Title 11 — Title 11 PROBATE AND TRUST LAW

Section headings, as found in Title 11 RCW, do not constitute any part of the law.[ 1985 c 30 s 3. Prior: 1984 c 149 s 179.]Notes:Short title—Application—Purpose—Severability—1985 c 30: See RCW 11.02.900 through 11.02.903.Severability—Effective dates—1984 c 149: See notes followi…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2445.SL) ***When used in this title, unless otherwise required from the context:(1) "Administrator" means a personal representative of the estate of a decedent and the term may be used in lieu of "personal representative" wherever required by context.(…

Except as provided in RCW 41.04.273 and 11.84.025, upon the death of a decedent, a one-half share of the community property shall be confirmed to the surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner, and the other one-half share shall be subject to testamentary disposition by the d…

On and after October 1, 1974:(1) The provisions of chapter 117, Laws of 1974 ex. sess. shall apply to any wills of decedents dying thereafter;(2) The provisions of chapter 117, Laws of 1974 ex. sess. shall apply to any proceedings in court then pending or thereafter commenced reg…

(1) An otherwise effective written instrument of transfer may not be deemed testamentary solely because of a provision for a nonprobate transfer at death in the instrument.(2) "Provision for a nonprobate transfer at death" as used in subsection (1) of this section includes, but i…

Shares of record in the name of a spouse or domestic partner may be transferred by such person, such person's agent or attorney, without the signature of such person's spouse or domestic partner. All dividends payable upon any shares of a corporation standing in the name of a spo…

Whenever shares or other securities issued by domestic or foreign corporations are or have been issued or transferred to two or more persons in joint tenancy form on the books or records of the corporation, it is presumed in favor of the corporation, its registrar and its transfe…

Neither a domestic or foreign corporation or its registrar or transfer agent shall be liable for transferring or causing to be transferred on the books of the corporation to or pursuant to the direction of the surviving spouse or the surviving domestic partner any share or shares…

A provision in a lease of a safety deposit repository to the effect that two or more persons have access to the repository, or that purports to create a joint tenancy in the repository or in the contents of the repository, or that purports to vest ownership of the contents of the…

Chapter 149, Laws of 1984, as amended and reenacted in chapters 8, 9, 10, 11, 23, 30, and 31, Laws of 1985 shall be known as the Washington trust act of 1984.[ 1985 c 30 s 2.]

(1) Nothing in chapter 8, 9, 10, 11, 23, 30, or 31, Laws of 1985 shall invalidate or nullify:(a) Any instrument or property relationship that is executed and irrevocable as of the April 10, 1985; or(b) Any action undertaken in a proceeding where the action was commenced before Ap…

The purpose of this act is to make technical corrections to chapter 149, Laws of 1984, and to ensure that the changes made in that chapter meet the constitutional requirements of Article II, section 19 of the state Constitution.[ 1985 c 30 s 1.]

If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.[ 1985 c 30 s 144.]

The net estate of a person dying intestate, or that portion thereof with respect to which the person shall have died intestate, shall descend subject to the provisions of RCW 11.04.250 and 11.02.070, and shall be distributed as follows:(1) Share of surviving spouse or state regis…

Kindred of the half blood shall inherit the same share which they would have inherited if they had been of the whole blood, unless the inheritance comes to the intestate by descent, devise, or gift from one of his or her ancestors, or kindred of such ancestor's blood, in which ca…

If a person dies intestate as to all his or her estate, property which he or she gave in his or her lifetime as an advancement to any person who, if the intestate had died at the time of making the advancement, would be entitled to inherit a part of his or her estate, shall be co…

The provisions of RCW 11.04.015, as to the inheritance of the husband and wife from each other take the place of tenancy in dower and tenancy by curtesy, which are hereby abolished.[ 1965 c 145 s 11.04.060. Prior: Code 1881 s 3304; 1875 p 55 s 3; RRS s 1343.]

The right of survivorship as an incident of tenancy by the entireties is abolished.[ 1965 c 145 s 11.04.071.]Notes:Joint tenancy: Chapter 64.28 RCW.Safe deposit repository—Lease provision ineffective to create joint tenancy or transfer at one lessee's death: RCW 11.02.130.

For the purpose of inheritance to, through, and from any child, the effects and treatment of the parent-child relationship shall not depend upon whether or not the parents have been married.[1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 42 s 24; 1965 c 145 s 11.04.081. Formerly RCW 11.04.080 and 11.04.09…

A lawfully adopted child shall not be considered an "heir" of his or her natural parents for purposes of this title.[ 2010 c 8 s 2004; 1965 c 145 s 11.04.085.]Notes:Effect of decree of adoption: RCW 26.33.260."Issue" includes lawfully adopted children: RCW 11.02.005(11).

