Should You Get a Trust or a Will in Washington?

Probate in Washington typically costs 2.2-3.5% of the estate value in attorney fees alone.RCW 11.48.210 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Jul 14, 2026 All-in costs on a $500,000 estate run about $31,574. A revocable trust has a one-time setup cost and no probate fees. See a detailed breakdown with the Washington probate calculator.

No. A will must go through probate in Washington. However, estates with personal property under $100,000 may qualify for simplified probate, which is faster and less expensive than full probate.RCW 11.62.010 (small estate, $100K, 40-day wait, personal property only; last amended 2008, no CPI escalator, no pending change); RCW 11.40.020 (notice/publication, permissive — "may give notice"; publication once a week for 3 successive weeks if given); RCW 11.40.051 (4-month creditor claims with notice, 24-month bar without); RCW 11.28.185 (bond; waived if will manifests intent, surviving spouse/DP takes entire estate, or bank/trust company; substitute security per RCW 11.130.445); RCW 11.44.015 (inventory within 3 months of appointment, court filing optional); RCW 11.48.210 ("just and reasonable" PR/attorney fees, no statutory percentage); RCW 11.68 / 11.68.011 (nonintervention powers / independent administration); RCW 36.18.020(2)(f) $200 + (5) $40 + (6) $50 = $290 flat filing fee (HB 1207 / 2025 c 357, eff. 7/27/2025). EHB 2445 / 2026 c 204 (eff. 6/11/2026, "ending probates for profit") amends RCW 11.28.185, 11.48.210, 11.68.011 — fee standard and bond waiver exceptions unchanged; adds bond + compensation restrictions for PRs appointed under RCW 11.28.120(3) — re-verified against app.leg.wa.gov 2026-06-10Verified Jul 14, 2026

Simple estates in Washington typically take 4-6 months through probate. Complex or contested estates can take 9-18 months or longer.RCW 11.62.010 (small estate, $100K, 40-day wait, personal property only; last amended 2008, no CPI escalator, no pending change); RCW 11.40.020 (notice/publication, permissive — "may give notice"; publication once a week for 3 successive weeks if given); RCW 11.40.051 (4-month creditor claims with notice, 24-month bar without); RCW 11.28.185 (bond; waived if will manifests intent, surviving spouse/DP takes entire estate, or bank/trust company; substitute security per RCW 11.130.445); RCW 11.44.015 (inventory within 3 months of appointment, court filing optional); RCW 11.48.210 ("just and reasonable" PR/attorney fees, no statutory percentage); RCW 11.68 / 11.68.011 (nonintervention powers / independent administration); RCW 36.18.020(2)(f) $200 + (5) $40 + (6) $50 = $290 flat filing fee (HB 1207 / 2025 c 357, eff. 7/27/2025). EHB 2445 / 2026 c 204 (eff. 6/11/2026, "ending probates for profit") amends RCW 11.28.185, 11.48.210, 11.68.011 — fee standard and bond waiver exceptions unchanged; adds bond + compensation restrictions for PRs appointed under RCW 11.28.120(3) — re-verified against app.leg.wa.gov 2026-06-10Verified Jul 14, 2026 A revocable trust avoids probate entirely; trust administration typically runs 2-4 months.

Yes. A will becomes a public court record once it enters probate in Washington. A revocable trust is a private document that does not go through probate, so the terms, beneficiaries, and asset details remain confidential.

Use the Washington probate calculator to estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and the probate timeline.RCW 11.62.010 (small estate, $100K, 40-day wait, personal property only; last amended 2008, no CPI escalator, no pending change); RCW 11.40.020 (notice/publication, permissive — "may give notice"; publication once a week for 3 successive weeks if given); RCW 11.40.051 (4-month creditor claims with notice, 24-month bar without); RCW 11.28.185 (bond; waived if will manifests intent, surviving spouse/DP takes entire estate, or bank/trust company; substitute security per RCW 11.130.445); RCW 11.44.015 (inventory within 3 months of appointment, court filing optional); RCW 11.48.210 ("just and reasonable" PR/attorney fees, no statutory percentage); RCW 11.68 / 11.68.011 (nonintervention powers / independent administration); RCW 36.18.020(2)(f) $200 + (5) $40 + (6) $50 = $290 flat filing fee (HB 1207 / 2025 c 357, eff. 7/27/2025). EHB 2445 / 2026 c 204 (eff. 6/11/2026, "ending probates for profit") amends RCW 11.28.185, 11.48.210, 11.68.011 — fee standard and bond waiver exceptions unchanged; adds bond + compensation restrictions for PRs appointed under RCW 11.28.120(3) — re-verified against app.leg.wa.gov 2026-06-10Verified Jul 14, 2026

Whether a trust is cost-effective depends on estate size, property types, and Washington's probate costs. The Washington trust need assessment evaluates these factors against your specific situation.