What happens if I die without a will?

If you don't make a will or use some other legal method to transfer your property when you die, Washington state law will determine what happens to your property. In other words, if you fail to make a will, the inheritance statute determines who gets your property. The inheritance statute contains a rigid formula and makes no exception for those in unusual need. Generally, your estate will go to your spouse and children or, if you have neither, to your closest relative(s). If no relatives can be found to inherit your property, it will go to the State or Washington. When there is no will the court appoints a personal representative, known or unknown to you, to manage your estate. The cost of probating will very likely be much greater than if you had planned your estate with a will, and the administration of your estate may be subject to greater court supervision. In addition, in the absence of a will, a court will determine who will care for your minor children and their property if the other parent is unavailable or unfit to do so.

Whether your estate is large or small, you probably need an estate plan. For more information on estate planning, call us at 206-782-0722.

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