​Title 11.130 (Probate / Adult Guardianship/ Conservatorship)

Guardians ad Litem / Court Visitors

RCW 11.130.280 is the Washington law that governs appointment of guardians ad litem and court visitors in adult guardianship and conservatorship matters filed with the superior court.  RCW 11.130.280(1) provides that "On receipt of a petition under RCW 11.130.270 for appointment of a guardian, . . . the court shall appoint a court visitor.  The court visitor must be an individual with training or experience in the type of abilities, limitations and needs alleged in the petition." RCW 11.130.155(1) provides that "The superior court of each county shall develop and maintain a registry of persons who are willing and qualified to serve as guardians ad litem and visitors in guardianship and conservatorship matters.  The court shall choose as guardian ad litem a person whose name appears on the registry in a system of consistent rotation, . . .".  

Kitsap County Superior Court complies with the provisions of RCW 11.130.  Our court conducts an annual review of each guardian ad litem's and court visitor's qualifications.  Appointment of a guardian ad litem or court visitor in adult guardianship and conservatorship cases is based on a strict rotation.  The guardians ad litem/court visitors listed below have met the qualification requirements of RCW 11.130.155.  A notebook is maintained in the Kitsap County Superior Court office located in Room 210 of the Kitsap County Courthouse that includes each GAL's/court visitor's qualifications.  You must contact the Kitsap County Superior Court Office to obtain the name of the guardian ad litem next in line for appointment in the strict rotation.  The order must be initialed by an appropriate staff member prior to presentation to a judge.

To comply with HIPPA requirements, all requests for GAL and/or court visitor fees paid under KCLGALR 5 must include an Order re Guardian ad Litem/Court Visitor  Fees that may be downloaded in Word or Adobe PDF format.

• Title 11 Application  (Word or PDF)

• Release of Information (Word or PDF)

• Policy (effective 07/01/22)
  

• WSP WATCH Link

• GAL Code of Conduct