OptionalThe Clerk's Office takes e-filing through TrueFiling, not the statewide eFileWA, for every Superior Court case type, and e-filing is not mandatory. TrueFiling charges a $5 service fee per filing bundle from October 12, 2026. A probate may be e-filed with a copy of the will, but the original will is on file with the Clerk before letters issue.
Filing in person
Walk-ins acceptedSuperior Court documents are filed in person at the Clerk's Office in Room 300 with no appointment, or by mail.
Self-represented filing
AllowedAn attorney is not required to file documents in Superior Court, and self-represented filers present their own documents to the court in person. The Clerk's probate page links Washington Law Help probate resources.
Accepted payment
At the counterCash, Check, Money order.Filing fees are paid by cash, money order, cashier's check or attorney trust account check. The Clerk does not accept debit or credit cards for filing fees.
Hearing schedule
Ex Parte Department: Monday 10:30 AM-12:00 PM and 1:30-4:00 PM; Wednesday and Friday 9:00 AM-12:00 PM and 1:30-4:00 PM; closed Tuesday and Thursday.
County Clerk1-509-477-2211 · Room 300 · spococlerks@spokanecounty.org · Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:00 PMProbate cases are filed with the County Clerk, in person at Room 300 or by mail to the Clerk's Office at the 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 Spokane, probate runs through the Superior Court at 1116 West Broadway Avenue, Spokane. Spokane County runs probate e-filing through TrueFiling, one of 6 Washington counties 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 Spokane County
What probate costs in Spokane 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 1116 West Broadway Avenue, Spokane.
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 Spokane 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
Uses TrueFiling system (not eFileWA)
Spokane County takes e-filing through TrueFiling, not the statewide eFileWA system. E-filing is not mandatory, and TrueFiling charges a $5 service fee per filing bundle from October 12, 2026.
Original wills must be filed with Clerk before probate letters issue
A probate may be e-filed with a copy of the will, but the original will is on file with the County Clerk before letters issue. A will filed on its own is mailed to the Clerk's Office with the $20 fee.
Orders opening a probate are presented in the Ex Parte Department
The Ex Parte Department reviews and signs orders that begin a case, such as a probate, generally first come, first served. Papers go in the box marked "Place Papers Here" beside the judicial officer.
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 Medical Examiner in Spokane County
In Washington a death is registered locally, and in Spokane County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Spokane Regional Health District Vital Records as well as by Washington State Department of Health - Center for Health Statistics.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Spokane County · Spokane Regional Health District Vital Records
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 Spokane County are recorded with the County Auditor at 1116 West Broadway Avenue, Spokane, WA 99260. Phone: 1-509-477-2270. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:00 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 2353, Spokane, WA 99210.
The County Auditor charges $304 for the first page plus $1 for each additional page.
Spokane County accepts electronic recording through ePN, CSC, Simplifile and Indecomm.
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 Spokane 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.
Spokane Valley elder law and estate planning firm formed in 2026 when Danielle Palm and Kendel Froese combined their Liberty Lake and downtown Spokane practices. Handles probate, trust administration, and estate administration, plus adult guardianship and conservatorship petitions. The first consultation is free and meetings can be held by phone or Zoom.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 2 more
Office
521 N Argonne Rd, Building B, Suite 103Spokane Valley, WA 99212
Downtown Spokane practice where attorney Emily Wilson represents personal representatives in probate, including families probating an estate when there is no will, and represents trustees of living and testamentary trusts. It also prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, and community property agreements on a flat fee. Initial consultations are free.
Liberty Lake solo practice of Katharine Tate serving Spokane County, including Spokane, Spokane Valley, Medical Lake, Deer Park, and Airway Heights. Guides families through formal probate and summary probate for small estates, and advises trustees on legal and fiduciary compliance in trust administration. The practice also handles estate planning, elder law, guardianships, and conservatorships, with a free initial consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 2 more
Office
23403 E Mission Ave, Suite 215Liberty Lake, WA 99019
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
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
Wenatchee firm, doing business as Northwest Estate Plans, that handles Washington probate and trust administration for families after a death, starting with a free Executor Guidance Meeting to review the options. Also prepares wills and revocable living trusts. Meetings, signings, and notarization can be completed over Zoom for clients anywhere in Washington, or in person at the Wenatchee office.
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.
