Probate Administration Attorney Serving Grays Harbor County, Washington 

When faced with having to administer a deceased loved one’s estate, it can be difficult trying to do everything on your own. With legal counsel, you can feel confident knowing that everything will be handled correctly and efficiently so as not to cause any additional stress during this difficult time. 

The probate administration attorney at William E. Morgan, Attorney at Law serves clients in Grays Harbor County, including Aberdeen, Montesano, and Hoquiam, and in Pacific County, including South Bend and Raymond. William E. Morgan can help you navigate the probate administration process with minimal stress.  

Types of Probate in Washington  

Probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate. Washington offers two types of probate administration that can be chosen based on the size and complexity of an individual’s estate: 

1. Formal probate. This type of probate is more complex because it requires court supervision and approval throughout the entire process. Formal probates are typically used for larger estates that require more complicated distributions or when there are disputes among heirs as to how assets should be distributed. 

2. Small estate probate. This type of probate is available if the following conditions are met: at least 40 days have passed after the death, the deceased is not a non-resident with property within Washington, and the decedent is not insolvent. In addition, the small estate probate cannot be used if a Petition for Appointment of Personal Representative has been granted or is pending.  

No matter which type of probate applies to your case, you may need a skilled probate administration attorney on your side.  

The Probate Administration Process  

The probate court supervises the management of a deceased individual’s estate and ensures that creditors are paid, debts are settled, and remaining assets are distributed to beneficiaries according to their wishes as stated in their will.  

• Step 1: Filing a Petition for Probate. The first step of the probate process is filing a petition for probate with the court. This document establishes that the decedent died on a certain date and that the person filing is seeking to be appointed as personal representative (the legal term for an executor) of the estate. In most cases, the petitioner is also named as executor in the decedent’s will.   

• Step 2: Appointment of Executor. Once the petition has been filed, it must be approved by the court before any other steps can take place. If no objections are raised during this time, then the petitioner is appointed as executor and given authority to manage and distribute assets according to instructions in the will.  

• Step 3: Notifying Creditors. The next step is notifying creditors of their right to submit claims against any remaining assets in the estate. The notice must include specific information about how they can file a claim against an estate within a certain time frame. A probate administration attorney can help draft this notice and ensure it complies with all local laws and regulations.  

• Step 4: Collecting and Distributing Assets. The executor must then gather all remaining assets from financial institutions or other sources, pay any outstanding debts or taxes due from these assets, and distribute any remaining funds according to instructions provided in the decedent’s will or trust agreement. A probate administration attorney can ensure that all these steps are done properly so that there are no mistakes or delays in distributing assets according to plan. 

Working with a probate administration attorney helps ensure everything runs smoothly so that those left behind don’t have to worry about missing paperwork or potential legal issues down the line.  

Why Probate Is the Right Choice 

In Washington State, probate is not necessary for many estates. However, there are a number of advantages to going through probate. 

Probating an estate can help ensure that all debts are paid and that assets are distributed according to state law (or according to any specific instructions outlined in a will). By going through this process, heirs also have some assurance that their inheritance will not be taken away from them due to creditor claims or other legal issues.  

Furthermore, probate administration helps avoid potential conflicts between family members over who has rights to various assets within the deceased person’s estate. These conflicts may arise if an estate is not properly administered after a death.