What is probate law?
Probate law is a legal process in Washington that deals with the transfer of a person’s assets in the event of their death. The court oversees the process, ensuring that the deceased’s wishes are fulfilled, their debts are paid, and their assets are distributed in accordance with the law. The probate process begins when the deceased’s will is presented to the court for validation. If the will is found to be valid, the court will use the document to guide the distribution of the deceased’s assets and debts. If the deceased did not have a will, the court will then determine how the assets will be distributed according to the state’s laws regarding intestacy. The court also appoints a personal representative to handle the administration of the property and assets, who is typically either named in the will or appointed by the court itself. The representative is responsible for gathering any applicable assets, paying off any applicable debts, and distributing the remaining assets to the appropriate heirs. The representative is also responsible for filing any required paperwork with the court. Once the representative has completed their duties and all of the assets have been distributed, the court will close the estate. At this point, the probate process is complete and the deceased’s wishes have been fulfilled.
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