Making Probate Less Intimidating
Somehow, many people have come to believe that probate should be avoided at all costs. In some states, such as California where the Executor may collect 5 to 10 percent of the estate, probate is a good thing to avoid. However, this is not the case in the state of Washington.
At Buskirk Law, located in Silverdale, we have been taking care of estate planning needs and offering probate services for more than sixty years. Most often, if a spouse passes away, probate will not be needed. If probate is needed, it is essentially three steps (two of which are not required) in the state of Washington.
- Required: File a probate petition
- Optional: Prepare information of all assets and value as of the date of death
- Optional: File a Declaration of Completion after paying off expenses and distributing the estate.
Probate in Washington State is easier, and usually less expensive, than administering a living will or trust.
If your family gets along with each other, all you may ever need is a court order to let the appropriate financial institutions know who will be authorized to close any accounts. Ask us how this works.
An Experienced and Common Sense Approach to Estate Administration
On occasion, probate litigation will be required, and should that happen, our lawyers are skilled litigators and can provide estate administration services including:
- Valuate, sell and distribute assets according to a will, or according to state probate laws if there is no will
- Act as executor of a living will
- Dispose of assets that were not put into a living trust
- Represent a family member or members if there are multiple wills, contradictory wills or will contests
The common sense approach our attorneys take can save you money in the long run. Because we value you as a lifelong client, it is in our best interest, as well as yours, that we handle your probate and estate administration issues in a timely and sensitive manner.
Call 360-633-2036 or contact our law firm to schedule a free initial consultation.
