Probate & Estate Administration

What is probate?

Probate is the legal administration of someone’s estate after they pass away, both to satisfy any debts against the estate and to distribute the assets either in accordance with the person’s Last Will & Testament (if they had one), or in accordance with Washington state law (if they didn’t have a Will).

If someone has a Will, does their estate still have to go through probate?

It depends. Just because you have a Will does not automatically mean your estate will avoid probate.

What about life insurance, retirement accounts, and things like that?

Accounts, assets, and policies for which you designate a specific beneficiary are called “non-probate assets” and they do not go through the probate process unless the person holding the asset has listed their estate as the beneficiary (for example, “The Estate of Jane Doe”) or failed to list a beneficiary (in which case the asset generally becomes part of the estate).

Where can I learn more about probate?

Froese Law is happy to meet with you to discuss probate. The probate process is state-specific, and in Washington is guided by Title 11 RCW. There are two resources I trust (outside of Thrive Law) to provide you with accurate information: (1) King County Probates (some information is specific to King County, but generally probate is a state-wide process so this information can be applied in counties across Washington state); and (2) Washington Probate.

To learn more about probate, check out our post on the Legal Blog entitled Probate 101, or contact Froese Law in Spokane, WA today for a consultation.