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WashingtonHB 24452025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Ending probates for profit.

Sponsored By: Adison Richards (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 5 mixed.

Heirs gain protections against finder fees

Beginning June 11, 2026, regular heir finders taking part of an inheritance must use written, signed, delivered agreements. Payment is limited to the agreed share and depends on the heir first receiving the estate distribution. Agreements must prominently explain the heir's interest, the finder's percentage, services, and the option to obtain reasonably available value estimates. Documents must use at least 10-point type and the language mainly used in negotiations. Agreements and required sworn statements must be filed and served within 45 days after signing or probate starting, whichever is later. They must also be filed at least 14 days before a distribution motion. Abusive terms can be voided; deals within 120 days of death involving already-known assets face a presumption of undue influence. Willful violations can bring payments to the heir up to three times the transferred share's value, plus other remedies.

Heirs gain safeguards against administrator conflicts

Beginning June 11, 2026, estate representatives are disqualified for removal for cause within 24 months or dishonesty, theft, or fiduciary-breach findings within 36 months. Felony convictions and crimes involving moral turpitude also disqualify a person. Appointees under RCW 11.28.120(3) face extra conflict rules involving people likely to take part in major estate-asset transactions. Courts must remove covered appointees acting for an entity involved in such a transaction and may impose sanctions. These appointees also need court approval to acquire estate property or receive sale proceeds personally, with 14 days' hearing notice to heirs and interested beneficiaries or transferees. Approval requires clear and convincing proof that the deal meets loyalty duties and applicable law and cannot be voided. Violations or attempted violations can bring sanctions up to three times the asset or proceeds' value, plus other remedies.

Stronger safeguards for selling an inheritance

Beginning June 11, 2026, regular inheritance buyers must follow new contract rules, excluding relatives, registered domestic partners, and estate participants listed in the law. Signed agreements must be personally delivered and prominently disclose the price, interest description, estimated value, and all fees. Documents must use at least 10-point type and the language mainly used in negotiations. Agreements and required sworn statements must be filed and served within 30 days after signing or probate starting, whichever is later. They must also be filed at least 14 days before a distribution motion. Abusive terms can be voided; deals within 120 days of death involving already-known assets face a presumption of undue influence. Courts can refuse distributions or adjust terms, and willful violations can bring payments up to three times the assignment's value.

Earlier estate notices and account disclosures

Beginning June 11, 2026, representatives or attorneys acting at their request must notify reasonably known heirs and recipients under a will within 20 days of appointment. The notice also goes to beneficiaries or transferees of assets passing outside probate; notifying a trustee is enough for a receiving trust. If creditor notice is not otherwise given within 30 days, the representative must notify Washington's social services Office of Financial Recovery. Representatives must file a sworn notice report within 30 days of appointment, listing people, search steps, and notice details. Within 30 days of opening an estate account, they must report its opening date, financial institution, and authorized signers.

Heirs gain tools to track probate

Beginning June 11, 2026, estate representatives must file sworn reports at least annually until the final report is filed. Courts and interested people may request reports, generally due within 90 days unless the court finds undue burden or sets another date; no more than two requested reports are required yearly. Interested people include heirs, beneficiaries, recipients under a will, creditors with properly served and filed claims, and their lawyers or fiduciaries. If a report is late, a requested formal proceeding must occur within 14 days; specified failures can bring sanctions or removal, and orders must reach known interested people. If an estate remains open without a final report and distribution petition after 24 months from appointment, a court or interested person's request triggers a firm submission deadline. The court may change that deadline only for good cause.

New filing rules for estate cases

Beginning June 11, 2026, petitions to administer an estate without a will or determine heirs must include sworn jurisdiction facts, the basis for finding no will, known heirs' names, ages, addresses, and search details. They generally must describe real estate, motor vehicles, and other known property or interests reasonably estimated above $10,000. Applicants under RCW 11.28.120(1)(a) or (b) need not describe those assets, but must explain their asset search. Most covered probate petitioners may choose any Washington county; applicants under RCW 11.28.120(3) must use the deceased person's Washington home county or, for nonresidents, a county where estate property may be. Parties have four months after the appointment and probate notice is mailed to request a county change. Unless good cause is shown, the court must move the case under rules tied to residence, assets, or place of death.

New rules for choosing estate administrators

Beginning June 11, 2026, new appointment priorities apply when there is no will or the named estate representative cannot serve. Priority runs through a surviving spouse or registered domestic partner, specified relatives, qualifying trustees or fiduciaries, beneficiaries or transferees, state officials, and principal creditors. Trustees or fiduciaries qualify for that priority only if they controlled or potentially controlled substantially all probate and nonprobate assets. Revenue officials and social services officials handling home-and-community-based-service debts may waive their priority. After more than 60 days without an entitled person's petition, courts may appoint qualifying public guardianship contract providers or guardians ad litem; that route also applies when eligible relatives or principal creditors are absent or waive their rights. After more than 90 days without a petition, courts may appoint any suitable person. These latter appointees generally may seek only two such appointments yearly and cannot receive powers to act with less court oversight; entities listed in RCW 11.36.010(2) or (3) are exempt.

Estate administrators face closer financial oversight

Beginning June 11, 2026, appointees under RCW 11.28.120(3) must provide a bond sized to major estate assets listed in the petition. They cannot ask for powers to manage the estate with less court oversight. Entities listed in RCW 11.36.010(2) or (3) are exempt from those two rules. Courts determine fair compensation for representatives administering estates without a will; covered appointees need court permission for payment from outside the estate. These safeguards add bond and court-process burdens, and the law sets no fixed fee or bond formula.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Adison Richards

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Kristine Reeves

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 180 • No: 57

House vote • 3/11/2026

Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 66 • No: 29 • Other: 3

Senate vote • 3/6/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 47 • No: 0 • Other: 2

House vote • 2/10/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 67 • No: 28 • Other: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026.

    3/24/2026House

  2. Chapter 204, 2026 Laws.

    3/24/2026House

  3. Governor signed.

    3/24/2026legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    3/12/2026legislature

  5. President signed.

    3/12/2026legislature

  6. Passed final passage; yeas, 66; nays, 29; absent, 0; excused, 3.

    3/11/2026House

  7. House concurred in Senate amendments.

    3/11/2026House

  8. Speaker signed.

    3/11/2026legislature

  9. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/6/2026House

  10. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    3/6/2026House

  11. Committee amendment not adopted.

    3/6/2026House

  12. Third reading, passed; yeas, 47; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    3/6/2026House

  13. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    3/5/2026House

  14. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    2/24/2026House

  15. Minority; without recommendation.

    2/24/2026House

  16. LAW - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

    2/24/2026House

  17. First reading, referred to Law & Justice.

    2/12/2026House

  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/10/2026House

  19. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    2/10/2026House

  20. Third reading, passed; yeas, 67; nays, 28; absent, 0; excused, 3.

    2/10/2026House

  21. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    2/6/2026House

  22. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/3/2026House

  23. CRJ - Executive action taken by committee.

    1/30/2026House

  24. Minority; without recommendation.

    1/30/2026House

  25. CRJ - Majority; do pass.

    1/30/2026House

Bill Text

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