Forms for Estate Executors in Washington

In Washington, the petition asks the Superior Court to appoint the personal representative, whose authority is proved by Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration; every appointment goes through the court.

All Planning ahead Settling an estate

8 forms for Washington

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EIN Application

Get the tax ID number (EIN) banks require to open an estate account or trust account after someone dies.

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Petition for Probate and Letters

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Notice to Creditors

In Washington, the notice to creditors is published for 3 weeks in a local newspaper, and creditors have 4 months from first publication to present claims.

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Renunciation of Executor

In Washington, a person named as personal representative may decline to serve before anyone is appointed.

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Estate Inventory

In Washington, the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 days of appointment.

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Estate Closing

In Washington, the personal representative is discharged automatically once the statutory period runs, and no final accounting is required.

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Letter of Instruction

Prepare the letter a bank or insurer requests during estate settlement, addressed to its claims department.

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Digital Assets Recovery Letter

Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.

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The creditor claim period of 4 months runs from the first publication of the creditor notice, which follows the executor's appointment. A claim not presented in time is barred. Every claim is barred 24 months after the date of death, whether or not notice was given.

Within 90 days of the personal representative's appointment.

A personal representative with nonintervention powers (the default administration mode) closes by filing a Declaration of Completion of Probate under RCW 11.68.110, certifying that creditor claims have been paid or disposed of, taxes have been determined and paid or provided for, and administration is complete; no hearing or court order is required, and the filing "will be the legal equivalent of the entry of a decree of distribution under chapter 11.76 RCW".

Washington law recognizes that a person named as personal representative may decline the appointment but prescribes no particular document. A signed written declination filed with the court states the refusal on the record.

The estate cannot close until administration is complete and creditor claims are paid or disposed of (RCW 11.68.110(1)(d)); because the nonclaim bar runs four months after first publication of the notice to creditors (RCW 11.40.051(1)(a)(ii)), closing cannot occur before that four-month creditor-claim period runs. A state estate-tax step is a precondition of closing: the Declaration of Completion must state that "the amount of taxes assessable against the estate has been determined, settled, and paid or otherwise provided for" (RCW 11.68.110(1)(d)). A PR who distributes before paying or securing the Washington estate tax is personally liable for it (RCW 83.100.120(1)(a)); the Department of Revenue issues a release once the tax is paid (RCW 83.100.080). Estates under the filing threshold owe no tax and file no return.

Forms for Estate Executors in Washington

Probate forms are the documents an executor or administrator files with the probate court from the first day to the last. The petition for probate and letters opens the estate and asks the court for letters testamentary or letters of administration; a named executor who does not want the role files a renunciation instead. Where the estate is small enough, a small estate affidavit collects the property with no court process at all, and an affidavit of heirship records who the heirs are when no estate was administered. Once appointed, the executor publishes and mails the notice to creditors, files the estate inventory at date of death values, and closes the estate with the state's closing statement, final account, or petition for discharge.

In Washington, creditors have 4 months to present claims after notice, the inventory is due within 90 days of appointment, and the personal representative is discharged automatically once the statutory period runs. Washington pays executors reasonable compensation, typically 2.2% to 3.8% of the estate.

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated September 15, 2026

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Data sourced from Washington statutes and official state code. How we research.