Washington: Does leftover money from selling my parents' home get distributed under my dad’s will?
What happens to leftover sale proceeds after a parent’s home is sold in Washington? Short answer: It depends on how the house was titled and whether the sale happened inside probate or outside of it. If the home was part of your dad’s probate estate, the personal representative (executor) must pay debts, taxes, and administration […]
Read article →Washington: Can You Be Reimbursed from an Estate for Paying a Decedent’s Vehicle Lien?
Reimbursement from an Estate for Paying a Decedent’s Vehicle Lien — Washington Probate Basics Not legal advice. This article explains general Washington law and practical steps. Contact a Washington probate attorney to apply these ideas to your situation. Short answer Yes — it is often possible to be reimbursed from the decedent’s estate for money […]
Read article →Washington: Do You Need to Post a Bond to Serve as Administrator of an Intestate Estate?
Detailed Answer Short answer: Yes — Washington courts generally require an administrator (personal representative) to post a probate bond when appointed to administer an intestate estate. But the court can accept alternatives or waive or reduce the bond in some situations, and there are limited procedures (including small‑estate procedures) that may avoid the need for […]
Read article →Washington: Factors the Court Considers When Appointing an Estate Administrator
How Washington Courts Decide Who Will Serve as an Estate Administrator This FAQ-style guide explains the main factors a Washington court will consider when appointing a personal representative (often called an estate administrator) to manage a deceased person’s estate. It uses plain language, cites Washington law, and includes a short hypothetical to illustrate typical issues. […]
Read article →Using Sale Proceeds for Estate Cleanup and Junk Removal in Washington
Detailed Answer Short answer: Yes — under Washington law, a personal representative (executor or administrator) may generally use estate funds, including net proceeds from the sale of estate property, to pay reasonable and necessary estate administration expenses such as junk removal, personal-property cleanup, hauling, and preparing property for sale. These expenses are treated as administrative […]
Read article →Regaining Control of a Deceased Parent’s Bank and Credit Card Accounts in Washington
Detailed Answer Short overview: If someone is using a deceased parent’s bank or credit card accounts after their death, act quickly. In Washington you typically need an official document (letters testamentary/administration from probate or a small-estate affidavit) or proof you are the successor trustee to get banks and card companies to release, freeze, or transfer […]
Read article →Unauthorized Charges to a Parent's Estate in Washington: How Probate Handles Them
Disclaimer: This is general information only and is not legal advice. Laws change and every situation is unique. Consult a Washington probate attorney to get advice about your specific facts. Detailed Answer When someone notices unauthorized charges against a parent’s estate during probate in Washington, the court and statutory procedures exist to correct improper payments, […]
Read article →Washington — Securing a House, Inventorying Estate Property, and Preventing Removal by Siblings
Detailed Answer Short summary: Until a court appoints a personal representative (administrator/executor), the deceased person’s property remains part of the estate. That means no one has legal authority to permanently take or dispose of estate property. If you are worried siblings may remove items, act promptly to preserve the property, document everything, and ask the […]
Read article →How to Get Appointed Administrator of a Parent's Estate in Washington
Step-by-step guide to being appointed administrator of a parent’s estate in Washington Detailed Answer When a person in Washington dies without a valid will, the estate is “intestate.” A court will appoint a personal representative (often called an administrator or administrator with will annexed) to collect assets, pay debts, and distribute what remains to heirs […]
Read article →Washington: How Children Succeed to an Intestate Estate and Who Can Administer It
How Washington law distributes an estate to children when there is no will — and who may administer the estate This article explains, in plain language, how a person’s children inherit if the person dies without a will in Washington and how the court generally decides which child (or other person) may administer the estate. […]
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