Probate And Trust Administration

Even if your loved one created a comprehensive estate plan detailing their wishes for passing on assets, there are still legal details you must attend to after they pass away. At Third Street Law in Marysville, our probate and trust administration lawyers can assist you with the legal matters involved in administering and settling your loved one's estate.

Carrying Out Your Loved One’s Wishes

After a loved one passes away, their estate must be administered and finalized. The process involves gathering their assets, paying any outstanding debts and distributing the remaining assets to their beneficiaries or heirs. These steps can vary depending on what estate planning tools your loved one used.

For example, if the deceased had prepared a Revocable Living Trust (RLT), and you are named as successor trustee, you have duties that are partly defined by the trust document, and partly by State law. Trusts do not manage themselves. Although a properly funded trust may avoid probate, it does not eliminate the responsibilities involved in administering an estate. There are notices to be prepared, assets to be inventoried, debts to be dealt with, and property that may need to be sold or transferred. Trustees have important legal responsibilities and must administer the trust in accordance with its terms and applicable law.

Probate functions similarly to the trust administration process, except the person's estate is administered under the authority of the court. Under Washington’s probate laws, probate may not be necessary, and alternative, simpler processes may be available. In most cases involving real property, probate will be required.

For more than 25 years, we have helped family members administer the estates of loved ones in accordance with their wishes and the law. We can assist with various probate and trust administration matters, including:

• Counseling for administrators and executors of estates
• Identifying, collecting, and valuing estate assets
• Addressing creditor claims and payment of estate debts
• Assisting with the sale or transfer of real property
• Coordinating with tax professionals regarding applicable state and federal estate tax obligations
• Distributing assets to beneficiaries

Offering Counsel And Support

Our attorneys recognize how overwhelming grief can be after the profound loss of a loved one. Administering an estate can add significant responsibility during an already difficult time. Whether you have been named as Personal Representative in a Will, are serving as successor trustee, or are unsure whether probate is necessary, our attorneys can help you understand your responsibilities and guide you through the process.