How probate works in Clark County: the Superior Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Clark County
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Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Clark County, probate runs through the Superior Court at 1200 Franklin Street, Vancouver. Clark County runs probate e-filing through efile-sc.clark.wa.gov, the only Washington county on that system.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Washington intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Washington estates take 6 months to 9 months to move through this process. 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 a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
What probate costs in Clark County, Washington comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Superior Court at 1200 Franklin Street, Vancouver.
Washington charges $290RCW 36.18.020(2)(f), (5)(c), (6)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Washington are negotiated, 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 estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Washington allows executors 'reasonable compensation' — around 2.2%–3.8% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules payRCW 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. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under RCW 11.28.185Verified Sep 9, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Washington typically runs 6 months to 9 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
Probate documents in Clark County can be filed in person at the Superior Court, by mail, or electronically. Most families handling probate themselves prefer paper filing, though e-filing is available.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for County Clerk and E-filing.
Washington has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not available.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Clark County Self-Filing Assessment.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Uses the county Serv-U e-filing system, not eFileWA
Clark County Superior Court e-filing runs on the county's own system at efile-sc.clark.wa.gov, not the statewide eFileWA portal. E-filing is optional and limited to registered attorneys and institutional filers; self-represented filers file on paper.
SourceProbate documents that cannot be e-filed
Original wills and codicils, new probate cases containing original wills, small estates, and letters testamentary, of administration and of guardianship are filed on paper in person or by mail.
SourceUncontested and agreed probate orders go straight to the probate judge
An agreed order in a probate case is presented ex parte directly to the probate and guardianship judge, with a transmittal saying it meets the rule. An uncontested matter is filed with a Notice of Ex Parte Presentation, served on each notice party, and presented to that judge once the notice period runs with no objection.
SourceFiled with the opening petition at the Superior Court: Death certificate — county clerk intake practice, NOT a statutory requirement, and not uniformly a certified copy. Nothing in Title 11 RCW or the Superior Court rules requires a death certificate to open probate or obtain Letters. Several counties ask for one anyway and word it differently: Thurston lists "Death Certificate (certified copy)"; Whatcom's official packets list only "Death Certificate". The largest counties do not list it at all — King, Pierce and Kitsap each publish a minimum-documents list that omits it. Confirm with the county Superior Court clerk before assuming a certified copy is neededRCW ch. 11.28 (letters testamentary & of administration); RCW 11.28.110 (petition contents, as amended by 2026 c 204 s 1), 11.28.120 (priority, as amended by 2026 c 204 s 2), 11.28.170 (oath), 11.28.185 (bond, as amended by 2026 c 204 s 3); RCW 11.68.011 (nonintervention powers, as amended by 2026 c 204 s 9)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
In Washington a death is registered locally, and in Clark County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Clark County Public Health, Vital Records as well as by Washington State Department of Health - Center for Health Statistics.
Vital Records Office Record
Clark County · Clark County Public Health, Vital Records
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| First certified copy | $25 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Clark County · Office of the Clark County Medical Examiner
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Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the County Auditor.
Deeds and other real property documents for Clark County are recorded with the County Auditor at 1300 Franklin Street, 2nd Floor, Vancouver, WA 98660. Phone: 1-564-397-2208. Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM-4:00 PM (closed Friday).
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666.
The County Auditor charges $304 for the first page plus $1 for each additional page.
Clark County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC, Indecomm, ePN and Nationwide Title Clearing.
Recording Office Record
Clark County
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| Base fee (first page) | $303.5 |
| Each additional page | $1 |
| Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit$5 state technology fee on every transfer, plus $5 more when no tax is due because an exemption is claimed; $10 minimum in fee(s) and/or tax (RCW 82.45.180). Paid to the county treasurer, not the auditor. Not required for a TOD deed | |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax |
RCW 36.18.010; RCW 36.22.170; RCW 36.22.175; RCW 36.22.240; RCW 36.22.250; RCW 36.22.185
Verified October 17, 2026 · Source
Washington allows independent administrationRCW 11.68Verified Sep 9, 2026View source, so the personal representative manages, pays and distributes the estate without returning to the court for approval at each step. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Washington are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Clark County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Superior Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
FirmCamas, WA
Serves Clark and Skamania counties from Camas, where the firm has practiced since 1951. Handles probate and wills, trusts and estates, alongside real estate, business, civil litigation, landlord-tenant, appellate, and municipal law.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness LawFamily Lawand 2 more
FirmVancouver, WA
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 3 more
FirmVancouver, WA
Founded in 1997, serves Clark County from downtown Vancouver, with attorneys admitted in both Washington and Oregon. Guides executors, trustees, administrators, heirs, and beneficiaries through probating a will and administering a trust, and handles estate and gift tax work, specialty trusts, and IRA distribution planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax PlanningBusiness Law
FirmVancouver, WA
Vancouver elder law and estate planning firm serving Southwest Washington since 1998. Helps fiduciaries with probate, non-probate, and trust administration of a decedent's estate, and assists with guardianship petitions. Also prepares estate and special needs plans and helps clients navigate Washington Medicaid rules and long-term care planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more
FirmTacoma, WA
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more
FirmSeattle, WA
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawConservatorshipand 4 more
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Data sourced from Washington statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Free tools for settling an estate in Washington: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool.
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.
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.
Washington has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not available.
Browse vetted Washington attorneys handling probate matters.
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Enter the estate value to see Washington attorney fees, executor fees, court costs and the timeline.
General information about probate costs, not legal or financial advice. Fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value or net property after debts. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
Enter the estate value to see whether Washington lets a self-represented person open probate, what the court requires, and what each route costs.
General information about filing probate without a lawyer, not legal advice. Both routes are priced by the probate cost estimator on the same estate; the attorney fee is the one line that differs. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
