Washington Probate > Probate for $595 + Costs > Basic Services

Basic Probate Services Provided

A.  Basic Services

B.  Definition of "Basic, Simple, Problem-Free, and Uncontested"

A.  Basic Services: The Legal Actions Included in the Basic Services Are:

• Opening the Probate:
   

  • Preparing and filing with the Court an appropriate Superior Court Case Information Cover Sheet.

  • Filing with the Court Decedent's last Will, if any.

  • Preparing and filing with the Court a Petition for Probate of Decedent's Will (if any), Appointment of Personal Representative, & Grant of Nonintervention Powers.

  • Preparing and presenting to the Court and having a Judge sign an Order Admitting Decedent's Will (if any) to Probate, Appointing a Personal Representative, & Granting Nonintervention Powers.

  • Preparing and filing with the Clerk's Office an Oath of Personal Representative.

  • Obtaining from the Clerk's Office & furnishing to you 4 certified copies of Letters, evidencing your appointment as Personal Representative.

  • Preparing, mailing Notice of the Personal Representative's Appointment, along with a copy of any Will of Decedent admitted to probate, to Decedent's heirs and beneficiaries, and preparing and filing with the Court documentation of that mailing.

  • Preparing, mailing Notice of the Personal Representative's Appointment, along with Decedent's Social Security Number, to the Washington Department of Social & Health Services and preparing and filing with the Court documentation of that mailing.

  • Obtaining a Tax ID Number ("EIN") from the IRS for the estate, which is a separate, tax-paying entity.

   

• Administering the Probate:  Providing you with instructions and forms to assist you in:

  • Opening an estate checking account.

  • Marshaling Decedent's assets.

  • Paying Decedent's debts and creditors.

  • Handling income & estate tax issues.

  • Making preliminary distributions of estate property before the estate is closed.

  • Selling assets of the estate.

   

• Closing the Probate:

  • Preparing and sending to you a Declaration of Completion of Probate, to close the estate.

Back to Legal Assisted Probate for $595 - the "Basic Services"

B.  Definition of "Basic, Simple, Problem-Free, and Uncontested"

 By "basic, simple, problem-free, and uncontested" we mean (for example and not by way of limitation):

• The probate may be opened summarily; for example,

  • Any Will is clear, unambiguous, valid on its face, "self-proving" (ie, may be admitted to probate without further action, such as obtaining witnesses' signatures), and is and remains uncontested.

  • A Personal Representative is able, willing, and qualified to serve without further action.

  • No Bond is required by the Court.

  • The identity of the heirs and beneficiaries is clear, and they are all competent, available, and cooperative.

  • If Nonintervention Powers are desired, they may be obtained concurrently with the initial appointment of Personal Representative without additional work.

  • Any Will may be admitted & the Personal Representative may be appointed without a noticed hearing.
     

• No further personal appearance in Court and no further hearing or other Court involvement (except filings) are required after the initial appointment of the Personal Representative.
   

• You are able to administer the estate with the general instructions and forms provided.
   

• You are able to close the estate with the preparation and filing of a Declaration of Completion of Probate.
   

• From beginning to end, no one disagrees with, objects to, contests, or disputes anything regarding the probate.