct. App. 2023). · cites it 6× “RCW 11.130.215 requires the trial court to appoint the parents’ guardian of choice unless it finds that doing so would be contrary to the best interest of the child.”
In the Matter of the Guardianship of: L.A.M. & E.M. (Wash. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 3× “RCW 11.130.215(2)(a). The statute does not address a standard of review for a trial court’s decision on whom to appoint as a child’s guardian, however, a recent Division One case determined that it would be abuse of discretion.”
In Re Guardianship Of E.p., Jr. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 2× “See RCW 11.130.215 (2)(a), (4) (“The court shall appoint a person nominated as guardian by a parent of the minor .”
In The Guardianship Of: R.C. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “” RCW 11.130.215(4) (emphasis added). Here, the trial court prohibited visitation after finding that the father “neglected [his] parental duties” and “has a long-term emotional or physical problem that gets in the way of [his] ability to parent.”
In The Guardianship Of: H.r. (Wash. Ct. App. 2026). “Under RCW 11.130.215(4), as part of appointing a guardian, the court “shall state rights retained by any parent of the minor, which shall preserve the parent-child relationship through an order for parent-child visitation and other contact.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 11.130.215(1) — 2 cases
Guardianship Of F.S. (Wash. Ct. App. 2024). “RCW 11.130.215(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.”
In Re Guardianship Of E.p., Jr. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “See RCW 11.130.215 (2)(a), (4) (“The court shall appoint a person nominated as guardian by a parent of the minor .”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 11.130.215(2) — 1 case
In The Guardianship Of L.c. (Wash. Ct. App. 2023). “RCW 11.130.215 requires the trial court to appoint the parents’ guardian of choice unless it finds that doing so would be contrary to the best interest of the child.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 11.130.215(2)(a) — 3 cases
Guardianship Of F.S. (Wash. Ct. App. 2024). “RCW 11.130.215(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.”
In the Matter of the Guardianship of: L.A.M. & E.M. (Wash. Ct. App. 2024). “RCW 11.130.215(2)(a). The statute does not address a standard of review for a trial court’s decision on whom to appoint as a child’s guardian, however, a recent Division One case determined that it would be abuse of discretion.”
In The Guardianship Of L.c. (Wash. Ct. App. 2023). “RCW 11.130.215 requires the trial court to appoint the parents’ guardian of choice unless it finds that doing so would be contrary to the best interest of the child.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 11.130.215(4) — 2 cases
In The Guardianship Of: R.C. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “” RCW 11.130.215(4) (emphasis added). Here, the trial court prohibited visitation after finding that the father “neglected [his] parental duties” and “has a long-term emotional or physical problem that gets in the way of [his] ability to parent.”
In The Guardianship Of: H.r. (Wash. Ct. App. 2026). “Under RCW 11.130.215(4), as part of appointing a guardian, the court “shall state rights retained by any parent of the minor, which shall preserve the parent-child relationship through an order for parent-child visitation and other contact.”
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