What is a will?

A will is a legal document that people create to express their wishes about what should happen to their property after they pass away. In Washington, a will must be in writing and signed by the testator (or the writer of the will). It must also be signed by two witnesses, who must be present when the testator signs. The witnesses must also sign the will in the presence of each other. In Washington, the will must also be notarized. A will is designed to distribute a person’s property and possessions to their beneficiaries (the people who will receive their property and possessions). The testator names the beneficiaries in the will and specifies how their property will be distributed. For example, a painter may specify that their paintings should be given to their children or sold to benefit a particular charity. It’s important to note that any property not listed in a will is not included in the distribution. In Washington, wills must be probated in order to be enforced by the court. Probate is the legal process of administering a person’s will after their death. During probate, the court examines the will to make sure it meets the legal requirements, reviews any claims made against the estate, and resolves any disputes that arise. Once the court has approved the will, the executor (the person appointed to carry out the wishes of the will) is responsible for ensuring that its instructions are carried out.

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What is a will?

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