What is Probate?
After someone dies, their money and property (called the "estate") must be distributed to their heirs. When supervised by the courts, this process is called "probate." Probate is not always necessary, but in some situations, probate may be required. Probate may be preferable when you must pay debts, claims, or taxes, or if you anticipate disagreement over dividing the estate.
Websites for General Information:
Several websites provide good background information on probate. The first two listed below contain information specifically for Washington State. The others provide more general background.
Washington Probate. Offers simple instructions and free probate forms, in both Word and .pdf format, on how to probate a decedent's estate in Washington.
Attorney General of Washington, Consumer Protection Division, Dealing with Death. This guide is divided into two sections: "Preparing for Death" and "Once a Death Occurs." Probate is discussed within Property in the second section.
Michael T. Palermo, Crash Course in Wills and Trusts. Although not specific to Washington, this website provides a good walk-through of the issues related to probate. The bulk of the site is directed at people planning to create wills and trusts, but the section on probate is highly informative about the probate process in general. This guide is significantly more detailed than either of the two pamphlets above. You will find the discussion of probate in part II.
Nolo Press, Wills and Estate Planning. The legal encyclopedia on this website does not address Washington law, but does include basic information about probate in general, as well as answers to such questions as "Who pays Mom's debts after she dies?" Written for non-lawyers, Nolo press materials answer legal questions in a straight forward, non-technical fashion.
Department of Revenue, Affidavit of Successor. When a person dies without a will, their estate is distributed as ordered by law. The second page of this form includes a very clear chart of the lines of descent and distribution.