Washington: How to Find Exactly Where Sale Proceeds from a Parent's House Went
Detailed Answer This explains how you can trace exactly where the money from a house sale goes under Washington law. The path that sale proceeds follow depends on how the property was owned and whether the house was sold inside probate, outside probate (for example, by a surviving joint owner or a trustee), or under […]
Read article →Washington: Can a Prenuptial Agreement Affect a Life Estate or My Share of an Estate?
How a Prenuptial Agreement Can Affect Life Estates and Inheritance Rights in Washington Short answer: Yes — a valid prenuptial agreement can change what a surviving spouse may claim from a deceased spouse’s property, and that can affect life-estate arrangements and your eventual share of an estate in Washington. If an executor refuses to provide […]
Read article →How to Verify an Executor’s Calculation of Your Inheritance Share — Washington
Detailed Answer What controls how much you should receive Who gets what from a sibling’s estate in Washington depends on two things: (1) whether the decedent left a valid will and (2) the estate’s net distributable value after paying liens, taxes, creditor claims, and administration costs. Washington’s probate law is in Title 11 of the […]
Read article →Washington: Selling a Deceased Parent’s House During Probate When a Mortgage Remains
Detailed Answer Short answer: Yes — a house can often be sold while it is in probate even if a mortgage remains, but the sale normally must be handled by the personal representative (executor/administrator) and the mortgage must be paid, refinanced, assumed, or otherwise resolved at or before closing. How you proceed depends on how […]
Read article →Washington: Selling a Deceased Person’s House and Creditor Notice Requirements
Do I need to publish a notice to creditors before selling a deceased person’s house in Washington? Quick answer Generally no — the Washington "small estate" affidavit process is for collecting certain personal property, not for transferring or selling real property such as a house. If the house passes outside probate (for example, by joint […]
Read article →How to Prove the Value of a Deceased Parent’s Vehicles in Washington Probate
Proving the Value of Motor Vehicles in Washington Probate Detailed Answer — How to establish the value of vehicles for a Washington probate When you handle a deceased person’s estate in Washington, you often must identify and state the fair value of each asset, including vehicles. That value matters for the estate inventory, creditor notices, […]
Read article →Proving the Value of a Decedent’s Vehicles in Washington Probate
How to Prove the Value of a Decedent’s Vehicles in Washington Probate Summary and disclaimer This article explains common, practical ways to establish the fair market value of motor vehicles that belonged to a deceased person for Washington probate purposes. This is educational information only and is not legal advice. If you need legal guidance […]
Read article →Washington: How to Get Appointed as a Limited Personal Representative (Small Estate) to Run a Creditor Notice and Sell Real Property
Can I be appointed a limited personal representative under Washington's small estate process to run a notice to creditors and sell real property? Short answer: Possibly — but it depends. Washington’s small estate procedures are primarily designed to simplify collection and distribution of small estates’ personal property. Selling real property often requires court appointment (letters […]
Read article →Washington: How to Prove a Zero Balance and Formally Close a Spouse’s Estate
Detailed Answer — How to show a zero balance and close a spouse’s estate in Washington Quick summary: In Washington, closing an estate with no remaining assets (a “zero balance”) requires documenting that the estate has no property or that all assets were collected and distributed, resolving any creditor claims or showing none exist, filing […]
Read article →Using Washington Small‑Estate Affidavits for Intestate Estates — When You Can Avoid Formal Probate (Washington)
Can a small‑estate affidavit be used for an intestate estate in Washington instead of formal probate? This FAQ explains, in plain language, how Washington’s small‑estate affidavit process works, when it can replace formal probate for an intestate (no‑will) estate, and when you should instead start a probate case. This is educational information only and not […]
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