Bellingham estate planning practice serving Whatcom County, handling probate and trust administration for families settling an estate. Planning work includes wills, revocable living trusts, bypass trusts, special needs trusts, community property agreements, powers of attorney, and health care directives. Attorney Erin Mae Glass also practices elder law.
Bellingham is in Whatcom County.
Probate in Whatcom County
Probate Court Record
Whatcom County Superior Court
Whatcom County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Office
311 Grand Avenue, Suite 501, Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
Website
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 →
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
Pour-Over Will
In Washington, a pour-over will is signed before 2RCW 11.12.020Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
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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 Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Washington happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's trust statuteRCW 11.98.005 et seq.; RCW 11.103 (revocable trusts)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysRCW 11.98.072; RCW 11.96A.070Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
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What's Fair Trustee Compensation?
In Washington, trustee compensation follows "reasonable compensation" (UTC § 708 or equivalent)Wash. Rev. Code § 11.98.070(26)Verified Sep 18, 2026View source unless the trust instrument sets a different amount.
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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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Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Washington has no state income tax, so only the federal final Form 1040 is due for the decedentWash. Const. Art. VII, § 1; RCW 82.87.040 (capital gains excise tax)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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How Does Step-Up in Basis Work?
Inherited assets in Washington take a basis reset to fair market value on the date of death26 USC § 1014Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the gain on a later sale faces a 7% excise tax above $278,000, rising to 9.9% above $1,000,000; individuals only — estates and trusts are not subject to itRCW Ch. 82.87 (esp. § 82.87.040 rate, § 82.87.050 exclusions); ESSB 5096 (2021); SB 5813 Ch. 421 (2025 Laws) — added 9.9% tier on gains > $1MVerified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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