Title 11, PROBATE AND TRUST LAW

A personal representative who has acquired nonintervention powers in accordance with this chapter may present a matter, as defined in RCW 11.96A.030, to the court for resolution or for instructions under chapter 11.96A RCW at any time. A personal representative shall not be deeme…

(1) A personal representative with nonintervention powers has the power to construe and interpret the terms of a probated will, except as the probated will or an order of the court may otherwise direct. (2) Unless otherwise provided in the probated will: (a) A party, as defined i…

A party to a transaction with a personal representative with nonintervention powers and the party's successors in interest are entitled to have it conclusively presumed that the transaction is necessary for the administration of the decedent's estate. [ 2021 c 140 s 4012.] Notes:…

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to …

Upon application of the personal representative, with or without notice as the court may direct, the court may order the personal representative to deliver to any distributee who consents to it, possession of any specific real or personal property to which he or she is entitled u…

After the expiration of the time limited for the filing of claims and before final settlement of the accounts of the personal representative, a partial distribution may be decreed, with notice to interested persons, as the court may direct. Such distribution shall be as conclusiv…

(1) Not later than 30 days after the date of appointment, the personal representative shall make, verify by his or her oath, and file with the clerk of the court a report confirming notice to third parties. The report shall contain the names and addresses of each heir, legatee, d…

It shall not be necessary for the personal representative to give any notice of the hearing of any report prior to the final report, except as in RCW 11.28.240 provided, but the court may require notice of the hearing of any such report. [ 1965 c 145 s 11.76.020. Prior: 1917 c 15…

(1) When the estate shall be ready to be closed, such personal representative shall make, verify, and file with the court his or her final report and petition for distribution. Such final report and petition shall, among other things, show that the estate is ready to be settled a…

When such final report and petition for distribution, or either, has been filed, the court, or the clerk of the court, shall fix a day for hearing it which must be at least twenty days subsequent to the day of the publication as hereinafter provided. Notice of the time and place …

Upon the date fixed for the hearing of such final report and petition for distribution, or either thereof, or any day to which such hearing may have been adjourned by the court, if the court be satisfied that the notice of the time and place of hearing has been given as provided …

If, at any hearing upon any report of any personal representative, it shall appear to the court before which said proceeding is pending that said personal representative has not fully accounted to the beneficiaries of his or her trust and that said report should not be approved a…

If, in any probate or guardianship proceeding, any personal representative shall fail or neglect to report to the court concerning his or her trust and any beneficiary or other interested party shall be reasonably required to employ legal counsel to institute legal proceedings to…

If there be any alleged incapacitated person interested in the estate who has no legally appointed conservator or limited conservator under RCW 11.130.360, the court: (1) At any stage of the proceeding in its discretion and for such purpose or purposes as it shall indicate, may a…

When a decree of distribution is made by the court in administration upon a decedent's estate or when distribution is made by a personal representative under a nonintervention will and distribution is ordered under such decree or authorized under such nonintervention will to a pe…

In rendering his or her accounts or reports the personal representative shall produce receipts or canceled checks for the expenses and charges which he or she shall have paid, which receipts shall be filed and remain in court until the probate has been completed and the personal …

Subject to federal preemption and the privileges and priorities allowed to encumbrances and liens under applicable law, the reasonable expenses of administration and the enforceable debts of the estate shall be paid in the following order: (1) Expenses of administration. (2) Fune…

The preference given in RCW 11.76.110 to a mortgage, deed of trust, perfected security interest, judgment lien, or other lien shall only extend to the proceeds of the property subject to the lien. [ 2024 c 20 s 13; 1965 c 145 s 11.76.120. Prior: 1917 c 156 s 172; RRS s 1542; prio…

Personal representatives of the estate of any deceased person are hereby authorized to expend a reasonable amount out of the estate of the decedent to erect a monument or tombstone suitable to mark the grave or crypt of the said decedent, and the expense thereof shall be paid as …

If the estate shall be insufficient to pay the debts of any class, each creditor shall be paid in proportion to his or her claim, and no other creditor of any lower class shall receive any payment until all those of the preceding class shall have been fully paid. [ 2010 c 8 s 206…

Whenever a decree shall have been made by the court for the payment of creditors, the personal representative shall be personally liable to each creditor for his or her claim or the dividend thereon, except when his or her inability to make the payment thereof from the property o…

If, after the accounts of the personal representative have been settled and the property distributed, it shall appear that there is a creditor or creditors whose claim or claims have been duly filed and not paid or disallowed, the said claim or claims shall not be a lien upon any…

If there be any claim not due the court may in its discretion, after hearing upon such notice as may be determined by it, mature such claim and direct that the same be paid in the due course of the administration. [ 1965 c 145 s 11.76.180. Prior: 1917 c 156 s 178; RRS s 1548; pri…

