Wills, probate & other advanced directives

Legal Information

In this section of Washington LawHelp you will find general legal information and resources about wills, probate and other advanced directives in Washington state.

• After Death Occurs: A Checklist

  Here is a checklist of important things to do when someone close to you dies. Content Detail

  By:

  Legal Voice

• Basic Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples

  This memo provides you with some basic background information to get you started on preparing your "estate plan." Content Detail

  By:

  Legal Voice

• Dealing with Death

  General information on things to consider when dealing with a death. Content Detail

  By:

  Washington State Attorney General

• Questions and Answers on Living Wills

  9501EN - 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. Read More

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• How to Claim the Personal Property of Someone Who Has Died: Affidavit Procedure for Small Estates

  9502EN - 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. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• Mental Health Advance Directives

  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. Content Detail

  By:

  DSHS - Mental Health Division

• How do I Sign Documents When I am Physically Unable?

  8401EN - As long as you are mentally competent to understand what you are signing, the fact that you cannot actually sign does not need to keep you from executing the document. Just follow the procedures we explain in this publication. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• Revocable Living Trusts

  Information about what a revocable living trust is and why you might create one. Content Detail

  By:

  Washington State Bar Association

• Washington First Responder Will Clinic

  The Washington Will Clinic aims to provide basic estate planning documents - wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives - for Washington first responders and their spouses/state registered domestic partners at no cost. Content Detail

  By:

  WSBA

• Washington Probate Instructions and Forms

  How to Probate a Washington Decedent's Estate for those who have never set foot in a Courthouse. Content Detail

  By:

  Washington Probate