OptionalRegistered attorneys e-file through the Clerk's own portal, not eFileWA, and e-filing is not mandatory. A new case, an original will and probate bonds are filed on paper, in person or by mail, and the Clerk does not take filings by email. Self-represented filers e-file protection orders only. On paper: New case filings; Original wills and codicils, including new probate cases that include them; Bonds in probate cases; Letters testamentary and of administration; Ex parte orders for signature.
Filing in person
Walk-ins acceptedWalk-in filing at the County Clerk counter in Suite 210 during office hours.
Self-represented filing
AllowedSelf-represented filers file probate on paper, in person, by mail or by fax, since their electronic filing is limited to protection orders. The statewide probate forms are on the Washington Courts forms page.
Accepted payment
At the counterCash, Check, Money order, Debit card, Credit card.The Clerk takes cash, cashier's checks, law firm checks, money orders, personal checks and debit or credit cards. Checks are payable to Kittitas County Clerk.
Fax
1-509-962-7667
Departments
County Clerk1-509-962-7531 · Suite 210 · clerk@co.kittitas.wa.us · Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-4:30 PMProbate cases are filed with the County Clerk on the second floor of the Kittitas County Courthouse.
About the court
The Superior Court is on the second floor of the Kittitas County Courthouse.
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 Kittitas County, probate runs through the Superior Court at 205 West 5th Avenue, Suite 207, Ellensburg. Kittitas County runs probate e-filing through co.kittitas.wa.us, 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 Kittitas County
What probate costs in Kittitas 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 205 West 5th Avenue, Suite 207, Ellensburg.
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.
How to File Probate at the Superior Court
Probate documents in Kittitas 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 a separate line for County Clerk.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Washington has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not available.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
New probate cases are filed on paper
A new probate case and an original will are filed on paper, in person, by mail or by fax, and the Clerk does not take email filings. Fax filing costs $5 for the first page and $1 for each page after, and orders mailed for ex parte signature carry a $30 fee.
Filed 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.
Death Certificates and the Coroner in Kittitas County
In Washington a death is registered locally, and in Kittitas County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Kittitas County Public Health Department as well as by Washington State Department of Health - Center for Health Statistics.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Kittitas County · Kittitas County Public Health Department
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 Kittitas County are recorded with the County Auditor at 205 West 5th Avenue, Suite 105, Ellensburg, WA 98926. Phone: 1-509-962-7504. Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM; Friday 8:30 AM-3:00 PM.
The County Auditor charges $304 for the first page plus $1 for each additional page.
Kittitas County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.
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
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 Kittitas 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.
Wenatchee firm, serving the Wenatchee Valley since 1925, that works across Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, and Kittitas counties. After a death, its attorneys guide personal representatives and heirs through probate and address probate problems that arise; the estate practice also covers wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, community and separate property agreements, and gift planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianshipBusiness Lawand 2 more
Serves Kittitas County from Ellensburg, handling estate planning and probate alongside water rights, real estate, business planning, and civil and commercial litigation. The office runs by appointment only.
Yakima firm on Fairbanks Avenue serving Yakima County and the Ellensburg area. Administers probates through notice to creditors, payment of debts, and distribution to heirs, and prepares wills, community property agreements, and revocable living trusts, including planning for estates subject to estate tax. Also handles elder law, Medicaid planning, and guardianships.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawTax Planningand 5 more
Wenatchee firm founded in 1986, serving Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Grant, and Kittitas counties. Assists personal representatives with probate and estate administration, represents clients in contested probate proceedings, and helps trustees fulfill their duties. Also handles specialized trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and Medicaid planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 7 more
Yakima firm founded in 1977, serving Central and Eastern Washington. Handles probate and estate administration and estate planning, alongside business law, business planning, and family law.
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 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.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Washington
Free tools for settling an estate in Washington: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool.
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.
See the Steps
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.
See the Steps
Can I Self-File Probate?
Washington has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not available.
Enter the estate value to see Washington attorney fees, executor fees, court costs and the timeline.
Examples:
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.
$
See whether you can file probate yourself
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.
