Probate in Thurston County

Probate Court Record

Thurston County Superior Court

Thurston County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM

Office

2000 Lakeridge Drive Southwest, Building 2, Olympia, WA 98502-6001

E-filing

Filing in person

Walk-ins accepted

Self-represented filing

Allowed

How to file probate in Thurston County →

Verified October 15, 2026 · Source

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

Probate Litigation Firms Serving Thurston County

Walla Walla firm, formerly Burkhart and Burkhart, representing families, farms, and businesses. Handles probate and trust administration, including supporting successor trustees who distribute a deceased person's assets, and litigates estate and trust disputes, including will contests. Accepts clients throughout Washington State.

Since 1954Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+2

Wenatchee firm founded in 1946 that represents clients across Washington, including Seattle and Spokane. Its probate team advises heirs and beneficiaries, handles probate and trust administration and small estate and lack-of-probate affidavits, and represents clients in will contests and administration disputes. Offers cost-free initial consultations.

Since 1946Serves the whole stateFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigation

Spokane firm that works primarily by phone, video conference, and email with clients throughout Washington. Handles probate, advises trustees on their duties, notice to creditors, and paying creditors, and represents clients in court in trust, estate, and probate disputes. The firm does not offer free consultations.

Solo PracticeServes the whole stateVirtual consultationsEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+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

Spokane firm on East 2nd Avenue that serves clients in all 39 Washington counties. Handles probate from opening the estate and drafting probate letters through distributing assets and closing, along with estate litigation and will contests. Its elder law and guardianship work covers Medicaid planning, asset protection, and legal guardianships.

Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder LawTax Planning+3

All 10 Washington probate litigation firms serving Thurston 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.

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Revocable Living Trust

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

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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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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.

How Much Does Probate Cost?

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. Attorney fees run 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 under a reasonable-compensation standard.

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Who Inherits Without a Will?

Washington is a community property state, so the surviving spouse already owns half of what the couple acquired during the marriage. Without a will in Washington, descendants divide what passes to them per capita with representationRCW §§ 11.04.015(2)(a), 11.02.005Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, and an heir must survive the decedent by 120 hoursRCW § 11.05A.020Verified Oct 21, 2026View source to inherit.

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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?

In Washington, creditors have 4 monthsRCW 11.40.051Verified Sep 9, 2026View source from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.

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How Do I Settle an Estate?

Settling an estate in Washington: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysRCW 11.44.015; RCW 11.44.025Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsRCW 11.40.020, 11.40.040, 11.40.051, 11.40.100, 11.76.110Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 4 months to 6 months.

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How Much Can an Executor Charge?

Washington pays executors reasonable compensationRCW 11.48.210 (reasonable compensation set by the court; no statutory percentage; compensation provided in the will controls unless renounced in writing before qualifying)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source, typically 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source of the estate.

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