How is an estate distributed if there is a will?

In Washington, an estate can be distributed in accordance with a will if one is present. A will is a legal document that states how a person’s property and assets should be divided after his or her death. To be legally binding, a will must be signed in the presence of two witnesses who must also sign the document. The person writing the will is known as the testator, and he or she must also name an executor. The executor’s role is to ensure the will is followed in order to ensure the estate is distributed properly, as outlined in the will. The court confirms the executor’s duties, then the executor is able to handle paying the debts, filing any remaining tax returns, distributing the property and assets of the estate, and other tasks necessary in settling the estate. Once the court approves the executor’s handling of the estate, the property and assets will be distributed according to the will. If there is a will, property or assets that are not able to be distributed at the time of the will’s reading, such as properties in another state, may be distributed at a later date. If there is no will present, the estate will be distributed according to the Washington laws of intestacy, which describes how estate must be divided if there is no will. The spouse of the decedent is usually the first in line to inherit property in the absence of a will. If there is no spouse, the intestacy laws will detail who will receive the estate.

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