If a person dies leaving a surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner and issue by a former spouse or former domestic partner and leaving a will whereby all or substantially all of the deceased's property passes to the surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner or having …

If either co-owner of United States savings bonds registered in two names as co-owners (in the alternative) dies without having presented and surrendered the bond for payment to a federal reserve bank or the treasury department, the surviving co-owner will be the sole and absolut…

If the registered owner of United States savings bonds registered in the name of one person payable on death to another dies without having presented and surrendered the bond for payment or authorized reissue to a federal reserve bank or the treasury department, and is survived b…

When a person dies seized of lands, tenements or hereditaments, or any right thereto or entitled to any interest therein in fee or for the life of another, his or her title shall vest immediately in his or her heirs or devisees, subject to his or her debts, family allowance, expe…

RCW 11.04.250 through 11.04.290 shall apply to community real property and also to separate estate; and upon the death of either spouse or either domestic partner, title of all community real property shall vest immediately in the person or persons to whom the same shall go, pass…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Co-owners with right of survivorship" includes joint tenants, tenants by the entireties, and other co-owners of property or accounts held under circumstances that enti…

Except as provided in RCW 11.05A.060 and except for the purposes of the uniform TOD security registration act, if the title to property, the devolution of property, the right to elect an interest in property, or the right to exempt property, homestead, or family allowance depends…

Except as provided in RCW 11.05A.060 and except for a security registered in beneficiary form (TOD) under the Uniform TOD Security Registration Act, for purposes of a provision of a governing instrument that relates to an individual surviving an event, including the death of anot…

Except as provided in RCW 11.05A.060, if (1) it is not established by clear and convincing evidence that one of two co-owners with right of survivorship survived the other co-owner by one hundred twenty hours, one-half of the property passes as if one had survived by one hundred …

In addition to the rules of evidence in courts of general jurisdiction, the following rules relating to a determination of death and status apply:(1) Death occurs when an individual is determined to be dead by the attending physician, county coroner, or county medical officer.(2)…

This chapter does not apply if:(1) The governing instrument contains language dealing explicitly with simultaneous deaths or deaths in a common disaster and that language is operable under the facts of the case;(2) The governing instrument expressly indicates that an individual i…

(1) Protection of Payors and Other Third Parties.(a) A payor or other third party is not liable for having made a payment or transferred an item of property or any other benefit to a person designated in a governing instrument who, under this chapter, is not entitled to the payme…

This chapter shall be applied and construed to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of this chapter among states enacting it.[ 2007 c 475 s 14.]

This chapter may be cited as the uniform simultaneous death act.[ 2007 c 475 s 15.]

On July 22, 2007:(1) An act done before July 22, 2007, in any proceeding and any accrued right is not impaired by this chapter. If a right is acquired, extinguished, or barred upon the expiration of a prescribed period of time that has commenced to run by the provisions of any st…

(1) This section applies to all nonprobate assets, wherever situated, held at the time of entry of a decree of dissolution of marriage or state registered domestic partnership or a declaration of invalidity or certification of termination of a state registered domestic partnershi…

Where, upon the expiration of two years after the death of any inmate of any state institution, there remains in the custody of the superintendent of such institution, money or property belonging to said deceased inmate, the superintendent shall forward such money to the state tr…

Prior to the expiration of the two-year period provided for in RCW 11.08.101, the superintendent may transfer such money or property in his or her possession, upon request and satisfactory proof submitted to him or her, to the following designated persons:(1) To the personal repr…

The property, other than money, of such deceased inmate remaining in the custody of a superintendent of a state institution after the expiration of the above two-year period may be forwarded to the department of corrections at its request and may be appraised and sold at public a…

Whenever any person dies, whether a resident of this state or not, leaving property subject to the jurisdiction of this state and without being survived by any person entitled to the same under the laws of this state, such property shall be designated escheat property and shall b…

Title to escheat property, which shall include any intangible personalty, shall vest in the state at the death of the owner thereof.[ 1965 c 145 s 11.08.150. Prior: 1955 c 254 s 3.]

The department of revenue of this state shall have supervision of and jurisdiction over escheat property and may institute and prosecute any proceedings, including any proceeding under chapter 11.62 RCW, deemed necessary or proper in the handling of such property, and it shall be…

Escheat property may be probated under the provisions of the probate laws of this state. Whenever such probate proceedings are instituted, whether by special administration or otherwise, the petitioner shall promptly notify the department of revenue in writing thereof on forms fu…

The department of revenue may demand copies of any papers, documents, or pleadings involving the escheat property or the probate thereof deemed by it to be necessary for the enforcement of RCW 11.08.140 through 11.08.280 and it shall be the duty of the administrator or his or her…

All records of the department of revenue relating to escheated property or property about to escheat shall be a public record and shall be made available by the department of revenue for public inspection. Without limitation, the records to be made public shall include all availa…

If any person shall take possession of escheat property without proper authorization to do so, and shall have the use thereof for a period exceeding sixty days, he or she shall be liable to the state for the reasonable value of such use, payment of which may be enforced by the de…

(1) The department of natural resources shall have the authority to lease real property from the administrator of an estate being probated under the escheat provisions, RCW 11.08.140 to 11.08.280.(2) The department of natural resources shall have the authority to sublease or rent…

If at the expiration of four months from the date of the first publication of notice to creditors no heirs have appeared and established their claim to the estate, the court may enter an interim order allowing claims, expenses, and partial fees. If at the expiration of ten months…

The department of revenue shall be furnished two certified copies of the decree of the court distributing any real property to the state, one of which shall be forwarded to the department of natural resources which shall thereupon assume supervision of and jurisdiction over such …

Upon the appearance of heirs and the establishment of their claim to the satisfaction of the court prior to entry of the decree of distribution to the estate, the provisions of RCW 11.08.140 through 11.08.280 shall not further apply, except for purposes of appeal: PROVIDED, That …