Q: Does a vulnerable adult with a legal guardian need permission from said legal guardian to relocate to another county?
In Washington State.
A:
Under Washington State law, whether a vulnerable adult with a legal guardian can relocate to another county without permission from their guardian generally depends on the specific details of the guardianship arrangement, the degree of the adult's vulnerability, and any court orders that might be in place.
Guardianship in Washington State, as in many jurisdictions, is a legal relationship established by a court in which a person (the guardian) is given the authority and responsibility to make decisions about the personal or financial affairs of another person (the ward).
The degree of authority that a guardian has over a ward is not absolute and varies from case to case. It is determined by the court and is supposed to be tailored to the ward's specific needs and capabilities. This means that a ward's ability to make certain decisions, including decisions about where to live, may be limited or restricted by the court order establishing the guardianship.
In some cases, if a vulnerable adult is deemed to have significant impairments in their ability to make decisions, the guardian may have the authority to decide where the ward lives. This could include a requirement for the guardian's permission to relocate to another county. However, in other cases, if the court determines that the ward has some decision-making capacity, the ward may have more autonomy, including the ability to decide where to live without the guardian's permission.
Any restrictions on the ward's ability to move would be detailed in the court order establishing the guardianship. If such restrictions exist, the ward and their guardian would need to follow the court's directives. Violating these directives could result in legal consequences.
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