Probate in Clark County runs through the Superior Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Clark County, settling their estate runs through the Superior Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Clark County
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
Accepted paymentCash, Money order, Credit card, Debit card. Superior Court cashier accepts cash, cashier's checks, money orders, or debit/credit cards (card fee applies). Personal checks are not accepted.
Mailing address: PO Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000. County Clerk (filing office): (564) 397-2292, option 2.
Verified July 3, 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 St, 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. The 4 monthsRCW 11.40.051Verified Sep 9, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
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 St, Vancouver.
Washington charges $290RCW 36.18.020(2)(f), (5)(c), (6)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
The Superior Court accepts e-filing (https://efile-sc.clark.wa.gov/). Paper filing remains available for self-represented filers.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Washington are negotiated, typically 2.2%RCW 11.48.210 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source to 3.5%RCW 11.48.210 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 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 estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Washington requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%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.
How to File Your Documents
You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
View E-Filing InformationNot every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Superior Court is realistic.
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-specific Serv-U system at https://efile-sc.clark.wa.gov/, not the statewide eFileWA portal. E-filing is not mandatory and is limited to attorneys and government/institutional filers; self-represented filers must file 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 must be filed in paper form in person or by mail.
SourceBefore You Go
You can file in person without an appointment. The Clerk cashier accepts walk-in filings during business hours. The appointment-only requirement applies to the Family Court Facilitator, not to general filing.
Cash, Money order, Credit card, Debit card. Superior Court cashier accepts cash, cashier's checks, money orders, or debit/credit cards (card fee applies). Personal checks are not accepted.
To file at the Superior Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
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, led by County Auditor Greg Kimsey, at 1300 Franklin St, 2nd Floor, Vancouver, WA 98660. Phone: 564-397-2208. Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to PO 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 / Nationwide.
Recording Office Record
Clark County · County Auditor · Greg Kimsey
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
E-recording
Recording fees
| 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. |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | Exempt |
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 September 9, 2026 · Source
Washington uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Clark County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in Washington are based on reasonable compensation — typically 2.2%RCW 11.48.210 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source to 3.5%RCW 11.48.210 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source of the estate's value, 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 PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 4 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 PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 2 more
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 PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 3 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 PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 5 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. How we research.
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Vehicles, jewelry, collectibles, etc.
Mortgages, credit cards, loans, etc.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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This tool provides general information about self-filing probate and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
Step-by-step tools for families in Clark County, Washington.
Get a personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.
Get a personalized plan for settling a trust after the grantor passes away. Covers beneficiary notification, asset transfers, creditor handling, taxes, and distributions.
Get a score-based recommendation on whether self-filing probate is right for your situation. See estimated savings vs. hiring an attorney and get a step-by-step checklist.
Browse vetted Washington attorneys handling probate matters.