If there be any contingent or disputed claim against the estate, the amount thereof, or such part thereof as the holder would be entitled to, if the claim were established or absolute, shall be paid into the court, where it shall remain to be paid over to the party when he or she…

When any estate has been or is about to be distributed by decree of the court as provided in this chapter, to any person who has not been located, the court shall appoint an agent for the purpose of representing the interests of such person and of taking possession and charge of …

Such agent shall make, subscribe and file an oath for the faithful performance of his or her duties, and shall give a bond to the state, to be approved by the court, conditioned faithfully to manage and account for such estate, before he or she shall be authorized to receive any …

If the estate remains in the hands of the agent unclaimed for three years, any property not in the form of cash shall be sold under order of the court, and all funds, after deducting a reasonable sum for expenses and services of the agent, to be fixed by the court, shall be paid …

The agent shall be liable on his or her bond for the care and preservation of the estate while in his or her hands, and for the payment of the funds to the county treasury, and may be sued thereon by any person interested including the state. [ 2010 c 8 s 2074; 1965 c 145 s 11.76…

During the time the estate is held by the agent, or within four years after it is delivered to the county treasury, claim may be made thereto only by the absentee person or his or her legal representative, excepting that if it clearly appears that such person died prior to the de…

If no person appears to claim the estate within four years after it is delivered to the county treasury, as provided by RCW 11.76.240, any heirs of the absentee person may institute probate proceedings on the estate of such absentee within ninety days thereafter. The fact that no…

After any time limitation prescribed in RCW 11.76.220, 11.76.240 or 11.76.243, the absentee claimant may, at any time, if the assets of the estate have not been claimed under the provisions of RCW 11.76.240 and 11.76.243, notify the department of revenue of his or her claim to th…

After the entry of the decree of distribution in the probate proceedings the court shall retain jurisdiction for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of RCW 11.76.200, 11.76.210, 11.76.220, 11.76.230, 11.76.240, 11.76.243 and 11.76.245. [ 1965 c 145 s 11.76.247. Prior: 1955…

A final settlement of the estate shall not prevent a subsequent issuance of letters of administration, should other property of the estate be discovered, or if it should become necessary and proper from any cause that letters should be again issued. [ 1965 c 145 s 11.76.250. Prio…

Whenever it shall be made to appear by petition to any judge of the superior court of any county that there is property in such county, either real or personal, that requires care and attention, or is in such a condition that it is a menace to the public health, safety or welfare…

The trustee so appointed shall make, subscribe and file in the office of the clerk of the court an oath for the faithful performance of his or her duties, and shall, within such time as may be fixed by the judge, prepare and file an inventory of such property, and the judge shall…

The trustee shall, at the expiration of one year from the date of his or her appointment and annually thereafter and at such times as the court may direct, make and file a report and account of his or her trusteeship, setting forth specifically the amounts received and expended a…

If necessary to pay debts against the absentee which have been duly approved and allowed in the same form and manner as provided for the approving and allowing of claims against the estate of a deceased person or for such other purpose as the court may deem proper for the preserv…

Whenever a petition is filed in said estate from which it appears to the satisfaction of the court that the owner of such property left a spouse or domestic partner, child or children, dependent upon such absentee for support or upon the property in the estate of such absentee, e…

Upon a showing of advantage to the estate of the absentee, the court may authorize the trustee to continue any business of the absentee in accordance with the provisions of RCW 11.48.025. The trustee may also obtain an order allowing the performance of the absentee's contracts in…

The court shall have the power to remove or to accept the resignation of such trustee and appoint another in his or her stead. At the termination of his or her trust, as hereinafter provided or in case of his or her resignation or removal, the trustee shall file a final account, …

Such trusteeship shall continue until such time as the owner of such property shall return or shall appoint a duly authorized agent or attorney-in-fact to care for such property, or until such time as the property shall be provisionally distributed to the presumptive heirs, or to…

Whenever the owner of such property shall have been absent from the county for the space of five years and his or her whereabouts are unknown and cannot with reasonable diligence be ascertained, his or her presumptive heirs at law may apply to the court for an order of provisiona…

If it shall appear to the satisfaction of the court upon the hearing of the application for provisional distribution that the absentee has been absent and his or her whereabouts unknown for the space of five years, or there are strong presumptions that he or she is dead, the cour…

Whenever the owner of such property shall have been absent from the county for a space of seven years and his or her whereabouts are unknown and cannot with reasonable diligence be ascertained, his or her presumptive heirs at law or the legatees and devisees under the will, as th…

Whenever the owner of such property for which a trustee has been appointed under the provisions of this chapter shall have been absent and unheard of for a period of seven years and no presumptive heirs at law have appeared and applied for the provisional distribution of such pro…

Any person serving in or with the armed forces of the United States, in or with the Red Cross, or in or with the merchant marine or otherwise, during any period of time when a state of hostilities exists between the United States and any other power and for one year thereafter, w…