Probate in Whatcom County

Probate Court Record

Whatcom County Superior Court

Whatcom County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM

Office

311 Grand Avenue, Suite 501, Bellingham, WA 98225-4038

E-filing

Filing in person

Walk-ins accepted

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

How to file probate in Whatcom County →

Verified October 15, 2026 · Source

Do I need a lawyer for probate in Whatcom County? →Settling an estate in Whatcom County →

Elder Law Firms Serving Whatcom County

Spokane firm, formerly Moulton Law Offices, with offices in Spokane, Spokane Valley, Kennewick, and Yakima and virtual meetings for clients across Washington. Guides personal representatives, executors, heirs, and trustees through probate and trust administration, and also handles guardianships, Medicaid planning, and revocable living trusts.

Serves the whole stateVirtual consultationsEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawTax Planning+4

Estate planning and elder law firm with offices in Seattle, Spokane, and Kennewick, serving clients across Washington and North Idaho. Handles probate and trust administration for personal representatives and successor trustees, along with Medicaid and long-term care planning, wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. The practice is limited to estate planning and elder law.

Since 2006Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawAsset ProtectionMedicaid Planning

Spokane elder law and estate planning practice, in business for over 20 years, serving clients in Spokane, Kennewick, and Coeur d'Alene and meeting clients across Washington virtually. For families settling an estate it provides probate assistance through the court procedures; its planning work covers wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, special needs trusts, and Medicaid and long-term care planning.

Solo PracticeServes the whole stateVirtual consultationsEstate PlanningProbateElder LawSpecial Needs PlanningAsset ProtectionMedicaid Planning

Lynnwood firm with a second office in Bellevue, serving King and Snohomish counties and clients across Washington. Handles probate and estate administration with or without a will, from court filings and federal estate tax returns through closing, and assists trustees with trust administration. Also handles guardianships, special needs trusts, and Medicaid planning.

Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawGuardianship+2

Serves clients statewide from Seattle, with a second office in Yakima. Represents personal representatives, executors, and trustees through probate and trust administration — court filings, asset gathering and valuation, tax return preparation, and fiduciary duties — and handles trust and estate litigation and estate tax planning.

Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+4

Serves Vancouver and Clark County, and takes probate matters throughout Washington. Helps executors and administrators through probate, including intestate estates that require appointment of an administrator, closing out and settling the estate, and assists trustees with trust administration. The practice is limited to estate matters, and initial consultations can be held by phone or in person.

Serves the whole stateVirtual consultationsEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawSpecial Needs PlanningAsset Protection

All 8 Washington elder law firms serving Whatcom County →

Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Washington

Free Washington forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Washington.

$12/month

Revocable Living Trust

Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.

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Free

Healthcare Power of Attorney

Washington allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2RCW 11.125.050; RCW 11.125.400; RCW 70.122.030; RCW 7.70.065Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.

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Free

Financial Power of Attorney

Washington requires explicit durability language for a power of attorney to survive incapacityRCW § 11.125.050Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, and it is signed before 2RCW § 11.125.050Verified Oct 21, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.

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Free

Last Will and Testament

In Washington, a will is signed before 2RCW 11.12.020Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyRCW 11.12.020Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.

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All Washington forms

Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Washington

Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Washington: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Washington.

What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?

An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Washington runs $3,400Estimate: 10 hours at $340, Clio's Washington Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $5,100Estimate: 15 hours at $340, Clio's Washington Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $1,164Estimate: 3 hours at $388, Clio's Washington Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,328Estimate: 6 hours at $388, Clio's Washington Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.

Calculate Costs

How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?

In Washington, four years at a public university cost about $91,896NCES Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 330.20, public 4-year in-state tuition, fees, room and board, academic year 2022-23Verified Oct 17, 2026View source and the cost of living is 7% above the U.S. averageBEA Regional Price Parities, all items, by state, 2024Verified Oct 17, 2026View source; the state levies an estate taxRCW 83.100.020(1)(a)(x), 83.100.040(2)(a)(iii); ESB 6347 (Ch. 209, Laws of 2026)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source above $3,000,000RCW 83.100.020(1)(a)(x), 83.100.040(2)(a)(iii); ESB 6347 (Ch. 209, Laws of 2026)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.

Calculate the Amount

What Are the Estate Laws in My State?

Probate on a $500,000 estate in Washington costs an estimated $27,599RCW 11.48.210 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source and takes 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate, with attorney fees of typically 2.2%Modeled estimate under RCW 11.48.210 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 9, 2026View source to 3.5%Modeled estimate under RCW 11.48.210 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 9, 2026View source of the estate. Estates under $100,000RCW 11.62.010Verified Sep 9, 2026View source can use a small-estate procedure instead.

Check the Rules

Do I Need a Revocable Trust?

Probate in Washington takes 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 2.2%Modeled estimate under RCW 11.48.210 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 9, 2026View source to 3.5%Modeled estimate under RCW 11.48.210 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 9, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.

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Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?

Washington automatically revokes an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceRCW 11.07.010; RCW 11.12.051Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.

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All Washington tools