LawHelp Legal Information search results for Aging / Elder Law

Helping Low-income People Find Solutions to Civil Legal Problems

	Aging / Elder Law > Wills, probate & alternatives


	Listing of self-help materials and informational publications.

There are 12 resources

	How to Claim the Personal Property of Someone Who Has Died: Affidavit Procedure for Small Estates The affidavit procedure allows people who are entitled to a dead person's (also called a decedent) personal property, to get that property without going through probate. By: Northwest Justice Project Other Formats: PDF File


	Living Will Registry (Separate Website) The Washington State Living Will Registry allows you to store your living will documents in a secure, online database. A living will gives you the power to record your medical decisions in the event you're unable to communicate and gives your physician vital information about your treatment wishes. Only authorized health care providers may access and view your documents in the registry. The registry also stores your emergency contact information so that family and next of kin can be contacted. By: Department of Health


	Mental Health Advance Directives (Separate Website) A mental health advance directive (MHAD) is a written document that describes your directions and preferences for treatment and care during times when you are having difficulty communicating and making decisions. It can inform others about what treatment you want or don?t want, and it can identify a person called an ?agent? who you trust to make decisions and act on your behalf. By: DSHS - Mental Health Division


	Preparing for a Death (Separate Website) General information on things to consider when preparing for a death. By: Washington State Attorney General


	Probate (Separate Website) General information about probate in Washington state. By: Washington State Bar Association


	Questions and Answers on Living Wills A living will is a paper that tells your doctors or others providing your health care when you want them to stop life-sustaining medical treatment and let you die. A health care power of attorney allows someone you appoint to make medical-treatment decisions for you if you are no longer able to make them yourself. This publication contains general information and a Living Will form you may download. By: Columbia Legal Services Other Formats: Word File Read this in: Spanish / Español


	Revocable Living Trusts (Separate Website) Information about what a revocable living trust is and why you might create one. By: Washington State Bar Association


	Signing Documents When Physically Unable Sometimes a person wants to sign a document such as a power of attorney, will, or deed, but is physically unable to write her name. As long as the person is mentally competent to understand what she is signing, the fact that she cannot actually sign does not prevent the person from executing the document as long as the following procedures are followed. The laws discussed in this publication are attached at the end of the information for your reference. By: Northwest Justice Project Other Formats: PDF File


	Trusts (Separate Website) General information about the different types of trusts that can be created as part of your estate plan. By: Washington State Bar Association


	Washington Probate Instructions and Forms (Separate Website) How to Probate a Washington Decedent's Estate for those who have never set foot in a Courthouse. By: Washington Probate


	Washington Wills (Separate Website) Information on making, changing, keeping and contesting a Will in Washington state. By: Washington Probate


	Wills (Separate Website) General information about Wills. By: Washington State Bar Association


back to top


Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)

Information, Not Legal Advice. We are providing this information as a public service. We try to make it accurate as of the date noted in the materials. Sometimes the laws change. We cannot promise that this information is always up-to-date and correct. Most of the information provided on this web site is specific to Washington State law.

We do not intend this information to be legal advice. By providing this information, we are not acting as your lawyer. If you need legal advice, you should contact a lawyer through your local legal aid organization. Always talk to a competent lawyer, if you can, before taking legal action.

Permission for copying and distribution granted to the Alliance for Equal Justice and individuals for non-commercial use only.

Lawyer Advertising. This web site is not intended to be advertising or solicitation. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based on advertisements. Before hiring an attorney, you should investigate his or her reputation and qualifications.

Links. Some of the items listed here have not been prepared by us, but are instead "links" to information prepared and posted by others. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of information posted on other sites. The links are not intended to imply that we sponsor or are affiliated or associated with the persons who created those sites, nor are the links intended to imply that we are legally authorized to use any trade name, registered trademark, logo, legal or official seal, or copyrighted symbol that may be reflected in the links.

In an effort to improve this site, we would appreciate learning about your visit to Washington LawHelp.

Washington LawHelp is provided as a public service by the Northwest Justice Project in collaboration with other legal aid providers in the Alliance for Equal Justice and Washington courts.