(1) Upon the death of an incapacitated person, a guardian or limited guardian of the estate shall have authority to disburse or commit those funds under the control of the guardian or limited guardian as are prudent and within the means of the estate for the disposition of the deceased incapacitated person's remains. Consent for such arrangement shall be secured according to RCW 68.50.160. If no person authorized by *RCW 68.50.150 accepts responsibility for giving consent, the guardian or limited guardian of the estate may consent, subject to the provisions of this section and to the known directives of the deceased incapacitated person. Reasonable financial commitments made by a guardian or limited guardian pursuant to this section shall be binding against the estate of the deceased incapacitated person.

     (2) Upon the death of an incapacitated person intestate the guardian or limited guardian of his estate has power under the letters issued to him and subject to the direction of the court to administer the estate as the estate of the deceased incapacitated person without further letters unless within forty days after death of the incapacitated person a petition is filed for letters of administration or for letters testamentary and the petition is granted. If the guardian or limited guardian elects to administer the estate under his letters of guardianship or limited guardianship, he shall petition the court for an order transferring the guardianship or limited guardianship proceeding to a probate proceeding, and upon court approval, the clerk of the court shall re-index the cause as a decedent's estate, using the same file number which was assigned to the guardianship or limited guardianship proceeding. The guardian or limited guardian shall then be authorized to continue administration of the estate without the necessity for any further petition or hearing. Notice to creditors and other persons interested in the estate shall be published and may be combined with the notice of the guardian's or limited guardian's final account. This notice shall be given and published in the manner provided in chapter 11.40 RCW. Upon the hearing, the account may be allowed and the balance distributed to the persons entitled thereto, after the payment of such claims as may be allowed. Liability on the guardian's or limited guardian's bond shall continue until exonerated on settlement of his account, and may apply to the complete administration of the estate of the deceased incapacitated person with the consent of the surety. If letters of administration are granted upon petition filed within forty days after the death of the incapacitated person, the personal representative shall supersede the guardian or limited guardian in the administration of the estate and the estate shall be administered as a decedent's estate as provided in this title, including the publication of notice to creditors and other interested persons and the barring of creditors claims.

[1990 c 122 § 18; 1977 ex.s. c 309 § 12; 1975 1st ex.s. c 95 § 17; 1965 c 145 § 11.88.150.]

NOTES:

     *Reviser's note: The reference to RCW 68.50.150 appears to be erroneous. RCW 68.50.160 was apparently intended. RCW 68.50.150 was subsequently repealed by 2005 c 365 § 161.

     Effective date -- 1990 c 122: See note following RCW 11.88.005.

     Severability -- 1977 ex.s. c 309: See note following RCW 11.88.005.

Settlement of estate upon termination: RCW 11.92.053.