Vancouver firm founded in 2014 by Thomas Hackett, serving Clark County and Southwest Washington, with a second office in Portland. Handles probate from opening the estate and validating the will through administration and distribution, and assists trustees with trust administration. Also prepares estate plans, including elder law, asset protection, and estate tax planning.
Probate in Cowlitz County
Probate Court Record
Cowlitz County Superior Court
Cowlitz County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
Office
312 Southwest 1st Avenue, Suite 250, Kelso, WA 98626-1739
Website
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Cowlitz County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Cowlitz County? →Settling an estate in Cowlitz County →
Probate Firms Serving Cowlitz County
Centralia firm established in 1965, serving the I-5 corridor through Thurston, Lewis, and Cowlitz counties. Handles probate and estate administration with or without a will, preparing all probate documents and handling all court appearances. Planning work includes wills, trusts, and community property agreements.
Serves Pierce, King, and Thurston counties from offices in Tacoma, Seattle, and Olympia. Represents personal representatives in formal and summary probate and in estate and trust administration, and represents beneficiaries in will contests, undue influence claims, and trust litigation, including challenges to the actions of an executor or trustee. Also handles guardianships.
Multi-state firm with Washington offices in Seattle, University Place, Olympia, Spokane, Richland, Kennewick, and Dayton. Guides personal representatives through probate and estate administration, from gathering assets and paying debts to transferring ownership, and handles elder law matters including Medicaid planning and guardianship. Consultations are available by phone or video.
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.
Wenatchee firm, doing business as Northwest Estate Plans, that handles Washington probate and trust administration for families after a death, starting with a free Executor Guidance Meeting to review the options. Also prepares wills and revocable living trusts. Meetings, signings, and notarization can be completed over Zoom for clients anywhere in Washington, or in person at the Wenatchee office.
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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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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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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Do I Need Probate?
In Washington, estates valued at $100,000RCW 11.62.010Verified Sep 9, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Small Estate AffidavitRCW 11.62.010Verified Sep 9, 2026View source, 40 daysRCW 11.62.010Verified Sep 9, 2026View source after death.
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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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