Title 11 — Title 11 PROBATE AND TRUST LAW

(1) The superior court of every county has original subject matter jurisdiction over the probate of wills and the administration of estates of incapacitated, missing, and deceased individuals in all instances, including without limitation:(a) When a resident of the state dies;(b)…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2445.SL) ***(1) Venue for proceedings pertaining to trusts is:(a) For testamentary trusts established under wills probated in the state of Washington, in the superior court of the county where the probate of the will is being administered or was comple…

The court may make, issue, and cause to be filed or served, any and all manner and kinds of orders, judgments, citations, notices, summons, and other writs and processes that might be considered proper or necessary in the exercise of the jurisdiction or powers given or intended t…

(1)(a) A beneficiary of an express trust may not commence a proceeding against a trustee for breach of trust more than three years after the date a report was delivered in the manner provided in RCW 11.96A.110 to the beneficiary or to a representative of the beneficiary if the re…

(1) Subject to the provisions of RCW 11.96A.260 through 11.96A.320, any party may have a judicial proceeding for the declaration of rights or legal relations with respect to any matter, as defined by RCW 11.96A.030; the resolution of any other case or controversy that arises unde…

(1) A judicial proceeding under this title is a special proceeding under the civil rules of court. The provisions of this title governing such actions control over any inconsistent provision of the civil rules.(2) A judicial proceeding under this title must be commenced as a new …

Unless rules of court require or this title provides otherwise, or unless a court orders otherwise:(1) A judicial proceeding under RCW 11.96A.090 is to be commenced by filing a petition with the court;(2) A summons must be served in accordance with this chapter and, where not inc…

(1) Subject to RCW 11.96A.160, in all judicial proceedings under this title that require notice, the notice must be personally served on or mailed to all parties or the parties' legal or virtual representatives and to any other persons to whom notice may be required under applica…

In all matters governed by this title, discovery shall be permitted only in the following matters:(1) A judicial proceeding that places one or more specific issues in controversy that has been commenced under RCW 11.96A.100, in which case discovery shall be conducted in accordanc…

(1) Notice to a person who may represent and bind another person under this section has the same effect as if notice were given directly to the other person.(2) The consent of a person who may represent and bind another person under this section is binding on the person represent…

The terms of a will or trust, even if unambiguous, may be reformed by judicial proceedings under this chapter to conform the terms to the intention of the testator or trustor if it is proved by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence that both the intent of the testator or trustor…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, with respect to any charitable disposition made in a will or trust, if a particular charitable purpose becomes unlawful, impracticable, impossible to achieve, or wasteful:(a) The disposition does not fail, in who…

Nothing in this chapter eliminates the requirement to give notice to a person who has requested special notice under RCW 11.28.240 or notice under RCW 11.130.080.[ 2020 c 312 s 716; 1999 c 42 s 306.]Notes:Effective dates—2020 c 312: See note following RCW 11.130.915.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, notice of a hearing does not need to be given to a legally competent person who has waived in writing notice of the hearing in person or by attorney, or who has appeared at the hearing without objecting to the lack of proper noti…

(1) Either the superior court or any court on an appeal may, in its discretion, order costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, to be awarded to any party: (a) From any party to the proceedings; (b) from the assets of the estate or trust involved in the proceedings; or (c) fro…

(1) The court, upon its own motion or upon request of one or more of the parties, at any stage of a judicial proceeding or at any time in a nonjudicial resolution procedure, may appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the interests of a minor, incapacitated, unborn, or unascerta…

If a party is entitled to a trial by jury and a jury is demanded, and the issues are not sufficiently made up by the written pleadings on file, the court, on due notice, shall settle and frame the issues to be tried. If a jury is not demanded, the court shall try the issues, and …

Judgment on the issues, as well as for costs, may be entered and enforced by execution or otherwise by the court as in civil actions.[ 1999 c 42 s 311.]

Nothing in RCW 6.32.250 shall forbid execution upon the income of any trust created by a person other than the judgment debtor for debt arising through the furnishing of the necessities of life to the beneficiary of such trust; or as to such income forbid the enforcement of any o…

An interested party may seek appellate review of a final order, judgment, or decree of the court respecting a judicial proceeding under this title. The review must be done in the manner and way provided by law for appeals in civil actions.[ 1999 c 42 s 313.]

The purpose of RCW 11.96A.220 through 11.96A.250 is to provide a binding nonjudicial procedure to resolve matters through written agreements among the parties interested in the estate or trust. The procedure is supplemental to, and may not derogate from, any other proceeding or p…

RCW 11.96A.210 through 11.96A.250 shall be applicable to the resolution of any matter, as defined by RCW 11.96A.030, other than matters subject to chapter 11.130 RCW, or a trust for a minor or other incapacitated person created at its inception by the judgment or decree of a cour…

(1) Any party, or a party's legal representative, may file the written agreement or a memorandum summarizing the written agreement with the court having jurisdiction over the estate or trust. The agreement or a memorandum of its terms may be filed within thirty days of the agreem…

Within thirty days of execution of the agreement by all parties, the special representative may note a hearing for presentation of the written agreement to a court of competent jurisdiction. The special representative shall provide notice of the time and date of the hearing to ea…

(1)(a) Any party or the parent of a minor or unborn party may petition the court for the appointment of a special representative to represent a party: (i) Who is a minor; (ii) who is incapacitated without an appointed guardian of his or her estate; (iii) who is yet unborn or unas…

