Probate Archives » Northwest Elder Law Group

16 January, 2017

What Exactly Is Probate?

2020-05-22T19:38:53-07:00January 16th, 2017|Categories: Estate Administration, Probate|

Probate is probably something you have never spent much time thinking about. Understanding the process has never been a priority … until, one day, it is. When you have barely had the chance to begin to grieve the loss of your loved one, you’re simultaneously tasked with handling probate. Not only are you unsure of where to start, you aren’t confident you even know what “probate” actually means. Understanding the probate process Probate is a legal process that occurs after a person has died. His or her debts are paid and assets are distributed. If your loved one had a ...

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13 September, 2016

6 Questions You Need To Ask Your Parents

2020-05-22T19:39:19-07:00September 13th, 2016|Categories: End-Of-Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Planning For Your Loved Ones, Probate, Scams|

For many people, imagining a time when their parents are the ones who need to be taken care of is challenging. For so much of your life, they are the ones who took care of you. While it may be difficult to envision, the truth is that it’s likely going to be a reality. Whether they need full-time care or they just need some guidance in making sure that their affairs are in order, your parents will likely need some extra support. Having some conversations sooner, rather than later, can ensure that everything is decided upon long before there needs ...

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11 September, 2015

What Does It Mean When The Bank Tells Me I Need Letters Testamentary?

2020-05-22T19:41:09-07:00September 11th, 2015|Categories: Estate Administration, Probate|

When a loved one passes away, while you are still in the grieving process, you may also have the additional task of trying to finalize his or her estate. One of the first places many people start when they are in this situation is the bank. When you inquire about closing out the account, oftentimes, you may be met with this response: You need to get Letters Testamentary in order to do that. What are Letters Testamentary? Letters Testamentary is the document issued by the Court authorizing the Personal Representative to administer a deceased's person's estate. It is issued when ...

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8 May, 2013

What Happens In Probate?

2020-05-22T19:53:40-07:00May 8th, 2013|Categories: Estate Planning, Probate, Wills|

Whenever someone dies in Washington, their personal representative must settle their estate. In many cases, this means going through the probate process. The idea of having to go through a legal proceeding can feel daunting, particularly during a time of grief. Thankfully, the probate process is not nearly as difficult as most people imagine. The role of the personal representative The person named as executor in the deceased person's will is responsible for starting probate. If there is no will, or if the named executor(s) is unable or unwilling to serve, the court will appoint an administrator. If the deceased ...

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12 May, 2012

Pets and Probate

2020-05-22T19:55:12-07:00May 12th, 2012|Categories: Estate Planning, Pets, Planning For Yourself, Probate|

I am the proud human companion to two wonderful rescue dogs, a Labrador retriever named Kix and a Beagle named Baxter. For many of us, we consider our pets to be part of our family. Yet, oftentimes, pets are not considered when we make our estate plans. In Washington, pets are considered property and in the absence of a document directing their disposition, pets pass to your heirs. This is frequently not the option that pet owners prefer and, with a little bit of planning, you can take steps to ensure that your pet will be taken care of ...

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