Seattle, WA · Guardianship & Conservatorship
Guardianship and Conservatorship Attorneys in Seattle
A parent’s memory is slipping, a child has lost the person who cared for them, or an adult sibling can no longer manage money or medical decisions safely. View Ridge Law petitions for, responds to, and modifies guardianships and conservatorships for families in Seattle and across King, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties, and we explain every step in plain English.
How We Handle Guardianship and Conservatorship Cases
Washington law separates the two roles. Under the state’s Uniform Guardianship Act in RCW Title 11, a guardian is appointed to make decisions about a person’s care, housing, and health, while a conservator is appointed to manage that person’s money and property. Some families need one, some need both, and some discover they need neither because a less restrictive tool already exists. Sorting that out honestly is where our work begins.
Every matter starts with a candid conversation about whether court involvement is actually necessary. Washington courts are required to prefer less restrictive alternatives, and so do we. If a durable power of attorney or a health care directive would protect your loved one without a judge overseeing their life, we will tell you, and our estate planning team can put those documents in place. When a guardianship or conservatorship truly is the right protection, we handle the case from first filing to final order.
Adult guardianship & conservatorship
For an aging parent or an adult with a disability who can no longer make safe decisions, from petition to final order and the reports that follow.
Minor guardianship
A grandparent, aunt, uncle, or family friend steps in as guardian so a child has a stable home, school enrollment, and medical care.
Responding to or changing an existing order
Objecting to a petition, defending respondents and their independence, or modifying and terminating existing orders.
Adult guardianship and conservatorship
Adult guardianship in Washington State typically begins when an aging parent or an adult with a disability can no longer make safe decisions and no valid power of attorney covers the gap. We prepare and file the petition, work with the court visitor the judge appoints to investigate, present the medical and practical evidence, and represent you at the hearing. Where the real problem is unpaid bills, a vulnerable bank account, or a suspicious new “helper” with access to funds, we petition for conservatorship instead, or alongside the guardianship. As a conservatorship attorney team serving Washington families, we also guide new conservators through the inventories, accountings, and reports the court will expect every year.
Minor guardianship
Minor guardianship cases follow their own statute and their own rhythm. When a parent has died, is incarcerated, is struggling with addiction, or simply cannot care for a child right now, a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or family friend can step in as guardian so the child has a stable home, school enrollment, and medical care. We handle these cases with the urgency they deserve, including emergency minor guardianship requests when a child’s situation cannot wait. You can read more on our dedicated minor guardianship page.
Responding to or changing an existing order
Not every client is the one filing. If you have been served with a guardianship petition and believe it is unnecessary or wrong, you have the right to object, and we defend respondents and their independence. We also help families modify or terminate existing guardianships and conservatorships when circumstances change, and we step in when a currently serving guardian or conservator is not doing the job the Washington court appointed them to do.
Why Seattle Families Work With View Ridge Law
Our founder, Mackenzie Sorich, served as a Title 26 Guardian ad Litem in King and Snohomish Counties. That means she has worked inside the guardianship system itself, as the neutral investigator courts appoint to evaluate families and report back to the judge. She knows what court investigators look for, how they weigh what they see in a home, and how a well prepared petition reads from the other side of the file.
A reputation real families vouch for
View Ridge Law has a 4.5 star rating across 179 Google reviews.
A full team, not a solo office
Founded in 2014, the firm has grown to a team of 13 attorneys. Because the firm practices family law and estate planning under one roof, we can handle the transitions that surround a guardianship, from the power of attorney that might prevent one to the parenting and probate questions that often follow.
Attorneys who know your courtroom
We serve clients throughout King, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties, and you can meet the full team before you ever call.
Recognized for our work
Honored by readers and the legal community
Seattle Times “Best in the PNW” People’s Choice Winner in 2024 and 2025, Expertise.com Best Divorce Lawyers in Seattle, a top Avvo rating, and Top-500 law firm honoree in 2022 and 2025.
About Ann LoGerfo
Ann LoGerfo
Senior Counsel, View Ridge Law
Ann LoGerfo brings more than three decades of legal experience to probate, trust disputes, family law, and other high-stakes matters. She combines practical advice with extensive litigation experience in administrative hearings and state and federal courts, including appellate work.
Ann has also helped shape elder-law policy as chair of a WSBA Elder Law Section task force on public guardianship, advocating for systems that protect the rights and dignity of vulnerable adults. She earned her J.D. with honors from the University of Washington School of Law.
Credentials: 30+ years of legal experience · University of Washington School of Law, J.D. with honors · Chair, WSBA Elder Law Section task force on public guardianship · Read Ann’s full bio →
Guardianship Questions Seattle Families Ask
What is the difference between guardianship and conservatorship in Washington?
A guardian makes personal decisions for a person, such as health care and living arrangements, while a conservator manages that person’s money and property. Washington adopted the Uniform Guardianship Act, which split the old combined role into these two distinct appointments. A court can appoint one person to both roles, or different people to each, depending on what the individual actually needs.
How long does it take to get guardianship in Washington State?
A typical Washington guardianship case takes several months from filing to the final hearing, because the court must appoint an investigator, gather evidence, and give notice to family members. When someone is in immediate danger, courts can enter emergency orders on a much faster timeline. The realistic schedule for your situation is one of the first things we map out at a case evaluation.
Who can file for guardianship of a minor in Washington?
Any adult with a genuine interest in a child’s welfare, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, adult siblings, and close family friends, can petition for minor guardianship in Washington. The court’s question is not your title but whether the child needs a guardian and whether you can provide a safe, stable home. Parents receive notice and have the chance to participate in the case.
What does a guardian ad litem do in a Washington guardianship case?
A guardian ad litem, called a court visitor in adult cases, is a neutral investigator the court appoints to interview the person, the petitioner, and others involved, then recommend whether a guardianship is needed and how broad it should be. Their report carries real weight with the judge. Our founder served in exactly this role in King and Snohomish Counties, so we prepare clients for that investigation rather than letting it surprise them.
Do I need a guardianship attorney in Seattle or can I file on my own?
You can file without a lawyer, but most families hire a guardianship attorney because Washington’s procedures involve strict notice rules, mandatory forms and training, a court investigation, and ongoing reporting duties that continue for years after the hearing. Mistakes can delay protection for the person who needs it or expose a well meaning guardian to personal liability. An attorney also helps you weigh whether a less restrictive option would serve your family better than a court case.
Talk With a Guardianship Attorney in Seattle
If someone you love in Seattle, or anywhere in King, Snohomish, or Pierce County, needs a guardian or conservator, or you need to respond to a petition someone else filed, we are ready to help. Call 206-966-4020 or use our Schedule a Case Evaluation form, and our Client Services team will set a time to review your situation and match you with the right attorney.
View Ridge Law
3418 NE 65th St, Suite A
Seattle, WA 98115
206-966-4020
By appointment.
