Estate & Probate · Start here
Washington Probate & Estate Property: The Complete Guide
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What probate is, in one paragraph
Probate is the superior court process that appoints a personal representative to settle the estate of someone who died. Most Washington estates are settled with nonintervention powers, so once appointed, the personal representative can sell the house without further court approval. A house in a living trust, held in joint tenancy with right of survivorship, or with a recorded transfer on death deed passes outside probate. Until the right person has authority, no one can sell: not the named executor, not an heir, and not the agent under the parent's power of attorney.
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