Washington: Getting Court Approval to Sell a House and Pay Off the Mortgage
Detailed Answer Short summary: If you need a court’s permission to sell real property and use the sale proceeds to pay off a mortgage in Washington, the exact steps depend on your legal authority over the property (for example, personal representative in probate, trustee under a trust, guardian of an incapacitated person’s estate, or a […]
Read article →How to Open an Estate Bank Account Using an IRS EIN in Washington
Overview: Setting up an estate bank account in Washington This FAQ-style guide explains how to set up an estate bank account for a deceased parent in Washington using an IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN). It walks through when you need an EIN, steps to get one, what Washington courts and banks typically require, and practical […]
Read article →Washington: What Happens If a Creditor Files After the 90‑Day Notice Period?
Detailed Answer Short answer: Under Washington probate law, a creditor who files a claim after the applicable statutory claim period generally faces a strong presumption that the claim is barred. Known creditors who received mailed notice normally have 90 days to present claims; unknown creditors who learn of the estate through published notice normally have […]
Read article →How to Claim Your Share of a Parent’s Estate in Washington When There’s No Will
What to do if a parent dies without a will in Washington: how heirs claim their share Short answer: Under Washington law, property a decedent owned is distributed by intestate succession rules (chapter 11.04 RCW) unless it passed outside probate (for example, by joint ownership, beneficiary designation, or trust). To get your share you will […]
Read article →Washington — Surviving Spouse Rights When a Spouse Dies Intestate and the Family Cuts You Out
Detailed Answer Short summary: Under Washington law you usually have strong rights as a surviving spouse when your spouse dies without a will. You commonly have priority to control the probate process, to inherit either community property or a large portion of the estate under the state’s intestate succession rules, and to make decisions about […]
Read article →How to Get Appointed Estate Administrator in Washington When a Spouse Dies Intestate
How to become the estate administrator when a Washington spouse dies intestate and family won’t cooperate Short answer If your spouse died without a will (intestate) in Washington, you can ask the Superior Court in the county where your spouse lived to appoint you as the personal representative (sometimes called administrator) of the estate. You […]
Read article →Washington: Claiming Surplus Funds After a Deceased Parent’s Foreclosure
Detailed Answer Short answer: Surplus proceeds from a foreclosure sale are treated as the decedent’s property. If your parent’s estate was never probated, you cannot simply take the money — you must show you are the lawful successor (by probate, a small‑estate affidavit, or other court process) and follow the county or trustee procedures to […]
Read article →Transferring an Inherited Membership Interest in a Washington Single‑Member LLC
What to do after inheriting a membership interest in a Washington single‑member LLC FAQ-style guidance to help heirs and personal representatives understand the practical and legal steps under Washington law. Detailed answer — legal framework and step‑by‑step process When someone dies owning a membership interest in a single‑member limited liability company (LLC) in Washington, that […]
Read article →Washington: What Secretary of State Paperwork Proves a Deceased Family Member Was the Sole Member of an LLC?
How to prove LLC membership for a deceased family member — Washington SOS paperwork you can use Short answer: The Washington Secretary of State can provide certified copies of the LLC’s formation filing (Certificate of Formation/Articles), any filed amendments, and a Certificate of Status (good standing). Those documents prove the LLC exists and who filed […]
Read article →Washington: How to Compel an Accounting from a Personal Representative in Probate
Can the Court Order a Full Accounting from an Estate’s Personal Representative? Short answer: Yes. Under Washington law, beneficiaries and interested persons can ask the court to require a personal representative (executor or administrator) to prepare and file formal accountings of estate assets, receipts, disbursements, and distributions. If the representative refuses or the accounting raises […]
Read article →