The legislature finds that it is in the interest of the citizens of the state of Washington to encourage the prompt and early resolution of disputes in trust, estate, and nonprobate matters. The legislature endorses the use of dispute resolution procedures by means other than lit…

The intent of RCW 11.96A.260 through 11.96A.320 is to provide for the efficient settlement of disputes in trust, estate, and nonprobate matters through mediation and arbitration by providing any party the right to proceed first with mediation and then arbitration before formal ju…

A party may cause the matter to be presented for mediation and then arbitration, as provided under RCW 11.96A.260 through 11.96A.320. If a party causes the matter to be presented for resolution under RCW 11.96A.260 through 11.96A.320, then judicial resolution of the matter, as pr…

As used in RCW 11.96A.260 through 11.96A.320, "superior court" means: (1) Before the commencement of any legal proceedings, the appropriate superior court with respect to the matter as provided in RCW 11.96A.040; and (2) if legal proceedings have been commenced with respect to th…

(1) Notice of mediation. A party may cause the matter to be subject to mediation by service of written notice of mediation on all parties or the parties' virtual representatives as follows:(a) If no hearing has been set. If no hearing on the matter has been set, by serving notice…

(1) When arbitration available. Arbitration under RCW 11.96A.260 through 11.96A.320 is available only if:(a) A party has first petitioned for mediation under RCW 11.96A.300 and such mediation has been concluded;(b) The court has determined that mediation under RCW 11.96A.300 is n…

If a party does not comply with any procedure of RCW 11.96A.260 through 11.96A.310, the other party or parties may petition the superior court for an order compelling compliance. A party obtaining an order compelling compliance is entitled to reimbursement of costs and attorneys'…

This chapter may be known and cited as the trust and estate dispute resolution act or "TEDRA."[ 1999 c 42 s 101.]

This act takes effect January 1, 2000.[ 1999 c 42 s 703.]

The trustor of a trust may by the provisions of the trust relieve the trustee from any or all of the duties, restrictions, and liabilities which would otherwise be imposed by chapters 11.95A, 11.98, 11.100, and 11.104B RCW and RCW 11.106.020, or may alter or deny any or all of th…

The rules of construction that apply in this state to the interpretation of a will and disposition of property by will also apply as appropriate to the interpretation of the terms of a trust and the disposition of the trust property.[ 2011 c 327 s 13.]Notes:Application—Effective …

This chapter applies to the provisions of chapters 11.95A, 11.98, 11.100, and 11.104B RCW and to RCW 11.106.020.[ 2021 c 140 s 3612; 2003 c 254 s 5; 1985 c 30 s 39. Prior: 1984 c 149 s 65.]Notes:Effective date—2021 c 140 ss 3101-3614: See RCW 11.95A.903.Short title—Application—Pu…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter, and throughout this title where specifically referenced, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Permissible distributee" means a trust beneficiary who is currently eligible to receive distributions of trus…

(1) If provisions of a trust instrument designate Washington as the situs of the trust or designate Washington law to govern the trust or any of its terms, then the situs of the trust is Washington provided that one of the following conditions is met:(a) A trustee has a place of …

A trust may be created by:(1) Transfer of property to another person as trustee during the trustor's lifetime or by will or other disposition taking effect upon the trustor's death;(2) Declaration by the owner of property that the owner holds identifiable property as trustee; or(…

Except as provided in this section, this chapter applies to express trusts executed by the trustor after June 10, 1959, and does not apply to resulting trusts, constructive trusts, business trusts where certificates of beneficial interest are issued to the beneficiary, investment…

(1) A trust is created only if:(a) The trustor has capacity to create a trust;(b) The trustor indicates an intention to create the trust;(c) The trust has a definite beneficiary or is:(i) A charitable trust;(ii) A trust for the care of an animal, as provided in chapter 11.118 RCW…

A trust not created by will is validly created if its creation complies with the law of the jurisdiction in which the trust instrument was executed, or the law of the jurisdiction in which, at the time of creation or in the case of a revocable trust, at the time the trust became …

A trust may be created only to the extent its purposes are lawful, not contrary to public policy, and possible to achieve.[ 2011 c 327 s 18.]Notes:Application—Effective date—2011 c 327: See notes following RCW 11.103.020.

Except as required by a statute other than this title, a trust need not be evidenced by a trust instrument, but the creation of an oral trust and its terms may be established only by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence.[ 2011 c 327 s 19.]Notes:Application—Effective date—2011 c…

Except as otherwise provided in chapter 11.118 RCW or by another statute, the following rules apply:(1) A trust may be created for a noncharitable purpose without a definite or definitely ascertainable beneficiary or for a noncharitable but otherwise valid purpose to be selected …

(1) Any power vested in three or more trustees jointly may be exercised by a majority of such trustees; but no trustee who has not joined in exercising a power is liable to the beneficiaries or to others for the consequences of such exercise; nor is a dissenting trustee liable fo…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section, a person designated as trustee accepts the trusteeship:(a) By substantially complying with a method of acceptance provided in the terms of the trust; or(b) If the terms of the trust do not provide a method of acc…

Any trustee may, by written instrument delivered to any then acting co-trustee and to the permissible distributees of the trust, relinquish to any extent and upon any terms any or all of the trustee's powers, rights, authorities, or discretions that are or may be tax sensitive in…

Any trustee may resign, without judicial proceedings, by a writing signed by the trustee and filed with the trust records, to be effective upon the trustee's discharge as provided in RCW 11.98.041.[ 1989 c 10 s 3. Prior: 1985 c 30 s 43; prior: 1959 c 124 s 4. Formerly RCW 30.99.0…